Author: Editor
The current lockdown in South Africa is a major challenge for businesses to maintain operations. For insurers, much of this revolves around empowering employees with the capability to work remotely and continuing to provide customers with the required products and services. Annalie Terblanche, head of product at SilverBridge, looks at the importance of digitalisation in insurance in this regard and how to position organisations to remain fully operational. “Most South Africans are feeling the impact of the lockdown even though the long-term repercussions will probably be felt for years to come. The next several weeks will be vital in the…
“Anything dead coming back to life hurts”. These words were written by Tony Morrison in her powerful book Beloved. The character was talking about a starkly different scenario, but I believe the principle stands true to our world today. We are very slowly entering a phase of coming back to life. For the economy (hopefully this will come sooner than later), for socialising and for our life in general as we re-enter the world. This unfortunately, may come with uncertainty and anxiety, but it is the struggle to come back to life that we now face. To come back to…
From less than half a billion dollars in 2013 to an expected $14 billion by 2021, the significant growth in the global market for software-defined networking (SDN) reflects how important this evolutionary step in infrastructure management will become in the months to come. As the name suggests, SDN enables a network to be intelligently (and centrally) programmed or controlled using software. No more engineers running around with screwdrivers trying to manually fix connections. No more sending technicians to branch offices to investigate network problems. With SDN, this becomes automated to greatly reduce expenses and allow IT staff to fulfil more…
The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionised business operations the world over, and forever changed the way markets engage with customers and how consumers deal with brands. Companies must now face the reality of a touch-free generation, people who expect everything to work touch-free and today there is an opportunity to leverage loyalty programmes to meet this expectation. Online research shows that one of the fundamental changes to the business environment resulting from the pandemic has been the surge in e-commerce and use of digital tools. It’s proof that the touch-free generation is getting to grips with technology to avoid personal contact…
Based on our 2020 experience, new year predictions may seem like a game of make-believe. But predictions are one thing, trends are another. Synthesis Customer Success Manager, Peter Mülders shares technology insights into 2021 based on emerging trends. Adjustment COVID-19 shocked all businesses last year. However, enterprises are becoming used to the new normal “and digitisation should return to previous levels of growth in 2021,” according to Mülders. The continued growth of cloud There was substantial growth in cloud this past year. AWS Revenue grew 29% year-on-year in quarter three to $11.6bn and Microsoft Azure Revenue increased by 48% year-on-year…
Whereas I am not a Corona Virus expert, I have been a hypochondriac for some years. I am also am a radio talk show host, author and a social commentator, which perhaps qualifies me in some way to speak of social impact of this illness, There have been some pivotal moments in my lifetime: The falling of the Berlin wall, 9/11 and now Covid19 All of these events changed the world. In each case the world before and after looked different. Prior to the Corona Virus, our lives and our planet had begun to spin faster and faster. Smartphones, social…
I am perplexed as to why it should matter how the meeting between the ANC’s top 6 and former president Jacob Zuma went. They met him, apparently in an attempt to persuade him to comply with a court ruling and appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry. And they updated the country as if we should care. We should not. Whereas it might be very nice for them that the discussion was constructive and positive and that a good time was had by all, the truth is that it is not relevant in any material way. The situation could hardly…
The insurance market is fraught with challenges, brought on by digital disruption, climate change, and demographic transformations. To navigate securely across the sector’s shifting waters, industry leaders like Sasria SOC need a clear line of sight into its data and processes. In the move to streamline operations, gain business insight, and empower the workforce, the company partnered with DAC Systems and went live with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP deployment. By simplifying customer engagements and reducing manual tasks, the solution freed up Sasria’s teams to perform more value-added work. “Our transformation started in 2017, when we developed a strategic technology plan…
Employment contracts always include a notice period should an individual decide to resign. Typically, South African workers must give a calendar months’ notice when they decide to part ways with their employer, but what happens in the case of resignation with immediate effect, especially when there are pending disciplinary actions? Nicol Myburgh, Head of the HR Business Unit at CRS Technologies, navigates the complexities in this regard. “According to contract law, an employee’s contract of employment only comes to an end once the resignation takes effect at the end of the notice period,” he explains. “This means that resigning with…
Processing your company’s payroll should be a breeze, but if your payroll department is living from one crisis to the next, chances are good you’ve either outgrown your HR and payroll software, your solution provider, or both, says Ian McAlister, General Manager of CRS Technologies. “The workplace is constantly evolving and HR and payroll systems, together with the vendors who provide them, need to be flexible enough to keep pace with these changes. “Unfortunately, however, many solutions are presented as current but are characterised by outdated, legacy technologies that fall short of the modern capabilities needed to meet changing business…