Are we prepared for Africa’s next frontier?

But, and I mean no disrespect to the Microsoft Founder, but perhaps his utterance was perhaps slightly simplistic given our current reality and the needs of the modern consumer.

Banking today exists in entirely different forms than when the concept was first birthed centuries ago. The rise of mobile money, fintechs and other more transformative platforms has meant that banking itself now wears a different proverbial cloak – we can transact, plan, budget and save – indeed even more than this – in a multitude of different ways that now accommodate the need for greater inclusion and accessibility, that are mindful of more transitive and mobile needs, and which take cognisance of increasing technological advancements. Today, these advancements range from simulation and augmented reality to big data analytics and the industrial internet of things, and even to new business models, artificial intelligence and horizontal and vertical integration and supply chain intricacies.