Case Study
SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION (SACU)
Enhancing Ownership and Accountability: IDU Transforms SACU’s FP&A Process
ABOUT SACU
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an African regional economic organization, is the world's oldest customs union, founded in 1910. Its members include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.
SACU’s mandate is the maintenance of free trade among the Member States; to afford all the Member States equitable benefits arising from trade among them and with other countries; and to encourage the economic development of the less advanced members of the Customs Union and the diversification of their economies.
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
SACU’s budgeting process was slow, manual, and spreadsheet‑driven, consuming significant time in data entry and reporting rather than analysis. This limited efficiency and made it difficult for the finance team to meet growing demands for accuracy and transparency.
Non‑financial managers also lacked an accessible way to participate in budgeting, resulting in low ownership and inconsistent involvement. The process felt tedious, reducing engagement and making accountability difficult to enforce.
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THE SOLUTION
IDU‑Concept delivered the transformation SACU needed by automating manual processes and dramatically shortening budgeting cycles. Its intuitive, web‑based interface empowered managers at all levels to take direct ownership of their budgets, improving accuracy, engagement, and cross‑departmental collaboration. With routine tasks streamlined, the finance team could finally redirect its energy toward strategic analysis and meaningful insights.
Beyond workflow improvements, IDU‑Concept strengthened SACU’s ability to produce detailed, data‑driven reports for Member States, enhancing accountability and transparency. Combined with IDU’s high‑touch support model, SACU achieved a modern, organised, and insight‑rich budgeting environment—one that supports better decisions, stronger governance, and a more confident financial planning culture.
A PARTNER IN SUCCESS
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"Working with SACU has been a testament to the transformative power of IDU-Concept. The significant improvements in budgeting accuracy, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement at SACU highlight the value of our solution." - Margie Whitten, Director, IDU
“For our strategic leaders and budget holders, IDU has been revolutionary. It has transformed the budgeting process from a tedious task into an accountable and ownership-driven activity.”
Gaelekane Mohale, Head of Finance Unit, SACU
THE RESULT
Budgeting cycles were significantly shortened, moving SACU from manual processes to a faster, streamlined workflow.
Operational efficiency improved, with the finance team spending less time on data entry and more time on analysis and strategic decision‑making.
Manager engagement and ownership increased, as non‑financial managers could easily capture and manage their own budgets through an intuitive web interface.
Reporting accuracy and transparency strengthened, enabling SACU to deliver more detailed, data‑driven insights to its Member States and justify expenditure with greater clarity.
