Tag: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is here. It is evident in the way banks have started offering their digital services and disrupting the modus operandi of traditional banks; it is evident in schools, where books are being replaced with tablets and it will roll-out in almost every sector in the country.

Today’s consumers are more informed than ever about their purchasing decisions. They are constantly connected, constantly searching for information, constantly sharing their brand experiences on social media and constantly demanding that their needs are instantly gratified.

Despite its pivotal role in the 4th Industrial Revolution, the connectivity sphere is no different from any other business sector when it comes to profitability challenges. In the fast-moving and hyper-competitive economic environment of today, even the biggest players in ICT are under threat.

As exponential, digital-driven technologies transform the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) from a buzzword into reality, the financial services sector - and insurance in particular - face massive disruption, it starts with a radical reimagining of the very model insurance has been built on since its origins in the 14th Century, and Africa is no exception.

According to QuickBooks, there are already more than 700 apps that are assisting accountants to automate processes and reduce their workload. Gone are the days where accountants can be mere number crunchers, who collate and check data and allocate it to the correct cost centre. The future accountant will have transformed her/himself into a financial advisor, adding value to businesses by offering strategic advice, consulting and financial planning.

While the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) presents immense opportunity for particularly the hospitality industry, the people-centred nature of these businesses will likely see human capital remaining an equally integral component to organisational success.

Boardroom efforts to make customer experience a priority is being hampered by rising costs, retention and bad debt. South African firms continue to be challenged by rising costs of customer acquisition, retention, fraud and bad debt while striving for innovation through leveraging data and AI techniques.

As a society, we are on the precipice of The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and we are only just beginning to understand the radical effects it will have on the way we communicate, live and work.

Before we can truly embrace the tantalising promise of 5G, network operators must consider a number of architectural realities. As we head further into 2019, the world of telecoms continues to be abuzz with talk about 5G networks.

Rapid advances in technology and artificial intelligence in the mining industry raise issues like data protection, intellectual property ownership and legal liability. In the current absence of specific legislation to govern emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, businesses must continue to rely on existing laws and ensure that they enter into robust contracts.