The Research & Development teams continuously explore innovations to existing business offerings as well as new opportunities which are in keeping with the Group’s strategic intent and its inherent entrepreneurial spirit.

At the heart of Louis Group (Africa) is an irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit, which continuously expresses itself through the business dealings of the Louis family as well as the leadership and members of each business unit. In order to meet the demands of the educated and ever-evolving customer, Louis Group (Africa) has dedicated time, people and financial resources to research and development in the areas of property, hotels, financial services and technology.

Each of these divisions has been mandated to investigate existing products and solutions, explore new technologies, source best-of-breed ideas and to co-ordinate their findings with their own original ideas in order to continuously provide the Group and its clients with leading, entrepreneurial opportunities.

Notable results of this approach include:

• A globally respected property syndication methodology;
• Rental solutions which ultimately transfer ownership to the tenant;
• A wide range of Financial Services solutions 'wrapped' around sound property investments;
• The design of structures which allow investors access to opportunities in eight countries and numerous currencies, with low risk to capital;
• The release of vehicle surveillance products on GPRS which allowed for the first 'active' tracking systems in South Africa;
• The design and implementation of the first Windows-based brokerage software platform in South Africa; and
• The provision of a university accredited business course based on the principle of 'Learning through Discovery'.

The Research & Development teams continue to investigate new opportunities and innovations to the range of services currently offered to the Group’s existing client base, demonstrating the entrepreneurial flair embedded deep within the Group's DNA.