• Jesper Schleimann, AI Officer, EMEA at ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄
• Jhani Coetzee, EPI-USE Labs

Together, they unpack what AI really means for organisations today β€” moving beyond the hype to focus on practical use cases, real impact, and business value.

In this episode, you’ll gain insight into:

• How AI is being embedded into ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ environments
• The shift from experimentation to execution
• Where organisations are seeing real value from AI
• What to consider as you start or scale your AI journey

Click below to watch!

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The post AFSUG Conversation Starters – AI in Action appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

The divide between the digital skills young people possess and the needs of employers is a big challenge and contributes to a high youth unemployment rate, particularly in the Global South. The ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ initiative is set up as a digital pathway through Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a public-private-youth ecosystem from UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. The program aims to address this challenge and enable young people’s skills for a digital economy.

Nearly 90 percent of the 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world today, are in low-and middle-income countries. An estimated 22 percent do not have jobs and are not in education or training.

Globally, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Edmond Shange is one of the many young people who have faced difficulties navigating the employment market right out of high school. β€œIn South Africa there’s not a lot of opportunities when it comes to the employment sector,” the 27-year-old shared.

Making copies of a CV or resume and going to a potential employer to drop them off costs money, something in very short supply among South Africa’s unemployed youth. Despite this, Shange says that as many as 300 young people often queue up to drop off their CVs at a potential employer. β€œI faced a lot of challenges trying to apply for jobs,” he said. β€œIt’s very tough for young people like me.”

Shange is not alone. β€œIn Africa over 70 percent of the population are young people and another 4 million join the job market every single year competing for less than half a million new jobs,” said Nadi Albino, deputy director at UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited.

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Youth unemployment and the lack of digital skills are a global problem, though it’s particularly acute among those who live in the Global South. While the fast-changing global economy demands increasingly specialized expertise, many young people are not learning the skills they need to get these jobs.

The search for virtual upskilling to improve his digital skills led Shange to the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a public-private-youth ecosystem supported by UNICEF’s Generational Unlimited, which offers opportunities for young people to learn, earn, and create impact. On his pathway to employment, Shange was introduced to ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ, an initiative delivered to YOMA through the implementing partner Umuzi. The curriculum for ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ involves 700 hours of targeted training focused on building soft skills and technical expertise.

After completing the course, Shange feels much more confident with his skills. As a result, he has recently secured an internship as a software developer at a startup gaming company based at Wits University Tshimologong Precinct.

Whether young people are educated, trained, or employed has significant implications for their overall well-being and ability to promote future economic growth, development, and sociopolitical stability. Unfortunately, most traditional education systems do not address the emerging youth digital skills gap.

This realization was one of the driving forces behind the creation of ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ.

β€œΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ was created to support young people who are neither in education nor employment, providing them with training, certification, and guidance to access roles within the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ ecosystem,” explained Eugene Ho who leads ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄β€™s global CSR flagship skilling programs targeted at youths in need. β€œThrough its tailored curriculum, the initiative has successfully helped candidates with only high-school qualifications.”

β€œThe ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ initiative provides young people with the tools, skills, and resources that they need to get employed or to employ,” Albino added in an interview with ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄. β€œWe have to go back to making sure that these education systems work and that they work in tandem with where the world is going.”

To meet industry needs, ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ curricula has been designed for three critical roles within the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ ecosystem: consultant associate, developer associate, and support associate. The curriculum taps into educational content from industry-leading organizations such as Coursera, Accenture, EY, and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Learning.

ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ CEO Christian Klein is the chair of the Generation Unlimited Board.

β€œThe YOMA online platform alone has had over 600,000 registrations,” Albino confirmed. β€œA measure of success is how the ecosystem has enabled over 5 million opportunities to learn, earn, and create impact worldwide in the past two years. We are now beginning to see young people getting into jobs.”

Shange’s journey with YOMA and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Educate to Employ started in the living room of his grandmother’s house, a place where community has always taken center stage. β€œI look up to my grandmother; she has done a lot for the community,” he said. β€œI hope that I could do the same β€” help people in the tech field create more jobs for people that are in need and just be creative.”

A permanent full-time job would enable Shange to feed and look after his family, and to continue helping others in his community the same way he was helped. In his community, Shange says he is seen as something of a role model.

β€œI want young people to know that it’s possible [to get a job],” he said. β€œKeep applying and also don’t lose hope when you see something’s not working. Some things do take time, so give it your best and make sure that you see it through.”

Today, ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ extended its founding partnership with Generation Unlimited for four more years, 2026-2029, with a commitment of US$2 million.

This article first appeared on the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ News Center.

The post How ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ and UNICEF Help Tackle Global Youth Unemployment appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

In this episode, we unpack the role of ERP systems and smallholder farmers in global agricultural supply chains β€” and how technology can bridge the gap between sustainability and productivity.

Hosted by:
Guests: – Solution Manager Agribusiness, ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ and Carsten Friedland – Product Manager Agribusiness, MSG Global

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The post AFSUG Conversation Starters Episode 8 appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

Gibbs is the Chief Executive Officer at the African ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ User Group (AFSUG) and boasts 28 years of industry experience.

In her current role, which she has held for three years, Gibbs oversees a network of ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ customers and partners and helps them realise the full benefits of their ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Investments while shaping the future of ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ software development.

Gibbs is a ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ User Group Executive Network (SUGEN) member, a global platform for dialogue and collaboration between ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ users and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄.

Mathebula is the Chairman at AFSUG and is an industry expert with over 25 years of experience.

Across this quarter century, he has held multiple key roles that have given him the knowledge and skills to execute the duties of his current position.

These roles include:

• CIO at Trident Steel Africa
• Strategic Advisor to AnalyticsX
• Independent Audit and Risk Committee member for the Commission for Gender Equality
• Independent Non-Executive Director at Armscor
• Head of IT – Business Applications and Solutions Lead for Saint-Gobain Africa
• ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ SD Business Analyst for RCL Floods

Mathebula holds an MBA in Corporate Finance and Strategic Information Systems from Alba Graduate Business School, as well as a BCom and BCom Honours from Rhodes University.

The interview

In this What’s Next interview, Mathebula explains what AFSUG is, noting its importance in the current ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ market, and Gibbs outlines the organisation’s goals and vision for the future.

She then unpacks the upcoming ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄HILA 2025 event, an IT conference for key decision-makers and professionals in the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ ecosystem.

Mathebula reveals which individuals outside the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ industry should attend ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄HILA 2025, and Gibbs explains how interested parties can register for the event.

They conclude the interview by sharing their message for anyone who has never attended a ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄HILA event.

Watch the interview with Amanda Gibbs and Duke Mathebula below.

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The post What’s Next β€” AFSUG’s Amanda Gibbs and Duke Mathebula unpack ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄HILA 2025 appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

Episode 07 of AFSUG Conversation Starters is live!
Join as she chats with , Business Development Chief Expert at ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄, about β€œAdoption Catalyst – Unlocking the Shift to Cloud”.

Whether you’re navigating your cloud transformation journey or looking for inspiration to get started, this episode dives into the key strategies, mindset shifts, and best practices driving successful cloud adoption.

Hosted by the , this conversation is a must-listen for anyone in the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ ecosystem looking to embrace the future of innovation.

Tune in now and be part of the shift:

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The post Conversation Starters l Adoption Catalyst – Unlocking the Shift to Cloud appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

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Discover how programmes like the Data Analytics for Student Success (DASS) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) bring together academia and corporates to collaborate on real-life student learning projects. ⁠ | ⁠ Μύ

Follow Aveena Mothilall Μύ LinkedIn – ⁠ Μύ

Follow Louise Steenekamp: LinkedIn – ⁠ ΜύΜύ Μύ

Sponsored By: AFSUG – ⁠ ONE VOICE Unifying Africa’s ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Community for a Digital Future

The post Conversation Starters. | Charting the Course for Digital Transformation and Youth Empowerment appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

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Topics covered in this interview:

The post How ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ is Driving Digital Transformation, Supporting SMMEs appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

Jappie is the ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Retail Capability Lead for Accenture Africa and is a seasoned IT executive with over 20 years of experience.

He excels at building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and stakeholders and has worked with retailers across South Africa, the UK, and Europe.

In each of these markets, Jappie has been involved in large and impactful ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ transformation projects.

He holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management from the University of Cape Town and a National Diploma in Marketing from Nelson Mandela University.

The interview

In this What’s Next interview, Jappie explains why retailers must move to a cloud ERP system β€” focusing on as an example.

He then outlines how Accenture helps its clients overcome their biggest operational challenges when transitioning to S/4HANA, while ensuring they make the installation as cost-efficient as possible.

Jappie shares the recent innovations he’s seen in the retail ERP space, too, and explains how these new technologies help retailers stay a step ahead of their competitors.

He concludes the interview by unpacking the trends he expects to emerge in the ERP cloud industry.

Watch the full interview with Aadil Jappie below.

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The post What’s Next β€” Accenture’s Aadil Jappie Explains why Retailers Need to Adopt a Cloud ERP System appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

They discuss digital transformation, the evolving role of CIOs, skills development in IT, and Engen’s successful ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ implementation. The conversation also highlights women in tech leadership, the future of work with a focus on diversity, and the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Key takeaways include the need for mentorship, support for women in tech, and the potential of hybrid working models.

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The post Conversation Starters | Charting the Course for Digital Transformation and Youth Empowerment appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.

To discuss this, and what’s holding South African organisations back from cloud modernisation projects, TechCentral was joined on the TCS+ business technology show by executives from NTT Data (formerly Dimension Data) and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄: NTT Data Middle East and Africa head of enterprise applications and cloud Brent Flint and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa head of partner ecosystem (MEA South) Nazia Pillay.

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Reasons for slow uptake, Flint and Pillay explained, include a perception that the costs involved are exceptionally high and the dire shortage of the right IT skills to handle these types of projects.

• In this episode of TCS+, Pillay and Flint unpack:
  β€’ The history of the relationship between ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ and NTT Data and how the two companies work together today;
  β€’ Why there is a pressing need for companies to modernise their ERP systems and move to cloud-based solutions;
  β€’ The benefits of and costs associated with moving to ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ S4/HANA Cloud – what the software offers that legacy ERP systems can’t, and the benefits organisations can expect when migrating;
  β€’ How best to deal with the critical IT skills shortage in South Africa, especially around these types of business application modernisation projects;β€’ The risks associated with business application modernisation and how NTT Data and ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ help their clients address those risks upfront and during project implementation;
  β€’ The role ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ S/4 HANA Cloud can play in modernising enterprise IT infrastructure and help organisations stay competitive;
  β€’ The best practices companies should be aware of in achieving a successful migration to S4/HANA Cloud; and
  β€’ What’s coming next from S4/HANA Cloud that companies should get excited about.
  If you’re in any way involved in enterprise IT, you don’t want to miss this discussion.

The post Moving to ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ S/4 HANA Cloud? What You Need to Know appeared first on ΒιΆΉΤ­΄΄ Africa News Center.