Dotcoza is a very busy man. If you don`t believe that, try doing a simple 30-minute interview with him. He manages to chat in brief bursts in between fielding phone calls and making "notes to self" concerning his Web site content and appointment schedule, but chances are, you`re not getting out of the cyberhouse in a hurry.
The past week has seen the subject of Andersen Consulting`s research into the state of South African e-commerce trying his hand at online banking and still desperately seeking meals online. "There`s just no fast food online," he laments. "If I could find catering [of any kind] or fast food online, I`d be so much happier. All the food sites are on the brink, but they`re just not quite there yet. Yo Sushi`s the closest, but they`ll only cater for corporate functions.
"I haven`t done much online banking myself; the research team has been looking at it quite strongly. The thing is, I don`t really need to do any banking. But I tried to open a current account, and it didn`t go too well.
"Standard Bank`s site doesn`t have the option; ABSA requires a branch code but you can`t find one anywhere on the site. I haven`t heard anything from Nedbank yet.
"The online offerings the banks are making aren`t particularly innovative; it just seems to be an additional conduit for their traditional services. Also, the consumer isn`t really benefiting from online banking. For example, I`m not using a queue at a bank which needs a teller in a branch at a shopping mall; if I`m not using that, why should I be paying for it? I`m very disappointed in online banking."
Being restricted to the cyberhouse doesn`t necessarily mean he doesn`t get to attend social functions. Dotcoza made a virtual appearance at First Tuesday, the monthly gathering of IT professionals that is fast becoming an industry institution. "I wasn`t there for long - things were running a bit late and there were a few technical problems, but there was a lot of interesting feedback."
This week, Dotcoza will set aside his lacklustre forays into online banking to examine SA`s health and well-being Web sites. He`s already purchased the services of a personal trainer and should soon buy himself the long-awaited home exercise machine.
Dotcoza has also added to the growing list of things that are close to impossible to find online: a domestic service, and duvet inners and blankets for the two beds which he bought last week.
Related stories:
Changing the world one Tuesday at a time
Share
