Bluestream Group of Companies

Market Research and Strategic Consulting

At Bluestream we are inspired and intrigued by this very specific challenge. How do companies achieve and create long-term future competitiveness? “Innovation is rapidly becoming the critical success factor of the twenty-first century. To survive and thrive in the modern business environment requires companies to think differently, to implement breakthrough ideas with rigor and to stand out from their competition – in short to innovate.” Lindsay Brook, HR Director NokiaSince the new millennium three major trends have emerged with regards to pressure on capacity building for competitiveness: Maintaining competitiveness has become a relentless drive towards efficiency and effectiveness Companies face increasing expectations from their customers and stakeholders Globalisation: no matter how big you are competition can come from everywhere

Internal and External Information Access is key to survival in the competitive business landscape. In many cases strategy is developed without updated and accurate market information on fast changing customer and competitor feedback.This can create a definite blind spot in strategic analysis.

At Bluestream our Strategic Market Research and Consulting Business services are focused to assist businesses to enhance their future competitiveness in providing quality market information and strategy input.

More dynamic changing global conditions impacting on market conditions change much faster than in the past on a global scale. This challenges the business leaders of today’s successful businesses to make strategic decisions to change direction much more often and in real time.

In the current world economic downturn, companies will have to cut costs, to manage budgets. However, the companies that will indeed survive in the longer term future are the ones that understand and interpret the changing conditions not without the necessary market research input, they more accurately can express their strategic intent even in these times of austerity.

How? By making the right choices, because they can see and interpret the future in limited visibility. I believe that more difficult market conditions create the opportunity for the best companies to do even better if quality decisions and strategies could be crafted and implemented.

A time of crisis is therefore a time of decisions and choices; choices that will position them on the most favourable platforms to jumpstart at a time of new growth. This is the true art of management: to steer through difficult times with the possibilities of the next phases already on the radar.

I do believe that there will be very competitive companies that will win in this crisis, just like there are animal species that survived changes in climate and habitat. A different ballgame, however, is to win in the current difficult situation of increased scarcity of resources and customers. It is here that true leaders will distinguish themselves from plain performers to be even more competitive in the more favourable conditions that will follow the downturn.

About Us
Overview:
Bluestream provides sustainable Market Research and Business development strategies customised to customers’ requirements in order to deliver Future Competitiveness .

Bluestream consists of Bluestream Marketing , Bluestream Consulting and Bluestream Research and is focused to conduct Market Research and Consulting Services mainly in the Financial Services Environment for the past 10 Years.

Bluestream Marketing, the BEE and New Business Development Company focus more on Market Research in the parastatle and government segments,also tasked to develop new business opportuinities for the group.

Research Services Include:
Intermediary Satisfaction Research, Customer Satisfaction Research, New Product and Service Concept Research, Intermediary Support Research, Demographic Research, Key Account Management Research, Brand Strategy Research, Competitive Intelligence Capacity Building, Innovation Input Research, Future Competitiveness Strategy, Competitor Profiling.

As specialists in Market Research Solutions and Competitive Business Strategy, Bluestream Consulting is challenged daily to find new and innovative ways to make their customers more competitive.

Bluestream consists of Bluestream Marketing , Bluestream Consulting and Bluestream Research and is focused to conduct Market Research and Consulting Services mainly in the Financial Services Environment for the past 10 Years.

Bluestream Marketing, the BEE and New Business Development Company focus more on Market Research in the parastatle and government segments,also tasked to develop new business opportuinities for the group.

Some of our clients count under the top 100 companies listed on the JSE and are progressive organisations who understand the importance of up to date market feedback on the changing needs of their clients.

Accurate and Timeous Market Information is the key input factor to future competiveness strategy of a sustainable enterprise and extends well beyond the boundaries of any individual profession, process, horizon or hierarchy.

It is essential to understand and to be in touch with how your clients need changes and also how the company delivers against the expectation of clients. Bluestream is actively involved in the processes of distribution channel optimisation, retention and client retention research.

Our Values:

• The Customer is the Focus
• Growth through Innovation
• Respect for People
• Excellence and Professionalism
• Integrity
• Value for Money

We follow a process of:
In discussions with you we can together establish your very unique and specific needs regarding research that may exist. The full requirement could be established on which we can then develop a total solution that will fit your needs.

Process Strategy for Implementation

• Analysis and Scoping
  
• Implementation

The Approach
We specialise in providing long-term business solutions for Future Competitiveness Capacity Building by developing strategies with our customers. This enhances their long-term sustainability. In order to deliver sustainable profit one of the key drivers is to have loyal customers doing more business with companies over the long-term.

People and Associates

Pieter Aucamp
(Executive Director)

Pieter holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA, University of Pretoria 1994); BA Economics (BA, Potchefstroom University; / North - West University, 1985) and a Higher Education Diploma (HED, Potchefstroom University North - West University, 1983) He has completed various Executive Management Programs run through University of Pretoria, North West University and International Consulting Firms.

Pieter is focused to investigate ways to make businesses more competitive, while other projects make a contribution to give clients the cutting edge in customer retention and radical innovation.

Throughout his career Pieter was part time involved as external examinator for UNISA, University of Pretoria (UP), IMM and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in mainly the marketing subjects.

He is a director and co-founder of Bluestream Marketing (Pty) Ltd. He initiated Bluestream 9 years ago, with the key focus to assist clients to improve their Future Competitiveness. Some of Bluestream’s clients today count under the top 100 in SA. Pieter obtained most of his experience in Marketing and New Business Development in positions that he held and developed in the past 25 years. He is a director of 3 private companies; he also served as advisor and strategic associate to other companies over the past 10 years.

He has served most of his professional career in the Industrial and Retail Market where he fulfilled a number of senior management positions across the retail, industrial and management consulting sectors at Suprachem/Iscor, Speedy Tyre and Exhaust. Pieter has been widely recognised for his thought leadership and innovative approach and as an independent management consultant, he is sought after by the private and public sectors alike to assist rethink their business strategy and current business practices against the backdrop of business innovation and market research. Pieter was involved over the past 25 years in both national and international Innovation Projects.One of these projects is the Pro aim Golf glasses, a world first, which received both US and SA awards for innovation.

Over the years he obtained experience in the fields of:
Strategic Marketing, Competitive Intelligence, Market Research, Managing Sales Teams, Key Account Management, CRM, New Business Development, Feasibility Studies, Innovation and Management Consulting Projects.

Through well-researched strategies, communicated to people successfully, his main aim is to deliver value and results in organisations in order to enhance Future Competitiveness.

Nelisiwe Mazibuko
(Executive Director)

Nelisiwe holds a BA Economics and Statistics degree (National University of Lesotho) as well as qualifications in Project Management, Market Research and Financial Literacy. Nelisiwe,s have obtained professional research and management experience throughout her career over the past 20 years. She is a director on the boards of four private companies.

Nelisiwe has served with various research companies on senior management positions from as early as 1998 as follows:
Market Research Executive at Research Surveys: 1989-1991 : Research & Marketing Executive at SABC Market Research (CCV-TV): 1991/1992; Senior Research Executive at Markinor Research: 1992; Senior Market Research Executive at Marketing & Media Research: 1992 – 1995; Founder Member & Shareholder of New Age Research Consultancy (Pty) Ltd: 1995-2000.; Executive Director and Partner at Plus 94 Harris Research (Pty) Ltd: 2000 – 2003 ; Founder Member & Managing Partner of The Research Link c.c: 2004 - 2006.;Founder Member & Shareholder of CHUMO Investments (Pty) Ltd: 2006 - current. ; Research Consultant: 2006 - current.

Over the years she obtained experience in the fields of:
Business Management & Administrative Functions, Company Policy Development & Implementation, Company Strategy Development and Implementation, Directing Executive Functions, Proposal Writing, Analysis, Training & Training Management, Development of Training Material, Project Management, Report writing, Presentations, Client Care, Staff Mentoring, Marketing.

Brief summary of management outlook and capabilities

• Extensive Project Planning and Management Skills
  
• Strategic Input
  
• Excellent Analytic Skills
  
• Strict adherence to deadlines
  
• Excellent process management checks and reporting
  
• Excellent Sourcing skills
  
• Excellent Budgeting skills with attention to bottom line and fairness to employees
  
• Excellent client relationship management –open but strict/firm approach
  
• Extensive knowledge of the South African market – all levels
  
• Good command and understanding of main South African languages – i.e. African languages and English

Helena Erasmus

Helena is a motivated person with fast, disciplined, analytical, and well organised thinking. She has initiative, is results driven, and strives to develop expertise in her field of practice. She has both a Bachelor Degree in Psychology with a focus on Community Mental Health and Counseling, and a Masters Degree in Research Psychology with specialisation in Research Consultation.

The title of her Masters dissertation - a qualitative study for which she received a Cum Laude - was:
‘An investigation into the needs of emergency medical workers and how these could inform management practices’.