Recources Archives - Page 16 of 39

AI Comes to Work: How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Business

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new concept. The modern field of AI came into existence in 1956, but it took decades of work to make significant progress toward developing an AI system and making it a technological reality.

Today, AI and its commonly cited subset of machine learning are common, especially in the business world. Most of us interact with AI in some form or another daily, but the truth is there are vast applications of the technology, from the mundane to the breathtaking. As AI and machine learning further proliferate, they are becoming an imperative for businesses that want to maintain a competitive edge.

AI and business today
Rather than serving as a replacement for human knowledge and ingenuity, AI is generally seen as a supporting tool for the humans. Although AI currently has a difficult time completing common-sense tasks in the real world, it is adept at processing and analyzing […]

Estie2017-11-15T19:11:00+02:00November 15th, 2017|Environments, Other, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Eight South African entrepreneurs

8 entrepreneurs who built proudly South African businesses

South Africa is a fantastically diverse country with not only a plethora of cultures to celebrate but also a truly distinctive business environment to operate in. Opportunities abound if you look in the right places.

These eight proudly South African entrepreneurs did just that. They looked to their heritage, discovered a market gap and ran with it.

Most of them are unconventional, and some have even been called crazy – but one thing that stands out above all else is their love for this beautiful country and their passion for making a success of their business.

1. MIKIE MONOKETSI

The Business: Mama’s Spices & Herbs

Mikie Monoketsi tapped into the lucrative township market with little more than a hunch and R10 000.

In 2011, Mikie Monoketsi had lost everything – her call centre business and marriage. Having read Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, she made […]

Estie2017-11-15T19:07:05+02:00November 15th, 2017|2017 Case Study, Entrepreneurship, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

The most loved brands in South Africa

23 September 2017

South Africans are open to change, particularly when it comes to trying to save money in tough economic times. They are also firmly under the sway of global energies that are reshaping society in significant ways, says market research company Ask Afrika.

Neither of which bodes well for brands that aren’t willing to adapt their marketing efforts to challenging times and a changing global milieu.

These and other top level trends were revealed at the annual Ask Afrika Icon Brands Awards, held at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg recently.

Icon brands are relevant across the South African landscape, it’s not a popularity contest but about which brands South African’s use regularly and loyally, Ask Afrika said.

The results were gleaned from surveys of 15,284 consumers, aged 15-years and older (representing over 25-million adult South African consumers) to determine how South African consumer are changing, how they think and what is important to them.

Overall top 10 […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:25:47+02:00September 30th, 2017|2017 Case Study, Environments, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

The fragility of reputations: a lesson from Bell Pottinger

We live in the ‘reputation economy’, so how should companies act when managing a crisis?

29 SEPTEMBER 2017 MARIETJIE THERON

An office building containing the London headquarters of the PR company Bell Pottinger is seen behind an entrance to an underground train station in London, September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville

The London headquarters of PR company Bell Pottinger in London. Picture: REUTERS

The name Bell Pottinger is on everyone’s lips. Over recent months, immensely negative sentiment built up towards this communications company, not only in the UK and South Africa but also further afield, which damaged Bell Pottinger’s reputation.

The damage – fuelled by the media and social media – was so enormous that the firm reached the end of the road when it officially entered into administration.

That was an ironic turn of events, as communications firms are supposed to guide others on how […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:23:38+02:00September 30th, 2017|Ethics, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

SARS threatens fines and jail time for taxpayers not paying their due

29 September 2017

SARS has announced that it will intensify criminal proceedings against tax offenders from October.

In a statement released on Thursday, the revenue collector warned South African taxpayers to “pay your taxes or pay the price”, after it had seen a large increase in taxpayers not submitting their returns within stipulated timeframes.

“We have noticed an increase in taxpayers not submitting their tax returns by the stipulated deadlines‚ and not settling their outstanding debt‚” SARS said.

“This is not limited to the current tax year but includes substantial non-compliance across previous tax years. It is for this reason that from October 2017 SARS will now intensify criminal proceedings against tax offenders.”

“Should any return result in a tax debt, it must be paid before the relevant due date to avoid any interest for late payment and legal action,” it said.

These punishments could include fines or even […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:21:24+02:00September 30th, 2017|Environments, Recources|

Naspers buys $775m stake in online food service Delivery Hero

2017-09-28 Stefan Nicola

A view of a logo in a lounge area of the global headquarters of online food ordering and delivery giant Delivery Hero is pictured in Berlin on June 27, 2017.
Germany-based online food ordering service Delivery Hero plans a Frankfurt stock market flotation on June 30, 2017 saying investors’ cash will help it expand further around the world. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL

Berlin – Naspers [JSE:NPN] agreed to pay $775m to boost its stake in Germany’s Delivery Hero as Africa’s biggest company increases its exposure to the online food-delivery market.

The media and technology business will buy stock from Rocket Internet at €29.50 a share, it said in a statement on Thursday. That’s a discount of 12% based on Wednesday’s closing price, making the South African […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:19:29+02:00September 30th, 2017|2017 Case Study, Recources|

Lack of information remains reason many SA companies are failing

Friday 29 September 2017

Amina Accram

The Trade and Industry Department (DTI) through its Trade Invest Africa this week hosted a conference with the World Bank and businesses to see how South Africa could take advantage of funds available through the bank. (SABC)

Lack of information remains one of the key reasons many South African companies are failing to secure business opportunities with the World Bank in developing country markets. This is compared to their Asian, European, Australian and US counterparts.

The Trade and Industry Department (DTI) through its Trade Invest Africa this week hosted a conference with the World Bank and businesses to see how South Africa could take advantage of funds available through the bank.

Is your insurer checking your Facebook page?

How big data and social media might impact your insurance.

Patrick Cairns 29 September 2017

Picture: Scott Eells/Bloomberg

People need to be aware of the implications of what they post online writes Patrick Cairns.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, the chances are it’s being recorded somehow. And it’s also probable that that record can be accessed.

That is the nature of a highly-connected world. The internet contains far more information about us than most people realise.

Whether its through business sales records, social media or sensors in the internet of things, almost everything we do contributes to what is known as big data. This is a huge volume of information, that is constantly growing, which could potentially be mined by organisations to assist them, and hopefully the public, in a variety of ways.

Speaking in Cape Town this week, Maria Philippides, a director at Norton […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:15:41+02:00September 30th, 2017|Investment and insurance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Elon Musk’s new vision: Anywhere on earth in under one hour

2017-09-29 Dana Hull and Perry Williams

Elon Musk

Sydney – Entrepreneur Elon Musk, who envisions a human colony on Mars, is planning to create a new, much larger rocketship code named “BFR” capable of traveling anywhere on Earth in under an hour.

If the concept becomes reality, a journey from New York to Shanghai can be completed in about 30 minutes. The surprise announcement means that Musk’s Space Exploration, which has already disrupted the aerospace industry with reusable launches, plans to ferry humans not just to distant planets but across this one as well.

“If we are going to places like Mars, why not Earth?” Musk said Friday at the 68th International Astronautical Congress on Friday in Adelaide, Australia. Animation played on a big screen behind him, showing scores of people getting on a high-speed ferry in New York, then boarding the BFR. The spaceship then […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:12:17+02:00September 30th, 2017|Entrepreneurship, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Credit card fraud – 10 tips to protect against it

14 September 2017 Vicky Sadler

Credit cards have made payments quick, easy, and convenient, and they can be used to make online purchases, pay for parking, and much more.

Nevertheless, it has also become riskier these days as attackers can gain your identity and credit or debit card information to make purchases.

Being proactive to secure your credit and debit cards is, therefore, critical.

Here are 10 important tips to consider when using your credit card.

Sign your card as soon as you receive it

Many people forget to sign the back of their credit or debit cards, but many merchants do match signatures when processing transactions at retail stores.

Review your account statements on a timely basis

You should always check your receipts against your statements every week to ensure that you have not been overcharged or that your refund has been paid […]

Estie2017-09-30T11:09:40+02:00September 30th, 2017|Finance, Recources|