Is South Africa ready to embrace an automated future?
Having faced many disruptions over the past few years, be they economic, environmental or political, South African businesses, like many of their global counterparts have had to change significantly to remain relevant and profitable. For most, that meant employing digital solutions in response to ease of work and communication needs across remote locations, as well as systems to streamline functions and automate tasks. These investments in high-quality tech, as well as improvements in digital infrastructure could signal the next phase of innovation as SA businesses gear up to embrace an automated future.
Not convinced? Consider this report which looks at Australia and New Zealand’s readiness. You’ll find that despite South Africa’s significant digital divide which has as yet to be addressed, when it comes to the commercial and to some degree the public sector, South Africa shares many overlaps, which is why the report’s findings are significant.
The findings were that the incentives to implement Business Automation (BA) are far-reaching, providing companies with the agility, innovation and adaptability to thrive amidst unpredictable market shifts. In fact, many SA companies are also alert to the role BA will play in the workplace of the future. More than that, they are positioning themselves to take advantage of this opportunity and pull ahead of market competition.
The good news for South Africans is that in many of the measures of preparedness for an automated future, South African businesses are at a similar level to our Australian and New Zealand counterparts, and this means that there is room for greater uptake of BA technology.
Similarities include:-
- Digital infrastructure: Like it’s antipodean counterparts, South Africa has a well-developed digital infrastructure with a national footprint of reliable internet and widespread mobile networks that enable various digital and mobile services from e-commerce to internet banking and virtual meetings, among many others.
- Internet penetration: Both Australia and South Africa have relatively high internet penetration rates. According to recent data, around 88% of Australians and 64% of South Africans have internet access.
- e-commerce: Like much of the world, South Africa’s e-commerce was spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic which increased the popularity of online shopping for everything from groceries to clothing and tech being easily available for online purchase.
- FinTech: The financial technology (FinTech) sector is experiencing continuous growth in South Africa, as it is in Australia. Companies in these countries have embraced digital payment systems, online banking, and mobile wallets. Additionally, peer-to-peer lending, robo-advisory services, and digital currency platforms have gained traction in both economies.
- Digital government services: South Africa has taken giant steps to digitise many of its government services, as well as to provide online platforms for citizens to access accounts, pay their taxes and apply for a services such as ID documents and passports.
Although significant disparities in access to digital technologies and internet connectivity in the country could hinder the full potential of digitisation in various sectors, we at Kyocera believe that for a large part, South Africa is poised to embrace an automated future. Furthermore, with our wide range of products, solutions and services we can aid this process and guide businesses to the full potential of their digital future.
Ian Dury - Business Support Manager - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
