TechXAfrica, driving ICT disruption, fit for purpose for the African Continent

 Nie Cele

Tana Malinga

‘Digital disruptions for Africa’ has proved again to be a contemporary game changing theme for the entire continent and the global world.

This was a point of departure by most speakers who shared the platform during the recent ICT TechXAfrica  festival of  ideas held at Montecasino, Fourways.

This masterclass event that attracted an array of local and global speakers and dozens of business people under one roof was a brainchild of Niche Integrated Solutions.

 

Several other South African ICT and emerging Tech Innovators also got the opportunity to showcase their talents and solutions at the event and Da Vinci Institute which runs the South African Technology Top 100 awards in South Africa was also present.

 

 

Barlow Manilal, CEO of TIA, told the audience that in most instances this country spends an earth shattering amount of money on technology but don’t have the right people in place to drive the subject.

Manilal, also argued that even though entrepreneurs are creating world class amazing solutions, it is still a major challenge for them to market their solutions and therefore fail within their sales strategy.

“ It is thus imperative that we as a South African sme ourselves try to help other smme’s to gain visibility and sales traction not only within South Africa but the rest of Africa as well, hence TechXAfrica being the catalyst to bring everyone under one roof and to be able to port a combination of talents throughout Africa.”

 

 

Manilal also raised an alarming assertion that women innovation is almost non existing.

“Almost 90% ICT innovation activities are largely done by men.”

 

He also raised concern that mines don’t have IT resources for people going underground despite the lot of research going on.

 

Leon Van Deventer, Director of Matsei said, digital disruption is actual and real topic to listen to.

“We live in a digital world and therefore cannot afford to ignore the innovation of the technological world.”

 

Deventer also pointed out the need to develop business cases for technology innovation.

His point of departure was that soliciting of funding was the biggest and the critical factor.

Reem Ornath, Director of Cyber Security Solution and PCCW Global told this publication on the sidelines that there is a huge progress in this country for IT solutions.

 

“What needs to happen is just to go with the flow,” Ornath said.

 

Nisha Maharaj, Managing Director of Niche Integrated Solutions, reiterated that this conference was triggered by recent  PwC’s 2018 CEO Survey findings .

She also argued that TechX Africa is an impressive opportunity to experience next generation thinking and philosophy fueled by woman in Tech, transporting you into the era of Purposeful Cost and Market disruption.

According to her such platforms brings the local top ICT companies and world leaders in ICT, together with local small and emerging ICT entrepreneurs as well as women in technology to create a vehicle that allows ICT talent to be ported across Africa.

“The value the bigger companies bring to sme is in their partnerships that fosters technology and skills transfer through supply chain inclusion, local implementations and local support.”

Her main bone of contention was that TechXAfrica was created to address some of the main challenges faced by entrepreneurs, adding that African entrepreneurs faced the following challenges.:

• Attracting customers;
• Maintaining profitability;
• Increasing revenue;
• Uncertainty over economic conditions;
• Securing financing for expansion.

Speaking to this reporter on the sidelines, Maharaj said  in her business philosophy of life she was largely inspired by people.

“My belief is that entrepreneurs need to be taken care off for the betterment of the society.”

She also stressed that such events are a platform for smaller organizations to showcase their talent.

 

Pressed about the event’s aim and theme, She said,

“We are creating the vehicle to blend global expertise with local innovations for Africa as a continent.

“There is a need to bring the whole ICT systems together from global players to emerging entrepreneurs, department of Science and technology and the entire ecosystem with one common objective for a purposeful digital disruptions.

“ We hope to build on this successful start as Niche Integrated Solutions to make this one of Africa’s signature events over the next years to come and hope to be able to create a meaningful value proposition for Africa and our continent as a whole.

 

Did you know?

 

 

• Niche Integrated Solutions, a South African Black woman owned ICT emerging company.
• This women masterminded event was a first of its kind in the country.
• TechX Africa is an impressive opportunity to experience next generation thinking and philosophy fueled by woman in Tech, transporting you into the era of Purposeful Cost and Market disruption.
• Organizers say such events brings the local top ICT companies and world leaders in ICT, together with local small and emerging ICT entrepreneurs as well as women in technology to create a vehicle that allows ICT talent to be ported across Africa.