28/07/2026
Digitisation projects rarely happen in ideal conditions. We consistently have to navigate real-world constraints, including limited budgets, infrastructure challenges, skills shortages, and complex SCM procurement processes.
To bridge the gap between theoretical standards and practical ex*****on, the Isivivane Solwazi - Digitisation Dialogue Coalition (ISDDC) is hosting an open, interactive online session. This dialogue brings together institutions, technical specialists, and service providers for a grounded conversation about what it actually takes to deliver successful, outsourced digitisation projects on the African continent.
Key Discussion Points:
- How to realistically apply recognised digitisation standards within our local context and infrastructure limits.
- What institutions must have in place before appointing a service provider, from preparing collections to writing effective specifications.
- How to define deliverables, set realistic expectations, and ensure final outputs meet the required quality.
Event Details:
Date: 20 August 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Format: Online Interactive Dialogue via MS Teams
Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/nrFeTU8gZE?origin=lprLink
This is not a formal presentation, but a collaborative discussion aimed at identifying common pitfalls and developing sustainable, fit-for-purpose approaches. Whether you commission, manage, or deliver digitisation projects, we need your practical insights.
Register at the link above and review the pre-preparation questions to bring your experiences to the table.
PRE-PREPARATION FOR THE SESSION
To ensure our discussion is practical and interactive, please review these questions beforehand and bring your experiences, challenges and insights to the session.
For Institutional Members
- What digitisation standards or specifications do you currently use, and what challenges do you face in applying them?
- What has been your biggest challenge when working with external digitisation service providers?
- What do you wish you had known or prepared before starting your last digitisation project?
- What challenges have you experienced when developing RFPs, tenders or project specifications?
- How do you check that digitised material meets your required standards before accepting the final delivery?
For Service Providers & Technical Partners
- What are the most common mistakes or unrealistic expectations you see in institutional digitisation tenders?
- What do institutions often overlook before handing collections over for digitisation?
- What information do you need from institutions to deliver a successful project?
- What should institutions know about quality control and acceptance before production begins?
- What are the biggest practical challenges you face in delivering quality digitisation projects in the region?
Please feel free to share this event with your internal networks.
Should you have any questions or experience difficulties accessing the registration or meeting, please contact:
Reinhardt Hartzenberg
KwaZulu-Natal Archives and Records Service
Email: [email protected]
Kind regards
Isivivane SoLwazi – Digitisation Dialogue Coalition (ISDDC)
KwaZulu-Natal Archives and Records Service
