TechCentral

Although Shoprite Group stole a march on many of South Africa’s retailers in on-demand online grocery delivery during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Pick n Pay has a clear plan to make up lost ground and compete aggressively for market share.

Enrico Ferigolli, who co-founded the liquor delivery app Bottles – which was later acquired by Pick n Pay to form the basis of its online shopping push with asap! – joins the TechCentral Show to unpack the journey Pick n Pay is on, and how the e-commerce market is likely to develop in the coming years.

Ferigolli tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about:

* Why and how technology has become fundamental to modern retail;

* The launch of Bottles and what led to the Pick n Pay acquisition;

* The dynamics of on-demand delivery and what it takes to be a successful player;

* How Pick n Pay is working to convince people to try asap! for their grocery needs;

* The role of AI (and AI agents) in future omnichannel retail environments;

How online shopping is likely to change the way Pick n Pay designs its physical stores;

* Pick n Pay’s relationship with Takealot Group, and where that alliance is headed;

* Pick n Pay’s plans to expand into townships and other underserved markets with on-demand deliveries; and

* The threat posed by international e-commerce companies that don’t have a presence in South Africa but which ship goods to local consumers.

It’s a great interview about the future of e-commerce in South Africa – be sure not to miss it! TechCentral

Although Shoprite Group stole a march on many of South Africa’s retailers in on-demand online grocery delivery during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Pick n Pay has a clear plan to make up lost ground and compete aggressively for market share.

Enrico Ferigolli, who co-founded the liquor delivery app Bottles – which was later acquired by Pick n Pay to form the basis of its online shopping push with asap! – joins the TechCentral Show to unpack the journey Pick n Pay is on, and how the e-commerce market is likely to develop in the coming years.

Ferigolli tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about:

* Why and how technology has become fundamental to modern retail;

* The launch of Bottles and what led to the Pick n Pay acquisition;

* The dynamics of on-demand delivery and what it takes to be a successful player;

* How Pick n Pay is working to convince people to try asap! for their grocery needs;

* The role of AI (and AI agents) in future omnichannel retail environments;

How online shopping is likely to change the way Pick n Pay designs its physical stores;

* Pick n Pay’s relationship with Takealot Group, and where that alliance is headed;

* Pick n Pay’s plans to expand into townships and other underserved markets with on-demand deliveries; and

* The threat posed by international e-commerce companies that don’t have a presence in South Africa but which ship goods to local consumers.

It’s a great interview about the future of e-commerce in South Africa – be sure not to miss it!

In this episode of TCS+, Adil El Youssefi, newly appointed CEO of the colocation business at Cassava Technologies and CEO of Africa Data Centres, chats about the challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.

El Youssefi delves into:

• His background prior to being appointed into the role and how it has influenced his career as a technologist;

• His personal connection to the African continent and why growing its digital economy excites him;

• The data traffic boom taking place in Africa and the drivers behind it;

• The industries fuelling the demand for data centre capacity on the continent;

• The infrastructural challenges dampening data centre growth and the different ways they are being surmounted; and

• What the future of data centres looks like in sub-Saharan Africa;

Don’t miss the discussion! TechCentral

In this episode of TCS+, Adil El Youssefi, newly appointed CEO of the colocation business at Cassava Technologies and CEO of Africa Data Centres, chats about the challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.

El Youssefi delves into:

• His background prior to being appointed into the role and how it has influenced his career as a technologist;

• His personal connection to the African continent and why growing its digital economy excites him;

• The data traffic boom taking place in Africa and the drivers behind it;

• The industries fuelling the demand for data centre capacity on the continent;

• The infrastructural challenges dampening data centre growth and the different ways they are being surmounted; and

• What the future of data centres looks like in sub-Saharan Africa;

Don’t miss the discussion!

The Dongfeng Box electric city runabout has landed in South Africa, and Watts & Wheels has taken the vehicle – one of the cheapest electric cars currently on sale in the country – for a test drive.

One of China’s biggest and oldest motoring manufacturers, the state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corporation has identified South Africa as a key export market and, through E Auto Motor, has launched the brand in South Africa – starting with the Dongfeng Box, whose pricing begins at R460 000.

Watts & Wheels hosts William Kelly and Duncan McLeod take the Box for a drive around Johannesburg and share their thoughts on this intriguing and relatively low-cost hatchback designed for urban and city driving.

Also in this final episode of the three-part pilot season of Watts & Wheel, William and Duncan get animated about:

• The state of the EV charging infrastructure market in South Africa – and is it getting overtraded?;

• A new report on EV sales in South Africa over the next five years;

• Chery’s reporting plans to build a car plant in South Africa;

• The challenges at Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s East London production plant, especially in the light of US President Donald Trump’s tariff wars;

• Tesla’s challenge to the like of Waymo – a look at Elon Musk’s determination to win in autonomous ride-hailing services;

• Xiaomi’s beautiful YU7 and how it’s going toe-to-toe with Tesla in China;

• What’s happening at Porsche; and

• Christian Horner’s exit at Red Bull Racing.

Don’t miss this episode. TechCentral

The Dongfeng Box electric city runabout has landed in South Africa, and Watts & Wheels has taken the vehicle – one of the cheapest electric cars currently on sale in the country – for a test drive.

One of China’s biggest and oldest motoring manufacturers, the state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corporation has identified South Africa as a key export market and, through E Auto Motor, has launched the brand in South Africa – starting with the Dongfeng Box, whose pricing begins at R460 000.

Watts & Wheels hosts William Kelly and Duncan McLeod take the Box for a drive around Johannesburg and share their thoughts on this intriguing and relatively low-cost hatchback designed for urban and city driving.

Also in this final episode of the three-part pilot season of Watts & Wheel, William and Duncan get animated about:

• The state of the EV charging infrastructure market in South Africa – and is it getting overtraded?;

• A new report on EV sales in South Africa over the next five years;

• Chery’s reporting plans to build a car plant in South Africa;

• The challenges at Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s East London production plant, especially in the light of US President Donald Trump’s tariff wars;

• Tesla’s challenge to the like of Waymo – a look at Elon Musk’s determination to win in autonomous ride-hailing services;

• Xiaomi’s beautiful YU7 and how it’s going toe-to-toe with Tesla in China;

• What’s happening at Porsche; and

• Christian Horner’s exit at Red Bull Racing.

Don’t miss this episode.

Enviro Automotive has launched the Riddara RD6, South Africa’s first fully electric 4x4 bakkie – and Watts & Wheels has taken it for a test drive.

In episode 2 of Watts & Wheels – the brand-new South Africa motoring show from TechCentral (subscribe on YouTube) – hosts William Kelly and Duncan McLeod throw the Riddara around some corners and chat with Enviro Automotive’s Francois Malan about why the company has introduced the Geely Auto-owned brand in South Africa.

If you miss Ep 1 of Watts & Wheels, catch it here.

Also in this week’s episode of Watts & Wheels:

• Ford’s beastly new Ranger Raptor vs BYD’s Shark 6 sprint to the chequered flag (can you guess which one won?);

• What to expect at SA Auto Week in Gqeberha in October amid immense pressure on the local motor manufacturing industry;

• Why William thinks Ashok Leyland’s new “no-frills” EV truck could prove to be a big hit in South Africa;

• Huawei’s new supercar, the Maextro S800, developed in collaboration with JAC Group, and why we’re excited about it;

• Why Xiaomi’s new SU7 Ultra sportscar should have Porsche and even Rimac concerned; and

• The flying cars are here (well, kind of).

Subscribe to the channel on YouTube and never miss an episode! TechCentral

Enviro Automotive has launched the Riddara RD6, South Africa’s first fully electric 4x4 bakkie – and Watts & Wheels has taken it for a test drive.

In episode 2 of Watts & Wheels – the brand-new South Africa motoring show from TechCentral (subscribe on YouTube) – hosts William Kelly and Duncan McLeod throw the Riddara around some corners and chat with Enviro Automotive’s Francois Malan about why the company has introduced the Geely Auto-owned brand in South Africa.

If you miss Ep 1 of Watts & Wheels, catch it here.

Also in this week’s episode of Watts & Wheels:

• Ford’s beastly new Ranger Raptor vs BYD’s Shark 6 sprint to the chequered flag (can you guess which one won?);

• What to expect at SA Auto Week in Gqeberha in October amid immense pressure on the local motor manufacturing industry;

• Why William thinks Ashok Leyland’s new “no-frills” EV truck could prove to be a big hit in South Africa;

• Huawei’s new supercar, the Maextro S800, developed in collaboration with JAC Group, and why we’re excited about it;

• Why Xiaomi’s new SU7 Ultra sportscar should have Porsche and even Rimac concerned; and

• The flying cars are here (well, kind of).

Subscribe to the channel on YouTube and never miss an episode!

Folding phones are advancing at light speed. For consumers, the appeal is self-evident: on one hand, folding phones give them the option to have a larger, tablet-like interface that offers enhanced productivity and a better user experience. On the other hand, the fit-in-your-pocket design when folded maintains easy portability.

Samsung pioneered the folding phone category in South Africa with the first-generation Galaxy Fold in 2019. The Z Fold series is now in its seventh generation, with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 launched earlier this month.

In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, Zahir Cajee, mobile experience lead for product and commercial services at Samsung South Africa, talks through the design elements and software features in the newest foldables.

Cajee delves into:

• What smartphone manufacturers like Samsung are trying to achieve with foldable phones;

• The market segments Samsung’s Z Fold and Z Flip phones appeal to;

• The latest features in the new Z Fold7 and Z Flip7;

• The Z Fold7’s new 200-megapixel camera;

• Samsung’s thinking behind the introduction of the lower-cost Samsung Flip7 FE;

• The AI features in the new Galaxy Watch8; and

• When the new devices are going to be available and how much they’ll cost.

Don’t miss the discussion. TechCentral

Folding phones are advancing at light speed. For consumers, the appeal is self-evident: on one hand, folding phones give them the option to have a larger, tablet-like interface that offers enhanced productivity and a better user experience. On the other hand, the fit-in-your-pocket design when folded maintains easy portability.

Samsung pioneered the folding phone category in South Africa with the first-generation Galaxy Fold in 2019. The Z Fold series is now in its seventh generation, with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 launched earlier this month.

In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, Zahir Cajee, mobile experience lead for product and commercial services at Samsung South Africa, talks through the design elements and software features in the newest foldables.

Cajee delves into:

• What smartphone manufacturers like Samsung are trying to achieve with foldable phones;

• The market segments Samsung’s Z Fold and Z Flip phones appeal to;

• The latest features in the new Z Fold7 and Z Flip7;

• The Z Fold7’s new 200-megapixel camera;

• Samsung’s thinking behind the introduction of the lower-cost Samsung Flip7 FE;

• The AI features in the new Galaxy Watch8; and

• When the new devices are going to be available and how much they’ll cost.

Don’t miss the discussion.