Gadget

AppDate: Alison ups the online learning ante

Alison

Alison, a free-to-use online learning and employment platforms has launched updates to its online learning app. 

Studies reveal that 80% of the world’s learners were being kept out of educational institutions by country-wide closures due to the pandemic. This resulted in a surge in both online and mobile learning. The demand for easy-to-access self-learning and training is higher than ever. 

The improved app offers an easier learning experience between handset and desktop. With 2,000 free courses available on the Alison platform, the improved search function and layout is easy to navigate and will help learners to find the best courses.

The search tool, with autocomplete and autosuggest, allows users to better articulate their search queries to find the best-matched courses available. The app now also supports full-screen video and runs fewer ads.

Alison’s study-and-complete function enrols learners onto the course and allows them to work their way through the course modules. All course certification on Alison is free and happens automatically when a student passes the course test. 

Platform: Android only

Stockists: Download Alison here.

Expect to pay: A free download.

Read more on the next page about Zapper’s new parking management solution, an app for wearables that acts as a panic button, a new way to do stokvels, and South Africa’s newly launched fashion e-tailer.

Zapper’s parking management expansion

Zapper has completed its integration with three new major parking management systems. The move allows users to quickly scan and pay for their parking at a growing network of venues; reducing queues and possible contamination at payment stations. 

In addition to offering contactless payment, Zapper users are able to tap into various loyalty and voucher options. 

Zapper’s 1D barcodes and 2D QR code solutions have already been deployed at Canal Walk, Cape Gate, Melrose Arch, Fourways and Eikestad Mall, with 117 Strand (Cape Town) and Lynwood Bridge (Pretoria) to follow soon.

Platform: Android and iOS

Stockists: Sign up for Zapper here

Expect to pay: Free to use.

Read more on the next page about an app for wearables that acts as a panic button, a new way to do stokvels, and South Africa’s newly launched fashion e-tailer.

ReactPlus

The iStore, in partnership with CAP (Community Active Protection), has launched ReactPlus, a panic button app that has features to help protect users in a variety of potential dangerous situations and request help at the tap of a button, no matter where they are in South Africa. 

After signing up, South Africans can now jog, cycle, train or drive anywhere with more peace of mind knwoing that they have 24/7 access to country-wide armed response. Built for both iPhone and Apple Watch, ReactPlus allows users to activate an alert when their iPhone is not within reach, via Apple Watch Cellular. ReactPlus works independently of an iPhone if one has the watch.

Should one’s iPhone get stolen, users  can still activate an alert on their Apple Watch Cellular and get immediate help from the closest armed response. 

Personal safety features of ReactPlus:

Platform: Most new iPhones running the latest iOS

Stockists ReactPlus can be dowloaded now from the App Store here.

Expect to pay: Free for the first six months after which there is a R39 monthly fee.

Read more on the next page about a new way to do stokvels, and South Africa’s newly launched fashion e-tailer.

Imbewu Stokvest

Current estimates show that there are over 820,000 stokvels in the country, with a combined membership of 11.4-million people, handling over R4-billion per annum. 

South Africa’s latest stokvel offering, Imbewu Stokvest app, is a way of modernising the home-grown, traditional institution of stokvels to meet the demands of consumers in the digital era. The Imbewu Stokvest app offers consumers an opportunity to interact with the status and progress of their savings.

Powered by Kunene Makopo Risk Solutions (KMRS), Imbewu Stokvest is a product that assists clients to reach their goals by making monthly contributions towards their savings. Clients from 18 years up get to manage their administration, monthly payments and claims on the app.

After 24 months, each member receives a payout calculated according to a specific plan. While this is the same principle of any stokvel, the advantage with Imbewu StokVest is that clients have full control of their earnings through the year, as there is no middleman. The offering also comes with a funeral cover that allows clients to open it up to extended family. 

There are three options towards the contribution:

Plan A: R185 with yearly payout of R1,080 

Plan B: R550 with yearly payout of R4,560

Plan C: R1,250 with yearly payout of R11,430

How Imbewu StokVest works:

Member Benefits:

Added Value Product:

Platform: Android and iOS

Stockists: Visit  Imbewu Stokves here.

Expect to pay: A free service

Read more on the next page about South Africa’s newly launched fashion e-tailer.

StyleMode

Newly launched fashion e-tailer StyleMode has partnered with Loot to provide male and female shoppers with a range of clothing brands across, apparel, footwear and accessories.

StyleMode comes with an expert fashion pedigree, having been developed and curated by Shereen Conrad and Nishai Sookdhew, both respected and experienced professionals in the fashion ecommerce world. 

Conrad cut her teeth in high-street fashion before being part of the launch team of two of South Africa’s currently dominant fashion platforms, and will head up the StyleMode fashion squad.  Sookdhew, an award-winning designer, will oversee the design and manufacturing aspects of the private labels – her particular expertise.

StyleMode claims to differentiate itself by also being the first fashion platform in South Africa to launch with its own private label collections: StyleMode the label, Miss Mode, La Mode, and ModeCurve, which will be manufactured in Cape Town, by predominantly women-owned businesses.

Loot will provide the backbone, infrastructure and payment options for the new platform, including direct deposit for those without credit cards or online-activated debit cards.  StyleMode will also utilise Loot’s warehousing and logistics and its marketing expertise. 

Platform: Most devices with an up-to-date Internet browser

Stockists: Visit StyleMode here to get shopping

Expect to pay: Free to use

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