TCL LAUNCHES NEW TVS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Image: TCL

On Thursday, 4 July, TCL launched its 2024 line-up of TVs in South Africa, setting new standards in the realm of home entertainment. TCL is a brand that has consistently impressed consumers worldwide with its innovative approach to television technology.

Innovative Technology and Design

TCL’s latest offerings include a range of QLED TVs, featuring cutting-edge display technology that promises enhanced picture quality, vivid colours, and deeper contrasts. The star of the show from their line-up is the impressive 115-inch QLED TV, which not only captivates with its sheer size but also delivers an immersive viewing experience suitable for both entertainment and home theatre. This 115-inch TV packs over 20,000 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of 5000 nits and it comes with a hefty price tag of R399,999.

TV Premium Features

What sets TCL apart is not just its technological prowess but also its commitment to good quality. The 2024 TCL TVs bring premium features to a wider audience, making advanced TV technology accessible to more households in South Africa.

TCL also launched four consumer TV models including the entry-level P755, C655, C755, and top-of-the-range C855. Each TV comes with its specs, sizes, and features. The biggest feature is the Mini-LED backlights on the C755 and C855. The C855 boasts 2160 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of 3600 nits. All TVs also come rich with gaming features including 120Hz, 144Hz, VRR, and the Gaming Hub menu.

Image: Hypertext

C655 QLED TV:

  • 55″ – R7 999.00
  • 65″ – R9 999.00
  • 75″ – R15 999.00
  • 85″ – R22 999.00
  • 98″ – R49 999.00

QD-Mini LED 4K TV C755:

  • 55″ – R11 999.00
  • 65″ – R16 999.00
  • 85″ – R29 999.00
  • 98″ – R69 999.00

Premium QD-Mini LED 4K TV C855:

65″ – R24 999.00

  • 115″ behemoth – QD-Mini LED TV X955 Max – R 399 999.00

New Partnership Alert

Another new partnership confirmed by TCL is Makro and Game. The two brands will be joining the TCL as retail partners and will stock the new TV range. They join the other retail partners including Hi-Fi Corp, Incredible, Takealot, and Pick n’ Pay.

Over the years, TCL has built a reputation for reliability and customer satisfaction. Their dedication to providing excellent after-sales service and support further enhances the consumer experience, ensuring that buyers not only get a top-notch product but also ongoing peace of mind.

AFRO BRANDS: TAUSI APP BRIDGING THE GAP IN BEAUTY INDUSTRY

Tausi App, a BeautyTech company, has emerged as a beacon of innovation in the beauty industry, bridging the gap in the beauty industry between beauticians and clients with its intuitive platform. Tausi App aims to transform the beauty industry and the way people connect with beauty professionals in Africa.

Founder of Tausi App, Amos Kimani from Nairobi, Kenya, takes us through the visionary behind Tausi App, he delves into the inspiration, strategies, and future aspirations of his transformative venture.

Image: Supplied

The birth of Tausi App

As a former popular musician in Kenya, Amos experienced first-hand challenges in finding the on-the-go beauty services, which then sparked the idea for Tausi App.

“I always wanted beauty services for myself and my dancers on my video sets, but finding a beautician on the go was always hard compared to finding an Uber driver. This realization sparked the vision for the Tausi App. My aim with Tausi App is not about bridging the gap in the beauty industry, but also to provide opportunities for self-employment to beauticians while offering convenient, personalized beauty services to users,” shares Amos.

Ensuring Quality and Professionalism

With now over 20,000 clients served and 6,000 beauticians onboarded, Tausi App’s rapid growth can be accredited to a combination of factors. Moreover, their commitment to ensuring quality services and professionalism among onboarded beauticians has been key for Tausi App.  

To maintain high standards of service, Amos says they make use of regular assessments, feedback mechanisms, and ongoing training sessions to keep beauticians updated with industry trends. Also, their seamless user experience has fostered customer loyalty.

Furthermore, Amos says their app’s unique features, including AI-driven personalized beauty services and community engagement, sets the app apart in the market. “We strive to strike a balance between providing luxury services and ensuring affordability. By catering to diverse needs and budgets, Tausi App remains inclusive while maintaining quality standards.

Image: Supplied

Prioritizing Safety and Peace of Mind

 He adds, “We implement a rigorous onboarding process, including partnerships with reputable beauty colleges for training. Our search process benefits both beauty seekers and beauticians alike. Beauty seekers can easily find the right professional based on their specific needs and preferences, while beauticians gain visibility and access to a broader clientele, Amos Explains.

To prioritize the safety and peace of mind of both clients and beauticians, Tausi App has implemented healthy security features.

“To us, background checks, identity verification, and user ratings are integral parts of our platform. Then the in-app communication system facilitates secure interactions, with a dedicated support team ready to address any concerns promptly”.

Image: Supplied

Shaping the Future of Beauty

Tausi App has been instrumental in terms of impact on job creation in communities, “by providing beauticians with opportunities for self-employment, we contribute to economic empowerment at the grassroots level. The platform’s growth generates indirect employment opportunities, further benefiting local communities”.

Despite challenges faced along the journey, including regulatory hurdles and market dynamics, Tausi App remains resilient.

“Looking ahead, our future plans include geographical expansion to reach more users and beauticians across Africa. We aim to continually innovate, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance our services. Community engagement will remain a focus, fostering a supportive network for beauticians. Tausi App envisions being a key player in shaping the future of the beauty industry, combining inclusivity, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology to deliver unparalleled experience,” Amos concludes.

5 Features on latest social media platform, Threads

Launched last week, Threads has smashed the record for the fastest-growing consumer app, beating the ChapGPT record with over 100 million new users in 5 days.

The new social media platform which is set to be Twitter’s rival from Meta has had a lot of people wanting to jump on the platform due to a few changes Twitter has implemented since Elon Musk took over. you can access Threads from its desktop site at Threads.net or by downloading the app for iOS and Android.

Here’s what you need to know about Threads

1. Like, share, and quote

This option is similar to Twitter. You can like the Thread someone has made, quote and reply to it. The quote and reply option will show on your profile. You can’t see what someone else liked on their profile. The sharing option is interesting because it allows you to share someone’s Thread on Twitter, which is a bit ironic. You are also able to share your Thread on your Instagram feed and story.

2. Threading

To create a thread on Twitter, there is a plus sign to add another tweet under your initial tweet and the following tweets will be considered a thread. However, on Thread you have to click the Return button 3 times to create a Thread (multiple threads under the initial thread).

3. Search Button

What’s trending? This option is different on Threads from Twitter, on Threads, it is used to search for accounts to follow. While on Twitter you can find out what a lot of people are tweeting about in your area or country. To find out what people are threading about, you have to scroll the timeline, which makes the platform a little bit more interactive. It is unclear if the Trending option will be available on Threads any time soon.

4. Import Information

When you join the platform you use your Instagram handle, Threads gives you the option to import all your Instagram information. This means that you can follow the people you follow on Instagram and use the same bio. This makes it easier to find your Instagram community and when they join the platform they can request to follow you.

5. Character limit

On Threads, you can create text-based posts with up to 500 characters as well as share photos and videos up to five minutes long. Twitter Blue subscribers can increase their character limit to 25,000. Users who aren’t subscribed to Twitter Blue have a character limit of 280.

Threads is still a work in progress and there are more changes to be expected as the platform grows. Download the app to be in the know.

Retail is going mobile as customers make online purchases using smartphones.

Following the release of their survey, retailers acknowledged that 95% of their customers now make purchases using smartphones and that 78% of them prefer to communicate with retailers via mobile messaging for convenience.

According to research conducted by Clickatell, It would be ideal if more customers found communicating with retailers via mobile messaging to be convenient. As the holiday season approaches, many brands are considering how mobile-first commerce experiences may increase consumer loyalty. The report also showed that, while consumers try to avoid overspending during the next holiday, there is a clear opportunity to provide personalised bargains and promotions through mobile platforms.

CEO of Clickatell, Pieter de Villers said the overall reports findings point to a chance for retail businesses to interact with customers this Christmas season through the channels of their choice.

The following brands are developing new strategies to reach more of their customers using their smartphones:

Spar delivery Service.

The Spar Group announced the launch of SPAR2U, a new on-demand delivery shopping platform with plans to grow throughout South Africa. This is such a great launch because it seems like every business is becoming mobile and making it easy for people to use their phones for communication and shopping.

The recently launched site allows consumers to shop for groceries and alcoholic beverages online, improving their comfort level while doing so. They distinguished the platform from other well-known retail platforms by making it special for a good experience from customers.

Uber Eats is expanding into their own virtual store.

Uber Eats Virtual store

Uber Eats intends to do more and grow, opening a virtual version of their own food shop and the business, which sells food and other necessities, opened its doors in August of this year. They decided to create a food store in response to the enormous increase that occurred after the service was established during COVID times.

This platform was created at a time when every retail outlet opted to offer their services online, making it simple for everyone to shop on smartphones. Majority of consumers will find mobile retail handy because it allows them to message the retailer directly if they have any problems and this will also help consumers avoid standing in lengthy lineups at the retailers.

Mobile commerce is leading this season and most customers prefer to shop using their smartphones to buy online which has shown higher sales conversions. According to the recent survey by Adoozy Mobile, the founder Kegan Peffer outlined three mobile commerce trends that are driving sales this busy season and they are as follows:

  • Social Commerce – Brands can target their audience on social media sites by using their social ad tools.
  • In-app Shopping -Mobile apps work more quicker that’s why it is preferred than browsing.
  • Added value with CX – Retailers’ mobile CX checklists might contain motivators like personalisation, advantageous in-app marketing incentives, and creative approaches to solve power-related problems.

Given how quickly technology is developing and how many customers find the idea of shopping being mobile and simple a lot of brands will come up with more creative strategies to have retail accessible via mobile.

Nedbank enhances its super app, Avo.

Vishal-Maharaj, Executive: Digital at Nedbank
Vishal Maharaj, Excecutive: Digital At Nedbank

Nedbank launched Avo 3.0, the latest version of its super app. Speaking at the launch Executive: Digital at Nedbank, Vishal Maharaj said the Avo 3.0 was an outcome of over two years learning since Avo was launched in June 2020, and this builds on Nedbank’s long track record of leveraging digital technologies to find new ways to delight and engage customers. 

“We have learned a great deal from our customers and business partners, and we have expanded the platform substantially. Avo 3.0 crystallises all of that growth and understanding. Avo 3.0 is all about introducing purpose into the mix, making it much easier for users to solve real-life problems such as how to access the best power backup solution, for example, or a new car for a university-going child”. He said.

According to McKinsey, the total Africa digital ecosystems revenues are expected to reach ZAR 1.2 tr by 2025 and growing at 8% per annum. Super apps were initially developed in Asia to provide a single platform on which users could access a wide range of products and services. The technology is spreading globally as so-called “app fatigue” sets in, with consumers increasingly looking for convenience and high levels of personalisation. 

Launched in June 2020, Avo 3.0 hit 1.7million registered users this year. Its population of merchants has increased by 37% to 24 000 over the same period, and the gross value of merchandise traded on the platform increased ninefold. 

Mr Maharaj said that while one purpose of Avo 3.0 is to solve customer problems, another is to provide SMEs with access to market backed by state-of-the-art fulfilment, essentially giving a small business the muscle to compete with a large corporate. 

Aside from its growing range of consumer products, Avo 3.0 now also offers Avo 3.0 Auto, a growing marketplace for vehicles with 140 qualified dealers currently on the platform. It will soon launch a Park-and-sell capability to connect private sellers to qualified private sellers and over 3000 dealerships and is set to expand into several SADC countries via its Africa export proposition.

In April 2022, Avo 3.0 released a B2B marketplace to complement the established B2C platform proposition. 

“Our B2B is offering designs to help businesses streamline their value chains. It offers businesses a way to purchase products easily, and we will add services in the new year. But our unique B2B value proposition allows companies who already have a business relationship to use the platform to negotiate price, facilitate and track bulk buying and integrate existing procurement practices such as purchase orders. The platform can even be used by sales reps.” says Mr Maharaj.

Users can leverage the value locked in their debtors’ book by ceding a portion of it to Nedbank so they can access financing for stock purchases without tying up free cash. Buying clubs and franchise organisations can use it as a way to consolidate purchases in order to strengthen their bargaining position for obtaining discounts. 

Mr Maharaj said the strengths of Avo 3.0 as a whole, it is a way in which they can embed innovative finance and payment solutions from Nedbank to make it easier and more cost-effective for users to access the solutions they need. In parallel with Avo Auto’s entry into markets north of the border, they will begin testing these markets for our B2C platform propositions. 

They remain committed to keep on analysing the data they obtain from our customers and business partners to keep on improving the customer experience and make it more personally relevant—Avo’s journey is an exciting one, and it’s continuing.

5 major brands exploring the metaverse

Many brands are dipping their toes into this digital realm called the metaverse, from digital fashion, NFTs and the buying of land. Facebook rebranded as Meta in the past year showing the significance of the metaverse. The metaverse is described as one of the most exciting and complex landscapes in the history of digitalization and Web3. The metaverse contains all these popular digital sectors such as NFTs, cryptocurrencies and play-to-earn. 

We looked at the five major brands that have set foot in the metaverse.

1. Balenciaga

Balenciaga launched a unit business dedicated to the virtual space, the fashion house created its own video game for its Fall 2021 collection, and they showcased an entire runway with 44 clones of one model. The brand further partnered with the famous video game Fortnite on in-game items. 

2. Coca-Cola 

Coca-Cola launched their first NFT collection in 2021, together with a virtual event in Decentraland. This launch was part of their Friendship Day campaign. After Covid-19 came with restrictions Coca-Cola organized a virtual party on top of their virtual coke can building and visitors could win very rare wearables, and there was an auction of the Coca-Cola Friendship Box NFT package. 

3. Sephora 

Sephora launched its virtual artist app, which uses AR (augmented reality) and facial recognition software to help its customers try on make-up products and see how it looks on them without actually physically being in a store or possession of the products. The app provides personalized step-step makeup tutorials to help customers recreate the looks they like- a fun way to shop. 

4. Disney

Disney parks entered the metaverse with a virtual world stimulator which provided a highly immersive individualized 3D virtual experiences without requiring users to wear an augmented reality AR viewing device. Their MagicBand+ is also a segment of the virtual world allowing users to engage with content like never before. 

5. Hyundai 

Hyundai’s latest campaign advocates for sustainability and the brand targeted tech-savvy individuals through Roblox to give them the digital automotive experience. The Hyundai Mobility Adventure video game introduces people to the thrills of driving and sustainable transportation, the video game was launched in 2021. 

What makes the metaverse different from other online platforms?

Many more brands are slowly entering the metaverse and the next coming years are going to be a revolution in how people interact with brands and their user experience will be transformed in unimaginative ways. 

What interests most brands is the thrill of exploring this new concept in digitalization with different dynamics to it and vast opportunities. The metaverse is currently a blank canvas and many unique brands are bringing their different elements into the aggregate space. 

The majority of different online social platforms and digital spaces are tightly controlled by a single company from their servers and when you exit from one platform to the next you need to sign up with a new identity. The metaverse allows you to use a single identity to travel across the network of virtual landscapes. This concept mirrors the real world just as in the real world you have one identity and one passport to travel across continents. 

Do you think the metaverse will revolutionalize the way we interact with brands in the coming decade?

Green Scooter Is Moving At Electric Pace

Founded by Fezile Dhlamini, Green Scooter is the safest and first electric motor-tricycle for the African market. We chat to to him about his brand that has been in business for 6 years. Green Scooter won the Technology category sponsored by MTN Pulse at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.

The Green Scooter Journey

How has the journey been for Green Scooter?

Fezile: Green Scooter has been around for 6 years now. Formally, in the market for 4 or 5 years now and it has been a rollercoaster. The has been a lot of learning and unlearning. There has been a lot of super highs and super lows. You are trying to do something, you are trying to build something; you are creating this entire market in South Africa that is not really familiar.

How do you feel about the nomination?

Fezile: It moves away from how I feel rather how we feel as a company. It reaffirms that we are doing something right. It’s all about building something that people love. It allows young people to dream through you. For the company, it brings excitement, it enhances our vision. I was never a person of awards but getting your award [Top 16 YOBA] changed my perspective.

The Business After The YOBAs

Green Scooter with Award and MTN Pulse Hamper

Are you in talks with MTN Pulse after winning a category they sponsored?

Fezile: The award itself and it being sponsored by MTN Pulse it enabled us to have much higher level conversations with the team of decision makers. There are certain discussions we are having that focus on youth because I am also very youth driven when we talk about entrepreneurship.

Insider dubs you as South Africa’s Tesla, how does that make you feel as a team?

Fezile: Compliments like those are very important as how the market perceives you. I say this in a PR level, because if we said we are building something better than Tesla, it really has no impact. We are the Tesla of three wheels.

You can watch the full interview on our Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgT7-ztDkEz/

A new online bartering platform, CirculateIt launches in South Africa

New online bartering platform, CirculateIt launched on the 4th of July 2022. CirculateIt is a platform created to make life easy and convenient for people to exchange goods and services without using money in the process. The brand name says it all “Circulate it” – encouraging people to ‘circulate’ their pre-owned goods/services for their desired goods/services.

Bartering Explained

Bartering is a cashless exchange system that dates back to 6000 BC – where 2 parties trade goods and/or services directly, without the use of money. Bartering has been practiced for years, even before the existence of money, people used to trade and exchange items. The whole concept of bartering is to save money and avoiding waste by trading what you may no longer want for something you really want.

Image: Supplied

CirculateIt

CirculateIt is the modern bartering platform, because it uses technology to bring 2 parties together with a mutual agreement to exchange/trade items.
“CirculateIt aims to unlock the latent potential of bartering to give frugal consumers access to more goods, services and reduce waste” says Frank Ogagba – Chief Executive Officer

Instead of discarding goods you no longer need or want, rather trade them in for goods you really need or want. CirculateIt is currently launching the platform for people residing in the Gauteng province, and as time progresses, they are willing to expand to other provinces. The public is always keen on trying new things, especially new technology – hence CirculateIt sees the idea of bartering as a great fit into the market. The platform is new, it’s fun, it’s convenient and most importantly it’s cost-effective.
“Price hikes and the cost of living are trends that make it difficult for most South Africans to make ends meet. Ways to save money are more pertinent than ever. CirculateIt.online gives South Africans a new way to save money, and even better, get what they need without paying. The platform enables people to barter trade products and services for what they need”, adds Frank Ogagba

Image: Circulate It Logo Supplied

Going into the month of July [savings month] the platform educates the public on not only saving money, but saving and preserving the environment. CirculateIt cannot wait to be the go-to bartering platform in South Africa and it cannot wait to switch things up in the market – #letsswitch.

MTN Pulse becomes the official category sponsor of the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

We are delighted to announce that the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA) have agreed on sponsorship with MTN, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company. MTN will be sponsoring the technology category, through its division called MTN Pulse, a platform developed on the basis of boosting and empowering the youth of Mzansi.

MTN is a popularly known and developed mobile network in South Africa. It was recently announced as one of the Top 10 Most Admired Brands in Africa during the 12th Annual Brand Africa 100 report that was held in Lagos, Nigeria by Brand Africa.

MTN offers a wide range of tariff plans and deals with bundles that suit all tastes and budgets, MTN Pulse is no exception. It is currently one of the most efficient and advantageous mobile tariffs with incredible deals for the youth.

MTN Pulse is focused on empowering young people of South Africa through our offers and initiatives that celebrate young people and their passions. “We believe that all South Africans deserve the benefit of a modern connected life and that’s why it is our greatest honour to be the Technology category sponsor for the Top 16 Youth Owned Brands Awards. We fully support the efforts of young people and wish all the entrants well.” says Mirriam Mathebula, Senior Manager -Youth Segment

MTN Pulse allows young people the freedom to express themselves better and freely in the cyberspace and put in their hands’ a world of unlimited possibilities. Subscribers to the Pulse plan get access to an exclusive experience and great offers. It gives them the opportunity to enjoy the unlimited streaming data bundles, giveaways, and rewards at greater rates.

Image: Supplied

Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, an initiative by Pat on Brands aims to give recognition to proudly South African Brands that are owned and run by the youth. This is the first initiative of its kind in the country and over 400 nominations were submitted.

“MTN Pulse is no stranger to the Pat on Brands’ platform. Last year they supported our Women’s Month edition of the Pat on Brands Dialogues. This shows that they are a brand that is committed to upliftment of the youth. We are truly grateful for their continued support,” said Pat Mahlangu, Founder and CEO of Pat on Brands.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to happen on the 15th of June 2022 at The Capital: On the Park in Sandton. Tickets to these exciting awards are available on https://patonbrands.com/eventer/top-16-youth-owned-brand/

Introducing 12th Gen Intel Core Mobile Processors in South Africa

Intel announced the world’s fastest mobile processor, bringing its performance hybrid architecture to mobile platforms for the first time with new 12th Gen Intel Core mobile processors that are up to 40 percent faster than the previous generation mobile processor. Intel introduced 28 new 12th Gen Intel Core mobile processors that deliver a feature-rich suite of capabilities to create laptops for people to compute whenever and wherever they need – without compromise.

Word From Nitesh Doolabh

Nitesh Doolabh, Country Lead for Intel in South Africa comments,” The South African Gaming community have been eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated Intel 12Th Gen Core Mobile Processors launch. Intel 12th Gen is a brand-new Core architecture with the biggest change in x86 in over a decade with Intel’s new Hybrid Technology with both Performance and Efficient cores. This exciting new Hybrid approach allows us to bring together two different architectures via the Intel Thread Director Software. We are delighted to partner with local Gaming Specialists, Evetech, to showcase and make available the world’s fastest mobile processor to South African Gamers”.

Image: Supplied

Built For Next Generation of Gaming

Intel continues its introduction of industry-leading mobile performance processors with the 12th Gen Intel Core H-series mobile processors.

By pairing Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores) with intelligent workload prioritization and management distribution through Intel® Thread Director, the new Intel Core i9-12900H improves system performance across single and multi-threaded applications.

Based on the Intel 7 process, new 12th Gen H-series processors offer:

  • Up to 5 GHz frequencies, 14 cores (6 P-cores and 8 E-cores) and 20 threads that give the 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H. It delivers performance leadership over Intel’s previous generation and the competition.
  • The performance extends for unparalleled gaming experiences across top gaming titles and content creation tools. The new 12th Gen Intel Core H-series delivering up to 28% faster.12th Gen Intel Core H-series is more than up to the task for content creators. For example, users may see up to 43% higher performance in 3D rendering gen-over-gen.
  • Broad memory support for DDR5/LPDDR5 and DDR4/LPDDR4 modules up to 4800 MT/s – a first in the industry for H-series mobile processors.
  • Nearly three times faster connectivity on exclusive high-speed channels without legacy Wi-Fi interference. Using integrated Intel® Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) gives users the freedom to work and learn from home and relax with smooth, high-quality streaming.
  • Thunderbolt™ 4 support that delivers transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and PC connectivity to multiple 4K monitors and accessories.

Designed for enthusiast gamers, creators and engineering professionals who want to push their laptop performance to the next level, the new 12th Gen Intel Core H-series mobile processors deliver desktop-caliber performance on the go.

MTN Group Enters the Metaverse with Land Ownership

There have been a lot of changes in the digital space. It is without a doubt there is still more to come. With artificial intelligence, it is a lot to figure out. Brands are looking at how they can get into the space that has taken the internet by storm.

Set in Ubuntuland, Africarare is a 3D virtual reality experience. Moreover, it is the first Virtual Reality metaverse in Africa. Ubuntuland can be bought, traded or kept as well as used for various experiences such as art exhibitions, games, and social experiences. $UBUNTU Token is the currency used on Africarare.

Source: Africa Tech

MTN Purchase

MTN became the first African company to enter the metaverse by purchasing land in Africarare. This purchase will see MTN owning 144 plots of virtual land with an overall area of 12x12m.  Through its presence in the metaverse, MTN intends to increase its customer attractiveness through a series of experiences merged with consumer passion points, like gaming and music. Furthermore, MTN Group said its presence on the metaverse demonstrates its commitment to supporting African innovation.

In the metaverse, not only do users get to interact with the computer-generated environment, they also interact with other users and engage in typical daily activities such as going to school, going to work, watching concerts, shopping at stores/malls, playing games, etc.

The question that remains is which brands in Africa are going to be tapping into this market soon?

Understanding The Emerging Trend; NFTs.

Someone in the metaverse

A lot of people have been confused about what NFT is. It’s hard to pin point what it does, is it a crypto currency? Is it BitCoin? Can I exhange it for cash? Well, I hope I some it up well.

What is NFT?

The acronym stands for Non-fungible token. Basically, non-fungible means it can’t be exchanged for cash or replaced for anything else. NFT is something only you can have…not completely. An NFT can be duplicated or rather copied. One person or more can have the original piece of an NFT if multiple original copies are made and the rest aren’t the original piece. Think of it as art collection. One original Picasso painting (worth a lot) and millions of replicas for close to nothing. Non-fungible tokens can be anything digital. It can be art, drawings or painting, a voice recording or music and more.

Hennessy’s NFT

Earlier this year Hennessy released their NFTs on BlockBar a spirits-focused NFT platform. To clarify, the NFTs include actual bottles of Hennessy. The digital bottles correspond with physicals bottles that customers can order and drink. Original owners also have the option to engrave a personalised message on the carafes and visit the Hennessy estate in Cognac, France. In addition, designed into each NFT and physical bottle is an engraved carafe, cork holder, pipette, authentication plate, and other trimmings. The Hennessy NFTs retail for $226,000, that’s about R4000.

Source: Business Insider South Africa

Nike Acquires RTFKT

Last year December, Nike acquired a virtual shoe company that makes NFTs and sneakers for the metaverse. As a way to tap into the virtual and gaming world. John Donahoe, President and CEO of NIKE, Inc. said “This acquisition is another step that accelerates Nike’s digital transformation and allows us to serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture.” Nike did not disclose how much the deal was worth.

Source: Hypebeast

NFT might be the growing trend for creatives to sell their work with the emerging metaverse. It is interesting to see how brands will tap into the the digital world in 2022.

Social Media Trends To Look Out For in 2022

The beginning of a new year ushers in new beginnings for many. Year planners have been purchased and planning has began, iIt is important to have insights to inform your goals. The social media landscape is one of constant change, keeping up with trends is the only way to stay afloat

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the amount of time that people spend on social media. With more people creating content, it’s not only marketers who need to know social media trends, it has become important to the average joe too. Lets have a look at some forecasted social media trends for 2022.

tik tok logo witth airpods and laptop

TikTok is the place to be

TikTok has taken content creation by storm. The platform went from being ‘an app for kids’ to the next best social media app. According to an article published by Tech Crunch, TikTok is predicted to reach 775.0 Million monthly users in 2022. The increasing number of active users means more eye balls, and that is good for business and advertising. Businesses, marketers and content creators need to keep that in mind when trying to reach more people. Tick ock, the time is ticking… you better get on TikTok.

Drawing of a computer

The use of social media for meaningful customer connections

As the world is getting more and more open to the use of social media by businesses and brands, things begin to shift. We are used to brands using social media as just another form of advertising, and that’s set to change. Stricter privacy rules mean that it will be harder to get information on customer behavior. This means that the best way to connect and get to know the customer is by creating meaningful connections via social media. This year, marketers will be using social media to get to know the customer better.

Phone on a selfie stick

Video content is king

Video content keeps people glued to their screens for longer, its the best way to grab your audience’s attention. According to Pop Up Smart, video content is predicted to take up 82.5% of all web traffic. This comes as no surprise, we have seen a high introduction of video features on most platforms. Its time to hit those record buttons in order for your content to reach more eyeballs.

Phone open on photo galary

Influencers continue to influence

The rise and rise of influencer marketing continues. We have seen a lot of brands going the influencer route and this year will be no different. The reason for this growth is that influencer marketing costs less than running paid ad campaigns. Working with influencers also allows brands to work with more people, reach more consumers and thus getting a higher return on investment. I guess we can safely say that influencers are not just a trend, but a type of marketing that is here to stay.

People of different races holding hands
Image: Jaluch

Inclusivity remains important

In the age of social media, consumers have become more and more vocal about social issues. Over the past few years, we have seen a stronger pull towards brands that care about customers and general social issues. Inclusivity will continue to be an important factor for customers. This will push brands to stay on the pulse and represent the communities in which they operate.

By standing next to tv with a carton character that looks like him
Image: Pop Sugar

Just a few weeks ago, there was an image of a young boy who was so excited to see a cartoon character that looked like him. It is with such small impactful particles that we change the world, and ensure inclusivity by age, gender, race and sexual orientation. We can all agree that social media has the power to make a change.

In the age of digital, it is important for people and brands to keep up with social media trends. Anyone who wants to grow on social media, for personal or business reasons needs to understand that its all about adapting. The social media streets are a place to adapt, and keep up with the times, or die.

A look back at 2021’s social media landscape

Social media icons

We have seen a lot of sudden changes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital space has been one place where a lot of change and growth took place. There are quiet a number of social media platforms that benefited from people being home for longer periods of time.

South Africa’s population is just under 60 million, and according to the CEO of World Wide Worx there are approximately 38.2 million social media users in South Africa. This means that over half of our population is on social media.

Iphone with social media icons

2020/2021 social media rocket

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a spike in the number of social media users. The number of active social media users has increased from 22 million users in January 2020 to 25 million users in January 2021, this is a 13.6% increase. Marketers and advertisers need to keep a close eye on these trends, as these inform budgets.

Audience

Top 5 social media platforms

Many people paint social media as a platform for the younger generation only, this is not entirely correct. Here are some of the most popular social media networks amongst people aged between 16 to 65 years old:

  1. Whatsapp at 93.2%
  2. YouTube at 92.4%
  3. Facebook at 86.7%
  4. Instagram at 70.2%
  5. Messenger at 64.7%

There are a number of learnings one can take from the top 5 social media platforms in South Africa. The pattern tells us of how people like to receive information.

Top 5
Image: True Cable

Top 3 learnings from the top 5

  1. Affordability

The prices of data in South Africa is ranked 136 globally, this pushes people to find more affordable means to communicate. Whatsapp and Facebook messenger allow for a much more affordable day-to-day conversation. These are the platforms where people are able to send instant messages at an affordable price.

2. Keeping in contact

Instagram and Facebook are platforms where people are able to keep up with their old friends and family. This platorm allows people to stay in the loop even though they do not communicate much.

3. Short format videos

Instagram introduced short format videos in July of 2021, this came as a way to compete with TikTok. TikTok has become one of the fastest growing social media platforms. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram Reels keep us glued to our screens for longer and this works for brands and advertisers.

According to an article published in Orlando Sentinel, the average human attention span is 8 seconds. This is a dramatic decrease from 12 seconds in the year 2000.

YouTube on phone

Video content that is able to keep people engaged for longer periods of time is definitely a breakthrough for marketing. It is important for marketers to keep up with the different social media trends, this will guide strategy as well as budget. A marketer that is always on the pulse is always on the money.

Top Albums and Songs Streamed on Spotify this year in South Africa

spotify logo

Since being introduced in Mzansi in 2018 , Spotify has exposed talent in the country to different parts of the world. Spotify Wrapped shows users the most streamed albums, songs and artists. There are a lot of international artists streamed in the country, however Amapiano is the country’s biggest genre.

DJ Maphorisa and Kaabza Da Small
Image: The Face

Most Streamed Local Artists

Chart topping duo, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small took the 1st and 2nd spot respectively. Their joint venture into the Amapiano genre, the two have kept the country vibing during the toughest lockdowns. DJ Maphorisa has featured in 4 albums this year alone. Meanwhile, Kabza De Small released Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3. Busta 929, sits at number 3 and his hit song Umsebenzi Wethu which was released last year is still in the top 5 of most streamed songs in SA this year. De Mthuda and Mr JazziQ take the 4th and 5th place respectively.

Drake
Image: Rolling Stone

Most Streamed Albums

Drake’s Certified Lover Boy was the most-streamed album in South Africa on Spotify. However, Blxckie’s B4Now took the second spot in the South African Most Streamed album. Recently, Blxckie took the number one spot as the Hottest MC in the country, as listed by MTV Base. A-Reece’s Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory: The Mixtape is at number three while Busta 929’s Undisputed Vol 2 and Makhadzi’s Kokovha at number four and five, respectively.

Mpura and Busta929
Image: Fakaza News

Most Streamed Songs

In this list, it is a bit surprising that there is only one South African song. Although, Spotify creates a list specifically for the artists in South Africa, in the overall songs streamed the one present from Mzansi was released in 2020. Taking the top spot is The Kid LAROI with his single titled Stay ft Justin Bieber. The Business by Tiesto is number two. Ed Sheeran comes in at number 3 with his single ‘Bad Habits’ from his 4th full length album. The only South African song on this list is Umsebenzi Wethu by Busta 929 and it take the fourth position. Olivia Rodrigo takes the fifth spot with the single ‘drivers license’.

Spotify is a great platform to discover new artists, songs or genres. Furthermore, Spotify Wrapped is one of the coolest ways to find out what you listen to without noticing.

A celebration like no other, with an animation studio to look out for

mollo launch

Tshimologong Innovation Hub celebrated 5 years of making dreams come true this past week. It was only fitting that the night is kickstarted with a word from the man who started it all. Prof Barry Dwolatzky, who is now the Director Innovation and Strategy at Wits.

Prof Barry D
Prof Barry Dwolatzky

Prof Barry shared a story of where it all started. His story was one of passion, will and determination. We can now safely say that those three are a combination of success tools. Prof Barry took his passion and went knocking on doors to bring his dream of a digital innovation hub to light. The University of Witswatersrand assisted him with an old building which used to be club. It is quiet interesting that the main stage at the precinct has footprint that symbolize that the space was once a night club

Dance space to a creators space

From a mere night club to a place where many young people continue to innovate and meet their dreams. The precinct invited some of the people who went through their programs and managed to build reputable businesses and innovations. Four brave innovators shared their businesses with the audience, here are two stories that stood out.

Lucia Nunu S
Lucia Nunu Shabangu

Lucia Nunu Shabangu is one of the ladies who were part of the Ya Basadi program. Her events and marketing business, Complit Events took a hit when the lockdown was first announced in March 2020. After going through a rigorous skills and development training session and also learning about programming, she developed Complit Swing. Complit Swing is a golfing game that uses virtual reality, allowing golfers to engage with people from different parts of the world.

Zuko - founder of Sensor
Zuko Mandlakazi

Senso is a company founded on ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of escaping danger by creating awareness of danger. The founder, Zuko Mandlakazi share a story of a family if five, with only one hearing person in the house. Mandlakazi said that people in the neighburhood knew this and they would wait for the family to sleep and then break into the house.

These unpleasant events made him create a solution that allows the parents, who are both deaf, to feel the potential danger. The Sensor band is a two part device, in the case of the family, one part is placed on the door handle while the other is worn as a wrist band. The device placed at the door sends a signal to the wrist band when it detects movement on the door handle, this then causes a vibration which will wake the individual up.

This can work on anything from keeping your car safe, monitoring a sleeping baby as well as ensuring that you do not burn those scones in the oven.

Unveiling South Africa’s latest animation studio

Mollo Animation Sudio unveiling

The event was beautiful, from the set up to the food, the unveiling of its latest offering was the cherry on top. The Mollo Animation Studio was unveiled on Friday the 26th o November 2021. Mollo is a Setswana name that means “fire”, when we remove one ‘l’ the word reads ‘Molo”, which means “warm greetings” in isiXhosa. With this unveiling Tshomologong greets and invites all young aspiring animators to gather around the fire to tell great stories through animation.

This studios is not a win for the precinct only, but for the African continent as a whole. The studio already houses people from different parts of Africa.

A place of new beginnings for digital creatives

Lungelo Makhatini

You may be asking yourself if there is a place for you at Tshimologong. The question is, do you have a digital idea that you feel like will make a mark in the digital space? if yes, then Tshimologong is is the right place for you. Lungelo Makhathini, who is part of the marketing team at the precinct said “All you need to have is a digital idea or solution”, if you are that person, head over to Tshimilogongs website for more details.

Tshimologong celebrates 5 years milestone of developing Africa’s digital entrepreneurs.

Tshimologong precint

Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct has reached an impressive milestone. This year marks five years of the precinct providing innovative and technology-based solutions to problems affecting the South African and the greater African economy.

Tshimologong meaning “new beginnings” in Setswana, a fitting name that the University of Witwatersrand chose for its Digital Innovation Precinct. Tshimologong is not only a catalyst hub that bridges the gap between South Africa’s digital skills shortage and youth unemployment. The precinct is also a place of new beginnings for many young tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and professionals in South Africa. In celebration of this milestone, the Precinct will be hosting an event on the 26th of November to give thanks for the continuous support.

Image: Quicket

Digital skills are vital in building a strong, competitive and sustainable economy. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has demonstrated its ability to transform various industries and drive innovative change. The Precinct commercializes world-class African digital innovation by helping the youth solve local problems with global appeal. This is achieved through its accelerated skills development program, Digital Skills Academy and the Youth Incubation programs. It builds strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, sponsors and communities. Over 500 young people and entrepreneurs have experienced positive growth since the beginning of the Precinct in 2016.

digital skills lab
Image: Tshimologong.joburg

South Africa’s youth unemployment rate is currently at a record high, in October the country’s unemployment rate amongst youth aged between 15-24 years was at 74%. The only solution to this problem is through entrepreneurship and digital transformation. With an understanding of these issues, being equipped with digital skills is crucial in South Africa. The primary mandate of Tshimologong is to empower, educate and upskill the youth to be creative, innovative, competent while contributing to the country’s economy. Some of the important success stories the Precinct has seen over the years is from one of the program beneficiaries, Lesego Vorster. He is currently the Co-founder of Hidden Hands Studios which will be producing an original Disney Plus film to be released in 2022.

Animation student
Image: tshimologong.joburg

The Precinct has been in constant effort to transform youth, entrepreneurs and professionals to grow and thrive in this digital age. “The five years milestone is an ideal amount of time developing a track record of delivering our products and services. Like all initial startups, we tested and tweaked our offering and now have data to support the experience of our interns and entrepreneurs telling us that our methodology works”, says Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

“Our purpose of the Precinct is to develop world-leading digital entrepreneurs, and we have both entrepreneurs and staff turned entrepreneurs who have excelled in doing so. We are proud to be the platform that catapults the success of our community. Now we need to mainstream African excellence around the globe”, Lesley adds.

South Africa and the broader African region has incredible talent. It may take us doing things differently to fully activate its greatest potential. This means being clear about our role in the value chain from investing in emerging talent to procuring from local digital entrepreneurs. Our nation has no shortage of problems, we have an abundance of unsupported skilled problem solvers that are hungry to make a difference and build businesses doing so.

How to setup TikTok for business

Phone with TikTok emblem on screen

What is it that your brand wants to achieve? Is it engagements, brand promotion, or sales? Whatever the case may be, TikTok has the best solution to help achieve these goals.

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has taken the social media landscape to the next level. With over 1 billion active users globally. Users create cool content and interact with each others posts to reach a common goal. Creating fun experiences and showcasing their creative talent through videos. TikTok users are very youthful, energetic, and innovative in content creation.

What is TikTok for business?

TikTok For Business Image
Image: TikTok

Tik Tok for business is a type of account designed specifically for businesses.  On this account, businesses can advertise and sell their products and services while creating cool content… awesome right!

TikTok and other social media platforms

The difference between TikTok and other social media platforms lies heavily in the content shared on the platform. Most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn use images and text to engage with the audience. TikTok on the other hand, uses short and impactful videos. A study by Hub Spot shows that 54% of consumers want to see more video content from businesses or brands that they support.

This study proves that consumers are more likely to engage in content that fascinates them, and Tik Tok is here to make that dream a reality.

Phone open on TikTok
Image: Business Insider

How businesses can do good with TikTok

We all want to be unique and stand out. The most interesting thing about Tik Tok is that it helps brands to stand out from competitors. Isn’t that what every brand desires?

To achieve that, brands need to be on top of their game when creating content. They need to be genuine and straightforward. They need to avoid using the same content throughout and engage with their audience.

Brands need to unleash their creativity and think outside the box. They need to ensure that their marketing strategies are in line with their targeted customers and speak the same language as them. Being creative is the best way to get your brand being discovered by your customers

How to set up a TikTok for business account

tiktok business account
Image: quintly.com

Here are 5 easy steps to start promoting your brand. 

1. Download the TikTok App on your smartphone either on Google Play Store or Apple store and follow instructions. 

2. ‘Clicking’ on Manage Account on the app and select Business Account. 

3 Your Business Account will then be created  

4. Select the category that suits your business. 

5. Start creating awesome content and engaging with your brands’ key targeted customers. It’s that simple. 

Digital is the future of marketing

In today’s world, where almost everything is going digital. Businesses need to take advantage of marketing opportunities through digital platforms like TikTok. Social media platforms present extraordinary marketing opportunities for businesses of all sizes. To create content, promote and sell their services and products, as well as engaging with their customers.

Here is what you can expect from the iPhone 13

iPhone 13

Everyone is talking about the new iPhone 13. The Apple event took place recently and sent social media abuzz. This is not unexpected because everyone has one burning question, to buy or not to buy?

There are a few updates on the new phone and here is what is on offer:

Iphone 13
Image: BizCommunity

Camera

Debates about the iPhone 8 having the best camera in iPhone history is not a rare topic. A lot of people didn’t think the iPhone 12 range compared to the iPhone 8. So, what’s new?

The new Photographic Styles feature personalises the look of images. Both models include Night mode on all cameras. The Wide camera has up to 2.2x improved low-light performance.

The Video option has the Cinematic mode which allows depth-of-field transitions, macro video, time-lapse and Slo-mo, and better low-light performance. All three rear cameras have new sensors and lenses that are powered by an image signal processor in the A15 Bionic chip set.

However, It is yet to be determined f the new camera updates are a big improvement in comparison to the 12 models.

Design

The look hasn’t changed much from the iPhone 12. “The all-new Pro lineup features a premium flat-edge design, crafted with exceptional materials, including the surgical-grade stainless steel band, with an elegant finish that is resistant to abrasion and corrosion, and a textured matte glass back.

They changed new design of the rear camera system has a stainless-steel trim surrounding each lense. The one feature that matters the most is water resistance and the Pro has an IP68 rating for water resistance.

iPhone13
Image: YoMzansi

5G performance

The customised hardware design in the iPhone 13 Pro lineup features more 5G bands, allowing it to work in more places on 5G for greater coverage and performance. By the end of 2021, support for 5G on iPhone will double around the globe, with over 200 carriers worldwide in 60 countries and regions.

Battery life

All-day battery life6 for both Pro models, with iPhone 13 Pro Max offering the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. iPhone 13 Pro will last up to one and a half hours longer in a day than iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max will last up to two and a half hours longer in a day than iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Pricing

The iPhone 13 Pro is expected to be priced R14,400 in South Africa with the iPhone 13 Pro Max at R15,800. However, there is no confirmation on the official pricing yet. The phones will be available from 8 October. Now the big question, is it a pat or a slap on the purchase?

HUAWEI nova 8 and HUAWEI nova Y60 now on sale

HUAWEI NOVA 8

Everyone wants wants a phone that makes them stand out from the crowd. Huawei has two of the best affordable phones coming in hot right. The nova 8 and nova Y60 are the new exciting plug.

The HUAWEI nova 8 and HUAWEI nova Y60 are here with impressive specs of the things you would need for your phone.

Huawei nova 8
HUAWEI NOVA 8

Fast charging power

Forgot to plug the charger? A smartphone that offers a long-lasting battery is important. Fully charged in 35 minutes? Yes, the new HUAWEI nova 8 charges to 100% in 35 minutes. This means you can do multiple thing on your devices in just a few minutes. The battery also charges to 60% in just 15 minutes!

The HUAWEI nova Y60 has two amazing features like the 5000mAh large battery and Hauwei’s power-saving AI Algorithms. These features allow you to use the phone with no worries about the battery dying. The Ultra Power Saving mode makes sure the battery lasts longer even when it’s low.

Picture perfect

For all Instagrammable moments, you need a phone that will give you the clearest pictures. The HUAWEI nova 8 has the best camera features, without breaking the bank. The 64MP high-resolution rear camera that lets you take vividly sharp photos. Night out? HUAWEI nova 8 Super Night Mode makes sure that you still capture your best angles. The Main Camera and Ultra-Wide Angle Camera on the back of the HUAWEI nova 8 work together to enable Dual-View Video, which is perfect for taking group selfies and fun videos.

The HUAWEI nova Y60 has no exception for picture perfect moments, with a solid AI Triple Camera, allowing users to capture clearer photos of everyday moments with ease. The 13MP Main Camera has an f/1.8 large aperture which is essential for great quality pictures.

Stunning aesthetics

The HUAWEI nova 8 comes in a spectacular Blush Gold colour and has a thin and light body that weighs only 169 g.  The HUAWEI nova 8 comes in a Blush Gold colour and only weighs 169 g. The universe-inspired Nebular Camera System sits at the back and has an exquisite glass panel.

On the other hand, the HUAWEI nova Y60 is available in two classic colours – Crush Green and Midnight Black. The 3D design with smooth, rounded edges ensures a comfortable grip and the handy on-screen navigation makes it better.

HUAWEI NOVA Y60
HUAWEI NOVA Y60

Pricing

The HUAWEI nova 8 is on sale on the Huawei Store (Online) for R12 999 which comes with a bundle deal of HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i for R12 999. For R3 099 you can get the HUAWEI nova Y60 and comes with a free Blueetooth headset valued at R699.

Both these smartphones come with a two-year warranty, one-time free screen guard service, free unboxing service at store and 50-days screen insurance. Also available from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and Takealot.