Prime amongst these challenges is increasing government and regulatory pressure to reduce costs, particularly in mobile communications.
“Communications is a vital enabler of economic growth in today’s economy, so it’s not surprising that the authorities are keen to make it more accessible—especially when it comes to mobile communication and the role it can play in helping people escape from poverty,” Joseph observes.
“However, for the mobile operators, this downward pressure on costs comes at a time when their markets are increasingly reaching saturation point.”
Exactly the time, in fact, that companies must begin to pay serious attention to driving efficiencies throughout their organizations while enhancing their ability to develop and launch customer-pleasing new products rapidly and cheaply. This dual approach is the only way the telecommunications companies will ultimately be able to maintain their profitability.
Like the rest of the country, mobile operators are also gearing up for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which presents great opportunities and challenges simultaneously. They will need to provide a great user experience for overseas customers roaming on their networks and for those who purchase local SIM cards, while still looking after existing customers.
“Accenture has a lot to offer the communications companies,” Joseph argues. “For one, we have a lot of capability in both strategy and operations—a combination that is rare. We can help a client to see the big issues and develop a strategy for high performance—and then go on to help with the nuts-and-bolts operational issues to implement the strategy.”
A second key differentiator for Accenture, Joseph points out, lies in its phenomenal global experience. “We have already helped clients in other geographies deal with similar issues. We are good at institutionalizing experience of that nature by creating rigorous methodologies and reusable solutions. In other words, our South African clients don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can reduce their risk and speed time to value,” he says.
Joseph joined Accenture straight after completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in computational and applied mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand. “I felt consulting would give me a wide exposure to different kinds of work in a range of industries,” he explains. After working for government, telecommunications and resources clients, he became part of the Communications & High Tech operating group when it was formed.
In general, Joseph tries to balance his commitment to clients and deepening the talent pool within his group with the need to relax with family and friends. However, with three young children, Joseph finds that off-duty relaxation currently involves a fair amount of nappy changing. He also plays hockey at league level—a fast-paced, aggressive game that, one could argue, is good preparation for the fast-moving communications industry.