D&S Rwanda under GM James Ngugi have recently taken the initiative of expanding the country's branch network by opening a new outlet in Remera, the lively and upmarket district in Kigali, the capital city.
Digital innovation has been a key priority for the D&S Group with several platforms coming online in the last few years including apps D&S FLO, the Dayliff App and the Pool Tool as well as proprietary software programs iDayliff, Solarcalc and Pumpcalc.
Physical celebrations were held across the D&S Group for the first time since 2019. This year the Chairman and CEO messages and award winners were communicated via a prerecorded Special Christmas Message which was shared digitally.
D&S is known across the region for its pioneering use of smartly branded company vehicles, a tradition which dates back many years. The Group's large vehicle fleet of sales station wagons, service pickups, borehole trucks and delivery lorries has been expanded in recent years and now includes motorcycles, tuk-tuks, an aeroplane and, most recently, a boat.
September is the beginning of the Group year which traditionally starts with the recently held Annual Conference, an event that has morphed, especially through Covid, to take advantage of virtual communication so all senior staff throughout the Group can participate. The event also starts the annual Planning Process, a key discipline that has driven growth over many years. The Conference objective is to formulate strategy, this year the theme being 'the Future is Digital' as the Group looks to develop the many digital opportunities that are changing the world. An important feature of the Conference are external guest speakers and this year I would particularly mention two - Peter Njonjo, CEO of Twiga Foods and Julius Kipngetich, CEO of Jubilee Insurance, both of whom were inspirational in their perspectives.
The latest volume of the D&S Product Manual has recently been launched at the company's Management Conference, and marks the 13 edition since the current format was introduced in 2010. This years' edition, at over 400 pages, includes a record 73 new and updated data sheets for products and solutions offered directly from the D&S Supply Chain and made available via the Groups' regional network of over 80 branches spread across 11 countries.
The D&S Annual Management Conference was held in September and was a hybrid virtual and physical event appropriately themed 'The Future is Digital'. With sessions staged over several days, the conference as usual provided a forum for managers from across the Group to share experiences and learn from each other as well as hearing from company executives and the various keynote speakers over the course of the event.