Business growth thrives on strong industry connections, but in an era of hyper-communication and remote work, how do businesses form trusted relationships and unlock new opportunities? VUKA Group, a leading South African media and events agency, has tackled this challenge head-on and launched their new portfolio ecosystem – taking a digital-first approach that has created uncountable new business connections across Africa’s most critical industries.
Instead of resisting the global shift towards working online, VUKA Group leveraged it – creating a central hub that understands human psychology and merges it with digital behaviour. As a result, businesses gain unlimited access to new partners and a seamless pathway to build meaningful relationships.
From Fragmented Engagement to a Unified Ecosystem
Previously, one of the biggest challenges VUKA Group faced was visibility across its own offerings.
“Our clients only knew us for part of what we do – they had no idea how many doors we could open for them,” explains David Ashdown, CEO of VUKA Group.
With 15 separate websites promoting events, conferences and news media, valuable opportunities were getting lost in the noise. In the past, clients relied on individual staff to guide them – a model that was once effective, but unsustainable in a world where attention spans have dropped by 85% in the last 15 years.
The solution? A single digital ecosystem hosted on the domain wearevuka.com that empowers clients to explore and connect on their own terms.
The impact has been game-changing:
- 15% sales growth
- 891% increase in website visitation (1 website vs 15 originally)
- > 1 million page views
“We’ve been inundated with clients wanting to expand their relationship with us,” shares Errol Bryce, Commercial Director, at VUKA Group. “Some lifelong clients had no idea what was possible until now.”
The Influence Model: A Year-Round Engagement Engine
Historically, businesses engaged with VUKA Group in silos – attending events without realising they could also access industry news, content, and key introductions. Now, everything exists in one place, positioning VUKA not just as an event organiser, but as a strategic partner for industry growth.
“This isn’t just a redesign, it’s a fundamental shift in how industries connect,” says Josh Strawczynski, Managing Director of JMarketing, the agency behind the digital transformation. “The new ecosystem provides a clear, accessible pathway for businesses to discover opportunities, build relationships, and stay informed – without needing multiple touchpoints.”
The Influence Model is at the heart of this transformation. By integrating media exposure, in-person events, and curated industry introductions, VUKA ensures businesses remain engaged year-round – not just during isolated events.
AI and the Next Phase of Innovation
VUKA Group’s transformation doesn’t stop here. The next phase is already in motion – leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to provide personalised insights, smarter connections, and an even more seamless user experience.
“We are committed to continuous innovation,” says Ashdown. “Our next digital sprint will focus on AI-driven personalisation, efficiency, and ensuring our platform remains the go-to hub for industry engagement.”
With this forward-thinking approach, VUKA is redefining how industries connect, collaborate, and grow – proving that digital transformation isn’t just about technology, it’s about creating opportunities that didn’t exist before.
