Author: Contributor

By Frans Hiemstra With 2021 in full swing and the economy slowly adjusting to new realities, many businesses need to relook their offerings to suit the changing needs of their consumers and communities. While some businesses, especially in the retail sector, may sadly never reopen, the survivors find themselves doing business in a new world of partitions, mandatory masks, temperature checks and sanitiser stations. A key question remains: Has the way apps operate like Uber and Uber Eats operate changed forever? The answer is yes! However this isn’t a bad thing and in 2021, businesses like Uber will continue to…

by John Maddison Organizations have distributed data and workloads across both cloud environments and on-premises data centres. As a result, IT teams have to deploy, manage, and secure increasingly complex and hybrid networks. And even though many organizations have moved many of their workloads into the cloud, the majority of them still operate hybrid environments. Hybrid environments allow organizations to keep important data on-premises. This allows them to maintain full control over sensitive assets, while also taking full advantage of the scalability and agility the cloud provides. However, as organizations become more hybrid and distributed, their security needs to be able…

By Helen Kruger Flexibility, agility, diversity and a superior experience will drive the future of work. This is according to a recent survey by Citrix that reveals that employees will seek opportunities with companies that share their vision and give them space and tools they need to succeed and advance their careers. The pandemic has forever changed the way people view jobs. If businesses want to attract and retain top talent, they need to understand their mindset and requirements and develop models to accommodate them. As everything returns to normal and the job market begins to recover, there will be…

By Lionel de Oliveira The pharmaceutical industry is faced with a multitude of challenges, including a rapidly changing landscape, competitive pressures, and the supply chain challenges wrought by the global COVID-19 outbreak. With a COVID-19 vaccine likely to be available in early 2021, we can expect even more pressure on the distribution chain. Besides the key need of having a solution which is designed specifically for pharmacies, other needs of this sector are an integrated approach to centralised management of pharmacy outlets; interoperability between systems; real-time financial solutions; optimal revenue generation and collection; and integrated financial reporting. What does the…

By Alain Tshal In 2020, the world changed overnight in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As more organisations adopted and accelerated digital strategies – and with most of us relying on the internet to go about our everyday life – cybercriminals were presented with a huge range of new opportunities to exploit. This year will be no different. Here are some important cybersecurity trends for South African organisations to look out for in 2021. Phishing and fraud to the fore According to a recent TransUnion survey, 42% of South African households have been targeted by COVID-19-related scams, an increase of…

By Prof. Josef Langerman The human body doesn’t like change, especially when that change is brought on by some sort of trauma or injury.  When a part of your body is injured, it becomes inflamed. Inflammation or swelling is part of the body’s natural healing system and helps fight injury and infection. It is your body’s way of protecting itself from traumatic change. Businesses are often the same. Organisational and cultural change has the same effect on a business as inflammation in the human body. Businesses, and the people who work for them, often reject the change if it is seen as traumatic or…

by Mark Kayser Digital transformation is no longer an option, it’s a must for everyone organisation that wants to stay relevant and compete in an ever-changing world. Trillions of dollars are being allocated to strategic programs each year but billions are being wasted on failed digital transformation projects. Strategic programs are crucial for business to adapt, but why do 70% of these programs fail to achieve their goals? In short, it’s due to lack of executive buy-in, wrong execution strategy, poor timing and resistance to change. To succeed, strategic programs need to deliver business value on time and within budget.…

by Moses Mudzwiti Technology has enabled the continuation of efforts to increase trade and tourism between India and Africa. Undeterred by the novel coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging many countries, India and African representatives have resolved to strengthen ties. A recent virtual India Africa Economic Forum examined the growth possibilities of trade and tourism between these old trading partners, whose social and economic ties date back thousands of years. These potential projects include the development of a VIP airport in Zimbabwe, smart cities in African countries, and the establishment of a furniture corridor. The India Africa Trade Council and the Indian…

By Andrea Tucker South Africans are increasingly looking to greener pastures within our country’s borders in search of a better quality of life away from the stresses of big cities. Semigration, or moving from one part of the country to another, is firmly in the spotlight as COVID-19 makes working remotely de rigueur. While semigration is nothing new, many of the barriers preventing people from taking the leap have virtually diminished overnight. Small businesses and large corporates alike have had to rethink their operating models along with expectations of their workforce, and many have seen improved productivity due to the…

By Christiaan Engelbrecht  Forming the backbone of the economy, SMEs serve as a critical engine of economic growth, generating employment and fostering innovation. In South Africa, SMEs contribute nearly 98.5% of the number of formal firms in the economy, who employ under a third of the country’s workforce across all sectors. The COVID-19 crisis and the economic downturn has had a severe impact on this important business segment. Our SMEs have had to steer through unprecedented challenges, including disruptions to supply chains, changing market conditions, and new ways of working. While lockdown regulations in South Africa have eased, many SMEs…