BUILDERS BRIDGE

An Introduction

CONTENTS

1. DEFINITION OF BUILDER

2. SYNOPSIS

3. OBJECTIVES

4. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

5. WHY BUIDERS’ BRIDGE?

6. KEY ACTIVITIES

7. BENEFICIARIES

8. STRATEGIC PARTNERS

9. EXPECTED CHALLENGES

10.MONITORING AND EVALUATION

11.SUSTAINABILITY

DEFINITION: BUILDER

We recognize that everybody who stands to benefit from any home building related initiatives aimed at addressing the problems of poverty, inequality and unemployment is classified a home builder. BUILDERS Bridge serves as a conduit to self reliance and prosperity.

Builders Bridge recognizes that “BUILDER” is not a term limited only to the people in the business of building physical structures and receiving payments for their services/products. We recognize that ALL the state and non-state actors involved in the supply value chain and the very people who are creating the need to have descent housing, which is you and I, are the home BUILDERS.

A BUILDER can be a:

• Dealer, supplier and manufacturer

• Policy maker, regulatory institution, trade association and government agency

• Consumer (developers and home owners)

• Remodeler

• Interior designer

• Any other service provider and/or individual.

SYNOPSIS: VISION

TO PROVIDE AN OPEN AND CONVENIENT e-BRIDGE THAT SEEKS TO:- Connect

- Networking- Mentorship

- Equip- Knowledge

- Bridge to Training, Technical, Marketing, Legal Advice, Business Contracts

- Capital - Execution

- Inspire

SYNOPSIS: PURPOSE

We exist to:- Improve the experiences of role players in the home supply value chain;- Facilitate the disruption of existing supply chain barriers through

technology;- Enhance the quality of homes in South Africa in particular, and in Africa,

generally; - Enhance the adoption and commercialisation of new technologies and

methods in the home build value chain;- Improve the quality of information about the performance of actors in

the industry; - Empower the existing and prospective home owners with knowledge;

and- Improve the professionalism of builders.

SYNOPSIS: MISSION

To promote policies and provide services which promote and enhance:

- builders’ business practices,

- Empowerment of consumers through knowledge;

- Research & innovation of products & solutions,

- viability & profitability, and

- highest standards of professional and commercial conduct.

OBJECTIVES

TO:• Assist state and non-state actors in the supply value-chain with:

– Ideas, knowledge and best practices– Business opportunities– Skills and Expertise– Networks– Tools – Procurement Support & Facilitation Services– General Support Services

• Assist the Consumer with:– Market Intelligence– Information about builders – Knowledge about rights and recourses– Knowledge-based Resources – Industry knowledge – Information about Products and solutions– Information about best practices– Innovation about inventions and innovations – Information about market trends– An exchange platform for ideas and experiences

BACKGROUND

South African housing delivery marred by:• Corruption• High barrier to entry for previously disadvantaged• Net under-expenditure of funding• Poor quality and lack of innovation• Inability to manage complex housing projects• Inadequate information dissemination and

capacity building tools and services.• Demand Risk

WHY BUILDERS BRIDGE?

• To bridge information and knowledge gaps;• To bridge capital gaps;• To use Scale as leverage in access to goods and services;• Use the platform to create a coordinated voice on industry issues;• Provide a one-stop bridge to quality products and services at the lowest possible

cost;• Encourage industry high-standards through self-regulated commercial and

personal conduct;• Raise awareness about the home building industry issues encompassing all stages

of the supply value chain from idea to a certified home; • To discover and expose innovations and new products and solutions;• To discover and showcase best builders and their references;• To inspire and democratize the industry service and product suppliers; and • Promote a sense of ownership by users of the bridge who through participation

will generate content and news.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Builders Bridge

9 Provincial Exchanges

SAHB Mutual

Builders eWallet

Builders Mart

Dep't of Human Settlement + Provincial

Governments and Municipalities

NHBRC + Housing Institutions

KEY ACTIVITIES: BUILDERS MART

•Set to be Africa’s largest online B2B marketplace.• Primarily targeted at SMEs and individuals.• Provides a convenient bridge for buyers to connect with suppliers (local and global).• Generation of leads from not only for NHBRC’s 40 000+ members but also from any interested individual or company who may wish to use the platform to find reliable, vetted and competitive suppliers. • Ready to use e-commerce platform with robust interoperable payment systems.•Payments using a debit and/or credit card issued by South African Home Builders Mutual Aid Benefit Association (‘SAHB Mutual).

KEY ACTIVITIES: BUILDERS eWALLET

The Builders e-Wallet will be a B2C and B2B payments solution that will be featured prominently on the Builders Bridge portal and accessible to users who wish to procure goods and services sold through the bridge and directly from vendors. Upon clicking the banner on the Builders Bridge, clients will be taken to a dedicated Builders’ e-Wallet site where they will get full information and directions on how to transact.

The e-Wallet solution will be supported by other payment options that will be enabled on the bridge’s dashboard. Both the cards issued by SAHB Mutual and other enabled payment options will give vendors a normal token for charging or for attaching to a customer. The e-Wallet offers a unique purchasing experience involving a unified set of APIs that integrate a plethora of different online payment methods.

User BenefitsWith the e-Wallet solution, actors in the value chain will be able to complete simple financial transactions such as sending money via mobile, buying goods and services, saving money, bank to wallet transfers, paying for goods and services, and much more.

Provincial Exchange Hubs

Provincial Exchange Proposed Domain

1. Gauteng Builders Exchange www.gautengbx.org.za

2. Limpopo Builders Exchange www.limpopobx.org.za

3. North West Builders Exchange www.nwestbx.org.za

4. Free State Builders Exchange www.fstatebx.org.za

5. Western Cape Builders Exchange www.wcapebx.org.za

6. Eastern Cape Builders Exchange www.ecapebx.org.za

7. Northern Cape Builders Exchange www.ncapebx.org.za

8. Mpumalanga Builders Exchange www.mpumabx.org.za

9. Kwa-Zulu Natal Builders Exchange www.kznbe.org.za

STRATEGIC PARTNER: NHBRC

Other partners include but not limited to:

• National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC)• National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (Nurcha)• Housing Development Agency (HDA)• Servcon Housing Solutions• Agreement S.A• National Consumer Commission (NCC)• Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA)• Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB)• National Regulator For Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)• Centre For Research and Home Innovation (CRHI)

MONITORING & EVALUATIONThe criteria for success are:

• Popularity of website: Online and offline traffic analytics (data disaggregated by important variables like gender, age, race, LSM… etc)

• Connectedness ( networks, interoperability, integrations, mentorships )

• Lead generation

• Impact on home quality

• Capacity for collective bargaining.

• Increased differentiation between good and bad builders.

• Political advocacy – impact on legislation and associated building processes.

• Sentiment analysis of user feedback.

• Testimonials

• Research output and blog posts.

• Frequency and impact of workshops and training sessions.

• Improved income of affiliated builders

• Alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP).

• Liberalisation of the building process.

• Geographical reach

• Users’ attitudes and behaviours towards the building process.

• Convenience

• Social and economic value

• Number of products and services associated with the building process

• Communities of practice