Digital money transfer platform announces addition of Uganda and Ghana as remittance destinations on its international digital money transfer platform
The ongoing bribery investigations on Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTL) could spill over to the firm’s clients based in other countries, including parts of Africa where the US-based IT company is starting to gain traction.
By end of October, Cognizant investors has lost over USD4.5 billion, with industry analysts expressing fears that the bribery accusations against the firm could have more devastating impact, according to an article in India’s Business Standard.
Ashwin Shirvaikar, an analyst with Citigroup, downgraded the stock and slashed his stock price target. In his report, Shirvaikar said: “While it is too early to know the specifics of the investigation, the possible violations appear to be quite serious, especially since the company’s President Coburn resigned.”
Locally, Cognizant is working with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Faulu Bank to assist with their core banking system transformation initiative. These institutions must pay close attention to this development in order to be prepared to ward off any negative consequences to the bank that may arise due to the fall out of the bribery investigation.
Responding to a question on the investigation’s possible impact on the company, a Cognizant spokesperson told Business Standard: “The internal investigation is in its early stages, and the company is not able to predict what, if any, action may be taken by the Department of Justice, SEC or any governmental authority in connection with the investigation or the effect of the matter on the company’s operations, cash flows or financial position”.
A number of clients from financial services and healthcare industries have already cancelled their projects with Cognizant in the face of the ongoing probe while others have scaled down on joint projects.
By Tom Pegrume,
The business world is changing. Historically, businesses were “analogue” in that they had a bricks-and-mortar store where customers would interact with real people and things were dealt with on a personal level.
In today’s digital world, everything is automated and there is not as much personal interaction.
Now, there’s a battle going on between analogue businesses that are trying to establish a digital footprint and all-digital businesses that are trying to set up a bricks and mortar presence. While best practice might be a combination of the two to optimise profitability, at the heart of both of these models is the customer.
But there’s even more change happening in the customer space. We often speak about Millennials, but what about Generation Z, who start interacting with technology from birth? They are the future customers who will one day make up the bulk of the population, so businesses need to start thinking about how they will serve this generation of tech-savvy users, who are at the centre of the digital experience. This means businesses need a different model if they want to maintain relevance and increase profitability.
Digital battleground
This has made digital THE competitive battleground. With digital transformation, the only constants in the future of business are change, agility and the ability to pivot in response to market shifts. In other words, digital transformation requires an entire rethink of the business, but many organisations fear change.
Change, by its nature, brings risk and could be a reason why so many businesses have not yet taken the digital transformation plunge. But when we consider that, since 2000, 52per cent of Fortune 500 companies no longer exist as a result of digital business models creating disruption in the market, can businesses really risk not taking the risk? If they want to protect their businesses, it seems CEOs have little choice.
But with estimates of digital transformation failure ranging from 66per cent to 84per cent, it’s no wonder that businesses are cautious. One of the reasons for failure could be that businesses approach digital transformation as a single problem that needs to be addressed, rather than a reinvention of the business through the use of digital technology such as social, mobile, analytics and cloud. Too often, businesses adopt just one of these technologies – applying a Band-Aid solution on top of existing infrastructure –and while this may result in a quick win, they’ll almost certainly lose the war.
The importance of enterprise architecture
When companies go all-in on digitisation, the number of point-to-point connections among systems rises by almost 50per cent, creating greater complexity in systems and processes. The enterprise architecture department therefore plays a key role in reducing the complexity associated with digital transformations.
Traditional companies approach this by trying to behave like a startup but they do not have the technology infrastructures or operating models to keep up with companies that have been digital from the start. They end up with ever more complicated IT systems, deploying new features or patches to meet immediate needs without any clear roadmap or consideration of future IT needs.
Successful digital transformation projects have the right mix of people and skills, tools, collaboration, experimentation, risk, agility and commitment. They adopt a two- to five-year vision and strategy and look for long-term solutions rather than quick wins that can actually sabotage future success. More importantly, successful digital transformation projects must have a successful deployment of big data and analytics to uncover new insights. Data is everything in digitisation. How companies use their data will be critical to their survival.
A successful project follows seven steps:
- Assess whether or not your employees have the right skills sets to move forward with a digital transformation strategy
- Have key employees attend formal digital transformation education – and then convert this into a continuous learning programme
- Solicit input from customers, partners, advisors and employees at all levels
- On an ongoing basis, conduct benchmarking and other market analysis with an emphasis on digital startups and direct competitors
- Review and revise your organisation’s mission, vision and strategic goals
- Review and revise business models and product/service offerings
- Select technology to enhance operational practices, communication and collaboration. Take a holistic view of solutions. Consider a solution bundle
Forrester has predicted that, by 2020, every business will become a digital predator or digital prey. A key point to remember is that digital transformation is a marathon that will never end. Taking more risks is what defines successful digital transformation projects and will separate the winners from the losers.
The author is the Vice President EMEA Emerging Markets at Hitachi Data Systems
Everybody loves TV and as technology evolves, the collective industry has come up with ways to present better picture quality to make final viewing experience more lifelike.
poa! Internet in partnership with Liquid Telecom Kenya has launched a new Internet model in Kibera slums, drawing thousands of subscribers in just a few months.
The telco companies have delivered using solar powered hotspots and has provided provided free Internet access to Kibera schools, health centres, churches, mosques and youth centres.
poa! is using Liquid Telecom Kenya’s fibre infrastructure, known as a local loop, from a connection near Kibera, to supply the internet to the residents.
Established in August last year in Kenya, poa! Internet is now employing 25 staff, mostly young people, the majority of them from Kibera, selling Internet for as little as Sh10 for 25MB.
“We are selling internet to individuals in Kibera at affordable prices, and have also provided free Internet to more than eight health centres, 20 schools, and 20 cyber cafes’ in the area” said Andy Halsall, CEO poa! Internet.
The partnership is making a swift and visible difference, he said. “Internet has made life much better, with more youths engaging in businesses, such as cyber cafes, and shops where they are selling bundles. This has had a positive impact on these individuals and put great potential in their hands”, he said.
The cost of accessing the internet using poa! ranges from as low as Sh10 for 25 MB to Sh3,000 for 20 GB, in bundles that do not expire.
“We have ensured that anybody in Kibera wanting to use high speed, high quality Internet can do so for just a few bob” He said.
Halsall raised seed funding in the UK to launch the business, on the basis that East Africa still holds huge potential for internet consumption. The company now aims to connect millions of subscribers in the region.
“The launch and rapid rise of poa! Internet in Kibera represents a fulfillment of our own purpose and vision too, we invested heavily in the new Nairobi metro network so that it can provide up to 20 times more internet data across the city with high quality and reliability,” said Ben Roberts, CEO of Liquid Telecom Kenya.
The mobile tech giant warms up for its high end phantom series with new flagship duo, tecno phantom and phantom plus
By Brian Yatich
There is no doubt that Africa is now the fastest growing tech market. Big telco companies like Samsung, HTC, Nokia and even Apple are all gearing up for the emerging market.
The competition if getting fierce, but one Telco giant seems to be hell-bent on outsmarting and tactically smashing its peers, especially in the African middle class market. TheTecno Mobile.
A decade ago, Tecno phones were largely considered simple, low budget, and could not challenge the renowned high-end brands like Apple or Samsung. The brand was never acknowledged as valuable.
A few years later, the Chinese mobile multinational, according to 2016 poll, has appended the hierarchy of Africa’s most respected mobile companies.
Out of over 35 African countries where Tecno is present, the brand is currently retaining the largest market share of 41.1 per cent with 31.1 per cent in Tanzania and Nigeria alone even as it serves about 2.5 billion consumers across the globe.
Tecno’s rapid growth can be partly attributed to the first launch of Tecno BOOM series, which focused on audio and video capabilities, eyeing consumers that love music and the subsequent later release of the CAMON series for consumers who love pictures. Also of significance was the launch of Phantom series targeting consumers with taste for high-end smartphones as the company ramped up its portfolio to compete with Samsung S series and Apple Series 2.
Growth Strategy
The market trends show that shoppers are gunning for larger screen flagships because they are more grip friendly, exhibit immersive multimedia rendering and have more refined stature.
It is against this backdrop that tecno decided to launch Tecno Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 plus as they celebrate 10 years of operations in Africa.
The company took this as a platform to announce plans to expand their business further and include other markets with special focus on the Middle East.
The Company has since dismissed claims that Tecno was moving out of Africa saying that Africa, specifically east Africa, was the brand’s home.
The company has also indicated that its uptake has been on an upward trend in Africa in the last 2 years with Kenya being recorded as one with the highest uptake.
Specs: Tecno Phantom 6, 6+
It took the company 428 days, 225 top engineers and 45 global partners to come up with Phantom 6 and 6 Plus.
Phantom 6
Hardware-wise, the Phantom 6 comes equipped with a 2.0GHz Octa Core Processor, a 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded by up to 128 GB via micro SD memory card.
The Phantom 6 sports a large 5.5″ inch AMOLED Full HD screen Plus capacitive touchscreen display with a high 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution cased with a protective Corning Gorilla Glass 3 while the 6 plus smartphone has an impressive 6” display and features the company’s tri-fold security combination of fingerprint, eye scanner and Trustlook antivirus.
It packs a 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and HD (720p) video recording, while on the front, there’s a secondary 5-megapixel camera for video calls.
Other highlights of the phone include: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, HSDPA and HSUPA supports, as well as NFC (Near Field Communication) and FM radio with RDS.
The Phantom 6 is powered by a 2700mAh battery USB type-C with Light speed charge
mAh Li-Ion battery, which is rated by the manufacturer for up to 830 hours of standby time (770 hours in 3G mode) or up to 22.5 hours of talk time (11.5 hours in 3G mode).
Phantom 6 plus
This 6 inch dubbed “Beauty and Beast” by the maker, comes with a 21MP rear camera and 8MP with Front flash for clear imaging.
Coupled with a 4GB RAM and an expanded 64GB internal memory, the Phantom 6 plus can house 25 HD movies or 12,000 songs.
It flaunts the revolutionary USB type C port that allows for super-fast charging and data transfer.
The USB type C port is a next generation design currently being used on a few devices like the Apple iPhone and Mac. For only 10 minutes on a charge, phantom users can enjoy 124 minutes of talk time and up to 30 minutes of 4G connection.
The Phantom 6 plus is equipped with a biometric iris scanner and a fingerprint reader at the back for security purposes.
And lastly the phone backs a non-removable 4050mAh battery.
The TECNO Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 Plus are no doubt one of the most competitive devices to enter the market in the last quarter of 2016, they are set to hit the shops in East Africa this month, with retail price of Phantom 6 and 6 Plus going between US$ 250 and US$ 350 respectively.
Some have joked that OLX is the only retail platform where you can even sell your wife and kids. But here is what really made it a household name
Safaricom has been named the ‘African Mobile Operator of the Year in the annual CommsMEA Awards for 2016.
The award recognises one mobile operator in Africa that has continued to develop, improve and innovate its mobile services while growing its penetration rate and improving customer experience.
It seeks to acknowledge operators who have taken a leadership role in the region’s fast growing and rapidly changing telecoms sector. Furthermore, it honour companies that have continually invested in technology, implemented winning strategies and developed services to capture the hearts and minds of end-users.
Over the last six months Safaricom has progressed its vision to transform lives by redefining its emphasis on putting the customer first, providing relevant products, and enhancing operational efficiencies.
Increasing competitive pressures have ensured that the company continues to invest heavily in building a network that is fit for future challenges.
This year, Safaricom was up against other African operators including Ooredoo Algeria, Vodacom South Africa, Sudatel and Vodafone Egypt for the award.
This year’s judging panel consists of a mix of industry analysts and commentators, including representatives from IDC Middle East, Turkey & Africa; A.T. Kearney; Deloitte Middle East; the Boston Consulting Group; Ovum; and Booz Allen Hamilton.
The judging criterion focused on a combination of successful growth metrics; including financials, market innovation and quality of service.
Lack of qualified cyber security professionals and uncertainty over evolving data protection legislation among key findings
Starting the 14th of November Jumia shoppers will enjoy huge discounts on specific products giving Kenyans access to more consumer goods than before. During Jumia’s Black Friday shoppers will get exclusive deals and discounts on electronics, fashion, home appliances, sports and fitness, kids and toys and many more.
Sam Chappatte, MD Jumia Kenya said, “This year we have an even broader range of fantastic offers for our customers, covering new categories like consumer goods and diapers. Our team has been working nonstop for the last couple of months with our partners to prepare for this great event and are confident we will delight our customers! It’s all systems go from us, don’t miss out.”
Black Friday will feature flash sales with discounts of up to 65 per cent throughout each day. The faster you spot a deal, add it to your cart and check out, the better your luck. Brands expected to feature prominently include Pampers, Binatone, Infinix, Innjoo among others. Other ventures taking part in this year’s Black Friday within the Jumia Group include Jumia Market and Jumia Food.
With only two weeks to go before the sale begins, Jumia is confident its countrywide delivery network, numerous pick-up centres across Posta, G4S and Aramex offices, and diverse payment options including Equity Bank’s EazzyPay will offer customers a seamless experience.
Jumia will offer free delivery in Nairobi on thousands of small and medium items, including beauty, household products, fashion, mobile phones, laptops and TVs.