ITWeb's upcoming ICT Convergence Conference, being held in Johannesburg on 29 and 30 July, is aimed at IT individuals who want to learn more about the latest developments and emerging technologies, as well as the implications of convergence for South African businesses.
Staying competitive in today's business environment and that of the converged future has become increasingly important. This two-day conference is offering various presentations on the important issues concerning convergence as well as numerous case studies with real-life examples.
Day one's keynote address by Len Pienaar, CEO of FNB Mobile and Transact Solutions, is a case study exploring the history of mobile banking at FNB. Pienaar will look at the evolution of the company's cellphone banking product up to the present using various converged technologies.
Says Pienaar: “Cellphone banking has taken off in Southern Africa and is the way banking will be conducted in Africa going forward. Cellphone technology has become core to any bank's customer strategies.
“Although it will also allow new players into this space, traditional retail banks will utilise it on a large scale to extend services to traditional customers, radically improve its service and offering to marginally banked customers, and continue expanding its footprint into previously unbanked segments.”
There are also concerns surrounding convergence and associated technologies. Head of product management and development at MWEB Business, Herman Jansen van Rensburg, will address these issues. He will discuss the risks associated with running a converged network, explore factors hampering integration, and which emerging threats to look out for.
Jansen van Rensburg will also talk about the long-term benefits of the converged network.
“I'm going to really drill down into what convergence can offer the small and medium business out there. I will not talk about the theoretical stuff, but rather show real examples of the benefits for the smaller players, such as procuring a converged solution from a single supplier who will take away the complexity and make life easier for them,” says Jansen van Rensburg.
The conference aims to help professionals concerned about convergence issues, or those keen on leveraging their businesses through converged technologies, to make important decisions on how to approach a converged environment.
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