#WIB – Q&A With Thobeka Ntshangase Founder Of My Fleet Track SA
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
My Fleet track is a vehicle tracking and fleet management company. We cater for both personal and business fleet management. Fleet management is designed for small, medium, and large businesses it entails creating solutions for businesses who run one or more vehicles. Bulk of the company’s expenses come from vehicle related expenses and often this aspect of the business is left unchecked. Telematics is the use of high effective technology to secure your assets, this can be a small car which does day to day deliveries, ambulance, a truck, yellow plant, or any vehicle in your fleet.
Telematics devices can notify you when your driver is driving badly, wasting your diesel or petrol by harsh acceleration, and even when they’ve been in an accident. My fleet track helps you have a birds view of your asset, with the use of video telematics which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to capture every moment from inside and outside your vehicle in real time. With My Fleet Track telematics technology, you still have control of your vehicles and assets from your office desktop and mobile App.
2. When how and why did you start your business?
I am currently in the logistics and transportation industry and through the hardships and challenges myself and other small companies faced, My Fleet track was born. I researched the telematics industry from 2019 during Covid. I got a solid team of individuals who have vast experience within the telematics industry to help me shape and mould my vision. The business officially started operating in April 2021. I started this business to assist other businesses to understand the importance of a Fleet Management system within their operation, no matter how small or big the business may be.
3. What is your role in the business?
I am the owner and founder of My Fleet Track SA. My role in the company is to shape and mould the business. I have experience in financial sector, Insurance and customer care, this experience was vital in understanding how to set up my business as it is a customer centric business that requires the best customer service. I also hired the best youth in the telematics industry to ensure the business offers the best in telematics solutions.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
I Initially studied BCom Accounting in UKZN Westville, unfortunately I could not complete my degree due to financial constraints. I moved back home and completed a Diploma in Financial Management at Mnambithi FET College. I also hold a First Level Regulatory examination: Representative (RE5).
5. How did you finance your business?
I used proceeds from my logistics business, bank loans, and Sasfin Bank credit line to start the business.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
In this type of industry there is no such thing as an average day, everyday is different with new challenges and wins. The office is always buzzing with calls from potential clients who want to know more about what we do, to sales teams that are always trying to get more business – managing this structure is very difficult, but it’s possible because I have a great team behind me that is dedicated to the growth of this company. I also must juggle endless meetings with other major players in the industry to create fruitful and long-lasting relationships.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
I am a mother of 4 handsome boys, a wife, a daughter and have other engagements outside of my businesses. Therefore, it is extremely hard to find the perfect balance. I have chosen to work from home more to ensure I have time with my family, to help with schoolwork and other issues while also running a successful company. Hiring the best team and delegating tasks has made my life so much easier, with the vision we all have for this company, it is easy for me to trust my team.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
I have always known that I want to get into business from a very young age and I am a solution orientated person. I never focus on the problem, but more on the solution, hence why I started this company. My family also drives me to go beyond my limits, I want to give them the best life possible, and that will be possible through hard work.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
I have the best ideas when I am faced with a problem that needs solving, my mind works overtime to look for creative ways out of situations.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
I use a lot of social media, radio and print to advertise my business. I believe these media platforms reach a wider range of people who are our target market. We also have an internal sales team who go out to potential clients to sell our services and offerings.
11. What is next for your business?
In future I want to:
- Grow the business, increase our client base, and have a stronger presence in the SA tracking and fleet management market.
- Have initiatives that will uplift woman, this is a male dominated industry and I want to open the door for more woman to take up more positions in the technical part of the business.
- Build more strategic partnerships with big players in the industry and expand the business to the rest of Africa is the long term.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
In business the key is to never give up, always persevere against all odds. You will fall 10 times; you need to get up 11 times and keep going. There is no such thing as microwave results, everything takes hard work, dedication, and many failed attempts before you can get it right.
Biography – Thobeka Ntshangase
Thobeka Lungisile Ntshangase is a 31-year-old entrepreneur, born on 29 October 1991 in Ladysmith KZN. I am a wife and mother of four boys. I completed my secondary education at Ladysmith Secondary School (LASEC) and further studied Bcom Accounting at UKZN Westville campus, unfortunately due to financial constraints I was financially excluded and could not complete my degree. I moved back home and obtained a Diploma in Financial Management at Mnambithi FET college.
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, my entrepreneurship journey started back in 2013 when I started a furniture manufacturing business – through loans and family assistance the dream became a reality. I later moved into logistics and transportation industry, and through challenges faced in the Industry My Fleet Track was born. My Fleet Track SA, is a vehicle tracking and fleet management company.
I hold financial, insurance, sales, and customer service experience. I gained this experience while working for companies such as Capitec bank, Telesure Multibrand (Budget Insurance) and Malonjeni trading and projects (Malonjeni Logistics). This experience and a great team of individuals with vast experience in the telematics industry helped me mould and shape My Fleet Track SA into the successful company it is today.
For more visit: www.myfleettracksa.co.za