With the FIFA World Cup transforming South Africa’s infrastructure with high-speed rail systems, better roads and state-of-the-art power systems, now is the time for African businesses to also take economical advantage of the other benefit of the tournament - online technology.
South Africa’s, not to mention the rest of the continent’s, internet systems saw major investment during the build up to the World Cup with the likes of Google even launching their ‘Street View’ technology in June, making South Africa the first African country to have this technology.
Street View allows users to virtually explore and navigate a neighbourhood through panoramic street-level images. It is also available in Google Earth and on Google Maps for Mobile. Of course, for businesses it creates a wonderful opportunity to market themselves with people visiting the country for the World Cup able to view the area in which they are staying as well as local restaurants and companies.
While the World Cup may be over, the technology remains and it is set to drastically transform businesses all over the country, especially the tourism sector.
Other countries in Africa have also started to take advantage of their new online infrastructure with web-cams being sent up in Namibia at the country's world famous Etosha national park. With such technology being harnessed, businesses are now able to market themselves on a much smaller budget. For hotels and other areas of the hospitality sector, not to mention any other business, they can now place themselves to be seen online allowing potential customers to view, representatives including Phumlani Mohoil, CIO of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Organising Committee, Hennie van Wyk, Group Head of Technology for ABSA Bank, George Munyua, General Manager for Equity Bank Limited and Morgen Mufowo of Econet Wireless are already announcing their plans to increase revenue while taking advantage of a pre set infrastructure.
Despite objections being raised about the technology around invasion of privacy, there are mechanisms for users to remove their information from these websites. In addition, for countries that depends on tourism for most of their foreign currency earnings, but do not have significant marketing budgets. Being able to view a hotel or national park online provides an equal opportunities marketing platform for small and large businesses alike.
The benefits of Africa being connected to the rest of the world will be one of the topics discussed at the CIO Africa Summit (hosted by GDS International). Today CIOs need better business insights. Now they have been provided with the Business Intelligence tools and processes to deliver reliable, current, and secure data and accessible information they wish to discuss real tangible strategies that will help develop more effective performance.
With the installation of a new undersea fibre optic cable and an infrastructure securely in place, now is the time for Africa to truly embrace business online in order to bring down costs while boosting employee efficiency and innovation.
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