Author: Gugu Lourie
The potential gains to be made from the rapid growth of the African digital economy cannot be overstated. An estimated 360 million mobile devices, $75billion in annual e-commerce sales and a $300billion internet-driven boost to GDP is forecast by 2025. By Brett Parker, MD SAP Africa Yet conventional wisdom would dictate that the current lack of legacy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Africa is a barrier to realising this enormous digital growth. While mobile internet access on the continent has been increasing rapidly, a recent report stated that fixed internet connections account for only about 10% of all internet…
Samsung’s release of its latest phone, the Galaxy Note 7 has turned into a financial and PR disaster with the halting of sales of the phone and recall of millions of phones that have been sold so far. By David Glance The problem has been with batteries on the phones catching fire although Samsung’s statement only alludes to their being a “battery cell issue” and that only 35 cases have been reported so far. Exploding Galaxy 7 NoteFor Samsung, the recall couldn’t have come at a worse time. Apple is due to release its new iPhone, also likely to be numbered…
Businesses will not survive, if they don’t start adopting a lean mindset (start small, fail fast if you will). Economic conditions, customer needs and a lack of financial resources are forcing businesses to operate more efficiently and to engage customers more effectively. By Craig Terblanche, regional director at OutSystems South Africa Business survival hinges on the ability to change, to become lean and agile (with a small “a”). The ability to change, is increasingly being driven by a more digital mindset and evolving market. In the next decade the majority of your customers will be millennials and we believe, there has…
After years of pervasive complaints about horrible customer service, Africa’s largest fixed-line telephone group — Telkom — is ‘finally’ proving naysayers wrong. By Gugu Lourie Telkom is proving the Japanese proverb correct that “the most beautiful flowers grow from the rankest dirt”. The company, which was once described as “Hell-Kom” because of its awful service to customers is starting to take its consumers seriously. It’s no wonder that the once popular parody Telkom website Hellkom is a shadow of its former glory. I hope Telkom’s customer service score – which measures consumers’ satisfaction with services provided – improves drastically when the…
We often take for granted our access to vast quantities of inexpensive goods manufactured overseas. And we often overlook the unassuming innovation that has made this global industrial revolution possible: the shipping container. By Morgan Saletta While the shipping container was conceived in the 1950s by American businessman Malcom McLean, it was only widely adopted after the US military used containers to supply its war effort in Vietnam in the 1960s. After the Vietnam war, container ports were built in Japan and then the rest of the world. Old ports, such as in New York, were devastated, while ports such as…
The ridesharing service Uber is pretty close to getting the go-ahead in almost all states and territories in Australia, with Victoria set to follow Queensland in introducing new legislation. By Michael Milford and Jonathan Roberts In the short term, Uber has committed to creating tens of thousands of new jobs in Australia. Many thousands of jobs have already been created and your typical Uber driver speaks positively of being empowered in a flexible working arrangement. But we know Uber has other plans. Like almost all large car and technology corporations such as Toyota, Ford and Google, Uber is investing heavily in self-driving…
MTN customers will now have the convenience and flexibility to replenish depleted airtime and data bundles when they don’t have cash, thanks to the launch of MTN Xtra Time, a service that allows customers to receive an airtime advance when they run low on balance. By Staff writer MTN Xtra Time will be available to Prepaid and TopUp customers, and the borrowed credit can be used like a normal recharge to make voice calls, purchase data or SMS bundles, access value added services of transfer airtime to another subscriber. The borrowed airtime is recovered when the customer tops up their…
Innovation and entrepreneurship are the prerequisite to Africa’s economic revival, and the millennials is the generation that will put the continent on a new growth trajectory, Mteto Nyati, MTN SA CEO told delegates at DEMO Africa conference held in Johannesburg. DEMO Africa is an annual Pan-African conference that provides a platform for African technology start-ups to pitch their ideas to both local and international investors in a bid to secure funding. In 2015 DEMO Africa participants raised US$4 million in funding. Mteto said while many countries in Europe are grappling with challenges posed by an ageing population, Africa is in a…
It’s over. After two weeks of intense Olympic madness, the Rio games are over and I’m left catching my breath and dissecting what happened. One of my (and most other South Africans’) favourite moments was watching local boy Wayde Van Niekerk break the 400m world record. By Lee Naik, MD of Accenture Digital in South Africa Provided you haven’t been living in solitary confinement, you already know the story. After a mediocre qualification, Wayde was banished to the far outside lane. Everyone agreed that he had no shot. Except it didn’t quite work out that way. Despite “running blind”, Wayde managed to…
Progress made in ICT roll out in Gauteng schools | SA News Despite several challenges, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roll out in Gauteng schools has made important gains academically, says MEC Panyaza Lesufi. The department started the Paperless Classroom Project in 2015. It is a five-year programme targeting no-fee schools in the townships. Giving an update on the programme on Monday, MEC Lesufi said the first phase, which was the pilot, had seven full ICT schools, including five secondary and two primary schools. “By the end of 2015, the project was extended to Grade 12 classrooms in 377…
We’re seeing digital technology reshape the world’s consumer-facing industries. Amazon has changed retail, Netflix is transforming television, Uber is shaking up transport, Facebook has reshaped media, and Airbnb has disrupted hospitality. But up until now, life insurers have largely stuck to the same business model they have followed for three decades or more. By Bryan McLachlan, CEO at Instant Life That picture is rapidly changing as the industry wakes up to the potential of new technology and as consumers start to demand that insurance becomes as convenient, transparent and simple as the other industries they deal with every day. Customers want buying…
When Berno Potgieter and Thatoyoana Marumo flew from Cape Town to Sandton, the Domestly co-founders were not expecting to be crowned the kings of MTN App of the Year Awards 2016. However, Domestly was not only named as the overall winner of the prestigious competition, they also walked away with the Best Consumer App category. The MTN App of the year awards celebrates the out-of-the-box thinkers that drive change through real solutions that deal with real problems. The winners were selected from over 450 entries competing in several categories. Domestly is aiming to advance the way the world cleans their homes.…
“Nice guys finish last” is one of the most widely believed maxims of dating. Fleshed out, the idea goes something like this: heterosexual women might say they want nice characteristics in a partner, but in reality what they want is the challenge that comes with dating a “bad boy”. This idea is so widespread that some people are even making money off the back of it, selling self-help books and teaching men how to pick up women by insulting them – a practice known as “negging”. By Viren Swami Recently, an article published by Broadly claimed, “Everyone knows [bad boys] ……
Did you sleep well last night? If your answer is “no”, there could be an app or a gadget that could help you with that. By Thuong Hoang and Bernd Ploderer But are they any good? Do they really monitor how much you toss and turn while trying to sleep? And can they help you improve your sleep time? How do we track sleep? Sleep is an important part of our well-being. A few nights of bad sleep can cause negative effects on alertness, memory and your mood throughout the day. There are three types of devices available to help you try…
MTN expects to post a basic headline loss for its first half of 2016 financial year, the mobile phone operator informed investors on Thursday. By Gugu Lourie The operator said it will report a basic headline loss per share of between R2.55 and R2.85 for the first half to end-June. Headline earnings per share is South Africa’s main profit gauge. The company’s headline earnings per share was R6.54 in the same period in 2015. Africa and Middle East biggest mobile phone operator attributes its loss mainly to the Nigerian regulatory fine, which had a net negative effect of R4.74 per…
A Nigerian fraudster thought to be behind “online frauds” valued at £45 million (R839 million) is behind bars in the UK, according a report by Wired. By Staff Writer Wired said the man known only as ‘Mike,’ faces charges of hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences after he was arrested in Port Harcourt, southern Nigeria. It’s believed the man, 40, was the “head of a network” of 40 criminals across Nigeria, Malaysia, and South Africa. “The network compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and…
The short-term insurance sector in South Africa has been slow to go digital. As a result, the sector is losing out on the Gross Written Premiums (GWP) opportunity estimated to reach R115.2 billion by 2020. This is according to the latest Accenture survey that focuses on the short-term insurance sector. By Staff Writer The survey shows a clear customer preference for digital insurance solutions and readiness for digital engagement. About 80 percent of 1,500 insurance customers surveyed across South Africa are ready to purchase insurance products online. Accenture believes that the R115.2 billion GWP opportunity is within reach for South…
What’s the best way to describe personal elegance that is tailored for your individual character? You donning that designer suit from Tiger of Sweden neatly crafted for your beautifully trimmed body? Vintage shoes, you may say. A fine-looking house in Kraaibosch Country Estate in George. Self-delusion, you may argue. A Patek Philippe timepiece, obviously, but it’s too small to be noticed and you require something that’s fast and perceptible in the streets. While, I was pondering these questions of how to be stylish with grace; my iPhone rang and it was Lloyd Nedohe on the line. He ask me to…
SA’s Telkom paid CEO Sipho Maseko R14.5 million for its 2016 financial year, showing the progress the boss of the telco has made in turning around the country’s biggest fixed-line telephone group. By Gugu Lourie The total package include a guaranteed salary of R7.4 million, R6.2 million short-term incentives and R941 000 in fringe and other benefits. His total remuneration of R14.5 milion was increased by more than R2 million versus R12 million in 2015. For more on Maseko’s achievement read: SA’s Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko isn’t declaring victory yet, but he is targeting pole position While Deon Fredericks, Telkom’s…
National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden has co-designed a new iPhone case that would show when the device is transmitting information, the Telegraph reported on Friday. The newspaper said the iPhone case was designed with the intent of helping journalist keep tabs on whether their phones, wi-fi or Bluetooth connection is being used to share or receive data. “Unfortunately, journalists can be betrayed by their own tools. Their smartphones, an essential tool for communicating with sources and the outside world–as well as for taking photos and authoring articles–are also the perfect tracking device,” co-designer Andrew “Bunnie” Huang, a well known hardware hacker, and…
South Africa’s first online business lender specialising in small to medium enterprises is forging ahead in the financial technology (fintech) space, boasting 65% repeat business in just eight months of operations. By Staff Writer Next generation lender, Pollen, is the brainchild of Louis du Plessis, who is the CEO of the fintech start-up, backed by Anglo African Group majority owner and chairman, JP du Plessis. Overseas, the online marketplace where small businesses can secure loans is an enormous industry with tech-orientated companies such as the NYSE-listed OnDeck in the US and Moula in Australia transforming the financial services landscape. But…
Under its durable chairman MTN has quietly wormed its way back into the hearts of critics. Now the South African-based mobile phone behemoth cannot be ignored. By Gugu Lourie A few months ago, Phuthuma Nhleko came back to the helm of the troubled firm as an executive chairman with only one goal – to sort out the Nigeria fine debacle which culminated in the departure of then MTN CEO Sifiso Dabengwa. Dabengwa resigned when MTN was slapped with a $5.2 billion fine by the Nigerian authorities for failing to register subscribers. MTN’s biggest investor, state-owned fund manager the Public Investment…
As consumers consume more data, surf the internet and share big moments with friends and family, Vodacom is seeking to capture the high-end smartphone market. By Staff Writer After introducing low-cost own-branded smartphones, Vodacom – which is owned by British mobile phone giant Vodafone, is introducing own-branded premium smartphones. Vodacom has entered the premium smartphone market by extending its range of branded devices. The Vodacom Smart platinum 7 and Vodacom Smart ultra 7 were launched earlier today. “With these exciting new devices, Vodacom is now able to offer devices, not only in the entry-level smartphone and tablet category, but also…
Venture capital in South Africa is starting to take hold. With a host of venture funds, section 12J companies, incubators and start up clubs being launched, start ups are becoming more popular and investors are encouraged to consider these new opportunities. Chris Ball, an investment analyst at AlphaWealth and a co-founder of Fincheck.co.za, a financial comparison fintech startup, explains the colloquial jargon of venture investors and start up entrepreneurs. Chris wrote this ‘dictionary’ initially to educate AlphaWealth’s high net worth clients about the start up world so that they could consider becoming investors. Angel investor An angel investor is generally…
As a researcher of nanomaterials, I am often asked: “When are we finally going to start seeing nanotechnology products on the market?” By Cameron Shearer This is a simple question to answer because the average home is already filled with products enhanced or reliant upon nanotechnology. In fact, there are several online repositories listing the more than 2,000 commercially available products that incorporate nanotechnology. The application of nanotechnology in some areas, such as batteries, microelectronics and sunscreens is relatively well known. Let’s take a virtual tour through a home to see what else we can find. But first, what does nanotechnology…