Author: Editor

South Africa’s construction industry has a pivotal role to play in helping the country meet its 2050 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, says Databuild CEO Morag Evans, but this requires immediate and decisive action around the implementation of sustainable building practices. Globally, the construction and building industries account for around 39 per cent of carbon emissions, according to the World Green Building Council, while a United National Environment Programme report reveals that construction industry emissions reached their highest levels in 2019. Under the international Paris Agreement on climate change, to which South Africa is a signatory,…

Do your employees fully understand the processes behind payroll? Payroll, for many people, remains a mystery. The processes and calculations that sit behind the monthly amount that lands in the bank account are vague and complicated. Many employees find navigating the maze of benefits, healthcare and pension payments to be overwhelming and often don’t really understand why they’ve been paid more or less each month. Which is why, says General Manager of CRS, Ian McAlister, it’s invaluable to provide people with visibility into their payroll and payments. “The figure on the payslip is calculated using multiple factors that include the…

By Leandré Roux, Synthesis Senior Developer Having gone through the design and redesign of multiple Internet Banking systems over the years, I have noticed a few reoccurring themes. Most of our clients seem to deal with the same pains when modernising their platforms. Below I highlight the lessons, pitfalls, and successes that I have learned while building banking platforms. Putting lipstick on the pig How often is modernisation simply the act of applying a new lick of paint to an aging, underperforming system? I wager more often than we want to admit. Modernization should go hand in hand with innovation.…

In the US, consumers hold 3.8 billion memberships in customer loyalty programmes. Closer to home, the average number of loyalty programmes which South Africans belong to has increased to almost nine following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, loyalty programmes provide a compelling value proposition, but how should consumers go about selecting ‘the right one’ for their needs? “Judging by some of the local research done, the most successful programmes are the ones where members get rewarded by not having to change their buying habits, for instance swiping a card and just going about their business. That being…

Syncrony a long-time Web partner for ATKV Syncrony Digital, one of South Africa’s premier Magento Ecommerce and Umbraco CMS developers, has been working with the Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (ATKV) since 2014. Syncrony works hard to ensure the ATKV’s 13 multi-lingual Web sites are continually updated with the latest content and most relevant technologies to provide a consistent and user-friendly browsing experience, especially on smartphones. Syncrony is responsible for all content across the ATKV Web site portfolio. This includes updating the tariff cards on resort pages, updating promotional content, keeping galleries and images up to date, ensuring all links…

To ensure the ongoing technology requirements of the agency are met, as it continues to expand and embrace more digital-centric operations, Joe Public has contracted Syrex to deliver a full complement of ICT solutions in a partnership that began in 2012. Founded in 1998, Joe Public is one of the largest majority black-owned independent agencies in South Africa. It focuses on delivering creative excellence through integrated services that range from ATL, BTL, brand design, digital, PR, and media, in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The group also has an affiliate in Amsterdam. Initially, the Syrex implementation focused on connectivity but…

By Nelson Camara, Go-to-market Executive at SilverBridge Holdings Even though the value proposition behind insurance has not fundamentally changed over hundreds of years, advancements in technology and the rapid digital transformation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to an increasingly sophisticated customer base that is demanding more from service providers. Machine learning, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and other shifts are challenging traditional insurance products and engagement models. Today, incumbents have two key areas of focus – modernisation and digitalisation – as they look to respond to the enhanced expectations from their customers. But beyond the technology…

Is the business responsible for worker occupational health and safety during the era of work from home? Traditionally, organisations have been responsible for worker occupational health and safety (OHS) during office hours, on office premises, but what does this translate to in the era of work from home (WFH)? While lockdowns may have eased and people may have returned to the office, many organisations are adopting hybrid models of working going forward, which means that OHS has to be considered in the realm of WFH. OHS defines what a workplace is, and it is any place where a person performs…

By Synthesis Juan Roriston and Rodney Ellis Every company wants to accelerate business value. Kubernetes is one of many answers. But to those in the non-technical team, this may sound like just another buzzword. Below we break it down so the next time the word is mentioned, you can have an impactful say in the conversation. What is Kubernetes? Kubernetes was developed by Google. I announced it in 2015, with version 1.0 being released July 21, 2015. It has seen multiple versions since then and is currently on 1.21. Kubernetes is an open-source platform that automates Linux container operations. It…

Digital transformation is not a trend, it’s a business priority that can fundamentally shift an organisation’s growth and potential, by Robynne Todd, Business Manager – Cloud Enablement at Decision Inc. There is little doubt that the past 18 months have fundamentally changed the digital picture. From a fuzzy, out of focus concept that few organisations could really understand to the ubiquity and scalability of cloud shoved into sharp, immensely valuable relief. Companies that had already set foot on the digital transformation highway were ahead of the curve, able to put their people online and in remote working environments at speed,…