Fresh from its recognition at the recent KZN Digital Transformation Summit, one of the province’s leading platforms for showcasing digital innovation, Asante Solutions is intensifying its efforts to broaden technology access for small and medium enterprises.
The Durban-based company, led by 27-year-old entrepreneur and digital transformation strategist Muhle Ndwalane, secured second place in the Summit’s Digital Startup Competition in October. The achievement reflects both the growing demand for practical, affordable digital tools and Asante’s expanding role in supporting the province’s evolving technology ecosystem.
Asante received recognition for its Asante PowerCRM platform, which is designed to help SMEs streamline operations, strengthen customer relationships, track sales, automate routine tasks, and improve service delivery.
Developed with emerging enterprises in mind, the platform delivers functionality typically reserved for larger organisations, but at a cost and level of complexity suited to smaller firms. By lowering barriers to digital adoption, Asante PowerCRM hopes to support value chain growth, enhance productivity, and contribute to broader economic resilience.
This year’s Digital Startup Competition drew a strong field of innovators showcasing tools designed to support economic development. Asante PowerCRM stood out for pairing advanced capability with practical, locally grounded solutions. The recognition reflects the growing need for accessible technologies that help small and medium enterprises enhance their competitiveness, expand their market reach, and unlock new opportunities.
The platform’s purpose aligns closely with KwaZulu-Natal’s digital transformation ambitions, as outlined by Premier Thami Ntuli during the summit’s opening.
In his address, Premier Ntuli emphasised that the province’s future lies in embracing secure, future-ready, and trusted digital technologies. He noted that data has become a central driver of economic growth, shaping innovation, job creation, and social progress.
“Digital transformation is not a luxury; it is a developmental necessity that must be rooted in ethics, inclusion, and accountability,” Premier Ntuli said.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ndwalane said the recognition of Asante PowerCRM reinforces the need for digital transformation that benefits businesses across the spectrum. He said South Africa cannot progress towards an inclusive digital economy if advanced technologies remain accessible only to a limited group while many SMEs remain constrained by cost, infrastructure gaps, or inadequate support.
“We have invested a lot of time to make sure Asante PowerCRM is more than just another piece of software. It’s an enabler of business growth for SMMEs, empowering people to do more with technology. In Africa, the real challenge is not access to tools, but ensuring entrepreneurs and their teams are equipped to use them effectively. That’s why we invest as much in partnership, training, and support as we do in the technology itself. We are now integrating AI to make workflows faster and smarter, helping businesses operate with greater insight and consistency, and over time our vision is to expand Asante PowerCRM into a full suite of tools that every business needs to thrive as a truly digital enabled enterprise,” he added.
Ndwalane said that although digital technology has already improved healthcare access, expanded learning opportunities, and created new economic pathways, many communities remain disconnected. High data costs, limited access to devices, and gaps in digital literacy continue to restrict participation in the digital economy, particularly for rural and low-income areas.
“These challenges have a direct impact on SMMEs, which contribute significantly to job creation and economic stability. Without targeted support, many smaller enterprises risk being excluded as artificial intelligence, automation, and other technologies reshape industries at speed,” he says.
These concerns were echoed by delegates throughout the Summit, who highlighted the urgent need to close the digital divide.
Ndwalane believes progress requires coordinated partnerships between government, industry, and innovators. Expanding access to affordable tools, investing in digital training, and strengthening infrastructure were identified as essential steps to ensure SMMEs benefit fully from technological advancements and play an active role in building a more inclusive economy.