In its second act, blockchain will transform traditional finance

Financial markets are on the verge of their most significant infrastructure transformation since the shift from paper-based trading to electronic systems. By Dr Wiehann Olivier, partner and global co-head of digital assets at Forvis Mazars Yet, despite the growing...
Access to a real-time rail isn’t the same as delivering one

Access to a real-time rail isn’t the same as delivering one

Connecting to a real-time payment rail is the straightforward part. Delivering an experience that genuinely feels instant is where the real work – and the competitive advantage – lies, writes Derick Truscott, chief financial officer at Hyphen. There is...
Banks don’t need faster AI. They need more accountable decisions

Banks don’t need faster AI. They need more accountable decisions

Financial leaders are now being asked to fund artificial intelligence (AI), govern it, and explain the value it creates. That is not a simple technology question. In banking, it is becoming a test of leadership. By Michel Ghorayeb, MD of SAS UAE AI is starting to...
Payment security starts with design, not the audit

Payment security starts with design, not the audit

While many businesses still view the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) primarily as a compliance obligation, the reality is that payment security has a direct impact on operational stability, customer trust and commercial resilience. By Johannes...

The most expensive metre in retail is the one that leads to the till

There are three questions that preoccupy South Africa’s retailers in 2026. How do you get customers through the door, how do you keep them there, and how do you persuade them to spend? By Dieter Oelofse, POS systems architect at Ecentric Payment Systems, and Shaun...
Stress-test now for Black Friday

Stress-test now for Black Friday

I find myself having the same conversations with business owners in late November – always too late to make a difference – writes Sahil Affriya, founder and CEO of Shiprazor. They typically have three strong trading days as customers work through their...