What GenAI means for retail
In the span of a year, the landscape of artificial intelligence has undergone a remarkable transformation. Until late 2022, few people outside of cutting-edge artificial intelligence had heard of large language models (LLMs) or generative AI (GenAI). By Sheetal Patel,...
What to expect from retail tech in 2024
Once upon a time (literally like last week) a shopper popped in for a quick pre-holiday shop. Welcomed by a bot that offered personalised suggestions based on previous purchases - a hassle free push to make their experience "more than". Drawn into the clothing...
KFC opens Play Braamfontein concept store
KFC has opened a concept store in Johannesburg's Play Braamfontein precinct, showcasing new concepts in food, fashion, customer service, team member experience, tech, operations, development, sustainability and design. "It's about revolutionising the speed and agility...
Retail lessons of 2023 shape trends in 2024
The cost of living, the nervous twitches of the global economy and the lingering recession are all having an ongoing impact on the retail sector and its outlook for 2024. What lies ahead? What lessons learned in 2023 will shape decision-making, investment and...
What does the future of Android-based PoS terminals look like?
Most of us probably don’t spend that much time thinking about what operating systems are installed on the point-of-sale (PoS) terminals, also known as card machines, that allow us to buy gifts at a boutique, lunch at a food market, or even our weekly groceries. Dig a...
Managing data critical to maintaining a competitive advantage in retail
Adaptability is critical in the retail space, and in today's world, if you do not have an online presence, you are losing out on a significant opportunity. When making the move online, it is essential to deliver a consistent experience for users - as there is nothing...
Yoco, MediaTek collaborate on easy payment acceptance for businesses
Yoco has collaborated with MediaTek to create fast, easy-to-use card machines for small businesses in Africa. The new Yoco Neo Touch range is powered by MediaTek Genio series of chipsets - Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. The Yoco Neo Touch card machine connects to...
All the winners on Black Friday, Cyber Monday
The Food & Beverage industry as well as Retail were the big online winners over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, with Travel & Accommodation coming a close third. This is the news from South African-based digital payment gateway Peach Payments,...
Tech evolution levels the retail playing field
Consumers in South Africa are under immense pressure with a cascade of bad news resulting in increased prices at the till. Producer Price Inflation continues to rise, with the latest figures showing an increase from August's 4,3% to 5,1% in September: Things are going...
Online retailers can ensure this Black Friday is their biggest yet
Despite very clear economic challenges weighing down the pockets of most South Africans, there are signs that this year's Black Friday could be an incredibly significant one for the country's online retailers. Local appetite for online shopping has, for instance, kept...
Black Friday boom expected for card-linked instalments
As Black Friday approaches, Africa's first card-linked instalment platform, Float, expects more than a 500% increase on the number of transactions processed last year, and predicts average shopper spend will increase by 30% to over R11 000. Last year, Black Friday...
How SMEs can maximise Black Friday for long-term growth
In recent years, South Africa has embraced the global phenomenon of Black Friday. While, for businesses in this country, it's tempting to focus solely on the immediate potential that this flurry of buying activity presents, SMEs should take a much longer-term view of...