Customer service gurus at summit

SEVEN stellar speakers who specialise in the fields of customer service and marketing will take to the podium at the Daily Dispatch Customer Innovation Summit next month to inspire businesses to be more customer-centric.

They will be sharing their knowledge with members of the public – specifically delegates in the corporate community who will not only gain innovative pointers into how to better serve their client base, but also have an opportunity to network and knowledge share.

The Daily Dispatch Customer Innovation Summit is the second installment of the Daily Dispatch Summit Series.

The first was the extremely successful Strategic Business Summit in August last year.

Daily Dispatch marketing manager Penny Smith said the newspaper would also be holding a breakfast series which was still in the development stage.

“The focus of the Customer Innovation Summit is the delivery of optimum customer service,” said Smith.

“Due to the immense feedback we received from the East London business community, we realised there is a dire need for better service awareness and innovative ways to use the latest research tools and insight to improve business practices.”

She said this related especially to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“This is a one-off event and people will be able to hear from thought leaders in the customer service industry.”

The speakers are:

lFemi Adebanji, a customer service consultant, economist and leadership expert, will speak on “Be distinct or be instinct – customer service excellence, the only competitive edge for businesses”;

lGG Alcock is a marketing strategy guru and master entrepreneur whose topic is “KasiNomics: The invisible matrix of the informal economy”;

lAngela Barter, a public relations and sustainable communications strategist, will speak on “Understanding the ‘green’ consumer”;

lTimothy Maurice Webster is a brand philosopher and author who will speak on “SME brand leadership and influence in the Eastern Cape markets”;

• Dr Roelof Botha is an economist whose topic will be “The Ramaphosa effect on sustainable growth”;
• Mongezi Mtati is a digital entrepreneur and columnist who will speak on “The mixed narrative – control of company brand messages in the media”; and
• Julia Ahlfeldt is brand loyalty and customer data expert whose topic is “The head and the heart – using data to understand customers and foster loyalty advantage in the age of the customer”.

Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is the co-naming partner for the summit which will be held at the East London International Convention Centre on June 21 from 8am until 3pm.

Smith said an event like this not only created the implementation of better business practices, but also ultimately grew the Eastern Cape’s economy.

“The Daily Dispatch is elated about being able to better serve our business community and bring them insights that could revolutionise their bottom line,” said Smith.

The entry fee is R980 per delegate with snacks and lunch included.

Some of the keynote speakers will have their books for sale on the day of the event.

For more information and to reserve your space, visit www.dispatchsummit.biz or Twitter (@DispatchSummit), Facebook (dispatchlive) or www.dispatchlive.co.za

As an alternative to online bookings, contact 043-702-2090 or e-mail bookings@dispatch.co.za to reserve your space.