As 2023 winds down, we at 28East want to take a moment to look back at a year marked by growth, innovation, and enduring partnerships. Our journey this year stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, as well as the unwavering support of our valued customers. Together, we've navigated challenges and seized opportunities, reaffirming our position as a Premier Google Cloud Partner and innovator in Location-Based Services.
This look back at 2023 is not just a retrospective but a celebration of progress, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the spirit of 28East.
A Year of Growth and Innovation at 28East
Reflecting on 2023, it's evident that this was a year of significant acceleration and innovation for 28East, marked by expanding our services and strengthening our partnerships. This year reinforced our commitment to excellence in location-based solutions and showcased our agility in adapting to new technologies and market needs.
Upholding Excellence and Expertise
Proudly continuing as a Premier Google Cloud Partner, we've deepened our expertise in the Google Maps Platform and Location-Based Services. This specialisation enables us to offer tailored solutions, enhancing the efficiency and reach of our clients' operations.
Expanding Our Technological Horizon
In 2023, 28East broadened our scope with groundbreaking initiatives and innovative solutions, further solidifying our role as a leader in technology and location-based services. These new ventures enhanced our product offerings and reinforced our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to our clients.
Google Earth Engine Initiative: This year, we embraced the Google Earth Engine initiative, extending our capabilities to the remote sensing industry. This integration allows us to offer product and technical support, previously the domain of academia and NGOs, now extended to commercial use cases.
Google Mobility Initiative: Our portfolio now includes the Google Mobility initiative, bringing us closer to organisations in the Last Mile Fleet and On-Demand Delivery industries. This cutting-edge technology simplifies the development of applications akin to Uber or real-time delivery services.
Cloud Fleet Routing (CFR): With CFR, we've taken a significant step in resolving vehicle routing challenges. This tool assists companies in optimising routes and driver assignments, ensuring efficient and practical logistics management.
Embracing Growth
This year, 28East's Network Feasibility API solution achieved a remarkable feat, now handling over 5 million requests a month and proudly serving more than 60 customers across regions including South Africa, the UK, France, and Kenya. In our commitment to continuously enhance user experiences, we have upgraded our coverage maps and feasibility tools, infusing them with modern aesthetics and improved usability. Additionally, our service range was broadened with the introduction of "Find My Coverage," an innovative application that extends our feasibility-checking capabilities to platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, and Email, thus widening our reach and streamlining the user experience.
Fostering Connections
To strengthen 28East’s community bonds, we successfully hosted customer events in Johannesburg and Cape Town, creating platforms for engagement and networking. Complementing these events, we launched a quarterly customer newsletter to keep our clients well-informed about the latest industry developments and insights. This dual approach of in-person gatherings and regular communications has been instrumental in building and maintaining strong relationships with our clients, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Strengthening Internal Capabilities and Partnerships
In 2023, our partnership with Digicloud grew stronger, enabling us to provide enhanced support to Cloud partners and hundreds of enterprise customers across Southern Africa, especially with Google Maps and Location-Based Services. This collaboration and our team's dedication to excellence are underscored by our impressive accumulation of over 70 sales and technical credentials, including 15 Google Cloud professional certifications. This expertise exemplifies our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of service. It ensures that our team remains equipped with the latest skills and knowledge in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Giving Back to the Community
In addition to our technological endeavours, 28East is committed to giving back to the community. We are currently engaged in an initiative where team members nominate charities for the company to support through donations or dedicating our time. This initiative has seen us involved with several notable organisations, such as
FreeMe Wildlife Clinic, a trauma and rehabilitation centre,
Phyllis Robertson Home for the Disabled,
Harmonie Park - Tuiste vir Bejaardes, and
The Jacaranda Children's Home.
These efforts reflect our dedication to making a positive impact beyond the technological industry, demonstrating our commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
Year-End Bash at Clay Cafe
The year-end festivities at 28East were nothing short of extraordinary, and we couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up the year. We decided to take the celebration to a unique and artistic venue, the Clay Cafe, conveniently located near our offices. Our team members, including those working remotely from different towns and cities, came together to enjoy an afternoon of ceramic painting.
And let's not forget the highlight of the day — our quirky awards! We honoured our incredible team members with titles like "The Early Bird," "The Bug Bounty Hunter," "The Fresh Eyes," and many more. Each award was a testament to the talents and quirks that make our team so special.
Setting Our Sights on 2024
As 2024 approaches, 28East is poised to enhance its support for Internet Service Providers, Online Retailers, and Last Mile Fleet providers, with a keen focus on rolling out innovative products and solutions tailored to meet the unique challenges in these sectors.
Complementing this focus, we're aligning with Google's Sustainability efforts by adopting new Environmental APIs – Solar, Air Quality, and Pollen – to understand better and cater to the specific needs of the South African and African markets. Internally, we're gearing up to celebrate our team's accomplishments with a company lunch featuring surprises and awards, and we continue to cherish the increased face-to-face interactions fostered by our hybrid work model, which has dramatically strengthened our team dynamics.
As we close the pages in 2023 and look forward to an invigorated 2024, 28East remains committed to delivering innovative solutions, fostering strong relationships, and continuously learning to serve our clients better.
If you want to innovate and elevate your business with cutting-edge mapping technology, we're just a message away. Reach out to us, and let's discuss how our expertise can help chart a successful path for your 2024 projects!
留言