Originally appearing in the Top Performing Companies & Public Sector, a full-length feature article on wiGroup and it’s CEO, Bevan Ducasse, was converted to a three-part blog series, including internal links and social media prompts, to support the publication’s digital marketing strategy.

Read part one here.
Read part two here.
Read part three here.

Part one: From inspiration to implementation

wiCode is an open and interoperable point-of-sale integrated mobile transaction platform for retail and hospitality businesses. We spoke with wiGroup CEO Bevan Ducasse about starting a business that not only weathered a global economic crash, but also grew in leaps and bounds in the years since.

This is part one of a three-part series. Click here to read part two.

At the age of 24, Bevan decided to follow his dreams and founded wiGroup, a start-up that provides mobile transaction solutions to retailers. We asked him what it was that inspired him to start this unique company.

“I had a burning desire to start something new. I wanted to add value to the world at the same time as creating an environment where people come alive and work with passion in a culture of celebration – doing what you love, with people you love.

“Having just turned 24, with funds that would only last for the next three months, I raised the capital for the company at the 11th hour in December 2007. I wanted to build a scalable business that was annuity-based, founded on the twin principles of people and profit, which lived the maxim ‘pursue the remarkable’.

“Four of us worked from my flat, positioning ourselves so that we looked out of the window at the ocean for inspiration.

“In 2008, ahead of our time, we launched wiWallet. On 8 August (08/08/08), I bought my first coffee using my mobile. We threw away our leather wallets – a bit prematurely, as it turned out – because the world was not ready for this innovation.

“But through failure comes success. We continued to pursue our dream of helping corporates move towards a better future and simplifying how the world transacts. Competition only served to sharpen us – we embrace disruption and love breaching the gap.”

Part two: Entrepreneurial spirit

When he started wiGroup, Bevan Ducasse wanted to be at the forefront of the move towards a cashless society. He’s done just that with wiGroup, the mobile technology platform that’s revolutionising the South African retail space.

This is part two of a three-part series. Click here to read part one: From inspiration to implementation.

From four friends working in a flat to a thriving business with multi-national corporate clients, wiGroup is a true entrepreneurial success story. We asked CEO Bevan Ducasse how he defines the word entrepreneur and what makes wiGroup remarkable.

“An entrepreneur is someone who goes out on a limb to start something new, which is sustainable and profitable – always keeping in mind the crucial balance between people and profit. Business is driven by a need and a solution – and technology is a servant to that need. We have a wonderful team and pride ourselves on innovating prior to trends, riding the wave.”

We pride ourselves on creating remarkable solutions. We like to think out of the box as to how we can best leverage mobile to enhance your solution. For example: digital coupons. We have moved couponing from paper to the cloud. Digital payments, loyalty and rewards are all linked to mobile via one scan or one tap.

Another example is mobile commerce. “We engineered a mobile commerce stack fulfilling a mobile commerce transaction in under an hour with minimal investment, leveraging off what already exists.

“The biggest, most precious thing we can buy people is time, saving time and energy. We are in the business of decluttering lives.

“Our core sector is retail. We focus on adding value on the transacting side of business – facilitating money transfers, mobile payments, loyalty spend and rewards. We have re-engineered loyalty commerce and digital loyalty programmes via mobile so that the customer experience is seamless.”

Read part one of the wiGroup blog series, Innovation to implementation, here.

Part three: A balancing act

For the final instalment of our wiGroup blog series, we take a look at CEO Bevan Ducasse’s approach to people and profit in his business, and how he created a winning formula that gives returns and gives back.

This is part three of a three-part series. Click here to read part one: From inspiration to implementation.

wiGroup’s tagline, “We pride ourselves on creating remarkable solutions”, rings true both in and out of office.

On a shelf in this light and airy space filled with greenery, hanging plants and a sense of energised calm, sits a crystal trophy. The prize was given to wiGroup in 2016 when the company was named FNB Business Innovator of the Year for demonstrating a trajectory of innovation from its inception.

“It’s great to be recognised and to be able to come back to the team and say, ‘We did it!’ Being externally celebrated brings with it a sense of pride – and PR. Because of the FNB accolade, people are reading and talking about wiGroup, which brings with it more business, building up momentum,” says Bevan.

The award came the year after wiGroup had sold a stake to Investec for just under R400-million, which has given the start-up opportunity to grow. “Always do deals that are win-win. The Investec stake of more than 25% in our company is just that. It’s a wonderful opportunity that will lead to future growth and expansion.

“Before the Investec deal, the business had already grown organically. We had broken even by 2012, expanding to 80 people. Then, in 2016, we grew by 50% from 85 to 135. The deal enables us to invest more in products and people and off-shore expansion. We are already in London, Amsterdam, France, Ghana and Mauritius, and are looking for opportunities to grow.”

Looking at the business’s growth and how this spurs employment as well as the working environment he has created, Bevan’s passion for people once again becomes clear.

Testament to this is the Giving Hope, an online platform that enables people to give to charities of their choice, which he launched with project manager Skye Venter.

By providing charities with exposure on social media platforms and ensuring that donations are completely traceable, Giving Hope increases the likelihood of sustainability for these organisations. With sponsorship from Zwelethu Enterpise Development, donors are reassured that all administrative costs are covered and the full amount donated goes to the intended charity.

Having achieved this remarkable balance between people and profit, Bevan advises aspiring entrepreneurs to find the thing that you’re passionate about and “surround yourself with brilliant people” to achieve your dreams.

Read part one of the wiGroup blog series, Innovation to implementation, here.

    Want to work together?
    Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch to make
    it happen.

    Created by McGrath Creative Agency © 2024

    Designed with ♡ for Creative Forrest