Tech

US firm acquires SA payroll startup PaySpace

Published

10 months ago

March 6, 2024

United States-based HR platform, Deel, has announced the acquisition of South African payroll and HR startup, PaySpace, in its bid to expand into the African continent.

PaySpace is one Africa’s largest human resource platforms that provides multi-country payroll and HR functionalities with built-in compliance for organisations of all sizes and industry sectors, operating in 44 countries across the world, and catering to more than 14,000 customers, including multinationals such as Heineken, Coca-Cola Beverages and Puma Sports SA.

On the other hand, Deel is a payroll and compliance provider based in San Francisco, which helps companies simplify every aspect of managing an international workforce, from culture and onboarding, to local payroll, compliance and now, people management.

It owns more than 130 country entities and manages in-house, in-country payroll teams.

These, according to Deel’s co-founder and CEO, Alex Bouaziz, informed the decision for the acquisition of PaySpace which will make “Deel become the first global payroll and Employer of Record (EOR) with its own full-stack payroll engine localised in 50 countries and integrated into its offering.”

“Global payroll is hard to do and critical to get right. As a company, you want assurances you can pay your teams on time, compliantly, anywhere in the world,” said Bouaziz.

“PaySpace’s single-platform payroll expertise and breadth of coverage, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, combined with PayGroup’s presence in APAC, will give Deel customers the reach they need to grow their businesses globally.

“Our long-term vision is to be the most comprehensive payroll system in the world,” Bouaziz added.

Also speaking on the deal, PaySpace Director, Clyde van Wyk, said Deel, like PaySpace, strives to evolve its offering through disruption.

“We set out to modernise the payroll industry, which was burdened by manual processes and stringent legislative and compliance requirements, much like Deel revolutionised global hiring.

“This acquisition brings together leading employment services and payroll technology expertise, delivering a unique and powerful customer offering with unrivaled automation, flexibility and scalability,” he said.

Related Topics:Acquisition Deel Featured HR Payroll PaySpace

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Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation