Category: Innovation

Innovation, technology, startups, and digital transformation shaping Africa’s business future.

The blockchain frameworks set to enhance fintech development in 2026

As digital capital markets mature, blockchain frameworks are becoming the backbone of fintech innovation in 2026. With over half a billion users globally and widespread adoption by financial institutions, blockchain is reshaping payments, settlements, smart contracts, and decentralized finance. This article explores the leading blockchain frameworks driving fintech development—Corda, EOSIO, Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, and XRP Ledger—highlighting their real-world use cases, scalability, regulatory readiness, and impact on banks, fintechs, and digital asset platforms. Industry insights from D24 Fintech CTO Osama Bari outline how choosing the right framework will be critical for fintechs seeking efficiency, security, and long-term growth in an increasingly competitive blockchain ecosystem.

From turbulence to transformation: How local leaders can shift their trajectory in 2026

As business and technology converge in 2026, leaders must navigate rapid change, innovate on the fly, and build resilience amidst uncertainty. In South Africa, businesses are focused on maximising efficiency through flexible virtualisation, accelerating AI adoption beyond pilots, and strengthening cybersecurity to combat emerging AI-powered threats. To succeed, leaders must embrace AI, reimagine roles, and foster cross-functional teams while prioritising security and data governance. Success will depend on adapting quickly, laying solid foundations, and embracing a continuous journey of transformation.

Smart contracts, institutional tokenization, and modular infrastructures: D24 Fintech on the 2026 trends shaping blockchain

Blockchain technology is entering a new enterprise-driven phase in 2026, shaped by modular infrastructures, advanced smart contracts, institutional tokenization, and the convergence of AI and blockchain. In this article, Osama Bari, CTO at D24 Fintech, outlines the key trends redefining how blockchain scales, interoperates, and integrates with traditional finance. The analysis explores the rise of Layer-2 rollups and modular blockchains, the evolution of smart contracts into user-friendly smart accounts, the rapid growth of tokenized real-world assets, and the expanding role of AI in automation, compliance, and market intelligence. It also highlights how zero-knowledge proofs and confidential computing are enabling privacy-preserving compliance, positioning blockchain as core financial infrastructure for global enterprises.

Responsible by Design: How Tech Partners Must Rethink AI Deployment

Responsible AI is no longer optional as artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to large-scale enterprise deployment. In this article, Mindware Group CTO Mostafa Kabel explores how technology partners must rethink AI implementation to address legal compliance, licensing, intellectual property ownership, ethical responsibility, and service accountability. The analysis highlights the risks of unmanaged AI adoption, including regulatory exposure, bias, and loss of trust, while outlining practical steps for updating SLAs, ensuring transparency, and aligning with emerging regulations such as GDPR and the EU AI Act. The piece positions responsible, transparent, and well-governed AI as a critical competitive advantage for partners supporting secure and sustainable digital transformation across global and MEA markets.

Kodak Alaris Launches Next-Generation Intelligent Document Processing Software with Advanced AI

Kodak Alaris has launched KODAK Info Input Solution IDP Version 7.5, a next-generation intelligent document processing platform powered by advanced AI integrations. The latest release expands native connections with leading AI services including Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, ChatGPT, and Box AI, enabling faster, more accurate document automation. With enhanced workflow design, built-in IRIS OCR, AI-based indexing, and end-to-end document processing capabilities, Info Input Solution 7.5 helps organizations automate data extraction, improve decision-making, and scale digital transformation across structured and unstructured documents.

AI-driven shopping and privacy: What the retail and e-commerce sector should expect in 2026

As AI-driven shopping transforms retail and e-commerce, cybersecurity and privacy risks are escalating rapidly. In 2025, retailers faced a sharp rise in ransomware, phishing, and mobile malware attacks, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting online stores, payment systems, and delivery services. Looking ahead to 2026, conversational AI search, external AI shopping assistants, and image-based product discovery are expected to expand the data and privacy attack surface, exposing both consumers and businesses to new threats. To sustain trust and growth, retailers must strengthen cybersecurity defenses, improve data governance, and proactively address emerging privacy risks associated with AI-powered shopping experiences.

Building Your Digital Business Platform: A Strategic Guide to Technology and Skills

African organisations are accelerating digital transformation, yet many struggle to move beyond ad hoc technology adoption toward sustainable business value. This article explores Gartner’s digital business platform framework as a practical, phased approach to building digital capabilities across customers, partners, employees, connected assets, and intelligence. By combining the right technologies with critical skills, governance, and culture, organisations can move from fragmented digital projects to an integrated platform that drives innovation, resilience, and growth. With a focus on African realities and opportunities, the article provides a strategic guide for leaders seeking to build future-ready digital businesses systematically rather than treating transformation as a one-off project.

Modern telcos must approach AI in BSS with caution and care

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the telecom industry, its application within Business Support Systems (BSS) requires a measured and responsible approach. While AI can accelerate development, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance analytics, poorly governed implementation in mission-critical BSS environments introduces serious risks—from billing errors and service outages to compliance and data security failures. This article explores why human oversight, governance, and accountability remain essential when integrating AI into telecom BSS, highlighting real-world failures, regulatory concerns, and best practices for safely leveraging AI without compromising operational integrity or customer trust.

Studies show SA trails the U.S. in AI implementation by 50%: confirmed by SA’s leading digital innovation agency

Studies reveal that South Africa trails the United States by nearly 50% in real-world AI implementation, despite growing ambition and awareness of artificial intelligence’s value. According to Specno, South Africa’s leading digital innovation agency, the gap is driven by execution challenges including critical AI skills shortages, weak data and organisational readiness, and low enterprise adoption beyond pilot projects. While U.S. companies embed AI into core business strategy and operations, South African organisations continue to struggle with scaling and integration. Experts argue that closing the gap will require coordinated action across government, industry, and academia, alongside practical investment in skills, data infrastructure, and problem-focused AI deployment in key sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and logistics.