tail -f ~/field-notes
Useful before it is impressive.
Clear answers for South African businesses planning software: what it costs, what takes time, where integrations fail, and when a custom system is actually worth building.
The first field-note clusters.
[01]
Ordering systems
Practical guidance on online ordering costs, marketplace commissions, WhatsApp ordering, and owning the customer relationship.
[02]
Operations and automation
How to recognise spreadsheet sprawl, design an admin portal, and move a business-critical process into reliable software.
[03]
Building custom software in South Africa
Scoping, timelines, technology choices, POPIA considerations, integrations, and the questions worth asking before a build starts.
[04]
Business systems and practical AI
Field conversations about operational bottlenecks, responsible AI, local technology capability, and what businesses should improve first.
[published_notes]
Latest field notes.
Beyond spreadsheets: VALO Systems talks business systems and AI on SAUMA HD Radio
In a candid Out The Box interview, Sibusiso Mashita explains how growing businesses can spot broken workflows, use AI responsibly and build technology that solves real South African problems.
Read field note →How much does an online ordering system cost in South Africa?
Planning ranges, cost drivers, ongoing expenses, and the decisions that keep an ordering build inside budget.
Read field note →WhatsApp ordering for small business: when chat stops scaling
Keep the conversation customers like while moving prices, order details, payments, and fulfilment into a system.
Read field note →