Bob Group’s Head of Technology, Cornel Rautenbach, talks about his passion for easy-to-use, captivating and scalable software, the positive impacts of AI, and how constant innovation in technology is enabling Bob Group’s business goals and empowering its customers. 

How do you align Bob Group’s technology strategy with the company’s overall business goals? 

Every quarter, I work closely with Bob Cats across all our projects to define a clear one-pager or roadmap outlining how our features and initiatives support Bob Group’s business objectives. Although we see ourselves as a tech company, our primary goal is to solve real-world business challenges through innovative solutions, and not just to innovate for the sake of it. From a technical perspective, we’ve adopted an API-first approach, utilising modern, distributed technologies that let us move quickly whilst keeping our systems stable. Most of our projects share the same tech stack, which helps our teams collaborate effortlessly across workflows. 

A crucial part of the process is listening to our external and internal customers. This helps us to identify areas where we can improve or enhance our value proposition. By focusing firmly on our customers,  we can direct our efforts towards delivering the greatest value, whether speeding up shipping processes, streamlining payments, or creating more intuitive interfaces. This ongoing cycle of planning, development, evaluation, and improvement ensures that technology continues to serve as a powerful driver of Bob Group’s overarching business strategy.

We also place a strong emphasis on automation and monitoring. Our dedicated DevOps team works hard to keep all our systems running smoothly and has automated many routine tasks. This frees our engineers to concentrate on building and refining rather than getting bogged down in repetitive day-to-day tasks. 

What emerging technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on our industry?

Right now, there’s so much happening in the tech world that it’s hard to pinpoint the most significant trends or shifts. One development that’s definitely at the forefront of most people’s minds is artificial intelligence (AI). AI encompasses everything from personalised customer experiences to predictive insights for logistics routing and demand forecasting and can dramatically accelerate software development. 

Deliveries by drone have also been on our radar for a while, but with a lot of practical and regulatory issues still to be resolved, it may still be some time before their use becomes mainstream. 

Sustainability is of course another major focus area. The increasing popularity of electric vehicles and the growing importance of greener logistics will definitely have a significant effect on our industry’s future evolution.

Lastly, there’s also a growing need to automate the logistics supply chain – think sorting robots and Scanning, Weighting & Dimensioning (SWAD) machines – driven by the desire for lower costs and enhanced efficiency.

What recent advancements has Bob Group made that you’re most excited about?

Bob Pay, our online payments platform, is leading the way in implementing PayShap’s request-to-pay feature. This lets a buyer enter their phone number on a merchant’s website to receive a payment request via their banking app. With a one-tap approval, the payment goes through, thereby significantly streamlining the ecommerce checkout experience.

I’m also excited about Bob Box, our rapidly expanding network of smart pickup and drop-off lockers. By adding more locations and improving our technology, we’re giving online shoppers and merchants greater freedom and convenience. They can now deposit and collect parcels whenever they like, rather than waiting for a courier.

Lastly, Ship Logic, our courier Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, is introducing an Uber-like last-mile delivery feature. Recipients can track the driver’s location in real-time and communicate with them via our web portal, helping to ensure successful and frustration-free delivery.

What are the biggest technological challenges Bob Group is currently facing, and how are you addressing them?

One major challenge is ensuring that our systems have the capacity to handle rapid growth without compromising speed or reliability. As volumes surge, our platforms need to be able to scale smoothly. To address this, we are leveraging a robust cloud infrastructure that lets us quickly provision extra resources as needed. We have also adopted a scale-first mindset in our approach to development and database design. 

Bob Box also presents its own set of exciting hurdles. We’re experimenting with various battery technologies, communication protocols, locker designs, and even business models. These explorations keep us on the cutting edge, inspire our curiosity and motivate our quest for innovation.

Data security is also a top priority. We handle large volumes of sensitive financial details on Bob Pay, personal addresses for Bob Go deliveries, and other confidential information. To safeguard our users, we engage third-party experts for in-depth vulnerability assessments and penetration testing (so-called ‘white hat’ hacking), as well as continuous team training. In addition, we monitor emerging threats and proactively update our defences. Staying nimble in these areas is crucial to delivering a service that both merchants and customers can trust.

What is your secret to building and leading a high-performing tech team?

I believe that lean, capable and motivated teams perform best, especially when given a genuine sense of ownership and autonomy. I also believe in the importance of trust, kindness and transparency throughout the company. When people are given the opportunity to take responsibility, they’re naturally more invested in the outcome.  This approach forces us to make sure we have the right people on the bus: highly talented and passionate people who take pride in their work and who want to see Bob Group succeed. 

Everyone gets to contribute and feel heard through regular one-on-ones, team get-togethers, and design sessions. By pairing the open flow of ideas with mentorship and professional development opportunities, we’re creating an environment where Bob Cats can grow their skills, stay motivated, and deliver awesome results.

What’s the most rewarding part of leading the tech team at Bob Group?

I love seeing how our work directly benefits many people. There’s a certain thrill in knowing you’ve contributed to the moment of excitement when someone receives a parcel. It’s also awesome to see how our solutions are helping businesses of all sizes to grow and succeed in South Africa.

On a personal level, watching our team members grow and flourish is incredibly fulfilling. Whether it’s a developer honing their skills and taking on a lead role, or a support agent moving into a QA role, there’s something truly special about witnessing individual career growth go hand-in-hand with the company’s success. Being part of a team that genuinely cares for one another and is committed to delivering outstanding products is both energising and inspiring.

Can you share an example of how Bob Group’s technology has directly benefited a customer?

It’s hard to pick just one example. From Bob Shop empowering sellers to support their families, to small merchants transforming into highly successful operations using Bob Go, and couriers expanding more rapidly and efficiently thanks to Ship Logic’s tools, we’ve had a hand in countless success stories. That’s part of what makes working at Bob Group so exciting.

What excites you most about the future of technology in our industry?

It might sound a bit clichéd, but AI’s potential is truly limitless. Just a few years ago, it was treated as nothing more than a buzzword, but now we’re seeing real, impactful developments that prove its far-reaching capabilities. AI is driving innovation across every sector, from creating hyper-personalised customer experiences to automating complex processes and reimagining entire industries.

I’m also really excited about how green solutions are becoming both more accessible and more affordable. Personally, I commute using an electric scooter, and I love it. As well as being convenient, it’s empowering to know I can get to work using nothing but the sun’s power. As eco-friendly options become cheaper and more practical, we’ll witness a significant shift towards more sustainable business models in logistics and ecommerce.

What’s one bold prediction you have for the future of technology?

Software developers will shift to “AI orchestration” roles to focus on creativity and solutions rather than the daily grind. Logistics will become highly autonomous with, for example,  self-driving cars conducting deliveries as soon as the legislation allows it. For ecommerce, I predict hyper-local, hyper-personalised shopping experiences like a store that knows you’re stressed (based on a neural link or smartwatch) and offers a calming tea or infusion before you even realise you need it. 

Cornel’s focus on meaningful innovation is resulting in Bob Group bringing new and exciting features to market as the company leverages advances in technology to improve both the user experience and the company’s bottom line. 

Connect with Cornel and continue the conversation here.