AI had doomed SaaS pricing before February’s crash
AI has already split the SaaS market in two, and six years of pricing data from 65 major tools shows exactly where the line is. Tools teams can now replicate internally have stalled or dropped in price since 2020. Categories they cannot replicate have raised prices...
Standard Bank chief says SA can hit 4% growth
South Africa could lift its medium-term growth rate to between 3% to 4% if the state sustains the faster execution of structural reforms now underway, Standard Bank’s CEO told delegates at Semafor World Economy in Washington, arguing that the biggest remaining...
Fuel shocks, crime and digital risks converge as ME tensions rise
The Communications Risk Information Centre (COMRiC) is warning that the war in the Middle East is fast becoming a South African communications risk and not just an energy crisis. As conflict keeps pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil...
Municipal engineers raise red flags in local government white paper
The Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) has raised concerns that despite the latest rounds of consultation and some revisions, the draft White Paper on Local Government has critical gaps. Unless addressed, IMESA warns that the flawed document...
ClearScore makes Cape Town its second global tech hub
UK fintech ClearScore Group is expanding its Cape Town operations and has named the city its second major tech hub outside of London. The move marks a new chapter for the company in South Africa and reinforces the Western Cape’s growing reputation as a destination for...
Free SA cautions against overregulating AI
Free SA has made an initial submission to Parliament opposing elements of South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy that risk burdening innovation with excessive bureaucracy, compliance costs and expanded state control. While the draft policy correctly recognises the...
AI is taking an interest in your fitness routine
On average, each January sees a 23% increase in fitness search interest - and April brings the second climb of 13% as people prepare for summer. However, a new study from Surfshark reveals that the digital fitness boom comes with a hidden cost: popular apps collect...
Developing countries launch first-ever borrowers’ platform
Developing countries took a major step to rebalance the global financial system today, launching the first-ever Borrowers’ Platform during the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) serving as its secretariat. The Platform brings...
Applications open for Samsung EEIP campaign
Samsung, in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), is running an Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) Service Centre campaign - an extension of last year’s initiative and a call encouraging more suitable, black-owned...
Vertiv acquires BMarko Structures
Vertiv has acquired BMarko Structures, a US-based provider of custom-engineered structural fabrication. As AI data centre deployments accelerate, the infrastructure layer is under growing pressure to deliver faster and at scale. The acquisition vertically integrates a...
Bob unifies marketplace, payments, logistics
South African ecommerce platform Bob is rolling out shopaygo - an integrated ecommerce concept that unifies marketplace, payments and logistics into a single connected experience. At its core, shopaygo is about removing the stops between shopping, paying and sending....
Multiple payment options improve online travel sales
Adding diverse payment options directly increases checkout conversions and increased basket size. This is one of the findings of The future of travel in South Africa: How travellers discover, book and pay, commissioned by Peach Payments and PayJustNow. Conducted by...