Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a Strategy Advisory Partner capable of delivering a comprehensive Digital Transformation (DX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy for the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The partner will focus on developing an integrated strategy, governance frameworks, and a clear roadmap to enhance IDC’s operational effectiveness, digital maturity, and AI capabilities. The engagement aims to produce a board-approved, actionable strategy that aligns with IDC’s organizational goals and regulatory requirements, setting a foundation for subsequent implementation phases.

Scope

The scope of work for Phase 1 includes:

• Producing a consolidated Digital Transformation and AI strategy blueprint, roadmap, and vision.
• Sequencing current business priorities, initiatives, and dependencies.
• Developing a detailed business case with timelines, milestones, and cost estimates.
• Establishing governance frameworks, procurement processes, and implementation readiness artefacts.
• Designing principles, target outcomes, and value measures for IDC’s digital and AI journey.
• Aligning strategy with relevant governance and compliance frameworks (e.g., PFMA, POPIA, NARSSA).
• Facilitating structured knowledge transfer, learning, and upskilling to ensure IDC ownership beyond the engagement.

This phase explicitly excludes the actual implementation, configuration, build, migration, testing, and deployment of digital solutions.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Development of a comprehensive strategy blueprint and execution roadmap, including initiatives such as MSD 365, information governance, data/BI improvements, process automation, and Microsoft 365 Copilot enablement.
• Design of architectural principles, capability requirements, and enabling technologies aligned with IDC’s governance and compliance obligations.
• Preparation of procurement frameworks for technology vendors and implementation partners.
• Provision of governance artefacts, including principles, decision gates, and performance measures.
• Delivery of a narrative and financial models (Excel-based) aligned with the strategy and roadmap.
• Structured approach to diagnostics, sequencing, dependency management, and change enablement.

Skills Requirements

The bidder must demonstrate the following skills and team capabilities:

• Experience in delivering DX and AI strategies: Proven track record with relevant case studies, especially within regulated financial services or development banks.
• Methodological expertise: Ability to perform diagnostics across people, process, data, technology, culture, and governance; develop integrated roadmaps; and produce business cases and financial models.
• Multidisciplinary team: A strategy lead with at least 8 years’ experience, supported by team members with a minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in areas such as strategy, governance, data, and technology.
• Knowledge transfer and capacity building: Capability to deliver structured training, artefact handover, and enable IDC to sustain and govern the strategy independently post-engagement.
• Project management and stakeholder engagement: Skills in facilitating workshops, aligning stakeholders, and managing dependencies and decision points.
• Technical understanding: Familiarity with enterprise architecture, governance frameworks, procurement processes, and compliance standards relevant to IDC’s operating environment.