Author: Editor
Synthesis launches Halo – the secure, instant, contactless payment solution set to enable all businesses. Synthesis, an innovative software development and consulting company has launched ‘Halo’, becoming the first official Tap on Phone technology provider in Africa. In collaboration with Nedbank, the Tap on Phone solution was unveiled on the 30th of June. Halo is a radical advancement in mobile payments that enables secure contactless card payment acceptance on any Android device. The technology is termed ‘Tap on Phone’ due to the way in which a payment card is tapped on a mobile device or phone. It is used by…
CIOs must be able to adapt to the changes that come from the continuously evolving digital landscape. Thinking outside the box is a prerequisite if they are to ensure their companies remain competitive. It comes down to being dynamic and always looking at innovations around the corner. David Herselman, MD of Syrex, believes that part of this entails addressing the skills shortage and focusing on training employees to meet the demands of the connected business environment. As such, he takes a hands-on approach on all training inside the organisation with the various technical teams to ensure that they get the…
With the current lockdown impacting every business in some way, DAC Systems has been able to remain operational thanks to the Microsoft cloud ecosystem. Situational awareness The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than half the world’s population entering a period of self-isolation and, in many countries, the temporary closure of all non-essential businesses; South Africa’s having been extended to the end of April. Where possible, employees and business owners alike continue working, but from home. However, many have found this extremely challenging for a multitude of reasons. This ability is essential to business’ survival and enable industry to reduce…
Personalising the insurance experience is not a new concept. In fact, insurers’ ability to understand their customers on an individual level has long been considered the panacea for the sector. Evolving technology, more sophisticated data analysis tools, and the emergence of artificial intelligent and robotic process automation are contributing to an enabling environment to fulfil this vital step in the insurance value chain. After all, by having an improved awareness of their customers’ actions and behaviours, insurers can deliver more frequent and high-value engagements. This is imperative if a satisfactory experience characterised by speed and convenience is to be delivered.…
Hollard has modernised its operations by partnering with SilverBridge and migrating its Exergy solution to Microsoft Azure as the independent insurer focuses on embracing emerging technologies to help position the business for a digital world. Previously, Hollard Botswana used an on-premise solution that ran independently from Hollard International. But as digitalisation is accelerating globally to encompass a wider share of the insurance value chain, Hollard Botswana identified the need to modernise its core systems. This would equip the insurer to not only scale more effectively, but also respond more easily to changing customer requirements. To this end, the Botswana business…
As the construction industry reopens under level 3 lockdown restrictions, the Construction Covid-19 Rapid Response Task Team (CC19RRTT) continues to lobby government for change that will facilitate the recovery of the embattled sector, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. This is according to Cox Yeats attorney and CC19RRTT representative Richard Hoal, speaking at an online roundtable discussion hosted by Databuild. Also on the panel were iProp marketing director and chairperson of the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) National Developers Forum Richard Bennet, Combined Flooring contracts director Jason Merrington, Kaygrant Technical Services business manager Andrew Farrow and Corobrik commercial director Musa Shangase.…
At the beginning of March few anticipated the significant impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the lives of all South Africans. As the gradual easing of the strict lockdown conditions approaches, thoughts turn to how companies will begin their recovery. Ian McAlister, GM of CRS Technologies, looks at what to expect. Friday, 1 May signifies the transition to Level 4 lockdown conditions which will result in several more industries resuming operations, albeit in a limited capacity. And while all the details around operational issues are still to be confirmed, expectations are that at least 1.5 million South Africans will…
This effective communications channel is on track to become i-mail or intelligent mail to suit the needs of multiple generations. With the range of digital communication channels now available, the question of whether or not e-mail will become obsolete is relevant – but ICT and digital professionals believe that email will always continue to serve as a fast, simple, efficient and accurate means of communication. Leading provider of end-to-end digital services and solutions Obsidian Systems believe statistics, like those depicted in the Radicati Group’s Email Statistics Report, 2018 – 2022, reflect the significance of email in today’s communication paradigm. Some…
The hospitality industry is gaining popularity for its readiness to adopt digital infrastructure and technology to enhance the customer experience. From integrated smart card technology right through to sophisticated security and access control solutions, businesses in this market have had to adapt to changing requirements of the modern traveller. This is where dormakaba has made its mark. As a leading provider of robust access control and security solutions dormakaba has come up with a formula that works for those who provide hospitality services: security and convenience with integrated access solutions. The formula continues to garner recognition and approval from hotels,…
While it does not seem likely at current progress, human-level AI by 2025 is not as far-fetched as some may believe and we are already on that journey. Major enterprises like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon are pumping billions into AI research, including neuroscience research. Good examples of major artificial intelligence labs conducting research include DeepMind, OpenAI, and Google Brain. Neuroscience is an evolving discipline and AI is an evolving technology. The exploits of Ray Kurzwell can be used to explain this. Kurzweil is known for stating that exponential progress is often underestimated, especially since it is difficult to…