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The Road to the Indaba: Arthur Goldstuck on automation, AI and Africa’s industrial readiness

I&C February 2026 News


Arthur Goldstuck.

As Africa’s automation and process control industries accelerate into a new era of digitalisation, the Africa Automation Indaba 2026, taking place on 13 to 14 May 2026 at the Radisson Collection Hotel in Cape Town, is set to become one of the most influential gatherings for Africa’s automation and process control community. Designed as a high-end, by-invitation leadership forum, the Indaba will unite senior decision makers, engineers, plant managers, integrators, OEM leaders, manufacturing directors, technology strategists, government representatives, and investors for two days of strategic dialogue on the future of industrial automation across the continent.

In The Road to the Indaba editorial series, we will highlight each of the keynote speakers and thought leaders who will bring to the event their world-class expertise and unique perspective on Africa’s industrial future.

Few voices are as consistently credible, data-driven and insightful as that of Arthur Goldstuck. To kick off The Road to the Indaba series, we turn the spotlight on one of Africa Automation Indaba 2026’s most anticipated speakers: a thought leader whose research continues to shape how industry understands technology adoption across the continent.

Goldstuck, founder of World Wide Worx, has spent more than two decades analysing Africa’s digital economy, tracking the real pace of technological change across sectors including manufacturing, utilities, mining, logistics, and financial services. His work goes beyond headline trends, offering evidence-based insight into how automation, artificial intelligence and digital platforms are actually being deployed, and into where the gaps, risks and opportunities truly lie.

At the Africa Automation Indaba 2026, he will deliver a keynote titled ‘Automation and AI in Africa: An In-Depth Overview – Understanding the Continent’s Technological Readiness and Investment Landscape’. This session is expected to provide delegates with a grounded assessment of Africa’s automation maturity, examining where AI and advanced automation are already delivering value, which industries are leading adoption, and where investment and skills bottlenecks remain. For automation professionals, system integrators, plant managers and technology providers, this insight is critical to making informed decisions in an environment often dominated by hype rather than hard data.

What makes Goldstuck’s’s contribution particularly valuable is his ability to translate complex research into practical understanding for industry stakeholders. His keynote will help delegates distinguish between emerging potential and current reality, clarifying what is viable now, what requires strategic patience, and where Africa is uniquely positioned to leapfrog legacy systems. In doing so, his session will set a factual foundation for the broader Indaba programme, enabling deeper discussions on policy, ethics, talent development, and industrial execution.

Goldstuck’s participation exemplifies the Africa Automation Indaba’s commitment to relevance, credibility and meaningful engagement. By anchoring the conversation in measurable trends and real-world adoption, his insights ensure that debates around automation and AI are informed, realistic and aligned with Africa’s industrial context.

As The Road to the Indaba continues, his voice serves as a reminder that Africa’s automation journey must be built on understanding, not assumption, and that data-driven insight remains one of the most powerful tools for shaping the continent’s industrial future.

Seats are limited – secure your place at Africa Automation Indaba 2026

Africa Automation Indaba brings together senior industry leaders, policymakers, investors and technology innovators shaping the future of automation across the continent. With a highly curated programme and limited capacity, delegate seats are strictly limited.

At R6500 excl. VAT, your registration gives you access to two days of executive-level insights, strategic networking and future-focused industry dialogue in a premium environment. Demand is already strong and seats are allocated on a first-come basis. Once capacity is reached, registrations will close.

Don’t delay, secure your place now and be part of the conversation shaping Africa’s industrial future.

Click here to register.

For more information contact Hanli Goncalves, RX Africa, +27 82 601 4339, [email protected], www.rxglobal.com


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