technology news
A Future Reimagined for African Economies Post-COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled African economies but also offers an opportunity to reinvent economic systems on the continent and make small businesses more resilient, says VP and Senior Director for Economic Growth at Creative Associates International’s. “We are seeing digital solutions and transformation and awareness among political and business leaders that we can do things now that maybe we didn’t even imagine before,” Creative’s Jim Winkler says. “The pandemic has woken us up.” Speaking at the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)’s Leaders Forum, Winkler explains that traditional global supply chains were highly efficient, but also vulnerable to a shock-like COVID-19, leaving producers in Africa with no way to sell their products amid the pandemic. Winkler says an “unexpected silver...
Why Real-time Analytics are Crucial to Online Retail
In the digital age, data is a currency all on its own. The retail sector has lagged in leveraging the value of real-time data, due to a number of factors. However, given the current economic climate, they can no longer afford the luxury of remaining in the dark. The power of data is revealed through near real-time analytics, and it can deliver incredible benefits for the retail sector. Harnessing the power of daily sales and stock on hand data is the missing link in enabling Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing – the panacea where manufacturers produce just the right number of goods that are delivered at the right time to the right place to find their way into the hands of the right consumers. Visibility is the key The daily sales and stock data in retail hold a powerful repository of informat...
Angola Committed to Meeting Energy Objectives Amid Worldwide Pandemic
Sourced from Saur Energy. Africa Oil & Power, the African Energy Chamber and the U.S-Angola Chamber of Commerce presented the webinar: Powering Forward – The Pathway to Grid Stability, Increased Capacity and a Diversified Angolan Economy, on Thursday. This webinar addressed how Angola can continue to prioritize its development of national transmission and distribution capacities in the long-term, with a view toward increasing electrification, job creation and economic growth. Panellists included Maria da Cruz, President & CEO of the U.S-Angola Chamber of Commerce, Paul Ghiotto, Energy Officer, Political-Economic Section, U.S. Embassy Luanda and Frederico Martins Correia, Energy, Resources & Industrials Partner, Deloitte. Powering Forward: The Pathway to Grid Stability, Increase...
The DRC’s COVID-19 Response is Based on Approaches Tackling the Ebola Outbreak
Sourced from ScienceMag. The Ebola outbreak in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared over today, almost two years since the first case was confirmed. The DRC Ministry of Health made the announcement after no new cases were reported 42 days since the last patient tested negative for the virus. The outbreak started in August 2018. There were 3470 cases, 2287 lives lost and 1171 survivors, making it the second-deadliest after the one in West Africa that lasted from 2014 to 2016. In a context of insecurity, the efforts to halt the 10th Ebola outbreak in the DRC were particularly challenging. Emergency teams from the World Health Organization (WHO), partner organizations, the DRC Ministry of Health and communities made huge efforts to end the outbreak. “During the...
OneDayOnly Records 40% Growth during Lockdown
Sourced from IOL. Unlike anything the world has seen before, the COVID-19 pandemic fuelled a sudden digital surge that catapulted both global and local eCommerce traffic to unprecedented levels. The closest comparable example – while on a much smaller geographical scale – would be the 2003 SARS crisis, which is today recognised as kickstarting Alibaba’s eCommerce success in Asia. This is according to Matthew Leighton, spokesperson from OneDayOnly.co.za, who notes the accelerant role that COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown has played in boosting eCommerce uptake across South Africa. “While eCommerce has been gaining gradual traction across the country over the past decade, there is no denying that COVID-19 has served as a catalyst for rapid progress in this regard. To put this level of growt...
Intelsat and Liquid Telecom Agree to Extend Partnership
Intelsat and Liquid Telecom have announced the extension of their partnership agreement. The companies have collaborated since 2016 to bring broadband and other critical communications services to people throughout Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Intelsat has been an integral part of Africa’s communications fabric since 1965; it was the first operator to introduce satellite services on the continent, sparking the growth of critical communications infrastructure. It was also a crucial component to the delivery of Liquid Telecom’s multi-award-winning very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) service thanks to its high-throughput satellite fleet, providing a robust, secure and reliable communications network to communities, schools and businesses in 20 countries across the African contin...
How Businesses Can Think Human and Place People at Centre of IT Decisions
Sourced from TTEC.com Organisations are placing business and shareholder goals above employee needs when adopting new technologies, according to a new study from Lenovo. The research, conducted among 1,000 IT managers across EMEA, found that just 6% of IT managers consider users as their top priority when making technology investments. Lenovo believes that this approach to IT adoption is ultimately leading to productivity being stifled. When businesses implement new technologies without considering the human impact, many employees become overwhelmed due to the complexity and pace of change, with 47% of IT managers reporting that users struggle to embrace new software. With all industries having to adapt to the ‘next normal’ and take stock of their responsibility – to employees, to the envi...
Need a Culture Fix? Here are 5 French Museums You Can Visit Virtually
Sourced from Flickr. As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict international travel, many wanderlust travellers around the world are craving their next trip. Wouter Vermeulen, GM of Southern Africa for Air France KLM notes that while we are all being responsible citizens practising social distancing, people across the world are finding creative ways to bring the world to them. “During this time of lockdown, we have seen people embracing virtual travel to their dream destinations. And while it is no replacement for the real thing, it helps keep that travel dream alive. Another way we have seen people bringing the world to them is through virtual tourism! Many tourist hotspots and museums have created interactive versions of their offering to give travellers a glimpse into their ...
Crossfin Transactional Solutions Rebrands To Adumo
Crossfin Transactional Solutions (CTS) has rebranded to Adumo, in an attempt to infuse the fast-growing fintech company with an authentic African feel that speaks to its existing and future customer base. Following the 2019 acquisition of Sureswipe by Crossfin Technology Holdings, a fintech investment company, and Apis Growth Fund, a private equity fund managed by London-based Apis Partners LLP, Crossfin Transactional Solutions (CTS), South Africa’s largest independent payments and merchant acquiring solutions platform was formed. 2020 will now see an authentic, local positioning of CTS to ‘Adumo’. Adumo services more than 30 000 active clients and 50 000 active card machines – processing over $4 billion in transaction value – and with a presence in 7 African countries, making it is the la...
iPhone 12 Still on Track for September Release
Sourced from Phone Arena There has been continued speculation about whether or not the iPhone 12 launch might be delayed further by around a few months due to the worldwide pandemic and its supply chain disruptions earlier in the year. A report from Wedbush now says that Apple’s supply chain has made impressive strides in ramping up production capabilities, putting the iPhone 12 back on track for a September launch. According to 9to5Mac, the report suggests that while there has been some disruption, suppliers have managed to make up for lost time, working hard to get back on schedule for the usual September timeframe “Our recent Asia checks and supply chain contacts are now looking at iPhone units in the 160 million to 180 million range for CY20 with strong underlying momentum into CY...
Sony’s Music Portal Launches Two New Features for African Artists
Sony Music Entertainment Africa has just unveiled two state-of-the-art features – Real-Time Earnings and Cash-Out – that allow their artists to view and withdraw earnings faster than ever before through the Sony Music Artist Portal. In these unprecedented times where artists need immediate access to funds, the Real-Time Earnings element of the Sony Music Artist Portal is available anytime, anywhere and provides artists with immediate updates about their global earnings and account balances, while also giving them faster insights into their earnings trends. The Cash-Out element gives artists even greater control over their money by providing them with the ability to request a withdrawal of all, or part, of their payable balance, and there are no hidden fees or charges that are incurred when...
Zuku Could Soon Be Releasing an Android TV-Ready Decoder
Satellite and fixed internet provider Zuku seems to be looking into releasing a decoder loaded with Android TV in the future, combined with Google Play and YouTube. The service is available in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi & Zambia. Zuku is working on an Android TV box. Interesting stuff. But also it can end in tears. pic.twitter.com/IWkpxdiNNt — Kenyan Citizen 🇰🇪 (@BeingWesh) June 25, 2020 New images circling social media might give an indication of what this new product may look like, as well as what might be included in the box set. According to TechWeez, the product is set to be a decoder that is capable of running Android TV, Google Play and YouTube. No word yet if the decoder will be able to support the installation of any other streamings services like Netflix ...
