We have a strong research focus this week, with Leigh Andrews reporting back on the recent launch of Experian's Mosaic. It's a customer segmentation tool that lets you focus on your specific customers and improve their overall experience of your brand. Speakers at the local launch event included Sarina de Beer, MD at Ask Africa, with wise words on how to bring online efficiency to the offline customer experience. Click here and here for Andrews' feedback. Also making headlines this week is the fact that Mastercard has introduced a biometric shopping card, already piloted in SA, which can be used at any card terminal using EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) technology globally. This is set to revolutionise the current payment process. Lastly, Mark Allix writes from a packaging perspective about concern rising over tougher waste control. Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa is pushing the paper and packaging, electrical and electronic equipment and lighting industries to submit waste management plans to improve the environment. This comes as they face a new packaging tax and a carbon tax. Time to do your bit to ensure that puffing up your bottom line doesn't damage the environment.

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