Author: Editor

Leading provider of end-to-end digital services and solutions Obsidian Systems relates its own experience. Businesses in South Africa can debate the pros and cons of the hybrid work model all they like, but the fundamental truth is that COVID-19 has changed the rules, and now skilled workers are in a strong position to influence the employer/ employee environment to ultimately transcend the traditional company culture. This is an ongoing debate and one that Obsidian Systems, a leading provider of end-to-end digital services and solutions, is familiar with. Wilhelm Strydom, Operations Sales Administrator at Obsidian Systems, said that two years before…

You don’t need to rip and replace existing payroll and human resource systems to gain innovative and modernised functionality It’s easy to assume that a legacy payroll platform isn’t capable of handling the demands of the modern workforce, particularly in the era of hybrid and gig working. Considering that 70% of executives recently interviewed by Deloitte said that they were planning on a hybrid framework moving forward and that employees are increasingly dictating their terms of engagement – as seen in the Great Resignation – it’s time for companies to plan ahead, and plan their compliance. As the General Manager…

With a best time of 1:00:34, she is currently ranked the world’s top under 18 athlete in the 400 m hurdles event. Her time also qualifies her to compete in the South African Senior Championships, but she wants to focus on her immediate goal: to reach the finals of the World under 20 Championships, also known as the World Junior Championships, which takes place from 2-7 August 2022 at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia. Video Credit: SuperSport Schools

Remember the name Hannah van Niekerk. Having overcome the odds, this Grade 11 learner and talented athlete from Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool, Pretoria, has qualified to compete in the World Athletics under 20 Championships later this year. With a best time of 1:00:34, she is currently ranked the world’s top under 18 athlete in the 400 m hurdles event.  Her time also qualifies her to compete in the South African Senior Championships, but she wants to focus on her immediate goal: to reach the finals of the World under 20 Championships, also known as the World Junior Championships, which takes place…

By Howard Feldman, Head of Marketing & People at Synthesis The magnificence of the Will Smith and Chris Rock spat is that it could not be less relevant if it tried to be. The simple fact is that two A-list celebrities reduced the Oscars to a bar room brawl over a comment about one of their wives. It’s one of the oldest and least original stories in the world, only made interesting by the fact that it unfolded in front of us, and that they battled it out in Armani. Or Versace. Or Tom Ford. And perhaps because reading the…

By Rujeanne Swanepoel, Inspection Body Quality Manager at Remote Metering Solutions Race To Zero is a global campaign to rally leadership and support from business, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, und unlocks inclusive sustainable growth (https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign). Accounting for 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (World Economic Forum, 22 Feb 2021), reducing the carbon emissions associated with buildings is a key part of the decarbonization challenge. South Africa is no exception, and the carbon emissions of our local building stuck MUST if South…

By Archana Arakkal, Practice Lead: Intelligent Data Engineering at Synthesis “Change is inevitable; but progress depends on what we do with that change” – the famous Charles Wheelan quote – one of my favorite quotes, however I would like to add a caveat to this quote bringing in my day-to-day job into the mix. Every day as an ML Engineer I seek new ways to provide value to further enhance our lifestyles through AI and while there are several problems seeking solutions and we may think that AI could be these solutions, very often a glass ceiling is reached where…

Just like so many other sectors, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive negative impact on civil aviation. In 2020, less than 50% of passenger seats were offered due to restrictions. The journey to recovery will be a long one. The saving grace for airlines has been the growth of cargo. The numbers show that in 2021 a significant global restocking drive saw a 13.1% growth in Cargo Tonne Kilometres (CTKs). Yields were expected to remain elevated due to the slow return of hold capacity from the wide body passenger fleet. This has resulted in the forecast last year that…

By Rentia Burger, Engagement Manager: FP&A at Decision Inc. More than ever, it is critical to model the financial impact of strategic projects in mining organisations. Being able to understand, in real-time, how a decision can impact the mine at an operational level and then analyse the cost per activity provides the foresight required to make the right decisions. Adding impetus to the need for this financial modelling are the complexities created by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting criteria. For instance, mining companies around the world are focusing on reducing greenhouse emissions at their sites. As they look at…

The two-year pandemic has led to major shifts in grocery buying patterns as the world became accustomed to spending more time at home. The changing dynamics has worked in favour of the tea industry, with food and beverage experts citing 2022 as the year when consumers will start to prioritise products that deliver functional benefits to improve personal health and well-being. Among the biggest food and drinks predictions recently announced by social media network, Pinterest, “afternoon tea” is to become the new happy hour. Their predictions were based on the interests of their 444 million users worldwide with many choosing…