“I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.” This powerful quote from Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister of a post-colonial African nation, reminds us of the fundamental cultural connection of being African. At MTN, we celebrate Africa Day as a pan-African company both born on
Maseru – Vodacom Lesotho this week commemorates 30 years since commencing operations, at a time when mobile communication was virtually unknown in the country. As the first operator in Lesotho, the company laid the foundations for a sector that has since become central to national development. From a single portable base station in 1996, the network
MTN Group posted excellent operational and financial results for 2025, delivering significantly on our Ambition 2025 strategy and transitioning to Ambition 2030 priorities to capture value from the attractive structural growth opportunities brought about by accelerated data adoption and financial inclusion across Africa. We reported very strong commercial outcomes led by MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana; a resilient performance
Vodacom South Africa has achieved a significant milestone – the first demonstration of this capability on the African continent – with the successful testing of SuperUpload, a 5G advanced technology that delivers uplink speeds of 254 Mbps. This breakthrough reinforces Vodacom’s ongoing 5G network leadership in the country, particularly on speed and performance, setting new
Traderoot has formed a strategic partnership with Halo Dot, who provides certified, secure and modular SoftPOS software that enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly on mobile devices. Together, the companies aim to make secure, mobile-first SoftPOS payments more widely available. Android smartphones become secure payment terminals The partnership integrates Halo Dot’s PCI MPoC-certified SDK
Vodacom Group, a leading pan-African telecommunications group, today announced a transaction that would significantly increase its ownership in Safaricom, reinforcing its commitment to the East African markets of Kenya and Ethiopia. Under the terms of this transaction, Vodacom has entered into an agreement with the Government of Kenya to acquire 15% of Safaricom PLC and
Global cloud communications platform Infobip has announced the expansion of its integration with Microsoft Azure Communication Services, enabling its advanced SMS interface to connect businesses with customers in more than 100 additional countries. This collaboration unites Infobip’s carrier-grade global messaging with Microsoft’s communications platform, empowering organisations to deliver secure, high-quality, and compliant messages worldwide. As
Written by 1Nebula | https://www.1nebula.com/ Get your free Telecom Cost Audit here Company growth is a good thing. However, growth often requires even more work to consolidate its gains. For operationally intensive retail companies, this often looks like an increasing footprint of stores, warehouses, and delivery fleets. This new infrastructure brings with it a need
Vodacom welcomes the announcement by the Competition Commission that it will no longer oppose Vodacom’s proposed acquisition of a 30% interest in Maziv, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity in South Africa. This development follows additional concessions agreed to by Vodacom and CIVH – the current owner
Vodacom Business has deployed a Mobile Private Network (MPN) at Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility in Secunda, Mpumalanga. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in leveraging advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and connectivity in the industrial sector. “As part of Sasol’s digitalisation journey, there is a focus on utilising technology to improve processes that impact
While the economic landscape has been anything but stable, with international trade tensions and the national budget fallout spooking the market before rebounding when the VAT increase was later withdrawn, the retail sector is showing remarkable resilience, says Ecentric Payment Systems’ Rory Bosman, adding that many retailers proved at the end of last year that
As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can
Vodacom Eastern Cape region is spending R500 million this financial year on modernising the network, energy projects and accelerating broadband coverage across the region, particularly in townships and deep rural areas of the province. This investment forms part of the company’s commitment to drive digital inclusion in the communities in which it operates. In 2023–2024
The bi-annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which is a study of the global retailing landscape has revealed Africa is poised to move away from traditional retail models and become the fastest-growing, richest, and most sophisticated market in the world. Prashaen Reddy, a partner at management consulting firm Kearney says that this is thanks to
Despite the global move towards digital transacting, 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked. It’s these individuals that payment service providers like Spenda are empowering through the use of innovative payment solutions that address the financial inclusion gap. In its latest move to do so, Spenda has integrated Scan to Pay to launch Spenda Scan to
In a bold step towards redefining the future of financial technology, Ukheshe has announced its official rebranding to EFT Corporation. The move consolidates Ukheshe’s pioneering digital solutions with EFT Corporation’s extensive reach and expertise under one unified brand, positioning it as a leading catalyst for financial inclusion in Africa. The rebranding of Ukheshe to EFT
One of the market leaders in the fintech space in South Africa, iKhokha, has announced the launch of a new smart card machine that fits into your pocket, called the iK Flyer Lite. This new offering follows the success of the flagship iK Flyer card machine, launched in 2022, which far surpassed initial sales expectations.
Pick n Pay has set a new standard in affordability and accessibility with the launch of its store-to-store Domestic Money Transfer service. At R8.00 per transaction, it is the cheapest price for customers within retail stores. The informal cash usage in the country remains high, and this service will be interoperable across all Pick n
Pick n Pay Smart Shopper customers are increasingly spending their points on airtime and data, a popular loyalty reward exclusive for retailer Pick n Pay. Over R1 million worth of points has been switched for airtime and data. Since the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app relaunch last October, which introduced a seamless points-to-airtime/data conversion
Dalene Deale, Strategic Consultant at Halo Dot Financial inclusion remains a critical barrier across Africa. A considerable segment of the population remains alienated from basic banking services. Yet, the arrival of mobile payment technologies, like Halo Dot, promises to bridge this gap. Halo Dot’s innovative approach turns mobile devices into secure, encrypted payment terminals, allowing
By Sheetal Patel, Retail lead and Junaid Kleinschmidt, Digital Marketing Strategy and Intelligence lead for Accenture, Africa 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. Now, it’s
South African shoppers want choice and convenience. Recognising this, retail consumer finance provider, RCS, is offering real, tangible value to its customers. By expanding its partner network, payment options and embracing cutting-edge technology, RCS is not just keeping up; it’s leading the way towards greater financial inclusion in South Africa. Credit extended to healthcare products
As the digital payment revolution gains momentum, Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, is over the moon to announce its partnership with CryptoConvert which will see its users able to make payments cashless, contactless, and incredibly secure at all Pick n Pay till points. CryptoConvert partnered with Pick n Pay last year to trial making
Clickatell, a pioneer in mobile messaging and Chat Commerce innovation, today announced the launch of Clickatell AI, an innovative addition to its Chat Commerce Platform. This conversational AI solution uses artificial intelligence and messaging to create personalized conversations, improving customer engagement and building stronger relationships. Clickatell AI utilizes natural language processing (NLP) to grasp the
Pick n Pay, a trailblazer in the loyalty space, celebrates its pioneering spirit as it embarks on a digital transformation journey with the launch of the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app. This marks the start of a new era of customer engagement and convenience for Smart Shopper as it aims to become South Africa’s
Most of us have engaged in eCommerce one way or another and are likely to frequent our tried and tested online providers for years to come. We can navigate B2C eCommerce comfortably and enjoy the ease of finding great products, seamless services, and fast delivery. In fact, the eCommerce user experience (UX) continues to get
Unified Payments (UP), Nigeria’s premier financial technology service provider, has successfully launched its e-commerce gateway services built on the new state of the art payment gateway platform from Compass Plus Technologies. The strategic move further strengthens the 18-year partnership between the two technology titans and has enabled UP to become the first institution in the
Selected Pick n Pay formats are ushering in a new era of shopping convenience and affordability with the launch of PayJustNow, one of the fastest-growing Buy Now Pay Later providers in South Africa. PayJustNow empowers customers to split payments into three convenient instalments – through a completely digital application process – which is free of
With the holiday season fast approaching, many businesses are working on gift lists and incentives to thank employees and reward loyal clients. And while the reliable (if somewhat boring) box of chocolates is still appreciated by some, what better way to thank someone than to let them choose their own perfect gift? That’s just one
Consumers in South Africa are experiencing escalating levels of financial stress and are actively seeking alternative forms of payment due to the country’s rising cost of living. The use of developing digital payments are gaining pace in South Africa and statistics show that there is a rising desire for credit among consumers with digital payment
E-commerce shoppers have been promised a frictionless checkout for years, but new moves by the card schemes will take South African consumers a step closer. Soon, local merchants will be able to offer online shoppers a faster checkout experience giving them a seamless experience, much like the ones already available on Amazon and other global
Francisco Gil, Managing Director Ingenico Iberia & Africa Markets, explores the added value that Android technology brings to the retail sector. He sets out through various examples how Android can not only help to improve the customer experience, but also generate additional revenues in sales. The covid pandemic was a challenging time for the traditional
Brands utilizing CCPaaS can provide rich commerce experiences for consumers in any mobile messaging channel Clickatell (https://apo-opa.info/3UKhn92), a pioneer in mobile messaging and Chat Commerce innovation, today announced the launch of the world’s first Chat Commerce Platform as a Service (CCPaaS) (https://apo-opa.info/3L9mmNk) that empowers brands to capitalize on the opportunity of chat commerce, the emerging next wave of
Exploring innovation coupled with cutting-edge tech is on the up as brands and retailers consider what, when and how to ride the new wave of consumerism in Africa. With the future of digital retail in Africa an exciting and ever-changing landscape. Africa Overview Customer expectations are forcing retailers to reassess the service they provide, not
From improved team efficiency to greater sales success, an integrated telephony system can help boost your company’s success. However, choosing the right partner to oversee the integration process is essential to avoid frustrations and to ensure that productivity is not negatively impacted. “Successful integration requires a unique skill set as well as technical expertise that
Tier 1 retailers are leading the way with innovation that will enhance CX with consistency across channels, more self-service options, and less friction It was great to be back at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail’s Big Show in 2023. One of the primary reasons is — after a remote-only event in 2021 and lower-than-normal
Global research over more than two decades by institutions such as MasterCard, Visa, The World Bank, commercial banks and mobile network operators (MNOs) affirms that the most powerful tool to drive revenue and impact is to connect consumers, merchants, banks and brands to drive financial inclusion and deep customer engagement, and ultimately maximise value for
By Andrew Dawson, MD of MACmobile Mobile penetration is exceptionally high in the Kenyan market, and the adoption of mobile technologies is well accepted. The strength of this market presents a massive opportunity to grow and optimise the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) space, but several factors need to be considered to drive successful adoption. The
According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Africa’s informal retail sector accounts for more than 70% of food, beverage and personal care products provided to consumers across the continent. However, despite their importance, local informal shops throughout Africa have been consistently held back for decades by a host of major challenges including frequent stockouts, limited access
ACI Instant Pay provides access to lower-cost payments, instant liquidity, reduced risk of fraud and enhanced shopper experience ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software, today announced the launch of ACI Instant Pay, a new real-time payments solution that enables merchants in the U.S. to accept online, mobile and in-store payments instantly. The expansion of ACI’s
Clickatell’s latest Chat Commerce Trends Report found 86% of shoppers are interested in a personalized messaging experience Clickatell (www.Clickatell.com), the Chat Commerce and business messaging leader, announced the results of its latest Chat Commerce Trends Report: Retail Edition, which reveals new findings about how today’s consumers prefer to communicate and make purchases with retail companies through mobile
RCS, the consumer finance arm of global bank, BNP Paribas has announced its most recent partnership with Bounty Brands – the holding company behind some of South Africa’s most ubiquitous clothing names. This strategic development aligns with its aims to make store credit more widely accessible to the broader South African market by expanding its
Shoprite’s mobile application, with the Money Market Account functionality at its core, is the winner of Most Innovative Solution and App of the Year at this year’s MTN Business App of the Year Awards. The app supports Shoprite’s Money Market Account, a fully-fledged, transactional bank account – the first by a SA retailer – and the lowest-cost bank
As we flip flop between candles powering up and diesel drumming to a now common beat – with the longest run of loadshedding in South Africa recently under our belts – the massive impact this has had on business has been nothing less than debilitating leaving our economy in a precarious position. With loadshedding recently
By Andrew Dawson, MD at MACmobile In today’s digital world, where ecommerce platforms are becoming the de facto standard for many shopping experiences, the retail value chain has access to more data than ever before. The explosion of business intelligence and visualisation tools, and the creation of data lakes to pool information and optimisation structures
Merchants that use Peach Payments to accept digital payments can now leverage Instant EFT by Peach Payments to improve conversion, reach more customers and save on card fees South Africa-based digital payments gateway Peach Payments and API fintech Stitch have partnered to enable online merchants across South Africa to accept secure, low-cost instant EFT payments.
Woolworths will become the first retailer in South Africa to offer an integrated omnichannel shopping experience through their app. The upgrade will see the retailer’s two digital apps, Woolies Dash, its popular on-demand service, and the Woolies App, its main mobile app, integrate into one shopping platform, with a key focus on offering customers an
SPAR International has announced a worldwide partnership with food tech company Whywaste to support their food waste reduction strategy at retail. SPAR country organisations will be able to use Whywaste’s digital solutions in their day-to-day operations to reduce food waste in stores. Portfolio of solutions Whywaste provides a portfolio of solutions that addresses food waste-related
“Convenience” is no longer just a buzzword in online retail– it’s everything. The e-commerce explosion in the past two years, both internationally and in South Africa, has heightened customer expectations to the extent that failing to deliver online orders on time can literally make or break a business. Retailers that don’t shape up in terms
Zapper users can now link their bank accounts in the Zapper app to pay their favourite merchants securely at POS, in just one click South African independent mobile payments, insights, loyalty, and rewards platform Zapper has teamed up with payments and data API Stitch via its LinkPay product, to bring the latest in payments innovation
