Tech

US firm acquires SA payroll startup PaySpace

Published

9 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

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

22 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.