Technology

The enterprise Goliath is worried about its suppliers. These Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are underprepared. They are also disproportionately targeted. In fact, 43% of cyber-attacks target their digital front door. In addition, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) holds large organisations legally responsible when a supplier is breached.

Resilience and agility are key competitive advantages for companies. CRM is still one of the most reliable ways to activate these qualities. When it comes to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, the conversations are complicated.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly moving from experimentation to execution within South African organisations. Organisations increasingly embed AI agents across business functions, including finance, customer service, IT and operations. However, a significant governance concern is emerging.

In a low-growth economy, organisations struggle to expand revenue. They therefore face increasing pressure to unlock efficiencies and do more with less. Consider a major South African bank. It recently celebrated a successful AI-powered fraud detection pilot. The results looked impressive. The system delivered faster detection, fewer false positives and measurable savings. Leadership felt energised.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, one of the most revolutionary ideas in human history emerged - the corporation. Today, the concept seems entirely ordinary. Companies own assets, enter into contracts, raise capital, employ people, and continue operating long after their founders have passed away.

Buying the right tools is the easy part. However, orchestrating technology, people and process at the standard global customers expect is why specialist Customer Experience (CX) outsourcing exists. There is a seductive logic to the way the CX technology market presents itself. A new platform promises unified customer data. A new AI tool promises faster resolution.

According to our recent global report, password guessing and valid account misuse rank among the most effective tactics cyber criminals use in 2025. This trend reflects a strategic shift. Attackers now move away from noisy malware that triggers endpoint protection. Instead, they leverage legitimate access to evade detection.

For most of the past decade, African fintech was a land grab. Valuations rewarded user numbers. Interfaces became flashier. “Disruption” became the pitch that attracted capital investment. From the outside, it was clear that the model was running hotter than it could sustain. However, that era is over.

EssilorLuxottica and Meta sold more than seven million Ray-Ban and Oakley-branded smart glasses in 2025. Sales of these intelligent wearables increased almost threefold compared with 2023. As a result, the category moved into the mainstream.

Across South Africa, many citizens already experience seamless, data-driven services. They often encounter these services in the private sector. In these environments, organisations use data to create more connected and responsive interactions. As a result, data shapes how organisations deliver and improve services over time.