Sarens Siba Introduces the Decentralised Depot Structure

Covid-19 regulations introduced by the government has led to new restrictions and challenges for the South African economy and the companies that operate in this business environment. This required a revision of traditional business models and an expedited transition phase towards what is now coined as “the new normal”. We cannot go back to our business and personal lives as we knew it in the pre-Corona period. Instead, it is imperative to adapt and look forward.

Sarens Siba used the initial period of Level 5 Lock-Down in South Africa to take a good, long look inwards to see if our working model was correct and aligned with our clients requirements and expectation to deliver our services as the top heavy lift and engineered transport specialists in Southern Africa.

Sarens Siba has taken the initiative and carried out an internal review, mainly online via Skype and Teams meetings to see how it could adapt and re-align into an improved business model, with the primary focus being on the client’s requirements in different geographical areas.

This review yielded interesting conclusions for us. Our business model for our equipment and manpower was based on a centralised location which was not the optimal option. A plan was produced and approved, as a result, to change the working model to a depot structure, with designated depots for different locations. 

These new depots would be located in key areas of Sasolburg, Secunda, Witbank, and Rustenburg with a smaller setup for the crawler and larger mobile cranes (heavies). Each of these depots would have its own dedicated equipment and manpower to cover management, sales, supervision, and maintenance.

These depots will be located at our client’s door-step, so to speak, to ensure a quicker reaction time and improved cost-effective customer service, with a dedicated specialist on-hand provide customised and innovative solutions to our client’s requirements. 

From 1st July 2020 onwards the new depot structure was implemented. At this time, we are receiving excellent feedback from our clients on the improved organisation.

Sarens Siba delivers to clients a Level 1 broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) status. This change to a new model is also allowing Sarens Siba to service a geographically broader client base in a cost-effective manner. We are also able to better understand and assist our clients with engineering solutions by using our in-house team and finding alternative methods and solutions, moving away from traditional basic crane lifting. 

Sarens as a global brand consistently ensures that all our operations and projects run aligned with our global ISO Certifications for Safety (ISO 45000) Environment (ISO 14000) & Quality (ISO 9001). Sarens in the Southern African continent continues to grow with successful branches in Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana that service cross border clients as well as South African clients executing cross border projects.

We proudly stand by our motto - “Nothing Too Heavy, Nothing Too High.”