logo
Hayo launches local operations in Botswana, Liberia and Malawi to accelerate digital growth across Africa

Hayo launches local operations in Botswana, Liberia and Malawi to accelerate digital growth across Africa

Zawya6 hours ago
Gaborone, Botswana – Hayo, a global innovator in digital solutions, has expanded its African footprint with new offices in Gaborone (Botswana), Monrovia (Liberia) and Lilongwe (Malawi). The strategic expansion is part of Hayo's continued investment in emerging markets to support local digital economies with digital solutions, telecoms services and on-the-ground expertise.
Hayo's growing in-country presence across Africa is supporting growing demands from hyperscalers, local governments, regulators, enterprises and mobile operators. Its operations in Botswana, Liberia and Malawi will enable faster delivery of local services to support digital adoption, as well as boost capabilities for global businesses looking to scale across some of Africa's most dynamic markets.
'Local presence plays a key role in supporting businesses, enabling digital innovation and having an impact on day-to-day life across African markets. It's the only way to work effectively and closely align with unique dynamics across countries,' said Feraz Ahmed, CEO at Hayo. 'Our offices in Botswana, Liberia and Malawi are not just operational hubs, they're a long-term investment in local people, partnerships and digital progress.'
The contribution of Africa's digital economy to the continent's GDP has increased from 1.1% in 2012 to 4.5% in 2020, and is projected to reach 5.2% by 2025 and 8.5% by 2050. Hayo's move into Botswana, Liberia and Malawi aims to support this growth, create local job opportunities and build stronger partnerships with national stakeholders. Its local offices will support a range of region-specific solutions, spanning GovTech, IoT, voice, messaging, cloud communications and more.
'The future of Africa's digital economy deserves to be built by local talent to serve local needs,' said Sergio Rodrigues, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Product at Hayo. 'By expanding our on-the-ground teams across key markets, we can better support communities, understand local challenges, and work with partners to build a digital ecosystem that makes a real difference to businesses and communities.'
Hayo serves 100+ leading mobile operators with extensive coverage across Africa and the Middle East, as well as connecting customers globally via a growing ecosystem of 500+ partners. The news comes after the recent launch of Hayo's National Mobile Registry (NMR) platform, which supports governments in emerging markets to bring their national mobile ecosystems under control. The solution implements systems that enhance compliance, protect citizens, and unlock sustainable public revenue with a controlled entry process for mobile devices.
About Hayo
Hayo is a global digital service provider that is unlocking the full potential of communications, transformation and innovation in Africa, the Middle East and around the world. It combines networking, technologies, and digital solutions to deliver on-the-ground innovation that has a positive impact on local people's lives. It has extensive coverage across the African continent, as well as over 500 service provider relationships globally. Hayo provides bespoke digital solutions for governments, service providers, mobile operators, enterprises, retailers and regulators, spanning voice, SMS, CPaaS, security, IoT and more.
Hayo: Bringing Innovation to Life
www.hayo.net
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Africa businesses embrace GenAI – but strategy and skills lagging, finds 2025 Roadmap
South Africa businesses embrace GenAI – but strategy and skills lagging, finds 2025 Roadmap

Zawya

time24 minutes ago

  • Zawya

South Africa businesses embrace GenAI – but strategy and skills lagging, finds 2025 Roadmap

South African enterprises are rapidly integrating generative AI (GenAI) into their operations, but most are doing so without formal strategies, dedicated leadership, or the infrastructure required to maximise value and minimise risk. This is the key finding of the newly released South African Generative AI Roadmap 2025, based on a study by World Wide Worx in collaboration with Dell Technologies and Intel. The report, which surveys over 100 mid-sized and large enterprises across industry sectors, shows that GenAI adoption has climbed from 45% of large enterprises in 2024 to 67% in 2025. This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. However, in a rush to adopt the fast-growing technology, there is a need for organisations to take the foundational steps of planning and governance. Doing so will more clearly connect AI to people and processes and help organisations reap genuine, sustaining ROI. 'Many organisations are simply unaware of the gaps they're leaving in their systems,' says Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx and principal analyst of the study. 'The risk goes beyond the technical, and includes reputational, ethical, and operational vulnerability. While the first step of technology adoption is well underway, our survey demonstrates there is room for operational growth.' According to the report's findings, AI adoption has brought clear benefits to the organisations using it: - 86% of GenAI users cite increased competitiveness as a result of using AI tools. - 83% report improved productivity. - 66% see enhanced customer service. Yet, behind these numbers lies an operational gap: - Only 14% of organisations have a formal company-wide GenAI strategy. - Just 13% have implemented governance or ethical frameworks in the form of guardrails for safety, privacy and bias mitigation. - 39% cite high implementation cost as the primary barrier to GenAI adoption. AI maturity requires foundations 'The roadmap aims to help guide stakeholders to fully understand the scope of GenAI, and to build transparent strategies that deliver on its promise without placing enterprises at risk,' says Goldstuck. 'What's most startling is that many companies think using a GenAI tool is the same as having an AI strategy.' As companies race to embed GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT into business functions, most are overlooking deeper transformation through infrastructure, skills and internal capability. Holistic AI infrastructure, combined with people and processes, is critical to scaling AI deployments and clearly connecting them to tangible return on investment. Shadow AI The report raises the alarm about 'shadow AI' – the unsanctioned use of GenAI by employees without oversight. Currently: - 32% of businesses report informal or unregulated GenAI use. - A further 20% report a mix of official and unofficial GenAI use. - 84% say oversight is an important or very important success factor for GenAI deployment. Critical governance measures include clear principles for oversight, accountability, and responsible use. It enables organisations to build trust, reduce risk, and drive long-term value. 'The current use of GenAI is largely taking place in a regulatory and ethical vacuum,' Goldstuck warns. 'The longer this continues, the more harm can be caused, to both businesses and individuals, before these guardrails are in place. 'Without governance, organisations are walking blindfolded into a future shaped by AI. That might be exciting, but it is not sustainable.' The roadmap also identifies two areas of opportunity: - Business and Societal impact: Over 75% of respondents have no measures in place to monitor or reduce the energy use and footprint of GenAI. - Skills development: A massive 87% of businesses have committed to GenAI upskilling or training of employees. The report cautions that South Africa could find itself divided by the ability to use GenAI wisely and scale deployments as the technology matures. Goldstuck says: 'There's a real risk of a GenAI disconnect in South Africa between those who use GenAI deliberately, strategically and ethically, and those who use it blindly or not at all.' About World Wide Worx: World Wide Worx is South Africa's leading independent technology research organisation, focused on delivering evidence-based insights for digital transformation.

Cape Town's $125mln debt relief plan: A lifeline for millions facing financial hardship
Cape Town's $125mln debt relief plan: A lifeline for millions facing financial hardship

Zawya

time24 minutes ago

  • Zawya

Cape Town's $125mln debt relief plan: A lifeline for millions facing financial hardship

The City of Cape Town has approved a substantial R2.2bn debt write-off for qualifying residents in its 2025/26 budget to provide economic relief and improve the metro's financial sustainability. Despite achieving a high annual collection ratio of 97.83% as of 30 June 2025, the City recognises the need to assist residents facing financial hardship. The write-off applies to municipal debts outstanding up to 30 June 2024. Eligible beneficiaries include owners of residential properties valued between R450,000 and R7.5m. Additionally, the relief extends to indigent households with zero property valuation, income-based indigent customers, pensioners, social-grant recipients, and various community-focused institutions such as cemeteries, crematoria, non-profits, animal shelters, facilities for vulnerable groups, local museums, old age homes, public benefit organisations, social housing, and youth development organisations. This initiative aims to ease financial burdens while supporting the city's fiscal health. - Residential properties valued between R450,000 and R2.5m may qualify for a full 100% write-off on arrears older than one year. - Properties valued between R2.5m and R7m can receive up to a 50% reduction on debt older than one year. - Low-cost housing and indigent households earning less than R3,500 per month are eligible for complete debt cancellation. This programme requires owners to commit to a payment arrangement for their current and future accounts. If the payment arrangement is not maintained, the previously written-off debt will be reinstated. Says Siseko Mbandezi, Mayoral Committee Member for Finance at the City of Cape Town: "We have said those with property valued from over R500,000 to up to R2.5m would qualify for a 100% write-off and those with property valued over R2.5m and up to R7m would also qualify for a reduction of up to 50% off of their debts. That on its own shows the commitment to also assist those who are in the middle income households with financial difficulty." All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

Ford South Africa accelerates dealer network growth with $51mln investment
Ford South Africa accelerates dealer network growth with $51mln investment

Zawya

time24 minutes ago

  • Zawya

Ford South Africa accelerates dealer network growth with $51mln investment

Ford's dealer network in South Africa is set to undergo a significant transformation, with partners committing over R900m in upgrades and new projects over the next three years. The investment signals strong confidence in the brand's direction, growth strategy, and relevance in an increasingly competitive automotive landscape. The infrastructure rollout comes at a time when many global automakers are scaling back, yet Ford and its dealer partners are doubling down on customer-focused strategies, updated facilities, and modern service offerings to reinforce its position as a leading volume brand. 'That's not us saying we believe in Ford,' said Neale Hill, president of Ford Motor Company, Africa. 'That's our partners endorsing it – a clear vote of confidence in our direction, our people, and most importantly, our customers.' Dealer projects and infrastructure modernisation Twenty new dealership projects and upgrades are already underway or scheduled for completion this year, contributing to a broader investment pipeline across Ford's Southern African dealer network. The upgrades focus on right-sizing facilities, improving accessibility, enhancing digital readiness, and aligning with global retail design standards. Ford's network spans 118 locations across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Eswatini, and collectively supports over 10,000 direct jobs in South Africa alone. According to Ford, updated dealerships that meet its global retail standards consistently outperform older ones across key customer metrics – supporting both profitability and customer satisfaction. The company says the investment is intended not just to update physical spaces but to align with shifting consumer behaviours, especially as time-conscious, digitally engaged customers expect more streamlined experiences from automotive retailers. Focus on product strength and sales momentum Ford's dealer network plays a pivotal role in delivering the company's growing product line to market. In 2024, the Ranger Double Cab became the first bakkie to win the SA Car of the Year award and remains South Africa's top-selling double cab. The high-performance Ranger Raptor also earned recognition in 2025 as the 'Ultimate Double Cab Bakkie' in the Awards. This product strength has translated into strong local performance: Ford's share of the new vehicle market reached 6.5% in June, up by 0.5 percentage points month-on-month, securing the brand fourth place overall. Ranger sales remain the key driver of this growth – a notable achievement in a market where passenger cars have led most of the recent gains. Evolving the ownership wxperience The dealer investment is supported by a broader push to redefine Ford's customer experience under its Ford Family Promise. The initiative includes tailored finance solutions, aftersales support, and other ownership benefits designed to improve customer satisfaction and retention. 'It's more than a brand initiative – it's a shared commitment between Ford and our dealer partners to put the customer at the centre of everything we do,' said Hill. Ford says this approach is intended to foster long-term loyalty and align with its vision of a premium, globally consistent ownership experience. Outlook: building for the long term Ford South Africa's retail strategy reflects a broader trend toward future-proofing automotive businesses in the face of rising customer expectations and evolving retail formats. 'We are not waiting for the future, we are building it,' Hill concluded. 'With our dealer partners, we're investing where it counts: in people, experience, and the strength of the Ford brand.' All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store