Tag: digital platform

Despite ongoing challenges such as inconsistent power supply and economic instability, an impressive 83% of small businesses have grown their revenue in the past year, and 90% are optimistic about their future growth. These findings from our 2025 State of Small Business Report may be surprising to most, but they prompt the question: What is driving this optimism? The answer lies in SMEs' bold embrace of technology.

There is a complex relationship between privacy and freedom of expression. Both rights are enshrined in the South African Constitution and are essential to a democratic society. The right to privacy safeguards personal autonomy by protecting individuals from undue intrusions into their private lives. Freedom of expression, on the other hand, promotes open debate and the sharing of information, which are vital for democracy.

The first six months of the financial year were highly successful for the Group. Naspers accelerates growth with operations achieving topline growth of 24%. Consolidated e-commerce revenue reached US$3.3 billion during this period. Importantly, e-commerce adjusted EBIT increased fivefold to US$169 million.

Black Friday is almost here, raising stress levels for everyone involved. Shoppers rush to find valuable deals. Retailers need to achieve sales targets to satisfy shareholders. To succeed this year, organisations must maximise their retail technology investments and offer real value and superior customer experiences.

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.

In times past, if a product or service worked, you’d pat yourself on the back and move onto the next project. But this simply doesn’t work in the digital age. Today, users want an experience. Gone are the days when creating something clever and functional could pass, if your user experience (UX) isn’t up to scratch, you can expect your product to not only become a white elephant but to receive stinging reviews too.

We are acutely aware of the challenges posed by recent minimum wage increases mandated by the South African government. While the intention behind these increases is to improve the livelihoods of minimum wage earners, the reality is that they often create a complex web of consequences, particularly in industries like contract cleaning.

Companies can leverage identity platforms to create internal Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) databases. What are the risks of unintentionally transacting with a shady shell company or funds gained from criminal activities? In South Africa, it's substantial.

Sports Illustrated – which was dragged through a protracted scandal after it was found that its publisher The Arena Group allowed artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content in the magazine, and the subsequent fallout including its CEO being fired and a missed license payment – has recently received a lifeline in the form of a new publisher in Minute Media.

Online betting in South Africa is a thriving business, expected to become a billion-dollar sector within four years. But there are risks, especially as the digital era makes it easy to forge identities. Betting companies must manage fraud risks and honour legislation, avoid financial and reputational damage, and continue investing in customer relationships.