What's Next with Aki Anastasiou

In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Gregory Rood, CEO of Sigfox South Africa, about the powerful but often invisible role Sigfox plays in the Internet of Things ecosystem. As a zero-G network built for ultra-low power, long-range connectivity, Sigfox enables devices to operate for years on battery while collecting and transmitting critical data. From monitoring water levels and tracking assets to managing cold-chain medicine and supporting agriculture, the technology quietly powers thousands of real-world applications across South Africa.

Gregory explains how Sigfox’s nationwide network, recent infrastructure upgrades, and strong channel partner ecosystem are unlocking affordable IoT solutions for businesses of all sizes. The conversation also highlights impactful use cases in rural areas, including medical supply monitoring, wildlife safety, and water management, as well as opportunities for entrepreneurs to build locally relevant solutions. It’s a compelling look at how connected data is driving efficiency, resilience, and innovation across industries.

In this episode, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Andre Nepgen, CEO of Discovery Green, to unpack the rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape in South Africa. Andre explains how Discovery Green procures large-scale wind and solar projects and wheels that clean energy to businesses, helping them reduce costs, lock in long-term price certainty, and lower carbon footprints. With electricity prices historically rising well above inflation, renewable energy is becoming a strategic advantage for companies looking to manage risk and stay competitive.

The discussion covers why early adoption of long-term renewable PPAs is becoming urgent, how trader-led aggregation models are reducing risk compared to traditional one-to-one agreements, and why grid capacity constraints could soon limit access to new projects. They also explore the impact of AI-driven energy demand, shifting market regulations, rising input costs for solar panels, and South Africa’s goal of reaching 40% renewable energy by 2030. If your business spends significantly on electricity, this conversation highlights why now is the time to rethink your energy strategy.

In this episode of What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou is joined by Justin Hume, Samsung South Africa’s Vice President of Mobile Experience, to unpack the launch of the new Galaxy S26 range and what Samsung’s latest AI upgrades mean for everyday users. They explore Samsung’s on-device AI approach, the shift toward agentic AI assistants that work across apps, and the industry-first privacy display on the S26 Ultra designed to protect sensitive information in real time.

Justin also highlights key camera improvements, Knox-powered security, South African availability and pre-order deals, and how the new Galaxy Buds 4 fit into a more intelligent, connected AI lifestyle.

In this episode, we sit down with Aliyah Allie, Executive Head at X, bigly labs by Dis-Chem, to explore how Dis-Chem is transforming from a traditional pharmacy retailer into a fully integrated health authority. Aliyah unpacks the role of Executive Head at X, bigly labs as Dis-Chem’s innovation hub, driving progress across data, digital platforms, automation, and customer-centric design to improve healthcare access and affordability in South Africa.

The discussion dives into the real structural barriers limiting healthcare access, the importance of partnerships between the private sector, government, and fintech, and how technology, data, and AI can be used responsibly without widening inequality. From simplifying customer journeys and modernising loyalty and insurance models to building trust through secure digital experiences, this conversation offers a forward-looking view of preventative, accessible, and human-centred healthcare.

RAM, SSDs, GPUs, CPUs — the tech building blocks behind everything from laptops to media players — are getting harder to source and more expensive by the week. On What’s Next, host Aki Anastasiou is joined by Craig Nowitz (CEO) and Ryan Martyn (Co-founder, Sales & Marketing Director) from Syntech Distribution to unpack what’s really behind the supply crunch — and why it’s not a “COVID-style” blip. They explain how hyperscalers racing to build AI infrastructure are soaking up global capacity, pushing manufacturers toward higher-margin enterprise memory, and triggering sharp price increases that filter straight into South Africa’s consumer and corporate IT budgets.

The conversation also gets practical: what procurement teams should prioritise in 2026, why Windows 11 hardware readiness has become a security issue, and how businesses can adapt by moving faster, planning smarter, and considering alternative hardware choices. If you’re responsible for IT upgrades — or you’re wondering whether to buy now or wait — this episode lays out the market reality and the smartest moves to avoid getting caught out.