Author: NLM Correspondent

A technological ecosystem is simply a community of interacting devices. By David Onjili Staying ahead of the curve is tough. It’s tough in any business, but it seems to be especially taxing in the construction industry. Because, as you’ve read or experienced by now, in construction, “ahead of the curve” is often code for “abreast the latest technological trends” (in most instances). And, in a market known for creeping down the technology road rather than accelerating, staying abreast wasn’t nearly as difficult, even five years ago, as it is today. An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and…

For investors, there is potential to unlock significant opportunities for growth in an economically dynamic and technology-driven environment By Oliver Stacey As Africa’s data demands grow, so the opportunities for those investing in the market’s infrastructure. In recent years, overseas investors have begun to consider seriously the opportunities presented by the African multi-tenant data centre (MTDC) market. The continent is home to over 50 countries and a population of more than one billion people, of which a large proportion is below the age of 30. Population is on the increase with sub-Saharan Africa’s population expected to double over the next…

Global trends are creating ever-larger winners and losers. We live in an era of disruption in which powerful global forces are changing how we live and work. The rise of China, India, and other emerging economies; the rapid spread of digital technologies; the growing challenges to globalization; and, in some countries, the splintering of long-held social contracts are all roiling business, the economy, and society. These and other global trends offer considerable new opportunities to companies, sectors, countries, and individuals that embrace them successfully—but the downside for those who cannot keep up has also grown disproportionately. For business leaders, policy makers,…

Adapting to a digital age will require organizations—and not just employees—to equip themselves with new capabilities. By Bryan Hancock What story will people tell about your organization over the next ten years? Will they celebrate an enthusiastic innovator that thrived by adapting workforce skills and ways of working to the demands of the new economy? Or will they blame poor financial or operational results, unhappy employees, and community disruption on a short-sighted or delayed talent strategy? Predictions show that by 2030, up to 30 to 40 percent of all workers in developed countries may need to move into new occupations or…

Markets have shifted toward more monopolistic structures, giving rise to higher economic rents. By Zia Qureshi The digital revolution is transforming economies. Potential economic gains from digital technologies are enormous, but with new opportunities come new challenges. Within economies, income and wealth inequalities have risen as digitization has reshaped markets and the world of business and work. Inequalities have increased between firms and between workers. The distribution of both capital and labour income has become more unequal, and income has shifted from labour to capital. Technological change, however, is not the sole reason for the rising inequalities. Policy failures have…

As potential skill shortages loom, a new survey finds that many companies are using multiple tactics to close gaps and that reskilling efforts are paying off. As technologies and business models continue their rapid evolution, companies are experiencing a step change in the workforce skills they need to thrive and grow. Previous research has shown that as many as 375 million workers globally might have to change occupations in the next decade to meet companies’ needs and that automation could free employees to spend as much as 30 percent of their time on new work. Now, in a new McKinsey Global Survey on future…

Affordable airfare is a key ingredient in the growth of travel retail. Since e-commerce took off, all but the best stores have watched the number of shoppers slow to a trickle. Foot traffic continues to drop at suburban malls in the US and on UK high streets, while even historically frenzied shopping days such as Black Friday have quieted down as more consumers do their buying online. One segment that’s flourished by drawing record numbers of shoppers into physical stores, however, is airport retail. Because air travel is more accessible than ever to the average person, hordes of tourists are commuting through airports with time to…

Kenya has leapfrogged in financial inclusion due its positive regulatory environment and attractive macroeconomics. Positioned as one of Africa’s top performing economies, growing at a predicted 6 percent this year according to the latest African Development Bank (AfDB) figures, Kenya has led the continent in financial inclusion for well over a decade. According to the 2019 FinAccess Household Survey, put together in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics and FSD Kenya, 82.9 percent of the adult population has access to at least one financial product. South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria follow close behind…

Cape Town based start-up Zindi has registered 10,000 data-scientists on its platform that uses AI and machine learning to crowd-solve complex problems in Africa. Founded in 2018, the early-stage venture allows companies, NGOs or government institutions to host online competitions around data-oriented challenges. Zindi opens the contests to the African data scientists on its site who can join a competition, submit solution sets, move up a leader board and win — for a cash prize pay-out. The highest purse so far has been $12,000, according to Zindi co-founder Celina Lee. Competition hosts receive the results, which they can use to create new products…

The statistics tell a grim story: Africa is the world’s least electrified continent and its electrification rate is growing slower than anywhere else. To shore up the deficit as national grids lacking lack capacity and efficiency to power homes, solar power has often been deployed as a viable alternative—despite bureaucratic scepticism. Yet there’s evidence that Africa’s leading economies are looking to diversify their energy mix even further with wind power becoming an increasingly popular choice. Last year, led by Egypt, Morocco and Ethiopia, countries in Africa and the Middle East installed nearly 900 megawatts of wind power, recent data from the Global Wind Energy Council…