2024 Cloud and Security Conference — BCX’s Mpho Mothapo on the value of AI-as-a-Service

BCX Cloud Advisory and Consulting Executive Mpho Mothapo recently spoke at the 2024 MyBroadband Cloud and Security Conference, where he discussed the value of AI-as-a-Service.

Mothapo is a respected entrepreneur and executive in the ICT sector, with extensive experience in business strategy and consulting.

He holds an MBA from the GIBS Business School and has served in multiple senior roles during his career — including being Managing Director at Digit Consulting, Seriti SBT, and Mega Gain.

In 2019, Mothapo became the Sales Director for Dotcom Software Solutions, before taking the Cloud Advisory and Consulting Executive position at BCX in 2023.

In this position, Mothapo plays a pivotal role in the evolution of South Africa’s ICT sector.

Conference presentation

At the MyBroadband 2024 Cloud and Security Conference, Mothapo explained what AI-as-a-Service is and why it is a game changer.

“AI-as-a-Service is like renting powerful AI tools from a cloud provider instead of building them yourself,” said Mothapo.

This hugely benefits SMBs, as they can take advantage of the latest AI technologies without having to incur the cost of hiring professionals and building their own solutions.

“This allows even smaller organisations to benefit from advanced AI technologies,” said Mothapo.

BCX case study

Mothapo also revealed that BCX now offers an interesting AI-as-a-Service tool that has transformed its cloud consulting and advisory division.

“We held an Alibaba hackathon, where two students came up with brilliant cloud models,” said Mothapo.

“These models scanned the entire Internet for prices on different cloud solutions, and collated them in a way that could almost replace our entire manual consulting services.”

As a result of this impressive AI model, BCX’s cloud consulting and advisory division can now offer its clients a comprehensive as-a-service tool that generates a custom cloud plan in a few hours.

With the old system, the multi-step consultancy process could take up to three months.

Mothapo believes that innovative AI-as-a-Service tools like this will continue to increase in quantity as innovative minds find new ways to leverage AI as a force for change.

Click here to learn more about BCX’s range of services.