At Novus Group, Mr. Hamman pioneered South Africa's only speech-to-text technology, capable of recognizing all 11 official South African languages. The project began when Mr. Hamman discovered that international speech-to-text software couldn't accurately interpret South African dialects. Recognizing this gap, he leveraged longstanding business partnerships to develop a customized solution, which was successfully launched after 18 months of development. The technology proved remarkably effective, enabling recognition across all of South Africa's official languages. This innovation dramatically increased productivity, allowing a single person to capture 50 times more TV and radio content than previously possible - representing both a technological advancement and significant cost reduction. The software now contains over 200,000 uniquely South African and African words and undergoes continuous development to improve its word error rate (a standard metric for evaluating speech recognition systems).
Peter S.
Founder and Executive Consultant
Media monitoring tools such as Novus are incredibly crucial to my work and career as a Senior PR professional. Gone are the days when PR just used to be about sending out media releases and hoping for the best. These days, the focus is on creating measurable impact. However, with much more content around, that is easier said than done. Novus helps us quantify our efforts to clients while providing insights on how best to drive current and future strategies.
Joe said it best when he mentioned that while PR practitioners continue to navigate the world of reputation management for clients, improving our own stature as professionals in the comms space requires a combination of tools such as Novus, continuous learning, and adaptive strategies.
Thabiso L
Senior PR Consultant
I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend Joe Hamman as a service provider within the field of media monitoring and analysis.
Over the past five years, I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Joe in his capacity as the founder and director of Novus Group. During this time, I have consistently found him to be a person of unwavering integrity, exceptional competence, and remarkable dedication.
In my professional interactions with Joe, he has demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence that sets him apart. He approaches every task with a high level of responsibility and a responsiveness that is both impressive and reassuring. His ability to juggle multiple responsibilities while consistently delivering high-quality results speaks volumes about his capabilities and drive.
Carli C.
Executive: Corporate Communications & Media Relations
As Chief Communications & Reputation Officer in Group Strategy, Sustainability, People, and Public Affairs at one of the oldest and biggest financial services providers in South Africa, I am writing to provide my professional recommendation for Mr. Joe Hamman.
In my senior communications role, I have had the opportunity to work directly with Novus Group and witness Mr. Hamman's exceptional leadership in the media monitoring and analysis industry.
From a communications professional's perspective, I can attest that Mr. Hamman has revolutionized the way organizations approach media monitoring in South Africa and beyond. Under his leadership, Novus Group has developed sophisticated solutions that have become essential tools for strategic communication and reputation management across various sectors.
What particularly impresses me is how Mr. Hamman has grown Novus Group from a start-up to an industry leader employing over 95 professionals. The company's ability to serve hundreds of clients across Africa and globally speaks to his extraordinary entrepreneurial capabilities. His membership in the Forbes Business Council and recognition as a finalist in the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition further validate his standing in the international business community.
Wendy T.
Chief Communications & Reputation Officer
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