Slow down to keep up with the pace of 4IR
The rapid pace of technological evolution, sped up even more out of necessity to deal with the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, has meant that businesses - and people - have had to keep up [...]
How impact sourcing can help kickstart SA’s economic recovery
While impact sourcing is gaining traction internationally, this hasn’t necessarily been the case in South Africa, with some still sceptical about whether such business models are effective in the long term. Work by several NGOs [...]
Financial inclusion in Africa requires more doing and less talking
There’s no shortage of articles espousing the virtues of fintech’s potential to financially include hundreds of millions of people who are outside the mainstream. Despite this, one could argue that change is not happening fast [...]
A Digital Transformation Roadmap to Reimagine and Elevate Brand South Africa
With the government now firmly focused on economic recovery, with planned infrastructure spend and job creation top of mind, there is renewed emphasis on skills development and community upliftment. Yet key to this recovery and [...]
Black Friday: How your business can survive the ‘Pandemic Edition’
Black Friday 2020. It’s a date that, in the past, would herald long queues, close confines and fights over discounted television sets and kitchenware. Today, this picture needs to be framed by social distancing, masks, [...]
How IoT can drive industry growth in the post-pandemic world
With the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus forcing industry leaders to rethink traditional human capital deployment and the use of manual labour, emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G and automation [...]
Cracking the Privacy Paradox: How to future-proof trust in the fast-growing data economy
With consumers and businesses alike becoming ever more dependent on digital products, services and partnerships, our digital footprints are growing exponentially. By 2025, the World Economic Forum expects that the amount of data generated daily [...]
Agility and customer focus key to business success going forward
Even as the spread of Covid-19, and the resulting economic fallout has disrupted business operations across sectors, predictions made at the start of the year about the need for agility and customer-centricity in order to [...]
Not so fast – this is what you should know about internet speed tests
Back when you had ADSL and tested your speed by downloading files, you often got very close to the speed of your line, be it 4Mpbs, 10Mpbs or 20Mpbs. You understood that the ‘missing Mbps’ [...]
Reshaping the business communication landscape
Today, the PBX has become a complete communications platform. Organisations can leverage it to engage with their stakeholders with more context, at improved speeds, and greater accuracy. Thanks to the unprecedented demand for data and [...]
AI, machine learning key to making business sense of all your data
Now, more than ever, harnessing data analytics, business intelligence (BI), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA) - made more accessible through the cloud - is crucial to business success. It [...]
What does POPIA really mean for SA’s direct marketers?
With South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) having officially commenced on 1 July 2020, the clock is now ticking for business leaders and marketers to ensure they remain compliant once the grace period [...]
The customer is always fast
The Microsoft Global State of Multichannel Customer Service Report underscored the value of resolving customer issues at speed and the importance of equipping contact centre staff with the right knowledge. This customer demand is dictating [...]
Putting agility into action: How a leading software developer maintains quality during lockdown
While many South African businesses, across sectors, have extolled the benefits of rapidly moving to a remote working model (reduced overhead costs, no commuting, etc), fewer have highlighted – and proactively tackled – the weaknesses [...]
Reinventing retail for a digital world
The retail environment has come under increasing pressure given both the challenging economic environment and increasingly sophisticated customers who are looking for an integrated digital experience. This requires a rethink on how best to create [...]
Unlocking value in the SA enterprise sector with smart 5G solutions
Although many South Africans view 5G as just a faster way to download videos and rich multimedia to their smartphones, it is enterprises and the industrial sector that have the most to gain from this [...]
How an ambitious African start-up grew into a global fintech powerhouse
While many view Mukuru as a technology company, its business is centred around helping people at a very personal level. From humble beginnings in a London flat in 2005, to African fintech giant in [...]
Are garbled video conferencing calls driving you up the wall?
As handy as video conferencing (VC) applications have been for people working from home during the national lockdown, poor audio and video quality can leave employees frustrated. Does it sound like your colleagues are speaking [...]
Donating should be a financial decision, not a knee-jerk reaction
In a time of crisis, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, people’s willingness to donate money increases significantly, however, the beneficiaries of these donations, such as funds and non-profit organisations (NGOs), are often less than [...]
What game theory tells marketers during lockdown
While South African business owners scramble to mitigate the devastating economic impact of coronavirus and an extended national lockdown, marketing teams have to adjust quickly to a radically altered business and communications landscape. During the [...]
CX from a millennial perspective
To engage with millennials brands must weave seamless experiences across digital platforms and multiple channels The results of the PwC 2019 Global Consumer Insights Survey were hardly surprising. Customers in South Africa used social media [...]
A new digital reality for South African educational institutions
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound and indelible effect on all aspects of society, sweeping in disruptive changes to the way we live, work and interact with each other. One of the key [...]
Fibre critical to serving the country at its moment of need
Beyond the impact that the lockdown has had on people’s lives, it has highlighted how essential access to reliable, high-speed fibre infrastructure has become for the economy to keep going. It should come as no [...]
Cloud migration not without challenges
While moving to the cloud might be easier than overhauling on-premise systems, there are still obstacles to overcome. Ryan Jamieson, Solutions and Innovation Officer at Altron Karabina, says many companies underestimate the costs of migration [...]
Tackling the Trillion Dollar Identity Fraud Crisis
Fraud costs trillions of dollars to world economies annually. For consumers whose identity data has been stolen, the impact on their lives can vary from being a nuisance to financial and emotional trauma Worldwide, around [...]
Retail software giant PCMS extends partnership with redPanda Software
“PCMS is on an ambitious growth path for 2019, including a much stronger focus on building our client base outside Europe and the United States,” says PCMS Country Executive for Africa and Australia Peter Ludi. [...]
Enterprise software development must be underpinned by trust and transparency
South Africa is on par with the rest of the world when it comes to enterprise software development. The business demands are similar to the rest of the world and software development companies have the [...]
5G: an enabler of future tech, but challenges remain
While upcoming 5G technology will have a crucial role in providing the level of connectivity to expand broadband wireless services beyond mobile internet and into the Internet of Things and critical communications, it will not [...]
To BCDR or Not to BCDR
When speaking to customers, I always ask what their BCDR strategies are. Sometimes I get good information from customers around their understanding of BCDR, but in most cases it seems that customers have given up [...]
How communications service providers can maximise revenue with cloud
While cloud adoption among communications service providers (CSPs) in Africa is still at an early stage – with many regional operators only now beginning to implement concrete projects – Hassen Hamza, Pre-Sales & Business Development [...]
Vox streamlines communications with automated SMS
Vox has announced that it will be providing its customers, running Microsoft Dynamics NAV with automated SMS sending functionality. This feature is as a result of a collaboration between Vox and Braintree, the consulting and [...]
SA set to embrace the public cloud
Cloud computing received a major boost over the last few weeks, with two of the world’s largest public cloud providers officially opening data centres in South Africa. Within days of one another, Huawei and Microsoft [...]
Heightened interest in cloud strengthens Veeam’s Africa business
Veeam, a provider of backup solutions that deliver cloud data management, has underlined heightened interest in cloud within the South Africa and broader Africa markets as a key contributor to growth recorded during Q1 2019. [...]
Successfully managing risk in today’s digital environment
Business agility has become a critical enabler in today’s digital environment, and yet outages can take it away with one snap of the fingers. Kate Mollett, Regional Manager for Africa at Veeam, looks at what [...]
Frogfoot rolls out free fibre to schools
With education being paramount to the success and growth of South Africa, Frogfoot has committed to providing schools in its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage areas with up to 1 GBPS free fibre. “We have partnered with [...]
What can organisations do to prevent cloud application attacks?
Sebastiaan Rothman, Senior Consultant Applications and Infrastructure at Altron Karabina, looks at what organisations can do to prevent cloud application attacks. With an increase in organisations looking to modernise their applications, doing away with traditional [...]
Telecommunications expert on sharing the mobile traffic burden
Alexey Vedin, Director of Network Monetisation Products at Nexign, says it’s time to share the mobile traffic burden and work together in perfect harmony. Digital Transformation is all around us, revamping the core practices of [...]
New Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 Version 3 now available
Veeam Software, a leader in backup solutions that enable Intelligent Data Management, has announced the new Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v3, offering organisations even faster backup, improved security, enhanced visibility and analytics. As enterprises [...]
Vox ramps up Microsoft offerings as SA businesses turn to cloud
A growing number of South African businesses are looking to move their operations to the cloud, and integrated ICT and infrastructure provider Vox is looking to take advantage of the opportunity by helping them make the [...]
Oracle Global Startup Ecosystem Launches a Program for Ghanaian Startups and Entrepreneurs
A new collaborative program conducted by Oracle Global Startup Ecosystem and the Ghanaian Government—the Ghana-Oracle Digital Enterprise Program—is launched to support tech-enabled entrepreneurs and startups in Ghana. There will be about 500 Ghanaian startups supported by the Oracle [...]
Nexign affirms importance of digital partnerships in telecom market with latest product enhancements
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BOOTH 3B40, BARCELONA, Spain (February 25, 2019): Nexign, a leading Business Support System (BSS) and Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider, today announced new capabilities to its product portfolio that will empower [...]
Utility Systems announces slimline battery pack
21 February 2019, Durban - Smart water metering company, Utility Systems has announced that it has streamlined the replaceable battery pack for its Water Management Device (WMD) in an effort to use it in a [...]
The impact of blockchain on telecoms
With the blockchain expected to contribute almost $1 billion to the telecoms sector within the next five years, the technology clearly offers more than just a vehicle for cryptocurrency. From Smart Contracts to speeding up [...]
MTN Initiates Major Digital Transformation with Oracle Cloud Applications
South Africa based mobile telecommunications major; MTN has chosen Oracle Cloud Applications to drive one of the largest digital transformations in the global telecom industry across all its core business operations. The implementation will help [...]
Cyber security is key to smart metering deployment
As adoption of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) becomes more widespread, its appeal to cyber attackers will undoubtedly increase, and addressing security vulnerabilities across layers - and by different stakeholders - must be taken into account [...]
Future Proof: Three Key Trends Driving Enterprise Software Innovation in 2019
In South Africa, savvy business leaders are looking to embrace leading edge technology as a way to drive growth and innovation. Importantly, this requires a fresh and brave approach to traditional processes – with investment [...]
The impact of blockchain on telecoms
With the blockchain expected to contribute almost $1 billion to the telecoms sector within the next five years, the technology clearly offers more than just a vehicle for cryptocurrency. From Smart Contracts to speeding up [...]
The future of smart water metering in 2019
Driven by the requirement to improve operational efficiencies and revenues, cut down on wastage, and enhance customer service, water utilities around the world are turning to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) - including smart meters - [...]
Workplace 2025: Where humans and machines coexist
The world is undergoing its biggest transformation ever. As emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) enter workplaces, human talent is grappling with an existential crisis. Generations, new and old, are losing sleep over what [...]
AI: the CFO’s strategic ally
By Derek Bose, applications country leader at Oracle South Africa & SADC For me, the appeal of AI to CFOs comes down to three things: * Automation: AI frees employees from mundane and repetitive tasks. [...]
Retailers have no choice but to chase customer experience
Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers have no chance of surviving the onslaught from e-commerce unless they invest in their customer experience, says redPanda Software Group CEO Gareth Hawkey. If traditional retailers take on e-commerce providers at their [...]
5 ways to prevent data downtime these holidays
For a business owner with a small IT team, the next few weeks are a trying time of year with your workforce reduced as they take their summer holidays. With responsibility for services, websites and other [...]
Meeting the expectations of digital travellers this summer
By Kate Mollett, regional manager for Africa South at Veeam With the summer holiday period around the corner, consumers are turning to technology to book their trips, but what happens if online service are unavailable? [...]
Progressive companies should turn CX into a competitive advantage
By Chantel Troskie, Customer Experience Senior Sales Manager at Oracle Today’s high-touch customers view their interactions with a brand, from social media and sales engagements to service and support encounters, as a single continuous conversation. [...]
Frogfoot targets bigger fibre push in Cape Town
Frogfoot Networks, an open access fibre network provider and subsidiary of Vox, says it is on track to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to an additional 14,000 homes in the Southern Peninsula, Western Cape by April 2019. [...]
Hyper-availability: The competitive edge for digital banks
With downtime and unavailability significantly impacting on the reputation of a bank, fintechs are in a prime position to embrace hyper-availability and gain the competitive advantage over the incumbents. Kate Mollett, Regional Manager for Africa [...]
Nexign expands into Africa
Russian-based business support system (BSS) provider for telecommunication, Nexign, is expanding into Africa, with South Africa and Nigeria top of its list of new markets. "The company has big plans to expand its footprint in Africa [...]
Why mobile is the gatekeeper of brand loyalty today
Achieving long-term brand loyalty has become brutally difficult for South African retailers. Mobile represents an unparalleled opportunity for savvy retailers to reach customers in more personalised, efficient and powerful ways – paving the way for [...]
Oracle accelerates digital transformation in South Africa with new innovation hub
Reinforcing its commitment to South Africa, Oracle today announced the opening of an Innovation Hub in Johannesburg, a first for Oracle in Africa that will help drive the adoption of emerging technologies across the country’s [...]
Availability: The next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity in Africa
By Kate Mollett, regional manager for Africa South at Veeam Find the article on IT News Africa The amount of data in our world has been exploding, and business reliance on the ability to analyse and [...]
Vox helps SA business maximise IT investment, get cloud ready
October 2018, Johannesburg: Integrated ICT and infrastructure provider, Vox, has introduced a comprehensive IT Advisory portfolio to assist medium-to large-sized businesses review current IT strategies or set new ones, particularly making the shift from on-premise [...]
Four Ways that Mobile Can Unlock Innovation in Brick ‘n Mortar Retail
Mobile tech can boost customer engagement (and sales) for savvy SA retailers By redPanda Software, an expert in end-to-end retail software development and support with a focus on customer experience Find the article on FastMoving [...]
