Speed and customer trust are the new differentiators in AI Picture: iStock
Speed has become the ultimate differentiator in today’s AI‑driven world, reshaping how businesses compete and deliver value. With artificial intelligence levelling the playing field, success now hinges on rapid delivery, rethinking ROI, and building strong customer relationships.
Dell Technologies says it is helping South African businesses adapt faster while ensuring compliance with local regulations such as POPIA, the Cybercrimes Act, and FSCA standards.
AI tools
Marc Layne, Sales Director, Dell Technologies South Africa explained that everyone’s going to have access to the same AI tools.
“Everyone’s going to figure out how to use them. Some will be slightly better than others, but generally, the playing field is levelling.”
“In that world, what sets you apart is simple: who gets to market first, and who has the customer relationship,” he said.
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Change
The pace of change is staggering. Tasks that once took years can now be completed in months, compressing development cycles and forcing businesses to rethink return on investment.
“Problems we thought would take two years can now be solved in two months. When the timeline shifts like that, the whole ROI calculation changes,” Layne added.
Speed
Yet speed alone is not enough. South African companies must balance rapid innovation with governance and trust, rooted in frameworks like the King IV report on corporate governance. Customers want innovation, but they remain cautious about the code they adopt.
“They have checks and balances in place for good reason. But in this new world, the rapid level of delivery is going to put pressure on those processes,” the Layne noted.
This tension is shaping the future of digital commerce. Organisations that can deliver quickly while staying close to their customers will be the ones that succeed.
“It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about having the needed answer at the needed time, while moving fast and being trusted,” Layne concluded.
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