Brands need to understand how digital is evolving, so they can continue to serve consumers effectively.

Police services and security clusters should use data analytics to help provide insights on crime trends.

The high rate of economic fraud in SA can be reduced by businesses adopting a holistic, collaborative and technology-based approach.

Artificial intelligence presents enterprises with both an opportunity and a challenge, says Akesh Lalla, country manager, SAS South Africa.

The significant impact analytics has had on a wide variety of market sectors in recent times suggests this is fast becoming one of the key requirements in business planning, regardless of industry.

The Data for Good campaign aims to apply analytics to global challenges, thereby improving lives around the world, says Antionette van Zyl, business solutions manager at SAS SA.

The future we are looking at is one where big data and advanced analytics combine with artificial intelligence, augmented reality and self-learning systems in a city.

Advanced analytics can be used in smart cities to predict and even prevent the occurrence of natural disasters, says Kroshlen Moodley, GM for Public Sector at SAS SA.

Analytics can help municipalities learn more about citizens in order to deliver effective services, says Kroshlen Moodley, GM for Public Sector at SAS SA.

SA's skills crisis is exacerbated by the fact that many graduates are not ready for the workplace: SAS South Africa is addressing this through an internship programme.

SAS South Africa suggests better planning could assist in substantial improvements in water usage, and achieve effective forward planning around power stations.

It has been the catalyst for data science and analytics skills development programmes in South Africa, in the rest of Africa, and even on a global scale, says SAS.