The 2024 BCX Digital Innovation Awards Ignite South Africa's Tech Future!

Hi Guys, 

The BCX Digital Innovation Awards are back, and this year's event promises to be more thrilling than ever! Celebrating its sixth anniversary, the competition has evolved into the premier stage for trailblazing technology professionals and forward-thinking organisations across South Africa. This celebration of ingenuity honours extraordinary innovations designed by South Africans.

In past years, the competition has dazzled with groundbreaking entries from prestigious companies such as Old Mutual, Discovery Bank, and Shoprite Checkers. Moreover, the SME participants have introduced awe-inspiring innovations, leaving an indelible mark on industries both locally and globally.

This year's edition is set to elevate the excitement with the three dynamic categories as last year: Public Sector Entities, Corporate Enterprises, and Small & Medium Enterprises. Innovators are gearing up to revolutionise society and steer us toward a digitally advanced nation.

"We are thrilled to witness the groundbreaking innovations that this year's participants will bring to the table. Each year, my fellow judges and I are impressed by the inventiveness and brilliance of the submissions," exclaims Jan Bouwer Chief Solutions Officer at BCX.

Jan Bouwer Chief Solutions Officer at BCX

The competition is not just about accolades; it is about driving societal progress, boosting business growth, and spearheading digital transformations to better serve communities. The social innovations emerging from the Public Sector have significantly uplifted the welfare and well-being of South Africans. Meanwhile, pioneering products, processes, and services are reshaping our way of life.

“We are calling on all Public Sector Entities, Corporate Enterprises, and SMEs who are pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to come forward. This is your moment to shine, to display your creativity, and to help us mould a digitally empowered future for our country,” urges Bouwer.

Reflecting on their past victories, previous winners shared the profound impact of the BCX Digital Innovation Awards on their businesses. Muhammad Simjee, Chief Operating Officer at Netcare Digital, a past winner, emphasised the importance of the awards in recognising deep technical expertise, saying, "The awards enable teams with deep technical expertise to be recognised for their work." He also acknowledged the enhanced credibility his company gained after winning, stating, "The endorsement of our capabilities by BCX has enhanced our credibility."

Kathryn Malherbe, CEO & Founder of MEDSOL AI Solutions echoed these sentiments, noting the prestige associated with the awards. "It’s a welcome accolade to rub shoulders with South Africa’s top JSE-listed companies and be recognised on the stage of giants," she said. These testimonials highlight the significant role the BCX Digital Innovation Awards is playing in boosting business profiles and fostering innovation across the nation.

Step into the spotlight and be part of South Africa's digital transformation journey! The BCX Digital Innovation Awards offer a prestigious platform for visionaries to display their creativity and ignite change across the nation.

To enter, go to www.bcx.co.za/digitalinnovationawards/ or follow #BCXDIA on social media.

Watch The Making of the BCX Digital Innovation Awards for inspiration: https://bit.ly/40xaMB1

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Digital Transformation is Nearly a Teenager by Rebatho Madiba @BCXworld

Hi Guys, 

It’s been just over ten years since digital transformation became an integral part of the business environment, writes Rebatho Madiba, Business Development Digital Platform Solutions at BCX, but as it grows older, is it meeting expectations?

In 2015, the World Economic Foundation identified six megatrends that were set to change the face of business and society and every single one was aligned with the concept of digital transformation. From how the internet would become a social and physical extension of people’s lives and experiences through computing and storage everywhere to the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and the digitisation of matter, these trends are now an inherent part of society today.

Some of these trends have already reached significant milestones, and others are expected to achieve their tipping points – a critical point that results in unstoppable change – over the next few years. One such milestone is the mega-trend of people and the internet, where their interaction with the web becomes a ‘mental, social, and physical extension of themselves’, is expected to reach 80% of people with a digital presence on the internet by 2023 with the tipping point in 2025. Today, 59% of the world’s population uses social media and enhances their digital presence through online platforms and connections, and this is only set to become more immersive as trends like the metaverse continue to gain traction.

Driven by the pandemic and the need for people to find innovative ways of working and connecting online, digital has become as much a part of daily life as cars and shopping. It has reshaped how people communicate and collaborate and it has supercharged productivity and performance. In the 1980s, communication was in person or by post. Today it’s faster than a thought. Organisations can’t afford to be left behind which makes 2023 an opportunity to focus on platforms and technologies that empower people from anywhere and that ensure their online presence is always on. This is where solutions that provide access, data networks, wireless and unified collaboration capabilities are key as they enable the industry and fulfil online requirements through omnichannel applications.

Another megatrend, one that’s now so commonplace in boardroom discussions that it’s hard to imagine a business without it, is that of compute, communications and storage everywhere. The tipping point for this technology is anticipated to be in 2025 with, as cited by Statista, just over five billion people on the internet as of April 2022. This highly connected population has seen the radical and accelerated transformation of online experiences which has, in turn, driven the need for scalable and elastic computing power that can be accessed from anywhere, and that can deliver on demand.

Moving forward, applications and services will only get hungrier for data and capability. Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 technologies and innovations will have to be rendered from highly reliable and flexible platforms and quantum compute is very likely to bring physics into computer science to create devices and environments that are minute – that optimise space and capacity. Moving forward, companies need to collaborate with service providers that offer a wide spectrum of cloud and computing solutions that can directly address their challenges and help them overcome obstacles impacting on their scale and productivity. This is particularly true of the challenge of data sovereignty that has inhibited many companies, especially in Africa.

IoT has, of course, been a part of the IT landscape for a long time but has only recently started to deliver on the promises it made when it first entered the business landscape. Today, the number of IoT-connected devices worldwide is expected to reach 29 billion by 2030, says Statista, and is at 13 billion as of 2022, according to the IoT Industry Council of South Africa, IoT is expected to reach an installed base of 21.5 billion active and connected devices by 2025 in this country. Add to this the connected realm of the metaverse and the megatrends of compute and people, and you can see how IoT is about to become an integral part of the metaverse and thriving business operations.

To fully realise the potential of this technology, companies should ally themselves with partners that have a proven IoT track record and that can empower them with technologies that are appropriate for their industry and niche. This could be Industrial IoT (IIoT) solutions that drive visibility into the oil and gas pipeline through to IoT within retail and automotive logistics that translate customer experiences and vehicle monitoring through intelligent IoT applications.

BCX has this proven track record across all key mega trend touchpoints and has proven value in its applications and solutions designed to help organisations reshape their investments into AI, automation, machine learning and compute. With our support, you can fully realise the potential of digital transformation as it stands today – a more mature and far more powerful entity that can fundamentally refine your growth and operations.

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BCX Announces Winners For the Digital Innovation Awards @BCXworld #BCXDIA #digitalinnovationawards

Hi Friends,

BCX announced the winners of the Digital Innovation Awards 2022, at the Sunday Times Top 100 award ceremony in Johannesburg.

The prestigious fourth Digital Innovation annual award has revealed great ingenuity from the South African SMEs, corporate, and enterprise sectors. “We believe that now, more than ever, South Africa is making strides towards embracing and participating in the fourth industrial revolution”, said Jonas Bogoshi, CEO at BCX. The innovation we have seen thus far is a testament to our growth and development as a country.

From 42 entries, six finalists were selected across various categories. BCX is proud to announce the overall winners of the Digital Innovation Awards 2022.

Winners of the 2022 Digital Innovation Awards: SME category

Third Place: Acumen Software - My Smart City

This is a platform created for the convenience of citizens by giving them access to resources and information that pertains to their city. It connects the citizen to service providers in their city and empowers them with tools to navigate their city and log issues that need attention.

Second Place: Envisionit Deep AI – RADIFY

With a commitment to fighting the impact of COVID-19, Radify was developed to enable the efficiency of diagnosis whilst prioritising care for people who need it most. It detects 20 major abnormalities on chest X-rays – including TB and COVID-19 pneumonia-related pathologies. In addition, it can label and prioritise over 2000 x-rays per minute.

Winner: Ctrl Technologies - Creating Digital Insurance Advisors

Launched in 2018, the Financial Intermediaries (CFI) was South Africa’s first fully digital insurance advisor. The app allows users to go through the entire insurance process all in one platform, including quotes and cover. Through this app, Ctrl has created smart solutions for the insurance industry.

Winners of the 2022 Digital Innovation Awards: Corporate/Enterprise

Third Place: iiDentifii - Facial Biometric Digital Authentication Platform

With the assurance of genuine presence, facial authentication, identity document verification, and facial biometric verification, this platform can build on KYC (know your customer) to even greater effect in the African market.

Second Place: ShopriteX – Checkers Xtra Savings Sixty60 Integration

This innovation is known for its ease of use, rapid delivery and customer experience. The Checkers Sixty60 grocery app allows users to link their Xtra Savings card to their profile in the app and utilise personalised deals. It has expanded to over 261 stores across all 9 provinces and has created over 4,100 new jobs.

Winner: Discovery Bank - Shared Value in Banking

The Shared Value Banking Model assists clients in managing their money well, creating less risk and more value which we share back with you through improved interest rates and rewards.

The system works on the following principles: How well you manage what you earn, the ability to bank anywhere and at any time with a bank branch, and making a meaningful impact in society through financial well-being.

A big thank you to all the participants, and congratulations to the winners of the DIA 2022. We are proud to have experienced their innovative excellence and trust that this will open a platform for more innovation towards a digitally transformed future in South Africa”, concluded Jonas Bogoshi. 

#BCXDIA

About BCX

BCX is a strategic business partner, reimagining digital roadmaps and implementing integrated systems that drive evolution and growth for organisations.

Born in South Africa and a giant in the digital space, BCX, is a subsidiary of the Telkom Group.

As a digital transformation partner for enterprises and public sector organisations across various industries and sectors within South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, the UK, and Zambia, BCX delivers solutions impacting how people live, learn, and work every day.

For over 40 years, BCX has evolved from a trusted ICT partner to a full-service digital transformation enabler. BCX is a proud Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) company with over 5,000 employees committed to enabling transformation through deep industry expertise and expertly crafted solutions incorporating the broadest portfolio of world-leading products and our extensive partner ecosystem. Visit www.bcx.co.za

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BCX Digital Innovation Awards 2022 Announces Top 6 Finalists @BCXworld #BCXDIA #digitalinnovationawards

Hi Friends, 

Digital transformation in business has proven to be a driver of socio-economic growth globally. BCX believes that businesses can Invent, Evolve and Unite through digital innovation while creating greater opportunities for growth in South Africa. The BCX Digital Innovation Award (DIA) was first introduced in 2019 to celebrate Small and Medium Enterprise’s (SME’s), and large enterprises who have achieved digital innovation excellence having created solutions that have moved their industries forward and have impacted our society.

"The DIA is in its 4th year, and we have truly seen the creativity and innovation of our local companies over this time. But, more than this, we have seen the commitment of these companies to make a difference to the environments around them by adopting digital innovation", say Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen, BCX Chief Marketing Officer.

Through the DIA, BCX recognises and nurtures digital innovation excellence amongst South African companies, providing them with opportunities to grow further. Today, BCX proudly announces the top six finalists for this year's prestigious Digital Innovation Awards 2022. This year’s BCX Digital Innovation Awards received 42 entries.

Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen

Crowning the initiative this year are the following six finalists:

SME FINALISTS - Innovation

• Envisionit Deep AI - RADIFY
• Acumen Software - My Smart City
• Ctrl Technologies - Creating Digital Insurance Advisors

CORPORATE FINALISTS - Innovation

• ShopriteX - Checkers Xtra Savings Sixty60 Integration
• Discovery Bank - Shared Value in Banking
• iiDENTIFii - Facial Biometric Digital Authentication Platform

The six finalists were able to display their innovations during a final phase of judging in October, during which each was ranked according to their respective categories.

According to Acumen Software, who presented My Smart City, “We are honoured and extremely excited to be among the top three shortlisted candidates for the BCX Digital Innovation Awards in the SME category. It truly means so much when an organisation such as BCX shares the same values and philosophy towards creating unity and bridging the divide through technological innovation and shared excellence. Thanks, BCX! #WeCameHereToWin” Acumen Software

Whilst, Pieter Erasmus, the Co-founder of Ctrl technologies had this to say, “We are excited to have been shortlisted, thank you! We have been following BCXDIA over the last couple of years and are really honoured to now be able to put our name next to such a prestigious awards programme “

iiDentifii is no stranger to the DIA, having won the SME category in 2019, and now stands as a contender in the corporate category. According to Lance Fanaroff, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at iiDENTIFii, "The entire iiDENTIFii team is honoured to be shortlisted as a top 3 finalist for the Digital Innovation Award 2022 in the Corporate Category. We are also humbled and inspired to compete against industry giants, namely Shoprite and Discovery. Our team is committed to make innovation a core pillar throughout our business. We also want to thank BCX for their active commitment in recognising and highlighting digital innovation excellence for the past few years. We are proud just to be finalists in these prestigious digital innovation awards and look forward to the forthcoming finals. Thank you to the BCX, and good luck to our other finalists.”

All participants have shown their innovative prowess and commitment to evolving their businesses and industries through technology. Year after year, we have seen how South African companies, both small and large, are embracing digital innovation as a solution that serves both corporate and social interests. I want to congratulate this year’s finalists and wish them the best in the next stage of the awards”, says Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen.

The winners of each category will be announced on 10 November 2022, at the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg. #BCXDIA

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New Year Resolutions - Week 8 Achievements & Failures #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends,

Week 8 which is almost the end of the second month of 2022, I am still struggling with the reminiscence of the quiz competition with various ifs and buts as to I could have done this that etc are coming to my mind. I need to stop thinking about it now. I have now been involved in creating a lot of Youtube videos which you can watch on my channel - The Life's Way. People have been going gaga over the palindrome 22-02-2022 date which also fell on a Tuesday which is kind of a special day for me so I gifted myself something by buying the same. 

Week 8 - 19 Feb 2022 (Sat) to 25 Feb 2022 (Fri)

1. Walking - I started walking again after taking a full rest for 3 days and finally coming back to my 5 kilometres walking evenings on a daily basis. I also had to complete the pending kilometres from the last week's remaining 20 kilometres. I can say that I completed the same and reached around 23 kilometres and more this week. I am still not able to complete the 200000 steps a month on the Samsung Health App using the same on their smartphone. 

2. Daily Prayers - February I could not even complete a full year of Hanuman Chalisa as I was too focused on watching more Youtube videos rather than creating or praying. I think I spend more time-wasting it rather than utilizing the same. I also worked this week to complete the pending Gratitude journals for the last few days. This should not be the case going forward. Every day or at least every other day I should complete the same going forward else I will keep those sheets empty. 

3. Personal Hygiene - Hair cut was something I was missing for many days so finally I sorted that out on 19-Feb and soon I will make a calendar event to remind me every 3-4 weeks to go for a hair cut at my nearest saloon. For shaving my face, I generally use Philips Aquatouch Dry and Wet Shaver (AT610) which I bought many years ago now and it's working great whereas it was not an expensive one and I bought the same for only R300 from Pick n Pay store. I am not sure of the model as I could not read the version on the device due to fading of the print. 

4. Books/Audiobooks - I started the Ikagai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia which I wanted to read but rather heard it and finished it this week itself. This one covers a lot of things from meditation to exercise to eating to living joyfully in nature. After this one, I started listening to The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga which is really a difficult one as it needs a re-read for sure to understand what the writers are trying to say. But anyway I found some of the learnings from this book, I have already made up my mind about long ago and living them too. 

5. Fountain Pen - I went to the Stationery and Print store in Sandton City and I checked out the Lamy fountain pens I always wanted to buy which is one of the affordable ones for me though they sell Mont Blanc too. As I came out undecided (on 22-02-2022) which colour to buy, I could see Yellow all around me - on the road, pillars, billboards, advertisements so it was clearly a sign that I should buy a Yellow Safari Fountain Pen which I did the very next day and the store manager offered me a discount too. Now I need to go back and buy the expensive ink bottles too. It's a hobby that will make you spend a lot of money. 

6. Launch Event - I was invited to the BCX Digital Innovation Report 2022 launch event and this was my first time ever invited by them. I really loved listening to the CEO and other executive team members from the company and the report is really an eye-opener. I got it and now I will go through it soon enough. I also watched the Blacklight movie at a Premiere at Sterkinekor in Sandton City. I am sure Liam Neeson now should definitely retire if these are the movies he is going to offer still working upon the chase and run kind of cinema. Totally not worth your money, but the popcorn at Sterkinekor is really something to cherish. I also got Samsung Z Fold 3 for review and I have started using the same too. 

7. Salary Week - This was the time of the month which I wait for all month long - the day when the salary gets deposited into my bank account. This time I found it to be subsequently less than the previous month and I still need to find out the reason for the same. It reminded me of earning extra income to support the lifestyle and holidays or an investment portfolio that can run in parallel to you for the family needs. 

8. Thank You - I completed the 100k for the month and then took it further to about 37000 counts till the end of this week. I am able to do the same for the last 2 months consistently despite the loss of counter earlier on. Thanks to everyone for reading my achievements and failures. 

I hope the month of February 2022 has been a good one for you guys wherever you are. Let's try to achieve what we set to in the month of March 2022 and create a parallel source of income to take care of all your wants too. Amen!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #10YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

BCX Releases its First Digital Innovation Report 2022 @BCXworld #DigitalInnovation

Hi Friends, 

Today BCX announced the launch of its first Digital Innovation Report 2022. This is a part of its ongoing effort to encourage digital innovation by large enterprises, small and medium enterprises (SME’s), as well as to encourage innovation on a broader scale within South Africa.

“The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is that we are all trying to solve problems never experienced before. At first, it was for survival and business continuity, and later for some, it led to considerations for the future. It is without a doubt that digital technologies and digital innovation will play a big part in that future.” Says Jonas Bogoshi, CEO at BCX.

According to Bogoshi, world markets have experienced rapid technological changes as a result of COVID-19 and are in pursuit of economic revival. The pandemic presented South Africa and much of the developing world with increased challenges, which seem insurmountable. However, it has also provided opportunities that must be seized if we are to rebuild the economy and remain competitive within a technologically driven global market.

The recently launched report includes a body of knowledge that outlines current trends and the status of digital innovation in South Africa, at both a micro and macro level. It provides an in-depth look at subjects such as global and local trends in innovation, technologies that are fuelling digital innovation, especially in retail.

Looking at the retail sector, the report suggests that digital innovation has had a massive impact on this sector. In 2019, South Africa’s online retail space (or e-commerce industry) was still in its infancy, accounting for only 1.4% of total retail spending. However, the onset of the COVID–19 pandemic brought about nationwide lockdowns and restrictions to the movement of consumers. Retailers needed to reform their business models to attract customers without the enticements of shopping malls. It pushed the pace of change into hyperdrive. The pandemic served as a launchpad for digital innovation, with increased uptake in e-commerce from online retail and click-and-collect to video streaming. South Africa saw a 50 to 70% growth in e-commerce in 2021.

Similar insights are presented on critical sectors of our economy, such as Banking, Healthcare, and Insurance, amongst others. There are ten case studies included in the report of local companies depicting their journey to success with digital innovation.

“We are at a critical period of our economy – most countries are still reeling from the fourth wave of COVID-19 and are focused on their future sustainability. The world’s larger economies are picking up speed based on substantial stimulus packages and an incredible pace of digital innovation. We are playing catch-up and must act if we are to compete” suggest Bogoshi.

South Africa has, however, greatly increased its adoption of digital technologies over the past 18 months. Although digital innovation and transformation have been priorities for South African organisations for a number of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the importance of digital innovation to a ‘survival level’. The report cites a study indicating 79% of organisations in South Africa had fast-tracked digital transformation programmes by the end of 2020.

According to the BCX report, a positive aspect of COVID-19 has been the impetus it created for digital innovation, which was never experienced before in modern history. From the way we work and the way we buy groceries, to the way we receive healthcare and carry out our jobs, the necessity for less physical contact has opened a gateway for digital innovation from which we will benefit for decades to come.

“The BCX Digital Innovation report 2022 highlights the opportunities that our current circumstances present for large-scale transformation of South Africa through digital innovation. It should be an inclusive journey, ultimately leading to benefits for all, whilst limiting the negative impacts of rapid changes we will most likely continue to experience for years to come,” concludes Bogoshi.

BCX is playing its part in driving digital transformation by investing in and growing its technology offerings such as expanding its SD-WAN capabilities, optimising the traditional ICT environment, and reducing cost by automating IT operations. It has also refined its Artificial Intelligence for IT operations, continued its focus on security and software-defined networking and made other evolutions to its existing technology, so that it continues to provide best-in-class, cost-effective, scalable, and secure solutions to clients.

In addition, through the Digital Innovation Awards, BCX has promoted some of the most innovative companies - from start-ups, SMMEs to large enterprises, showcasing the possibilities of adopting digital innovation. BCX partners with both employees and companies in testing new ideas that can be brought into the market and those that may have a positive impact on society

For access to the report click here

About BCX

At BCX, we pride ourselves on being an end-to-end digital partner for corporates and governments across the African continent. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Telkom Group, we have established through the strategic alliance between South Africa’s premier information and communication technology (ICT) suppliers and a leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure, creating the digital partner of choice for clients within our chosen markets.

To do this, we combine local market understanding and industry expertise with some of the world’s most advanced ICT, together with a tireless commitment to making your unique digital journey as seamless as possible. In our endeavour to maintain our position as a digital market leader in financial services, mining, retail, healthcare, and the public sector, we continue to leverage and invest in ecosystems for scale, access, expertise, and innovation.

Headquartered in Centurion, Pretoria, BCX permanently employs circa 5 500 people, with an ongoing commitment to attracting and building talent for the future. Operating where our clients operate, our international footprint spans across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, the United Kingdom and Zambia.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!