Connecting people and spaces through technology: smart collaboration drives productivity in an evolving workplace

By Warren Miller, Solutions Architect at Altron Managed Solutions As everyone knows, the business world is going through an accelerated evolution, where technology is being implemented to drive efficiencies across businesses. This is also true for communication and collaboration tools and platforms. While many tools most certainly are customer-facing, technology has come a long way […]

Africa’s and Kubik and Emata win Startup of the Year and Best Newcomer at their Global Startup Awards debut

On March 29, 2023, two early-stage African companies took first place in the finals of the world’s largest independent start-up competition. The rise of the African techpreneur on the global stage was evident in the announcement of the overall winners of the 2022 Global Startups Awards (GSA), considered the world’s gold standard for startups. The […]

Air France Unveils New Business Class Cabin On Flights Between Paris and Johannesburg

Air France has unveiled its new long-haul Business cabin, elegantly reasserting the French-style art of travel. Constantly striving to offer the highest level of comfort, the airline’s completely redesigned iconic seat features even more enveloping curves and extra comfort. Air France is introducing a new standard dedicated to this travel cabin. Progressively rolled out on 12 Boeing 777-300s, the new cabin will serve […]

Managing IT in (literal) dark times

A CIO’s guide for doing business in South Africa Freshly out of a global pandemic, CIOs have had to think on their feet as loadshedding wrought new havoc on their teams and departments. As a software-on-demand company with software that needs to be available to customers 24/7, e4 understands the current business challenges better than […]

SoftwareOne study finds that 83% of CIOs must do more with less in 2023

SoftwareOne, a leading global software and cloud solutions provider, recently unveiled the findings of CIO Pulse: 2023 budgets & priorities. The study, which recently surveyed 600 C-suite and IT decision-makers in the UK and USA examines how the current global economy is impacting IT priorities, revealing that despite 93% of CIOs expecting IT budgets to […]

Fairtrade Increases Coffee Minimum Price As Farmers Face Mounting Economic and Climate Pressures

Fairtrade will raise its Minimum Price for coffee in an effort to strengthen protections for coffee farmers around the world amid the intensifying impacts of climate change and growing global economic volatility, the social justice organization today confirmed. The new Fairtrade prices, which come into effect for contracts signed as of 1 August 2023, will […]

Africa itself shares the hallmarks of a tech startup which bodes well for its global competitiveness

By Joshua Raphael, Founder & CEO of Parket It is widely accepted that Africa’s potential is likely to be unleashed through widespread and sustained digital transformation. In other words, technology, and the innovative solving of complex problems, will catapult the continent into global competitiveness. This is not just theoretical, it is likely, and this is […]

Wärtsilä’s power engines successfully runs on 25 vol% hydrogen blend, a world first

They ability of engine power plants to run on green hydrogen fuel rather than gas or heavy fuel oil will be a key enabler of Africa’s renewable energy ambitions. The technology group Wärtsilä and WEC Energy Group have successfully tested the capabilities of a Wärtsilä engine running on 25 vol% hydrogen-blended fuel. The tests, which […]

New report shines spotlight on e-mobility innovators unlocking access to the US$3.65bn motorcycle market in sub-Saharan Africa

More than 90% of electric motorcycles sold in sub-Saharan Africa are imported from China and India and are not built for African conditions Electric motorcycles are set to be a dominant force in sub-Saharan Africa’s sustainable mobility transformation, but continued investment in start-ups tackling barriers across the value chain will be critical to maximise the […]

Continuing the Fight Against TB

by Snorre Westgaard Humana People to People has played a vital role in the fight against TB over the last few decades. With grants from Governments and international partners complemented with funding from members of Humana People to People, we have made good strides. The thousands of passionate people on the ground can rightly feel […]

Backing SA entrepreneurs is the first step to job creation

58 entrepreneurs from the SAB Tholoana Enterprise Programme created 237 new jobs and sustained 435 jobs during the pandemic and post-pandemic period By Fundiswa Nkwanyana Small businesses are playing a vital role in creating jobs despite their challenges. The past two years have been difficult for entrepreneurs. because they had to overcome challenges caused by the global Covid-19 […]

7th Edition Connected Banking Summit East Africa – Innovation & Excellence Awards 2023 Concludes with Resounding Success

The Summit brought together the best and brightest minds in the banking, financial services, fintechs and techfin sectors. The event, which took place on 7th March 2023, featured insightful speakers, award-winning companies, and top-notch sponsors. Attendees were treated to a range of informative sessions, covering topics such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and risk management. The […]

Change the Story: A new report explores the local carbon market in Kenya

Through the Sustainable Inclusive Business (SIB-Kenya), the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has released a report dubbed “Change the Story: Developing a Local Carbon Market in Kenya”. The report describes the current situation, reflects on the opportunities for a Kenyan carbon market, and comes just days after the 2023 Earth Hour celebrations. It has been […]

Flexible power technologies will make Africa’s energy leapfrogging a reality

by Marc Thiriet, Director, Africa, Wärtsilä Energy Africa’s ability to leapfrog traditional power systems and adopt renewables on a massive scale is not a fantasy. In-depth studies from Wärtsilä have demonstrated that with the adequate support of flexible power technologies, ambitious renewable energy objectives in Africa are not only achievable, they also represent the soundest and cheapest […]

Could you sell your next home on TikTok?

While tech continues to revolutionise the property industry and change the way people find their homes – now via social media – the industry also needs to follow social media trends to capitalise on the global shot in the arm that proptech has given it. More and more property practitioners are turning to short-form video […]

Index Launch: Remittances Play a Powerful Role in Consumers’ Financial Planning

Inaugural Global Money Transfer Index surveys 30,600 consumers in 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific; Index voices consumers’ international money transfer preferences for today and tomorrow as they navigate global headwinds. As global populations navigate macroeconomic headwinds, consumers expect remittances to play an even stronger role in their current and future […]

Egypt and Marriott power hotel development in Africa

When it comes to hotel development across Africa, Egypt and Marriott are the two phenomena to watch. This insight comes from this year’s African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline report, widely acknowledged as the industry’s most authoritative source, documenting and analysing the number of hotels being planned and built across the continent. The survey, conducted by […]

Amazon Web Services (AWS) opens applications for its inaugural FinTech Africa Accelerator

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing division for the world’s largest e-commerce retailer, Amazon, continues to strengthen its footprint in Africa with a call-for-applications from early-stage startups to join their inaugural edition of the AWS FinTech Africa Accelerator.  This program is hosted by AWS’ globally-recognized Startup Loft Accelerator, but unlike other cohorts, this edition […]

PayShap – South Africa’s first rapid payments programme launched

Ashlin Perumall, Partner, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg In March 2023, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced the launch of PayShap, a real-time rapid payment platform that is aimed at offering safer, faster and significantly more convenient payment options for South Africans. PayShap is the outcome of an industry-spanning collaboration, driven by BankservAfrica, the Payments Association […]

2023 Outlook: Radisson Hotel Group continues to break hotel-opening records in Africa

Radisson Hotel Group (https://www.RadissonHotels.com), one of the fastest-growing hotel companies in Africa, plans to strengthen its robust African presence in 2023 further with the opening of eight new hotel already confirmed to date. The Group aims to reach 150 hotels within the next five years across the continent, reinforcing Africa as a key growth market.  With […]

Will AI replace software developers?

Artificial Intelligence

Since its launch in November last year, the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT has had a massive impact in just a few short months. Already, some schools have banned it as students quickly employed the bot to take shortcuts in their schoolwork, while debates rage on whether the bot will or won’t replace copywriters. It can also write code – so well, […]