South Africa Archives - Page 4 of 30

8Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Tech

Retail is in the midst of the biggest technology paradigm shift yet: Insights from NRF 2024 New York

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software While the environment for South African consumers will likely improve gradually over the course of the second half of 2024 off the back of better-than-expected inflation figures and an easing of global price pressures, consumer spend will likely remain constrained. This reality means retailers will need to stay ahead of competition to compete for valuable customer spend. As the recent National Retail Federation: Retail’s Big Trade Show held in New York recently proved, the world is entering the digital age in the true sense of the word at breakneck speed, and retailers around the world have no choice but to react, deploy and iterate. The conference, with more than 40,000 attendees, 1000 exhibitors and 450 speakers, is a...

International ocean economy stakeholders to meet in SA for innovation summit

6Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, South Africa News

International ocean economy stakeholders to meet in SA for innovation summit

Hundreds of stakeholders will gather in Cape Town next month for the Ocean Innovation Africa Summit and exhibition exploring ocean conservation and the opportunities for Africa in the emerging ‘blue economy’. The world’s ocean and seas, critical in the broader climate change discussion, also offer a wealth of new, sustainable business opportunities. Torsten Thiele, Founder of the Global Ocean Trust and speaker at the summit, believes Africa has an opportunity to leapfrog more developed regions in the blue economy space. The blue economy, defined by the UN as a range of sustainable and socially equitable economic activities related to the oceans, seas and coastal areas, offers immense opportunities to investors, entrepreneurs and communities. Key opportunities for Africa “In Africa, th...

5Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Rwanda News, South Africa News

INNOVATIONS IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

How technology is empowering smart citizens. By Mpho Matsitse, Executive: Business & Digital Advisory at BCX There’s no question that a smart city extends beyond infrastructure and urban planning. For a smart city to work, it requires smart citizens and technology plays a pivotal role in enabling civic engagement. If a city wants to empower those who live in it, it requires initiatives that improve service delivery and technology is the solution to making e-government platforms a reality. While there are many African cities leveraging technology in different ways to benefit their citizens, Rwanda’s booming IremboGov platform is a phenomenal example of GovTech digitalisation. Since its 2015 launch, IremboGov has digitised over 100 public services from motor vehicle inspections to mar...

13Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Local knowledge is a value differentiator in the PR world

The recently held BRICS Summit caused waves in the West when Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged Summit participants to increase trade in their own currencies and to move away from the US Dollar. The USA downplayed this as a non-event. However, with no first-hand knowledge of the political will within the BRICS block, this stance is potentially dangerous and predominantly based on assumptions. From a Public Relations (PR) perspective, technology has opened the world up to companies. Prior to this, it would be a significant undertaking for a company to establish a presence or operate in another country. However, with the internet, a company in South Africa can establish a presence in the UK or US through a PR campaign. But is this effective? Bullion PR & Communication firmly beli...

12Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

What South Africans need to know about smart devices – from cars to cots

We live in a world surrounded by smart devices – from our pockets to our driveways and living rooms. These advancements offer convenience, and in many cases, extra security. But when gadgets are fitted with computing power and internet connectivity, they also become a target for remote hackers, says Carey van Vlaanderen, CEO of ESET South Africa. Smart cars meet smart hackers Earlier this year, a TikTok trend helped thieves hack certain models of Kia, Hyundai cars. According to Bloomberg, videos about the so-called Kia Challenge showed mostly teenagers giving instructions on how to unlock certain models of Kia and Hyundai cars. By inserting a USB cable into a broken steering column, TikTok videos show, thieves can hotwire an engine – much like the way that screwdrivers typically come in ...

15Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Why South African businesses should leverage trustworthy data for better procurement choices

Mitigating the risk of procurement fraud and other irregularities is possible by equipping organisations with the tools necessary to improve transparency, decision-making, and cost-effectiveness in procurement, says Sameer Kumandan, Managing Director at SearchWorks – South Africa’s largest online data aggregation platform. The procurement department serves as a pivotal entity within an organisation, entrusted with the monumental task of procuring goods, services, and works from external suppliers. Its significance lies in ensuring that the company gets the best possible value for money by making informed decisions that positively influence operations and profitability, while navigating a world of commercial complexities and avoiding the pitfalls of fraud and other irregularities with the...

8Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Gamifying Digital Marketing Maximises Engagement

In 2018, the global gaming industry generated just shy of $135 billion and is set to top $325 billion this year – with projected 7.7% year-on-year growth taking its valuation to $545.98 billion in 5 years. If if you still think gaming is only for younger people, the percentage of gamers aged 55-64 grew by 32% in the last two years. Gaming and gamification are slightly different things, but the strongest link is that the surging popularity of gaming has made gamification in the digital marketing industry a red-hot commodity – one that South African full-service digital marketing agency Flume is tapping into with the establishment of Flume Gaming. A cutting-edge team at the forefront of gamification in digital marketing, Flume Gaming specialises in hyper-casual games that seamlessly inte...

1Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Tech

Innovation through diversity: Empowering women in the SA tech sector

By Mia Odendaal, Marketing Manager at Ecentric Payment Systems In South Africa’s tech industry, significant strides have been made in recent years to drive innovation through diversity. However, the journey towards cultivating a truly inclusive and supportive environment for women is far from complete. Despite this progress, a pressing need exists for further advancements in creating a welcoming space that empowers and embraces women in our tech industry. While some women may lack the confidence that they can compete with their male counterparts, one should not forget the role that unconscious bias plays in how boys and girls are introduced to the tech industry from a young age. The former might be given opportunities to attend technology classes while the latter is often pigeon-holed in...

13Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Business, Main, South Africa News

Positivity lies on a foundation of sustainability

Sustainability is more than a box to tick, it is the foundation of a more positive and economically inclusive future for South Africa, says Jonas Bogoshi, Chief Executive Officer at BCX. Sustainability has become the foundation for business growth and economic prosperity. The World Bank believes that organisations focusing on sustainability through measurable objectives and aligned environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals can change the wealth of a nation. Investopedia believes it is a route organisation can take to improve their own long-term viability while improving their investment profile and making a measurable contribution to society. And the Green Business Bureau, along with McKinsey, believe that achieving the objectives of a sustainable business is challenging, but has t...

27Jun

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

The NHI Bill has just been passed – what does that mean for medical aid members?

By Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth Principal Officer The passing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill by the National Assembly on 13 June has sparked widespread debate among everyone from private medical scheme members to healthcare providers to the general public. While the predominantly negative reaction and feelings of uncertainty are completely understandable, I don’t believe that there is any immediate cause for alarm. The NHI is still years away from being implemented, and medical aid members should not expect any changes to their membership in the foreseeable future. Although the NHI Bill certainly raises serious concerns, Fedhealth recognises the need for structural change to improve healthcare for all South Africans. We believe this should leverage the strengths of the key eleme...