By Lindsay Britz, Marketing Manager at Magic South Africa
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a key technology that is already being used in Africa to increase efficiency and productivity. SIM cards are connected to POS terminals in isolated areas to allow for the acceptance of credit card payments in Rwanda, and smart meters are being used to measure household utility usage in Johannesburg. In South Africa mining companies are using sensors to detect methane and rock movement, fuel pipelines have been fitted with sensors to monitor leaks, and the retail sector is using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to track items. Because Africa doesn’t have the same extensive legacy applications and infrastructure as Western countries, African businesses are in a unique position to leapfrog over interim technology and adopt IoT solutions more easily.