By Louise Burgers, Retailing Africa Editor. The explosion of Generative AI and opportunities for industries across FinServ, Telco, Federal/Public Sector, Healthcare, and Life Sciences, requires strategic approaches to optimise data utilisation and maximise innovation. A recent CMO Council Webinar in partnership with Cloudera, Talend and AWS, High Opportunity And High Liability – Maximizing Data Utilization & Landscapes for Generative AI Opportunity in Regulated Industries, did a deep dive into the integration of Generative AI to move marketing innovation and mitigate risks, requi ..read more

By Louise Burgers, Retailing Africa Editor. There is no doubt that this year will be turbulent given local and global events, and the mandate for Chief Marketers to steer business growth garners a superior skills set. Here’s some of the top trends that we are tracking at CMO Council to equip CMOs with the insights needed. 1. The CMO as a Growth Catalyst It is up to the CMO to find “uncommon growth in the storm” assert both PwC and Prophet. “Now, more than ever, lines are being blurred across the C-suite, and CMOs can carve out a role as innovator, strategist and growth-driver. T ..read more

By Leandi Campher, EXAH Solutions Architect. Spreadsheets must fall. In businesses with complex pricing structures, diverse product offerings and customers that demand quick and accurate quotes, clinging to spreadsheet-based methods can lead to inefficiencies, errors and lost opportunities. It is understandable why organisations are attached to their spreadsheets. Constructing them often requires a considerable investment of time and effort, leading to a deep sense of ownership and pride.These spreadsheets aren’t merely practical tools; in many cases, they evolve into intricate, finely-tuned s ..read more

Retail is in the midst of the biggest technology paradigm shift yet, says Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software, in sharing insights from retail’s big show, NRF 2024, New York. “The conference, with more than 40,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibitors and 450 speakers, is a temperature test for where global retail is currently, and where it is going. The mood has shifted from a year ago – post-Covid blues have been replaced by optimism and urgency to adapt to the digital future – a digital future, which after attending, testing, interacting with products on display and conver ..read more

By Joel Bronkowski, Paystack SA Country Lead. Paradigm shifts in retail are being unpacked as multiple brands continue their transition from traditional brick-and-mortar sales to a dynamic fusion of ecommerce platforms. This move has not only redefined the way businesses operate, but has also enhanced their capacity to engage directly with their consumers. The departure from conventional store-centric models marks a pivotal moment, which is now empowering brands to navigate a digital frontier where direct-to-consumer (DTC) interactions have become the cornerstone of their upward trajector ..read more

By Louise Burgers, Retailing Africa Editor. Achieving sustainability goals is not just a morally correct strategy, but also a risk management plan to ensure business growth and consumer loyalty. It means attaining equilibrium between commercial considerations without compromising our collective future to build a more balanced business landscape with buy-in from customers. Balancing business build with consumer consumption to further the sustainability agenda to solve societal problems, was the challenge levelled at industry at a recent panel discussion moderated by yours truly on behalf of the ..read more

What lessons learned in 2023 will shape decision-making, investment and innovation so the retail sector can thrive and grow, regardless of what economies and consumers throw its way? The lingering recession will have an ongoing impact on the retail sector and its outlook for 2024. Riyaat Phillips, senior manager at Altron Systems Integration, writes it is important to prioritise key efficiencies within the business leveraging technology and analytics to streamline decision-making. Here are the 10 things to take note of, advises Phillips: 1. Workforce management: It’s key that retailers can sol ..read more

In2024, Africa’s overall growth is forecasted at 4.0%, a notable increase from 3.3% in 2023, positioning it as the second-highest globally, trailing only Asia (4.8%). East Africa takes centre stage in this growth narrative, exhibiting consistently higher growth rates than the rest of the continent. Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya are identified as key drivers, collectively contributing significantly to the region’s economic resurgence. These forecasts come from economic analysis and data-driven insights provider, Stears, which this week unveiled its 2024 African Outlook Report, delivering ..read more

By Louise Burgers, Retailing Africa Editor. As we head into yet another year underlined with uncertainty, marketers and retailers must be clear on consumer influences, what they value, and how to ensure key marketing messaging is able to drive sales, while reducing price sensitivity. Consumers want to be happy; they want less stress, more convenience; and they want to be heathier. How can brands make it happen? With multiple factors impacting business and consumer confidence as we rapidly transition from the rollercoaster of 2023 with hardly a pause, speeding into 2024, it seems that the only ..read more

By Louise Burgers, Retailing Africa Editor. As we usher in this New Year, which despite being framed in the fuzzy perfect peach of Pantone’s new Colour of the Year, is proving every bit as chaotic and challenging as 2023, we still have hope that 2024 will open the door to peace on all fronts. Even those of us who hit pause over the festive season, feel that we were launched back into the year at speed, given global events, local challenges, and the continued cost-of-living crisis. Uncertainty remains. Given how poorly mega brands are performing in this highly emotive environment, it seems as i ..read more