In addition to scouting an opportunity for you to win your share of R20-million ( for your business in the FNB Enablis Business Plan Competition, we look at five key factors to increasing the likelihood of your SME's success:

1. Superior Service
To achieve a competitive edge in South Africa's crowded business environment - where costs and product offerings are unnervingly similar, start to manage your customers better. “Provide service that is superior to that of your competitors,” says Stephen Cohen, the MD of Softline Pastel who explains how to drive your SME's profitability with Customer Relationship Management.

2. Accurate data management
The key benefits of superior data management are enhanced control of all incoming and outgoing communications and marked improvements in time, cost and service. By recording all communication and storing it against unique identifying keys, the SME is able to build up a fully searchable and printable communications history. “An organisation can then truly begin to understand the extent and nature of their service levels and measure and analyze there communications spend,” explains Rex Pennefather, of Coretalk as he tells us why "SMS for Business" is becoming the top choice for SME communications.

3. The power of incubation or rather, business acceleration
South African companies are competing with international organisations every day now. Incubators such as the Bandwidth Barn have the technical expertise to deliver internationally. Taking advantage of an incubators reputation for business acumen can score kudos with companies around the globe. We have a chat with Capetonian Entrepreneurs Simon Leps and Grant Fleming, who found out how to make fun and games profitable

4. BEE compliancy
The BEE Codes are already having a marked impact on the South African business landscape. While the BEE Verification process for businesses is not an issue of legal compliance, potential business opportunities in both the public and private sector will be influenced by it. Learn why the BEE Verification process is a business imperative.

5. Years in the business
According to Arthur Goldstuck's latest research, well-established businesses that have survived up to five years are more than twice as likely to be competitive as start-up companies. “In a country where failure of new businesses is commonplace, new business owners must accept that they have to be in it for the long haul,“ he says. Find out what makes the South African SME competitive.

Let us leave you with following thoughts on success from business executive, entrepreneur, television personality and author Donald Trump:

“If you really want to succeed, you’ll have to go for it every day like I do. The big time isn’t for slackers. Keep up your mental stamina and remain curious.”