E-Prodigitech

17/06/2015

Uyo!!! Your time has come. Social Good Nigeria will be organizing a one of its kind Pop Up Incubator. if you have been wandering how technology can kick start your ideas or how technology can grow your business, don't miss this hangout.
Venue; Root Hub, Ibom eLibrary, along IBB avenue.
Date; Saturday, 20th June, 2015.
Time; 9am
Please reserve your seats through this link http://bit.ly/1AWcqyv

The SocialGood Nigeria PopUp Incubator Project is designed as a monthly capacity development program for all techies, entrepreneurs especially the , to learn strategy tips from different global Swedish businesses including the experiences of emerging and successful tech entrepreneu…

17/06/2015

Uyo!!! Your time has come. Social Good Nigeria will be organizing a one of its kind Pop Up Incubator. if you have been wandering how technology can kick start your ideas or how technology can grow your business, don't miss this hangout.
Venue; Root Hub, Ibom eLibrary, along IBB avenue.
Date; Saturday, 20th June, 2015.
Time; 9am
Please reserve your seats through this link http://bit.ly/1AWcqyv

21/05/2015

The scam first came to light in February 2015. (Image Credit: Darryl Linington)

A recruitment scam offering paid “Telkom internships” at the company upon payment of a “booking fee” of R90 is currently still in operation. The scam first came to light in February 2015, according to a statement issued by Telkom.

According to Telkom, the scammers assure job seekers that they have been awarded a two-month internship at Telkom’s premises in Bloemfontein, which allegedly comes with a salary of R4 000 a month, free accommodation, and catering. Because accommodation is limited, the candidates are asked to pay a once-off booking fee of R90 via the mobile money service at Pick n Pay and Boxer supermarkets to secure their space.

Telkom’s Managing Executive for Group Communication, Ms Jacqui O’Sullivan, stated that: “Telkom is continuing to investigate this matter, in close consultation with the SAPS. We are disgusted that criminals would take advantage of jobseekers and that the Telkom brand is being misused in this way.”

“We would like to warn people to be cautious when pursuing offers online and hope that our efforts to expose this scam will shield the public from further fraud of this nature.”

Job seekers are advised to use the official Telkom recruitment website, when looking to apply for vacant positions.

Darryl Linington

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21/05/2015

(Image Credit: Darryl Linington)

Etisalat Nigeria has launched a new data centre in Abuja. According to the company, the data centre is set to address the growing demand for cloud and disaster recovery services.

CMO, Matthew Willsher said that the investment was made to ensure that customer service on the network is seamless and hassle-free.

“Our goal is to create more value for our customers by improving quality, reduce costs, introduce innovation and increase speed of delivery. This data centre will ensure that we remain innovative and that our customers will have continuity of service,” Willsher stated.

According to Willsher, the data centre was built to international standards and features an uninterrupted power supply – which has been placed in a fireproof and secure environment. This is in order to guarantee efficient data back-up capacity and to safely store and access critical data and IT equipment.

Etisalat has already erected data centres in Lagos and Kano.

Darryl Linington

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20/05/2015

The union is currently demanding a 10 percent pay increase for its members as well as higher bonuses.

According to a report via EWN, Mobile service provider MTN revealed that its call and service centres as well as its distribution offices are currently being affected by the latest strike – which has essentially struck down the operator. According to the report, the strike is being led by the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

The report revealed that the union is currently demanding a 10 percent pay increase for its members as well as higher bonuses; however, the CWU allegedly only represents less than 30 percent of MTN’s workforce.

In the report, MTN’s Themba Nyati revealed that: “In order for the union to be recognised, they must have at least a 30 percent threshold of representatives. So from the unions that we have at MTN, CWU is sitting on 19 percent and then Solidarity is sitting at plus minus 4 percent.”

More than 2,000 workers have currently gone on strike, this is according to reuters.com. Iol.co.za revealed that was also a high police presence, with members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department ensuring the striking workers kept their distance from the busy 14th Avenue road.

According to the union’s president, Clive Mervin: “MTN has no choice but to recognise our existence.”

Mervin added that: “We’ve made it clear we’re willing to negotiate, but MTN can’t forever not recognise us. We’ve made a huge impact in MTN. KZN will be on strike, Western Cape will be on strike, Mpumalanga will be on strike, Limpopo will be on strike and the biggest of them all will be in Johannesburg,” this is according to EWN.

MTN has since apologised to its customer’s for any service disruptions that may be experienced for the duration of the strike.

Darryl Linington

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20/05/2015

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation (HDS). (Image source: Google/my-hds.com)

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has announced that it has achieved a Level 3 B-BBEE rating, having previously been rated as Level 4. This follows the multi-national company’s acquisition of its African distributor, Shoden Data Systems, in 2012 and the establishment of a Social and Ethics Committee developed to align the company’s B-BBEE plan with its goals.

Cleo Becker, Regional Counsel for HDS Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey and Israel, comments: “The new rating is excellent news for HDS as it will benefit both our customers and our network of partners. As an OEM in South Africa, it is extremely important that we maintain a good B-BBEE rating so that our partners are positively impacted on the procurement element of the B-BBEE scorecard by procuring products and services from us.” She continues, “We hope that our new, improved rating will give us and our partners a competitive advantage because it means that those procuring our products and services will achieve 110% recognition on spend as opposed to the 100% recognition they received when we were rated Level 4.”

HDS has made B-BBEE a priority and a focus area in recent years by taking ownership of the company strategy at an executive level. Each member of the HDS leadership team plays a role in developing the company’s B-BBEE plan and takes accountability for their assigned responsibilities throughout the financial year. Erasmus Jacobs, HDS General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, explains: “We believe that sharing the ownership of the B-BBEE strategy internally instead of outsourcing compliance and strategy, along with aligning our B-BBEE plan to our company goals have been key reasons for our success.”

With the recent introduction of the amended B-BBEE codes, many local and multi-national companies will likely need to adjust their B-BBEE plans and strategies to maintain their ratings. HDS plans to focus on compliance in the spirit of the legislation. “As HDS’s business plan is closely linked to our business goals and strategies, compliance is not a hindrance but an opportunity for us to grow,” says Becker. Jacobs concludes, “HDS’s achievement is proof that multinationals can improve their B-BBEE ratings.”

Staff Writer

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20/05/2015

Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President, Alcatel-Lucent in Africa. (Image Source: Alcatel-Lucent)

Alcatel-Lucent and Ghana’s National Information Technology Agency (NITA) have revealed the completion of the Eastern corridor rural fibre-optic backbone project.

The Eastern corridor network, designed and deployed by Alcatel-Lucent, spans 775km and links Ghana’s north, south, and international submarine gateways via its eastern corridor. It serves major towns such as Kpando, Jasikan, Nkwanta, Bimbila, Yendi, Tamale, Gushiegu and Bawku as well as 23 smaller communities.

The network uses Alcatel-Lucent’s optical networking platform based on the 1830 photonic service switch with 100G technology.

According to both parties, the project signed in 2012 significantly expands communication links between Ghana’s Coastal line and Northern Boundary to Burkina Faso. The optical backbone will also improve communications links for central and regional administration offices, in support of the national ‘e-Ghana’ Program initiative.

Alcatel-Lucent has also provided computing and storage infrastructure for two data centres including help desk infrastructure, a performance management and rating system and an e-Learning Management System. Alcatel-Lucent will continue to manage network operations for Ghana’s entire ‘e-government’ infrastructure until 2016.

Commenting on the milestone, Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President, Alcatel-Lucent in Africa said: “Through technology and innovation this project will help change the way people live, work and communicate, providing an important platform for sustainable growth and development. Alcatel-Lucent has long-standing expertise in IP transport and we are delighted to be a part of this project to support Ghana’s government initiative in continuously improving communications services for the country. The new network will be a catalyst for change to accelerate the development of rural areas in the country. Indeed every success has its network.”

Staff Writer

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20/05/2015

To add to the update, Jumia revealed that the app will feature a new layout and allow its customer’s the opportunity to filter searches by country.

Jumia, an online shopping platform, has released a new version of its android application. According to the company, the updated version of the application is expected to offer its customers a smoother and faster way to access its products.

To add to the update, Jumia revealed that the app will feature a new layout and allow its customer’s the opportunity to filter searches by country.

Parinaz Firozi, MD Jumia Kenya stated that: “We are excited to launch our updated android app. You can search, buy, pay and track your order seamlessly anywhere, anytime on your android smartphone.”

“The search bar allows users to find the products they desire by brand, lowest price, highest price, most popular, by color, new in, best rating and offers the option to Pay on delivery, mobile money transfer or credit card. Additionally customers can read, rate and review products through the app.”

Firozi added that additional functionality will be coming to other mobile apps too in the near future to further improve the mobile shopper’s experience.

Darryl Linington

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19/05/2015

According to a report via cp-africa.com, Airtel Nigeria has inked an agreement with device manufacturing firm, RLG. The deal will see RLG produce handsets for potential Airtel subscribers.

The regional director of RLG in West and Central Africa, Tosin Ilesanmi, stated that the company will begin to produce handsets, tablets, power banks and other devices at its Ilesa factory. According to Ilesanmi, the company could create up to 10,000 jobs with the venture.

Ilesanmi added that the next range of handsets and tablets that the company will unveil soon, could have better features than those manufactured by companies outside the country. Ilesanmi added that the company was still in talks with Osun State Government regarding the production of Opon-Imo for the use of students in the state’s public schools.

Staff Writer

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19/05/2015

The world of The Witcher is one that needs to be explored.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has officially launched in South Africa. While die hard fans may already have there copy of the game, there may be some that are a little weary of picking up CD Projekt RED’s latest title.

While we have only experienced the first couple hours of this title, it is safe to say that CD Projekt RED has placed in a lot of hard work and effort into its latest title. Not only does the title come across as visually breathtaking, but it can take anything from 25 hours to 200 hours (depending on your play style) to complete.

With a large amount of lasting appeal and a visually stunning world to explore, here are the top 5 reasons why you should be playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

1. Graphics:
Whether you are picking up The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or PC you will be introduced to a title that is essentially a visual master-piece. The characters as well as the world look superb and animations come across and smooth and fluid. To add to this, the game’s day and night cycle really adds to the overall visual experience.

2. Minimal loading screens:
According to developer CD Projekt RED, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a minimal amount of loading screens. Essentially, loading screens will only be present when you start the game; when your character dies; when you load a saved file, or when you fast travel. According to the developer this was done in order to keep the experience as fluid as possible without forcing the player to wait.

3. Exploration:
The world of The Witcher is one that needs to be explored. While most titles tend to place you on a linear path, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leaves the exploration up to you. In order to make things easier, the player can explore most of the land on horse back. Just pick a point on the map and venture off into the unknown. Players can also descend deep into sprawling caves, dive beneath the waves to gather herbs and search through long forgotten shipwrecks. You will also have the opportunity to sail your boat through storms and gaze upon hostile sea monsters.

4. Choice, consequence, and storyline
According to CD Projekt RED, Geralt’s mission will require the player to make hard choices. Witchers strive to remain neutral, but often find themselves deciding the fate of others. And rarely are these simple choices between good and evil. In this morally gray world, the choices they make can tip the scales of life and death. Wild Hunt features multiple endings that result from choices you make throughout the game’s riveting storyline.

5. Mature contentThere are not many titles out there that truly try and break all the rules. While most titles seem to be censored in some way, shape or form, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt breaks away from the censorship we have been condemned to, which allows it to be one of best mature titles we have come across. For those of you who have experienced The Witcher 2 on PC; we are not referring to the nudity featured within this title, but more towards the complex dialogue, intriguing storyline and emotional depth that this title showcases.

Darryl Linington

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19/05/2015

Deon Scheepers, Strategic Consultant EMEA – Interactive Intelligence Africa

As customer experience becomes the primary competitive advantage in business, the role of the contact centre is changing significantly. But whether it becomes the heart of the business or a component of the bigger machine depends on the business, say African contact centre experts.

This emerged in interviews conducted by Interactive Intelligence with some of sub-Saharan Africa’s leading contact centre experts, to determine the trends and challenges shaping the future of Africa’s contact centres.

Opinions varied, depending on the strategic role of the contact centre in individual businesses, and on where in Africa the contact centre is situated. However, the experts agreed that significant change is afoot. Companies that are slow to adapt to the changing market, new customer expectations, and a changing approach to customer experience are set to lose to their competitors, said the experts.

Rod Jones, head of Rod Jones Consulting, says contact centres, now also called Customer Interaction Centres, are having a profound effect on organisations’ abilities to deliver high quality customer services. “In Africa, customer interaction centres will make a massive difference to the way in which business is done on the continent in future,” he says. He notes that as many as 5,000 new contact centres are expected to be built in Africa in the next five years as public and private sector organisations start seeing them as the most cost-effective way to provide high quality customer services and to generate incremental revenues.

However, the contact centre industry is relatively immature in many African markets, and the role contact centres will play in enterprises have yet to be defined. Job Njiru, Head of Customer Experience at Kenya’s KCB Bank Group says in Kenya, mobile operators tended to pioneer the concept with financial institutions, retailers and public sector trailing behind. “In Kenya, many organisations still don’t fully understand what benefits they can harness from a contact centre,” he notes.

Mbuela Luwawu, MD, Odilum Technologies Limited in Nigeria, reports a similar trend. “Telcos were the early leaders, but financial institutions are now rolling out contact centres too – largely because new regulations are compelling them to do so. But the concept is still relatively new in Nigeria and there is a lot of room for growth and maturing of this market,” he says.

In regions like South Africa, where contact centres are well established, the role of the contact centre is changing significantly. Gavin Atkinson, CEO: of the Call Centre Division at BankServAfrica says a key shift has been that the contact centre is becoming the last point of contact as opposed to first. “Now, the average consumer – particularly younger consumers – will try to self-service using internet and mobile applications. So, as the last point of contact, the contact centre is expected to deliver absolute resolution of the query in one call. The contact centre must resolve the query as well as delivering complete consistency with the other touch points.”

Jackie Naughton, CEO of BYC Consulting, believes the contact centre has become pivotal for consistent and effective service delivery. “The customer expectation today is that needs must be fulfilled in one call – so contact centres need systems and skills to speak to customers in the way they want. The contact centre has become the strategic differentiator in business today,” she says.

In contrast, Roland Mazery, Chief Operations Officer at Velociti, sees the contact centre as having become just a part of the bigger picture. “While the contact centre is often the tool to monitor and track how other touch points behave, it is not the only component in customer experience. There are shops, tellers and websites for example, and all of them contribute to the overall customer experience. But the role of the contact centre has not been diminished. Other parts of the organisation have simply stepped up their role in delivering overall customer experience.”

“In an ideal world, the contact centre should be integrated into all operational areas of the organisation. It should be the hub of interaction with customers and business, which is used to collect multichannel data to analyse and build business intelligence for the entire organisation,” says Deon Scheepers, Manager Sales Operations Africa at Interactive Intelligence Africa.

Staff Writer

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19/05/2015

Less than one third of the respondents considered creating backup copies in the event of data loss. (Image Source: kaspersky.co.uk)

According to Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, 18 percent of South African users who kept backup copies of their data on physical media eventually lost these copies. In the modern world, where information is highly valuable, it is important to not only create copies of your files in case they are lost, but to do so properly.

The survey revealed that whilst the vast majority (96 percent) of respondents stored confidential information — such as private correspondence, photos, passwords or financial data — on their devices, less than one third of the respondents considered creating backup copies in the event of data loss. 26 percent of users locally took no security measures of this kind and 5% did not even intend to do so in the future.

The survey also highlighted that those who did make backup copies of their files were not always guaranteed against their loss. Physical storage media, such as hard drives and flash memory, remained the most popular method: 80 percent of respondents locally kept their backup copies on such media, while only 11 percent used cloud services. However, of those who preferred physical storage media, 18 percent had experienced irrecoverable data loss because the storage device was lost, broken or stolen.

Peter Aleshkin, Consumer Marketing Group Manager, Emerging Markets, Kaspersky Lab stated that: “By taking a systematic approach to backup, you can take good care of your data. Decide which information is the most valuable to you and create backup copies of it on a regular basis. The optimal way of keeping important information safe is in encrypted folders, stored both on physical media and in a cloud storage environment. This will safeguard your data even in the case of such highly unlikely events as a global Internet outage or the destruction of the building in which you keep your hard drive.”

Staff Writer

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