GenAI for Procurement hits the Trough of Disillusionment
Generative AI (GenAI) for procurement has entered the trough of disillusionment, according to Gartner. While some early adopters are seeing benefits, many organizations are experiencing uneven ROI or falling short of expectations, highlighting the need for a more...
Manufacturing sentiment stays in negative territory
As South Africans woke up to the certainty of 30% tariffs from the US, they also face continued deterioration in manufacturing sentiment. The latest update from the Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for July 2025, which points to this deterioration as it remains...
African airlines see growth in cargo demand
Africa accounted for 2% of total global air cargo market in June 2025. During the month of June 2025, African airlines saw demand (measured by cargo tonne kilometres rise by 3,9% year-on-year, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)....
Xerox re-enters cut-sheet inkjet market with Kyocera
Following hot on the heels of its acquisition of Lexmark, Xerox has agreed to source Kyocera’s high-speed cut-sheet inkjet production presses, marking the company’s re-entry into the fast-growing cut-sheet inkjet (CSIJ) market and significantly broadening its...
AI investments drive US IT distribution revenues up
The IT distribution channel in North America posted record high sales in the second quarter of 2025, surpassing the previous Q2 high seen during the pandemic. Distributor revenues came in at $21,8-billion, which is a 7,4% increase year-over-year, according to the...
Massive growth ahead for LEO satellite communications
End-user spending on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications services is expected to reach $14,8-billion globally in 2026, an increase of 24,5% from 2025, according to Gartner. “LEO satellites have primarily delivered broadband connectivity to remote locations...
The impact of AI on digital transformation
Reaffirming its commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation through artificial intelligence (AI), Google has highlighted the impact of its AI tools on the local innovation and business landscape at the AI in Action event in Cape Town. Held under the theme...
Why most South Africans can’t afford a home
Only one formal house exists per 3,3 families who earn less than R26 000 a month – this accounts for more than 80% of South African households – and the trend is worsening, according to Lightstone. In its June 2025 Property Newsletter, the automotive and property...
VALR pioneers xStocks in SA
VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, has launched xStocks on its platform enabling customers to gain price exposure through tokenisation of leading US-listed equities such as Tesla, Nvidia, Robinhood, Circle, and Coinbase. With this move, VALR says...
Ghana Msibi is new FNB Business CEO
FNB has announced the appointment of Ghana Msibi as the new CEO for FNB Business. Msibi will report to Harry Kellan, CEO of FNB, and will be a member of the FNB Executive Committee. He was previously CEO of WesBank, a role he assumed in 2022, having joined the company...
NTT Data MEA is Snowflake’s first elite partner in SA
NTT Data Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been awarded Elite Partner status by Snowflake, becoming the first organisation in South Africa to achieve this level of recognition. A spokesperson from Snowflake notes: “Elite Partner status is awarded to organisations that...
Community WiFi, MVNO and the rise of hybrid communications providers
SA Connect is the South African government’s national broadband policy and strategy. This framework aims to deliver universal, affordable internet access to all citizens. By Craig Palmer, CEO of VAS-X Launched in 2013, the initiative seeks to connect government...