Telkom subsidiary BCX is looking to leverage the benefits of Industry 4.0 to grow the business.
This was revealed by Jonas Bogoshi, BCX CEO, in an e-mail interview with ITWeb. Bogoshi took the reins at the company in 2018 after being promoted from the post of chief revenue officer.
According to Bogoshi, BCX is introducing several disruptive digital solutions to its product portfolio suite to help organisations with their transformation journeys and solve business problems around workplace experience, software-defined connectivity, IT operations, application modernisation and biometrics.
BCX is a technology company that provides information and communications technology solutions and an integrated portfolio of technology solutions.
Of late, the company has been hit by declining revenue. In its results ending 30 September 2019, BCX’s parent company Telkom said despite the pressure from enterprise customers deferring spend and consuming more products and services for less, IT revenue from BCX was flat compared to the prior year.
BCX, formerly Business Connexion, has taken a different business approach since it was acquired by Telkom in 2015 in a R2.67 billion deal.
The acquisition saw co-founder Isaac Mophatlane leaving the company in 2017.
In 2018, BCX commenced a restructuring process which resulted in the retrenchment of employees.
In its integrated report, Telkom said BCX has gone through a restructuring process with an aim to stabilise the business by arresting the declining financial performance, simplifying the structure to create efficiencies and reducing the organisation’s cost to serve.
“BCX’s modernisation drive to align with the rapidly changing technology landscape, customer experience and service delivery requirements, and together with emerging technologies, are the basis for our technology investments, partnership ecosystem as well as market offerings,” says Bogoshi.
He points out the adoption of agile and DevOps has increased the pace of change across key technologies such as data and analytics, Internet of things, cloud, mobile (specifically 5G), social platforms, additive manufacturing, virtual and augmented reality, cognitive technologies, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
He notes businesses face mounting pressure to innovate and evolve. “As they take on the challenge to embrace digitalisation, enterprises in turn contribute to the economic strength of the country, and ultimately to the upliftment of our citizens.”
For this reason, says Bogoshi, BCX has recognised the integration of vertical and horizontal value chains, digitisation of product and service offerings, and changing business models as key drivers.
“We are living in the age of a revolution – Industry 4.0 presents a historic opportunity for South African business to thrive. Technology has moved beyond being a ‘sector’; rather it is a platform which is so seamlessly embedded in every aspect of our everyday lives.”
He adds that Africa has always been a hotbed for innovation, as last year, professor Mashudu Tshifularo made history as the first to transplant 3D-printed bones for reconstructive middle-ear implants at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
“For businesses to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution, it will require dedication to building an ecosystem that enables effortless innovation. You cannot do this without partnerships, and we believe that a joined-up approach with our current partners, bolstered by new acquisitions, is what is needed to drive true value from a 5G ecosystem.”
According to Bogoshi, 5G promises to be everything to everyone. “It unlocks the promises of the digital revolution across sectors and the business applications are endless.
“While we may not see genome sequencing hit the Eastern Cape, or the mass deployment of nanotechnology in SA’s public healthcare facilities, we can look at practical applications that will undoubtedly make our healthcare systems more efficient.
“Change and revolutions don’t happen overnight, but we know that Industry 4.0 is happening now, and a strong foundation may well see South Africa leapfrog off lessons of the past to become a global leader of the future.”
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