Switching heels for gees
In my time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited a few different countries, but I still find the whole process of air travel a tedious one. Typically, it involves lots of waiting and queuing – queuing to check in, queuing for security, queuing for border control, and usually there’s some waiting around before you queue again to get on the plane. And then once you land, there’s another series of queues to navigate. Every time I’ve travelled with my teenage son, who typifies his generation’s demand for instant gratification, he starts formulating ideas of how teleportation would speed the whole travel experience. Undoubtedly, in its current form, air travel is a customer journey that’s ripe for technological disruption.
Online check-in has sped up the process, somewhat, but there are often queues to drop your bags. Security checks are being assisted with technology, but it's still often a laborious process. One aspect that is being addressed globally is the introduction of biometric-controlled e-gates. I’ve found that when they’re available and working, e-gates speed the travel process significantly, allowing passengers to scan their face and passport at an electronic barrier, rather than having to queue for a grumpy border control officer to check everything manually. Unfortunately, South African travellers can expect the manual process to continue for some time to come as Airports Company South Africa this week terminated its contract with biometrics company IDEMIA, after some tender irregularities were highlighted, and a local empowerment partner sidelined. IDEMIA has since come out and said the cancellation is ‘unfortunate’. I’m sure the travellers stood in queues at border control will think of other words to describe the slow process.
Elsewhere this week, there’s been another instalment in the legal drama following the decision by the former (now deputy) comms minister Mondli Gungubele to replace the SITA board. The Supreme Court of Appeal denied an application made by the ministry to appeal the High Court’s decision to reinstate the previous board. The spark to the saga was the board signing off the higher-than-approved salary of former MD Bongani Mabaso. Ironically, Mabaso is now well clear of SITA, and according to LinkedIn, has spent nearly as long in his current role as Group CTO at Altron as he did at SITA.
Our latest episode of ITWeb TV features Telkom's Dr Noxolo Kubheka-Dlamini, chief digital and information officer for the company's consumer and small business unit. She provides insight into how Telkom is using digital channels to improve its customer experience. She also marks the last of our women’s month episodes.
So, as we pack away the pink bunting and champagne flutes at the end of August, we transition into September, or heritage month. With the Boks due to play the All Blacks this weekend and next, and then Argentina twice this month too, I think we will see plenty of green and gold shirts and flag waving to pump the national gees.
Until next time
Adrian Hinchcliffe
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