Technology
Meta to Test-Run Community Chats on Messenger, Facebook
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In the coming weeks, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, will test-run a new feature known as Community Chats, on its Messenger and Facebook.
The founder of the company, Mr Mark Zuckerberg, confirmed this development in a message, noting that the feature allows users to engage themselves in real-time.
“We will begin testing the ability for people to start Community Chats in Messenger in the coming weeks, allowing people to create a Facebook Group, start chats and audio channels, and invite others to join their new group all within the app.
“We’ll also be expanding Community Chats to even more Facebook Groups,” Mr Zuckerberg announced in the message.
How it works
Admins can choose from several options to help their communities connect. They can start a chat for group members around a specific topic, an event chat for an outing or meetup, a view-only broadcast chat for admins to announce group-wide updates and an admin-only chat to collaborate with admins and moderators.
Admins can also create audio channels so group members can share live commentary or receive real-time support. Participants also have the option to enable video once they’re in the audio channel.
For example, the admin of a Facebook Group for chemistry students could create audio channels for study groups during finals season, and participants can turn on video for live tutoring.
Community Chats are only accessible to members of a group. To learn more about how to use Community Chats, check out the Facebook Community Blog.
Explaining the rationale behind Community Chats, Meta said the feature lets people connect more deeply with communities in real time around the topics they care about in multiple formats, including text, audio and video.
The experience seamlessly blends Messenger and Facebook Groups to allow people to connect when, where and how they want.
Admins can now start a conversation about a topic and get in-the-moment responses instead of waiting for people to comment on a post. And, rather than navigating multiple topics in a single Messenger group chat, the person who creates the Community Chat can organize chats into categories so group members can easily find what’s most interesting to them.
For example, a band’s fan group could have a “Breaking News” category with chats dedicated to new album drops, tour dates and group activities.
“We’re committed to building messaging experiences that help people connect with their communities, friends and families.
“As Community Chats rolls out to more people and groups around the world, we’ll continue exploring new features and capabilities to make it easier to connect with one another,” Mr Zuckerberg stated.
Technology
AI Steers Cyber Week Shopping Cart to $61bn in Sales
Salesforce reports that Cyber Week is expected to drive $311 billion in global sales as consumers eagerly await holiday deals, with the use of AI and agents set to influence up to 19% of those orders.
The Salesforce Shopping Index — which analyses data from 1.5 billion global shoppers, more than 1.5 trillion page views, and hundreds of millions of unique SKUs on the Salesforce Customer 360 platform — showed that since the start of October, digital retailers using generative AI and agents increased their average order value by 7% compared to those without the technology ($117 vs. $109). AI and agents were also responsible for driving 17% of global orders through personalised recommendations, targeted promotions, and smarter customer service.
Retailers using AI-powered agents during this time frame also doubled customer service engagement, addressing complex cases faster as 30% of consumers prefer agents for speedier service.
“Agents have the potential to transform the holiday season by helping retailers provide personalised, timely, and efficient service to shoppers when they need it most,” said Zuko Mdwaba, Salesforce area vice president/Africa executive and South Africa. “There is a wide open opportunity for digital retailers to use AI for personal shopper agents that help consumers find exactly what they’re looking for and continue to make the path to purchase an easy one.”
Salesforce’s Cyber Week 2024 predictions: Reviewing real-time aggregate data stemming from Agentforce, Commerce Cloud, Service Cloud, and Marketing Cloud, Salesforce expects to see four major trends during this year’s most critical shopping week:
AI steers the shopping cart: AI and agents will likely influence 19% of Cyber Week orders, accounting for $61 billion in global sales.
Cyber sales surge: Cyber Week sales are expected to reach $311 billion worldwide, accounting for 23% of all holiday purchases in 2024, and $75 billion in the United States.
Discount rates are expected to be attractive: Average discounts will likely peak at 28% globally and 30% for the U.S., fueling 5% YoY sales growth.
Top discounts rates globally are expected in:
Beauty & Makeup – 38%
Skincare – 33%
General Apparel – 33%
Mobile rules digital checkouts: Mobile orders will make up 70% of sales, driven by better on-the-go experiences in recent years, and presenting a new conversion opportunity with AI agents on mobile messaging apps.
Separately, a recent Salesforce survey found that 45% of global consumers are waiting to make purchases until Cyber Week, beginning November 26, to take advantage of the best deals of the season. This points to an opportunity for retailers to capitalise on shoppers’ excitement and drive more conversions with discounts and agentic customer service experiences.
In addition, the Salesforce Shopping Index’s early holiday findings, captured between Oct. 1 and Nov. 14, showed:
Global sales are growing: Global online sales dipped 1% year-over-year (YoY) during the last seven weeks, but rose 8% YoY in the first week of November, suggesting that consumer interest in holiday shopping is picking up pace.
Highest-growing sales categories:
Makeup (+10% YoY)
Active Footwear (+9% YoY)
General Handbags and Luggage (+8% YoY)
Consumers are interested in AI agents for faster customer service: Since early October, retailers who have invested in AI-powered service agents have seen double the rate of customer service engagement compared to those who have not invested in AI-powered agents.
This growth is an early indicator that agents can take on a higher and more complex case load and adequately serve customer needs.
Customers, meantime, seem open to engaging with agents. A full 30% of consumers said they would work with an AI agent if it meant faster service.
AI and agents augment the shopping experience: While a relatively new technology, major retailers are already employing AI agents to help improve shopping experiences, including:
Brands like Saks are using Agentforce to streamline routine tasks such as order tracking, enabling customer service teams to focus on delivering a highly customized shopping experience that drives conversion.
Nearly one-fifth (24%) of consumers also said they’re already comfortable with AI agents shopping for them.
Discounts and consumer demand are ramping up: Discounts peaked at an average rate of 20% in the first week of November – a 17% YoY increase, indicating that retailers are gearing up for a competitive holiday season.
Online orders have also seen a 4% YoY increase, signaling a positive shift following a year of reduced consumer spending.
Chinese shopping marketplaces entice consumers with low prices: Sixty-seven percent of buyers who use apps like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop reported that they are planning to make holiday purchases on them this season.
The top marketplace option for shoppers is Temu, with 40% of global consumers saying they’ve made between two and five purchases on this marketplace in the last year.
Returns present a challenge and opportunity for retailers: Returns in October and November were 33% higher than the same time frame last year, forcing retailers to take a closer look at their retention strategies and return policies to avoid losses.
Technology
Art of Technology Lagos 6.0 Set to Hold in Lagos December 5
By Adedapo Adesanya
The sixth edition of Art of Technology Lagos (AOT Lagos 6.0), an annual celebration of innovation and technology, has been scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Landmark Event Centre.
This year’s conference will bring together a powerful consortium of partners, including Eko Innovation Centre, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, GDM Group, and The Nest Innovation Park, to create an unmissable experience that will drive conversations on AI and its transformative impact on Lagos and beyond.
According to the organisers, AOT Lagos 6.0 promises an exciting day packed with insightful sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
This year’s theme, AI & the Lagos Digital Economy, will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, Lagos’ digital landscape, and positioning the city as a hub for technological advancement in Africa.
Attendees can look forward to panel discussions, and breakout sessions that will explore topics like data privacy, ethics, AI’s impact on the workforce, and how to leverage AI for social good.
“This 6th edition of AOT Lagos is a testament to our commitment to making Lagos a digital leader in Africa,” said Mr Olatubosun Alake, Honourable Commissioner of Innovation, Science, and Technology. “With the support of our partners and an incredible lineup of speakers, we are excited to explore the limitless possibilities of AI in reshaping our society.”
The event will also feature the launch of the Lagos State Digital Service Platform, a significant step in transforming public service delivery in Lagos.
Other expected highlights will also include high-level discussions featuring top leaders, policymakers, and tech experts sharing insights on AI’s role in transforming Lagos.
There will also be networking opportunities for participants and stakeholders to connect with industry pioneers, investors, and government officials shaping the future of AI in Africa.
Technology
Interpol, Afripol Arrest 1,006 Cybercrime Suspects in Nigeria, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, alongside the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (Afripol) in a joint operation across Nigeria and 18 other African countries have arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks involved in cybercrime.
The efforts tagged Operation Serengeti commenced on September 2 and ended on October 31, 2024. It targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams – all identified as prominent threats in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.
More than 35,000 victims were identified during the operation, with cases linked to nearly $193 million in financial losses worldwide.
Interpol said Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams, where he made at least $300,000 by luring victims through messaging platforms with false promises of cryptocurrency returns.
Information provided by participating countries of ongoing cases with Interpol fed into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports that were produced to ensure actions on the ground were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant actors.
Speaking on the operation, Mr Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said, “From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern.
“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”
Adding his input, Mr Jalel Chelba, Afripol’s Executive Director said: “Through Serengeti, Afripol has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.”
Apart from Nigeria, operations were carried out in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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