Digital Skills Gap Offers Income Path for South African Workers

Thulani Ngwenya has a straightforward observation about where South Africa’s economy is heading: the people who understand digital payments are the ones positioned to earn from that knowledge.

Ngwenya, Managing Director of AltarPOS, describes the current moment as one where practical digital skills translate directly into income for those willing to help bridge the divide. “South Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, but many small businesses are still navigating the transition to digital payments,” he said. “While digital skills are not a solution to unemployment, they can create practical opportunities for people to support businesses while building valuable experience and generating an income.”

The pressure is real. Customers across the country increasingly expect faster, safer, and more convenient ways to pay, even as cash remains widely used. That expectation is pushing small business owners and informal traders to explore digital solutions, but the technology can feel overwhelming without proper guidance. Business owners who might otherwise attempt the transition alone are looking for people who can walk them through it.

That is where the opportunity sits.

One immediate area where digital knowledge creates value is in explaining the basics: how different payment systems work, how they slot into daily operations, and how staff can be trained to handle them competently. For smaller enterprises with limited technical resources, this kind of hands-on support makes a concrete difference. The specific skills involved are learnable. Understanding QR-code payments, payment confirmations, transaction records, and settlement processes gives individuals competencies that employers increasingly value, not just in one business, but across any workplace where technology is becoming central to operations.

Beyond the mechanics lies something less tangible but equally important: confidence. For some business owners, the barrier to digital adoption is psychological rather than technical. A person who can explain payment processes clearly, answer questions patiently, and demystify the technology can shift a business owner’s willingness to change. This matters most for traders and small operators who feel left behind by rapid technological shifts.

Meanwhile, the practical benefits of digital payments give skilled advisors something concrete to point to. Electronic records offer clearer transaction documentation than cash handling alone. Customers move through checkouts faster. Businesses reduce their exposure to cash-related risks. Someone who understands these systems can help owners see how digital payments fit their existing workflows, rather than disrupting them.

Adoption rarely ends once a system is installed. Business owners frequently need ongoing help as they grow familiar with payment notifications, transaction records, and day-to-day procedures. That continuing need creates continuing work for individuals with practical knowledge, and real experience working directly with small businesses.

Ngwenya is direct about what drives this. “As businesses continue to digitise, there is increasing value in people who can help bridge the gap between technology and everyday business operations,” he said. “Digital adoption is not only about technology; it is also about building confidence and ensuring that businesses can use these tools effectively.”

Digital payment skills cannot resolve South Africa’s unemployment challenge on their own. But for individuals willing to develop this knowledge, the informal and small business sectors offer a genuine entry point into the country’s growing digital economy. The open question is how many people will move quickly enough to meet business owners where they are, before those owners find another way through.