Wednesday, November 27African Digital Business Magazine

South Africa News

South Africa News

Ghana News, Kenya News, Main, Nigeria News, South Africa News

Global Cities Report: A mixed bag of results for Africa

Social, geopolitical, and technological transformations are actively disrupting the traditional hierarchy of global cities, creating a more widely distributed geography of opportunity. This is according to Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report, which highlights that established global city leaders face ever-greater competition from emerging hubs, with those taking a regenerative approach poised to lead in the attraction of talent, innovation, and investment. Global Cities Index The Global Cities Index (GCI) seeks to quantify the extent to which a city can attract, retain, and generate global flows of capital, people, and ideas. Cities are measured against five key dimensions: Human Capital, Information Exchange, Cultural Experience, Political Engagement, and Business Activity. Average GC...
South Africa News

How each department in every SA business can mitigate fraud in 2024

Fraud of all kinds increased by a shocking 600% over the last four years in South Africa. Clearly, it’s more important than ever to follow best practices when doing due diligence before sealing a business deal with someone – whether client or enterprise. Robust Know Your Customer (KYC) or Know Your Business (KYB) checks are one of the best ways to mitigate fraud risk, says Sameer Kumandan, Managing Director of SearchWorks, South Africa’s largest and most innovative data aggregation platform. “Having reliable data is crucial before making any significant business decisions. Whether it’s hiring a new employee or partnering with a supplier, having accurate information will not only reduce the risk, but also provide confidence in the decision-making process.” But such in-depth checks can pro...
South Africa News

SA entrepreneurs must leverage business growth through application of locally produced, world-class tech solutions or risk being left behind in fast-paced digital landscape

By JACQUES JORDAAN, CO-FOUNDER & CEO SPECNO While South African entrepreneurs continue to battle less-than-ideal operating conditions for their businesses in our country, one solution remains prevalent: the integration of locally produced, technical solutions, with the power to provide our hard-working entrepreneurs with monthly cost savings, improved operational efficiencies and an increase in opportunities for growth. Streamline operational efficiencies to secure cost savings By integrating locally-produced tech-based solutions into their business models, South African entrepreneurs can streamline their operational efficiency in a manner that results in significant cost savings. One of South Africa’s leading online shopping destinations recently underwent their own digital transfo...
Fintech, South Africa News, Startups

Unleashing Africa’s potential: A vision for innovation and entrepreneurship

SA Innovation Summit CEO Buntu Majaja looks back at this year’s successes and quantifies next year’s opportunities. -        SAIS2023 brought together 2,600 innovators from 26 countries -        The investment capital in attendance equalled around R30 mbillion -        Startups are pivoting to or building on AI  In the dynamic world of technology and entrepreneurship, the courage and determination of startup founders is invigorating. As the CEO of the SA Innovation Summit, witnessing these entrepreneurs, often unsure of their own capabilities until the moment of truth, fuels a passion for the role and a deep sense of responsibility as an enabler for the industry. It’s believed that everyone possesses an innate desire to contribute positively to the world, and it is this entrepreneuria...
Africa’s Crypto Boom: Insights from Cape Town Gathering
Fintech, South Africa News

Africa’s Crypto Boom: Insights from Cape Town Gathering

Crypto Fest 2023 blasted into Cape Town, celebrating the next evolution of digital assets and locally built solutions. International headlines may be applauding the fall of some of the first crypto superstars, but a strong attendance at Africa’s premier crypto industry meetup demonstrates that digital solutions can still make a meaningful, positive difference on the continent. Crypto Fest 2023 invited Web3 enthusiasts to experience Cryptopia at Cape Town’s exclusive Cabo Beach Club and hundreds answered the call, a testament to the resilience of the community that is facing a harsh reality. Hannes Wessels, General Manager of Southern and Francophone Africa at Binance – the Title Sponsor of Crypto Fest 2023 – reiterated the role of blockchain as a tool for innovation in the event’s openi...
South Africa News, Tech

BCX Releases Digital Innovation Index Report 2023. Offering Strategic Insights for South African Businesses

BCX, a leading technology company, in collaboration with EY-Parthenon, has unveiled the much-anticipated BCX Digital Innovation Index Report 2023. This comprehensive report aims to guide businesses by evaluating their innovation strategies and shedding light on the dynamic landscape of digital transformation in South Africa. Jan Bouwer, Chief Solutions Officer, and Innovation Sponsor at BCX expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with EY-Parthenon, saying, “Digital technologies are growing exponentially, and as leaders, we need to understand the innovation landscape to ensure our businesses are future-fit for growth and sustainability. Encouraging our organisations to think creatively about harnessing the power of technology is essential if we are to grow our businesses and the economy...
Tough economic headwinds provide exciting opportunities for agile, customer-centric fintechs
Fintech, South Africa News

Tough economic headwinds provide exciting opportunities for agile, customer-centric fintechs

By Andy Jury, CEO at Mukuru At this time of the year there is usually a flurry of articles attempting to lay out trends to look out for in various industries over the coming months. This is a good exercise as it gets one thinking about industries broadly and technology specifically. However, it would be remiss to embark on this exercise without first taking stock of where we are now. The fintech ecosystem is currently in a period of stress, less so for incumbents but noticeably for newcomers. This stress is a direct result of macroeconomic pressures piling up to generate headwinds for new market entrants. As we all know, when the macro picture is less than rosy it affects play out on the ground. In summary, there is less money floating around – less money from investors and most notably,...
Real Estate, South Africa News

The biggest workplace design trends shaping Western Cape offices

In recent years, the focus on employee experience in the workplace has surged. By 2022, recognition of its significance peaked. In 2023, leading companies are transforming the role of experience into real action – and creating workspaces that employees enjoy says Tango Matoti, Head of Workplace Strategy and Design at Tétris Design and Build South Africa.  “How businesses arrange and organise themselves for people is also a question of how they become more resilient, more innovative – and build an agile future.”  Backed by research from JLL in its Worker Preference Barometer June 2022 and Future of Work Survey, Tétris shares six key workplace trends making an impact in the Western Cape. 1. Hospitality enters the workplace Workplace experience has become the ultimate competitive edge f...
South Africa News

Mitigating IoT Hurdles Can Unlock Billions for SA

With a projected annual growth rate of 13.28%, the South African IoT market is set to reach a staggering US$11.32 billion by 2028. This rise is largely credited to the commercial, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors which are already harnessing intelligent water and energy management solutions. Dr Andrew Dickson, Engineering Executive at CBI-electric: low voltage, says that while IoT is a catalyst for the country's development across various sectors, more needs to be done to propel South Africa into the digital future.   “IoT, short for the Internet of Things, represents a profound technological shift that links physical objects and devices to the internet, enabling them to collect, exchange, and share real-time data,” he explains. “At its core, it fuses the tangible world wi...
Analyze Consulting Secures 50% Stake in LeadMe to Enhance Leadership Development
Business, South Africa News

Analyze Consulting Secures 50% Stake in LeadMe to Enhance Leadership Development

In a strategic development aimed at redefining South  Africa’s landscape of corporate change management and leadership training, Analyze Consulting has acquired a significant 50% shareholding in LeadMe, a company at the forefront of innovative leadership development programs. This acquisition was completed to empower more businesses to navigate the rapidly changing economic landscape of the 21st century.  This union of respected management consultancy (Analyze) and innovative leadership development tool  (LeadMe) is set to add real value in businesses across the sectors - building within them greater resilience and an increasing ability to not simply cope with change, but capitalize on it.   Cathy Banks, founder and director of Analyze, provides insight into the impetus behind the acquis...