Author: Editor

By Yunus Scheepers, Chief Technology Officer at SilverBridge Holdings The global smart contracts market is expected to top the $8.3 million mark by 2030, growing annually by 21.4% from this year. The blockchain and smart contracts allow insurers to automate the execution of an insurance product agreement without any involvement from mediators. Not only does this speed up claims processing it also lowers administrative costs and reduces the risk of fraud. The potential of smart contract technologies in South Africa was highlighted as far back as 2016, with experts stating it could have a transformative impact on the insurance market.…

This Mental Health Awareness Month, a leading provider of central nervous system medication is encouraging adults of ADHD children to have themselves tested for the condition. Abdurahmaan Kenny, Mental Health Portfolio Manager for Pharma Dynamics says ADHD is highly familial. “Research shows that 40% of ADHD children have at least one parent with clinical ADHD symptoms, which influences family functioning, parenting and the quality of life of their children. “Much of the success of the treatment outcomes for ADHD-diagnosed children depends on the commitment of their parents. For many the responsibility can be overwhelming, let alone a parent who is…

According to the most recent Statistics South Africa report, the SA tourism industry shows positive signs of income with tourist accommodation increasing by 86.6% for the year ending May 2022. The hospitality industry saw a significant increase in its revenue for the year-on-year period, accounting for the bulk of the income from accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, villas, and distinct offerings. Additionally, Google Trends reports that in the past year, South Africans have increasingly been searching online for “game reserve”, “nature reserve”, and “south coast” — over 100%, 140%, and 90% respectively — when comparing the period of March to…

By Wilhelm Greeff, Business Manager at Decision Inc. South Africa At the end of last year, the world’s leading 40 mining companies had a combined revenue of approximately $925 billion. In fact, the net profits of these organisations grew by 127% on the back of high commodity prices and prudent cost management. Closer to home, mining production shrank by almost 8% year-on-year in May. This is significant considering mining is the cornerstone of the country’s economy employing almost 500 000 people and contributing R481 billion to the country’s GDP. Even though the PwC forecast sees mining revenue growth globally, rising costs…

One pink punnet of fresh mushrooms … so many good outcomes! Science is on the side of the good guys with research increasingly showing that healthy food really is happy food. So, we’re delighted to power up the positives of living this October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, by helping more, giving more and supporting more by buying and adding fresh mushrooms to more of our meals! As you know, The South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (SAMFA)’s Power of Pink campaign has been running for well over 10 years with a simple objective…. to donate to our much-loved NGO, Reach…

The quality of a business’ experience with its instant messaging technology of choice is a matter of how well deployment is managed and how immersive the rollout is, says Obsidian Systems. We’ve all heard the expression ‘to drink their own cold-drink’ in discussion about ICT integration and deployment in business. It means whatever the company is selling, they’re actually using and it is based on the notion ‘you wouldn’t sell something you don’t entirely believe in-or would use yourself’.  When open source software solutions company, Obsidian Systems intensified its initial community chat service capability and used it more aggressively as…

Security should be an ongoing priority for organisations within the payments space The McKinsey 2020 Digital Payments Consumer Survey found that digital payments continue to grow in adoption and relevance. Smart solutions that offer accessible and easy digital transactions are increasingly becoming essential to consumer stickiness and engagement. However, as these solutions evolve, so must the security surrounding them to ensure that both retailer and consumer are protected. This is particularly relevant with software Point-of-Sale (POS) platforms which are gaining traction in the payments space. Juniper Research estimates that the number of handsets capable of using contactless payments will grow…

By Frikkie Malan, head of sustainability at Remote Metering Solutions According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), building operations, which include electrical and HVAC systems, contribute approximately 30% to greenhouse gas emissions globally. It is therefore imperative for South African property owners to adopt a new way of thinking if they are to align with the international target of having zero-carbon-ready buildings by 2030. Given that South Africa is the 12th-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, surpassing the combined emissions of the US and China, more work must be done to accelerate the decarbonisation efforts in the country. The…

Carbon emissions from construction sites are a major contributor to global warming, largely owing to the industry’s dependency on fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency’s 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction reveals that building sector emissions increased by two per cent from 2017 to 2018, while a United National Environment Programme report states that construction industry emissions reached their highest levels in 2019. Consequently, it’s time for the construction to clean up its act and renewable energy presents the ideal opportunity to do so, says Databuild CEO Morag Evans. “This is about more than making smart choices around…

By Catherine Muller, HR Manager at Obsidian Systems Even though the concept of a decentralised organisation is not new, it has gained fresh momentum in a post-pandemic world where decision-makers must avoid the temptation of returning to the old way of thinking. This necessitates an immediate overhaul of leadership and leadership techniques where the focus moves to empowering employees. A good example of this is asking their opinion more often and have them contribute to the decision-making process. In this way, the company can create a sense of community where it is easier to get buy-in for strategic decisions. Making…