Graf-in Tech transforming waste management with AI-driven solutions
In a world where digital innovation and environmental accountability are rapidly becoming intertwined, Graf-in Tech stands at the forefront of bridging technology with essential public services. Founded in 2018 by Brendan Fernandez, a passionate innovator and mechanical engineer, Graf-in Tech is a Level 1 B-BBEE artificial intelligence (AI) technology company.
Specialising in custom digital solutions for the mining, manufacturing and government sectors, the company recently gained recognition for its pioneering automated weighbridge software system, OneScale. Graf-in Tech proudly received the award for Overall Best Pitch during the SME Intellectual Property Commercialisation Workshop Pitch competition, underscoring the potential impact of its innovative solutions.
Designed for municipalities, the system automates and digitises the recording of waste transactions, providing accurate billing, enhanced site access control and real-time data for better decision-making. Using AI and automatic number plate recognition cameras, OneScale ensures that vehicle licence plates are accurately read and recorded.
Beyond weighing, OneScale’s AI capabilities control boom gates and traffic lights, ensuring secure and streamlined access to the landfill site. By categorising waste and billing clients accordingly, the system reduces financial losses due to errors or potential fraud, replacing outdated manual entry processes that were both time-consuming and error prone. Pikitup, Johannesburg’s official waste management service, has already begun implementing OneScale across several of its landfill sites, including Marie Louise, Ennerdale, Goudkoppies, and Robinson Deep.
Graf-in Tech’s OneScale innovation has significant benefits for both municipalities and the communities they serve. By eliminating errors and preventing potential fraud in billing processes, OneScale can save millions of rands monthly, creating a more financially sustainable waste management model for cities.
On a social level, the transparency and precision that OneScale provides foster greater trust between municipalities and citizens, improving community relations. With comprehensive reporting capabilities, OneScale also facilitates accurate data submission to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, supporting compliance with environmental regulations and aiding in sustainable waste management. Furthermore, real-time insights into landfill utilisation help municipalities better manage space, contributing to long-term environmental stewardship and accountability.
Reflecting on the journey from idea to award-winning innovation, Brendan Fernandez encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to be deterred by doubts. “Every successful business that exists in the world today started from just an idea, surrounded by tons of uncertainty,” he shared. “Find an important problem that you are passionate about solving, work hard with others to find a viable solution, and then build a business around it. Be sure to do well (profit) by doing good in the world,” he concluded.
