South African businesses Archives

30Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Tech

AfricaCom 2024: French Companies Ready to Transform the African Digital Landscape

From November 12 to 14, 2024, Business France will showcase French expertise at the AfricaCom 2024 exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa. This essential event for telecommunications and digital transformation in Africa will gather over 15,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors from around the world. South Africa: A Strategic Market for Innovation With 4G coverage reaching 98% and rapid 5G deployment, South Africa is establishing itself as the digital hub of the continent. The country attracts significant investments in telecoms, with nearly €1.8 billion invested in 2023, and positions itself as a key player thanks to its 69 data centers and 9 submarine cables. An unprecedented growth in African telecommunications. The France Pavilion: A Gathering of Leading Companies in Digital Innovation Thi...

15Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News, Startups

THE RISE OF FINTECH INNOVATION IN SA: GOING BEYOND PAYMENTS TO TRANSFORM ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUPS

By Annelene Dippenaar Two decades ago, a startup or small business had limited options when it came to processing transactions, with cash being the only option for many. Startups by their very nature also lacked credit histories, making it difficult to apply for finance, and leaving them vulnerable to unaffordable loans when seeking financial support to fund their business needs. Today, the picture is very different, with access to digital finance platforms, management tools, and mobile banking transforming how these businesses can operate. According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), digitalisation has enabled 700 million people in developing countries to gain access to formal financial services between 2011 and 2014, with 62% of adults having a bank or mobile...

8Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Mid-Year Consumer Outlook for South Africa shows ‘financial polarisation’ between consumers

Consumer spending is starting to turn a corner, but many South Africans feel worse off due to higher food prices Hustle culture is growing, with 83% of respondents seeking additional income streams NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world’s leading global consumer intelligence company, has released its Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 report, identifying macro catalysts across industries. The forward-looking study provides a strategic roadmap for South African retailers looking to win over consumers in the year to come. The report anticipates that global consumers will spend $3.2 trillion more in 2025, representing nearly 6% growth compared to 2024, according to World Data Lab. In South Africa, there are signs of growing consumer confidence and resilience, even with rising food and utilit...

3Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News, Startups

Embracing the entrepreneurial mindset: Lessons from the trenches

By Daniel Levy, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Flow In the business world, nothing stays the same for long. This makes an entrepreneurial mindset not just helpful, but essential. So what does it take? How can eager entrepreneurs tackle the complexities of the modern market and come out stronger? Having walked this path myself, I know the road to success is rocky and rarely straightforward. But I’ve found it's this unpredictability that best hones the skills and fuels ambition. Here are five learnings that have shaped my experience and continue to drive my leadership at Flow into new territories. 1. Blind luck might open a door, but it’s grit that turns luck into success Luck, they say, favours the prepared mind. In my experience, luck is just the spark – grit is the fuel that keeps the fire ...

5Aug

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Beyond metrics: Trust is crucial to brand building

What do global brands like Google, Coco-Cola and Apple have in common? Other than being instantaneously recognisable by their corporate identity, they each own over 20% of the worldwide market share in their respective categories.[1] So, why would the likes of Coca-Cola – one of the most recognisable brands in the world with an already-captivated market – spend over $ 4 billion[2] annually on advertising? They understand the critical importance of building consumer trust in a saturated market. Seeking efficient growth in a tough economic climate, marketing leaders are scrutinising how and where to allocate their paid media budgets. While performance marketing is about driving immediate results and measurable success, brand marketing focuses on building and nurturing the brand for long-t...

25Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Oppenheimers’ South African Future Trust awards R3 million to SA’s top entrepreneurs

2024 SAFT Summit Announced for 24 and 25 October Six of the country’s most exciting entrepreneurial ventures have been recognised at the 2024 South African Future Trust Awards, with each category winner receiving a grand prize valued at R500 000. The South African Future Trust (SAFT) Awards are a launchpad for innovative ideas, offer recognition for the tough entrepreneurial grind and celebrate the power of entrepreneurship to change lives in South Africa’s challenging economy. Each winner’s prize consists of a cash injection of R250 000 and an individually tailored support package of R250 000. The founders of proactive healthcare platform Engage Mx were the winners in the ‘Tech Entrepreneur’ category. Engage Mx is an intelligent platform that recalls patients to their doctor for screen...

18Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

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...

6Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

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...

Omnichannel strategies: One size does not fit all in South African retail

19Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

Omnichannel strategies: One size does not fit all in South African retail

By Nikki Quinn, retail lead for South Africa at GfK – an NIQ company Given the diversity of the market — with varying levels of digital maturity, lifestyle and income — it’s important to understand the evolving needs and key purchase drivers of diverse consumer segments as one size doesn’t fit all. South African consumers face a difficult economic environment, characterised by high inflation, low economic growth and persistent load shedding. These challenges have helped to exacerbate the already wide divide between different population groups, making it more important than ever for brands and retailers to craft omnichannel channel strategies tailored to the needs of different segments. Like their global counterparts, most South African consumers expect frictionless experiences from bra...

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...