Tag: DigitalTransformation

South Africa heads into 2026 on a firmer economic footing than in recent years. A steadier macro backdrop and modest growth prospects are beginning to take shape. This shift should support the country’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. The sector picked up some momentum in the second half of last year, albeit from a low base. At the same time, sentiment has improved and confidence has returned.

Across the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey and Africa (CEEMETA) region, the pace of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption has shifted from steady to rapid. What felt ambitious a year ago is now baseline. Boards expect measurable returns. Operations expect automation. Customers expect intelligence at every touch point. This is AI at full throttle.

In 2023, we witnessed the Big Bang of technology. That year, Artificial Intelligence (AI) ignited a new era of innovation and transformation. In 2025, GenAI went mainstream, and agentic AI entered the scene. Most importantly, real return on investment began to emerge in major enterprises. These milestones confirm that the AI revolution continues to reshape how organisations create value. In 2026, the AI story accelerates further.

2025 was not just another year of tech headlines. Instead, it marked a year of digital surge that reshaped everyday life in South Africa. Families streamed their favourite shows without buffering. Students joined online classes from rural towns. Small businesses found new customers through WhatsApp and TikTok. Fibre rolled across suburbs faster than gossip at a family braai.

Legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) was built for weight and stability. However, modern systems now require modular adaptability. This tension defines the African ERP crossroads. Enterprise resource management platforms once transformed enterprise infrastructure. These ERP systems unified back-office processes and reduced duplication.

The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Geopolitical tensions, trade wars and natural disasters have exposed vulnerabilities across industries. As a result, these challenges have become the norm rather than the exception. We have shifted from the era of “just in time” to “just in case”. In this environment, global supply chain strategy has become a central driver of resilience.

Imagine walking into a factory where machines can think ahead, predict problems before it happens, and automatically make adjustments to realise peak performance. This isn’t science fiction; it’s happening right now as AI continues transforms how we run industrial operations.

Amid Global Entrepreneurship Week, running from 17 to 23 November, new insights from small business communities offer practical lessons for South African entrepreneurs. These insights show how digital skills, innovation and proven global strategies can fast-track growth. As the week unfolds, global SME insights highlight opportunities for transformation.

The near future holds the potential for a transformative scenario where a procurement AI platform negotiates directly with another company's AI platform. AI interaction could lead to seamless supply agreements with no delays, coffee breaks or human intervention.

Read our exclusive cover story titled AI-to-AI engagement - humans optional! by Steven Ambrose, CEO, DR Insight, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.