Accounting, legal, HR, IT, purchasing… Support functions are often seen as cost centers. However, they can become catalysts for transformation if intelligently invested in.
In African SMEs and mid-sized businesses, support functions often suffer from chronic underinvestment. As a result: overload, turnover, low automation, growing frustration. Yet, they are the invisible pillars of growth.
Winning approaches:
- Function maturity diagnosis (4-level grid),
- Detection of internal potentials for skill enhancement,
- Co-financing long-term training through OPCOs or pooled funds,
- Creation of “cross-functional expertise” hubs (compliance, data, internal audit).
Example: A Senegalese construction company outsourced its legal department to focus on strengthening internal management control and budget management, yielding a positive ROI within 6 months.
Support functions should no longer be seen as “costs” but as “enablers.” A strong SME in support functions is a company capable of scaling without chaos.
You can learn more by contacting us at: contact@talent2africa.com