South Africa is often making international news for its dedication to the advancement of technology. Tech start-ups have been booming all over the country over the past couple of years, especially in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg. Here are the main tech industry trends to look out for when it comes to South Africa’s growth and development.
Cybersecurity
No matter what kind of company or start-up we are discussing, they all need to have robust cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is an essential staple of banking, government agencies, PR firms and more. As the tech industry grows to impressive levels in the country, so does the money and effort poured into making companies safer and harder to compromise.
South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology has conducted studies that confirm the significance of cybersecurity research and innovations.
For the average person living in the country, cybersecurity plays a big role in many daily decisions and tasks. Whether it’s fortifying your email or picking the best South African online casinos, cybersecurity is essential these days. Any platform that stores your payment details should be super secure. That’s why you should only choose sites that have been vetted and recommended by experts.
Using online casinos in South Africa as a prime example, you should only choose to play at casinos from a curated list of sites that are verified and safe. This discretion is an important part of personal cybersecurity.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) trends have made their way to South Africa with a bang, so much so that tons of industries within and outside of the tech world have begun implementing AI to increase efficiency in many unforeseen ways.
South African businesses of all sorts are now using AI-based strategies to reduce costs in retail, manufacturing sectors, banking and finance, software R&D and data analysis.
Green energy
South Africa has had policies in place for years that help prioritize the sustainability of their environment. There have always been strong efforts to help increase the use of solar and wind energy, and tech innovations have helped to keep these efforts alive.
Many newly formed tech companies are using their resources to help make renewable and sustainable energy easier to attain in the country. With the help of data analytics and research funded into agriculture, South Africa is increasing their dedication to green energy.
Wellness and healthcare
One of the highest rated countries in the continent for happiness and satisfaction, South Africa has often prided itself on its wellness services. Thanks to recent tech innovations, healthcare in the country is expected to continue to improve.
Not only is the health sector an extremely viable industry for venture capitalists, the country is releasing more personalized services through apps and websites that any citizen can easily access. Many of these services have been designed with the help of tech innovations that have already spread across other industries.
These health services largely focus on mental health, healthy organic foods and supplements, springs, spas and medical technology used in imaging, diagnostics and vaccinations.
Tourism
Famous for being a fantastic hotspot for visitors, South Africa is by no means slowing down its efforts to promote tourism. South Africa is known for its unique climate and scenery, and the country is not afraid to show them off. Thanks to tech innovations, its famous and lesser-known tourism spots are experiencing big boosts in promotion and visibility.
The beaches of South Africa are diverse, colorful and relaxing. Visiting them is like taking a trip to a wonderful Greek island beach. With the help of more businesses formed with the intention of tourism promotion, these exotic jewels of must-visit destinations will be exposed to more people around the world.
These businesses use technologies and digital tools from the hospitality industry to increase their visibility. This includes booking agencies with apps and personalized recommendations, more suggestions for eco-tourism for people who want to stay as green as possible, and a larger incentive that advertises the lesser-known areas of South African tourism. This means a bigger focus on off-the-road adventures and unique cultural or historical sites, in addition to the usual restaurants, clubs and music festivals.
Agriculture
Many African countries and their economies are highly dependent on the success of their farmers and agricultural workers. Thanks to tech innovations, South Africa can give their own agricultural sector a well-deserved boost in funding and research.
With the introduction of modern agricultural techniques, more South African farmers are using computers and drones to monitor their crops, livestock and quality of soil. This makes interventions more accurate, as well as reducing manual labor.
With the extra money earned from other tech sectors, the South African government has increased funding for the agricultural sector. This makes it easier to generate more economic opportunities for workers, start-ups and anyone who imports and exports goods.
AI is being used for more efficient infestation detection, GPS systems are used to better monitor crops and advanced data analysis is used to counter climate change effects. South Africa has also recently employed robotics and other automation devices to assist during harvesting season. Though some concerns exist pertaining to job security, so far, the implementation of these tools has led to improvement in the country’s productivity.