Credit cards boost online turnover
It took online outdoor products retailer iWarehouse.co.za three years to come around to the idea of accepting credit cards on its Web site. “It turned my business around. I should have done it from the beginning,” says owner John Guthrie. Guthrie was wary of...
Trends and strides in e-commerce
The e-commerce environment is more competitive than ever. Mark Chirnside, CEO of payment gateway PayU looks at three top trends that companies need to be aware of. There is no disputing the fact that, with the increased adoption of mobile technology and alternative...
Data protection laws impact non-compliant
The forthcoming promulgation of data protection legislation in South Africa is expected to have a significant impact on local businesses in 2013, as compliance is set to become a legal necessity for businesses. This is according to Guy Kimble, MD of Metrofile Records...
Compliance alone won’t prevent disaster
The advent of King III, with its stringent demands on directors to exercise careful control over every aspect of the business, has been a gift for software vendors who can claim any link between their products and compliance. But, says James Beaumont of technology...
What businesses may overlook with POPI
A new realm of compliance for South African businesses and government is set to arrive in 2013. Executives and business owners may soon have only one year to ensure their IT governance complies with the new Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act when it is...
500 businesses respond to revised BEE codes
About 500 businesses have submitted comment to the DTI’s proposed revised BEE codes released in October 2012. Keith Levenstein, CEO of EconoBEE, a BEE advisory firm, says the radical ideas in the proposed codes and lack of communication from the DTI left businesses...
Make way for cyber-forensics
The advent of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Bill, which is set to be enacted this year, will change the way companies have to approach data handling strategies, processes and procedures. As computers have increasingly become part of users' lives, they...
A business case for data governance
There are 10 basic, yet important steps to building a business case for data governance.Within each step are a number of best practices that define the level of programme success, failure or mediocrity. These steps involve strategy development, value identification,...
The business case for data governance
Data governance may be the most talked about yet elusive prize in the data management space. It is highly coveted by people who work with data because practitioners know the mission-critical role governance plays in achieving desired data outcomes, says Jim Orr,...
Ensure Facebook competitions comply
A majority of businesses have or are considering using Facebook pages to promote their companies. Many of them resort to tactics such as bribery, encouraging users to 'like their page" in order to enter a competition or win a prize. The aim is to either stir up...
SA not geared up for records management
Despite South African information and records management solutions being on par with that of global standards, many local businesses fail to recognise the importance of effective records management despite multiple legislative requirements governing this critical...
Cyber insurance is essential
With the onset of the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Bill, which looks set to be enacted in 2013, as well as the increasing reliance of companies on digital data, businesses can no longer afford to be complacent about the potential effects of a data breach...