Tag: Accenture Africa

If your supply chain still depends on people chasing spreadsheets and calling warehouses, you are at risk. When your team reacts to crises instead of strategically positioning the organisation to manage risk, inefficiency becomes a liability. South African business leaders must now confront a hard truth. Autonomy is not a futuristic concept. It is a present-day necessity.

In an era where borders are no longer physical, South Africa is drawn into a new kind of conflict. This conflict is not fought with tanks and missiles. Instead, it is waged with lines of code and silent intrusions. From local municipalities to national ministries, government systems face relentless attack. The digital battlefield is here. Cyberspace has become the next frontier of conflict.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for progress. It is quickly becoming a test of responsibility. South African companies race to harness artificial intelligence for innovation and growth, but few ask the most critical question: at what environmental cost?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept waiting on the horizon. It is here. And it is moving fast. For South Africa, a country facing structural challenges but rich in ingenuity and potential, AI brings both monumental opportunities and real risks. The question is no longer whether we will participate in this new world of AI. The real question is how.

Across South Africa, public service teams work tirelessly to meet citizens' needs. They often operate under immense pressure and in difficult conditions. While meaningful progress has been made in modernising service delivery, many citizens still face long waits and paperwork when applying for essential services like Smart IDs or clinic-based healthcare. These moments present an opportunity to do more.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills revolution is no longer a future concept or speculative technology. Generative AI is here now. It is rapidly reshaping industries and rewriting the rules of competitiveness. In South Africa, generative AI holds immense potential. It can drive inclusive economic growth, boost productivity and spark entrepreneurial innovation.

In 2016 Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum reflected on the intersection of technology and humanity. Schwab expressed concern about how technology like smartphones could affect our compassion and connection with others, possibly depriving us of meaningful engagement.

With increasing alacrity, businesses must recognise the crucial need to transform their organisational structures. This is necessary to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape. However, it’s equally important for organisations to consider the associated risks. This will ensure long-term resilience.

Two years ago, we warned that organisations failing to embrace data, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology would risk being left behind by their competitors. A year later this prediction came true as organisations ranked technology as the most disruptive force in organisations in 2023 and rocketed to the top of the corporate agenda.

For many business leaders, the heat is on. They face inflation, supply chain disruption, labour shortages, and pricing pressures. Protecting margins while meeting customer needs and navigating economic uncertainty is crucial. However, many lack transparency and granularity in actual cost structures.