Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> October 2001
STATEMENTS such as that "within five years, all companies will be Internet companies or they won't exist", ring alarm bells, but is it really so serious? Well, it would seem not entirely, but the following is clear:
Entrepreneurs on the Internet (who use it to best advantage) will increasingly have an advantage over their competitors who do not use the medium.
Businesses that want to compete will have to do so more on a global basis.
The Internet offers vast opportunities and would give a business a shot in the arm.
Where Internet usage is still limited, such as in Africa and in the informal sector, traditional methods of doing business will remain very relevant. But the Internet has its limitations. It cannot actually manufacture goods - the farmer still needs to plough, sow, till and harvest, etc. The medium also makes it more difficult to charge more than your competitor does, because customers are far better informed and it's easy to compare prices.
Then there is of course the positive side. Unlimited quantities of orders could easily be processed and executed by computers. Management's control over an entire enterprise will be more comprehensive, quicker and more effective. Wide-ranging data is becoming easier to access. The customer, the production manager, the salesman and the supplier are all becoming better informed about products, processes, prices, technologies and competitors. The businessman should be able to manage with fewer assets and permanent staff members and adapt his business to circumstances and developments.
What should the entrepreneur do about the situation? The following is suggested:
Establish how the Internet could affect your business;
Find out how you could apply the Internet to your own type of business; and
Look for opportunities and options the Internet could offer you.
Internet is thus the way to go, although that's not to say that the business that doesn't go the Internet route won't be able to survive five years hence. There will still be far too many people and communities without access to the Internet, though admittedly they will be the stragglers.
DIE Assmang Myngroep het bekendgemaak dat beplan word om 'n mangaanmyn van sowat R520 miljoen naby Kuruman teen middel 2005 in bedryf te stel. Dit behoort die mees koste-doeltreffende ondergrondse mangaanmyn ter wκreld te wees. Die skagte word deur Brandill Torex, 'n gesamentlike onderneming tussen 'n Suid-Afrikaanse en 'n Australiese maatskappy, gebou. Die gespesialiseerde arbeid kom hoofsaaklik van Gauteng en die ondergeskoolde en semi-geskoolde arbeid is van Kuruman.
Die nuwe myn sal geleidelik die produksie by die Nchwaneng 2-myn, wat sedert 1984 by Black Rock noord van Kuruman bedryf word, vervang. Dit sal na verwagting jaarliks sowat 1 miljoen ton mangaan lewer aan Oosterse en Europese lande sowel as die plaaslike mark. Mangaan word gebruik om staal te maak - sowat 5 kg mangaan word per ton staal gebruik.
Die Beeshoek Ysterertsmyn naby Postmasburg is reeds verlede jaar teen R115 miljoen uitgebrei. Die verrykingsaanleg wat nou aldaar gebou word, gaan onsuiwerhede uit ystererts haal en behoort in Mei volgende jaar voltooi te wees. Die produksie van 5 miljoen ton ystererts per jaar behoort oor sowat 9 jaar te verdubbel. Intussen het Assmang ook bekendgemaak dat 'n nuwe ysterverrykingsaanleg van sowat R92 miljoen by die Beeshoekmyn gebou word.
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