BUSINESS AND TRAINING 15
I would like to see Ariston in South Africa become the brand and company which offers “ comfort ” to its customers , whomever they may be . From an operational perspective , one of our key goals is to continuously improve our service offerings and service levels , reducing the customer ’ s anxiety and vastly improving their overall sense of wellbeing or comfort is a key metric of whether we are doing a fair job !
4 . How would Ariston assist the installer in conveying this message to his / her customer ? To us the key message to our installer partners would be that we are here to support them , this support which again relates to the word “ comfort ” has been and will continue to be promoted and nurtured through the myriad range of interactions we have with them daily .
Our focus on training and knowledge transfer is vital , as we wish to assist the installers to be the absolute best version of themselves . Given the nature of the products we manufacture and sell , our operational support and execution is very much geared towards ensuring our products are readily available and of a class leading standard .
Our various marketing activities which the installers are actively participating in are testament to our core vision that in every corner of the world we can affect a positive level of comfort , transparency , and support . If we relate this to the local market , being in touch with the nuances and local requirements is very much a focus area for us .
5 . Where does South Africa stand in the Ariston Group from a strategic point of view ? The Southern African market is a key expansion market for the Group , the expansion plans which are either already in motion or those that have been planned , speak volumes of having a global vision but with the all-important local action . Our unique local market with its main hot water products ( geysers ) having an extremely elevated level of local standards specificity is also a market where the creation and acceleration of new typologies of hot water delivery is very much a strategic outlook .
Management team – left up / across / down - Wayne Vertue - Country Director , Ntloobone Makhongoana - Logistics Manager , Jared Bishop - Plant Director , Hentie Van Staden - Procurement Manager , Alistair Bach - Marketing Manager , Raymond Saayman - Parts & Services Manager - Charlene Moodley - Chief Financial Officer , Nthabiseng Khathi - Human Resources Manager – Absent Floris Kotzee – Sales Manager
Our core Group value , best described by the founder Mr Aristide Merloni that , “ in every industrial scheme economic success is worthless if it isn ’ t matched by social progress efforts ”, is a guiding principle for our local operation .
We believe “ voice of customer ” is vital to understanding how to evolve the local market through the comprehension of the preferences , expectations , and commercial considerations . Harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit and cultural diversity of Southern Africa is an opportunity that the management team is strongly focused on .
I am of the belief that no matter the challenges that we are faced with as a country , we can persevere , and the key lies in the last four letters of “ South afr I CAN .” Taking all of this into account , we will strive to be the leading player in the local market through coherent brand marketing and quality products commensurate to the global brand message .
6 . Whatever the response , how will you go about achieving this ? I am of the firm belief that we must strive to deliver real value for all people that we engage with directly or indirectly . It is in translating our strategic goals into clearly defined actions and executions that will build and allow for a sustainable local entity which is best positioned to offer the market world class quality at affordable pricing .
7 . From a technology point of view please describe the thinking of the group from not only products but sustainability and innovation . It is inherent to who we are as a responsible global corporate citizen to ensure that we have a strong focus on protecting the environment . In 2022 , Ariston Group will pursue > 80 % of revenues to be generated from high efficiency and renewable solutions .
To support these goals , product innovation is the key driver . From a local perspective , the provision to the market of class leading energy efficient products , such as the Class B electric storage water heaters , is of paramount importance . Ensuring the consistency of product quality being produced locally at our Centurion facility is a key focus . Further to this , we are actively promoting new product lines from our group factories located in Italy , China , and Vietnam . PA
“…. and the key lies in the last four letters of “ South afr I CAN .”
June 2022 Volume 28 I Number 4 www . plumbingafrica . co . za