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The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging small business owners to prepare themselves for the excessive payment surcharge ban that will apply to all businesses from 1 September 2017. The new law limits the amount that a business can charge customers for use of payment methods such as EFTPOS (debit and prepaid), MasterCard […]
When I decided to start my own accountancy business ten years ago, my ambitions were modest. Like many female entrepreneurs, I felt torn between my intense work commitments and a growing family, and I wanted more control and a more balanced lifestyle. [Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series, by serial entrepreneur Tanya […]
One of the things we need to contend with as game developers is the idea among those outside the industry that what we produce is nothing more than frivolous entertainment. This is quite clearly the implication of the Federal Government policy towards the games industry, where we’re not provided support nor funding on any level, […]
The increased use and application of blockchain technology is set to disrupt companies of all sizes, across all industries, and in almost every area, from payments and transactions to contracts and identity verification. Small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will not be immune to the disruption. Blockchain technology was created to facilitate online payments via a […]
Logistics management platform Shippit has announced its first major investment since closing a $2.2m Series A capital raise in May, with the recruitment of Australian logistics veteran Dominic Culbert as its Head of Logistics. Culbert has over 18 years of experience in ecommerce logistics, and most recently served as the Group Logistics and Delivery Solutions […]
I want to talk to you about why it’s sometimes far more important to reject a potential customer or client than to say ‘yes’. In fact, if you are building a business, get used to saying ‘no’ – a lot. Having started my second cybersecurity company, after the successful sale and globalisation of my first one, […]
In this age of social media and instant communication, customers share their experiences broadly, especially if those experiences are negative. People vote with their feet, taking their business elsewhere based on the comments of friends, peers, and even strangers online. Businesses therefore need to understand that the customer experience is critical to financial success. The […]
In the course of developing technology to generate efficiencies in their own ‘fragmented” sector, the co-CEOs of Scooter Tutor, Cameron Schmidt and Sam Robertson, have been helping organisations from other industries to better manage remote workforces and customer service. Scooter Tutor is a software-driven tutoring organisation that enables the parents of primary and secondary students […]
It’s time to talk about spreadsheets. Or, as one financial modeling company called them, capitalism’s dirty secret. What’s going on between the (spread)sheets to earn the decades-old business application such a sordid reputation? Mistakes. Costly ones. Almost nine in 10 spreadsheets (88%*) contain errors. Yet what do most businesses base their decision making on? Spreadsheets. Consider […]
The only standard that matters any more for leaders is world-class. Only world-class leaders can make their companies world-class and companies without this leadership excellence will inevitably fall short of being world-class themselves. So, how do you become a world-class leader? My company has spent the past two years researching the capabilities, routines and mental […]
Well known ride-sharing app, Uber, has been headlining publications globally as its company policies, CEO and business model are being called into question. Uber’s recent transgressions relating to sexual harassment, discrimination, unprofessionalism, bullying, employment structures and a toxic workplace culture in America challenge many Australian employment laws. The issues at hand allow Australian businesses, small […]
Advertisers that continue to rely on ‘one-dimensional, channel-centric’ metrics risk further eroding consumer confidence in online ads, according to Anthony Capano, managing director of Rakuten Marketing Asia Pacific. The marketing solutions provider undertook a global survey of more than 2500 consumers, including 500 Australians, to gain insights into how digital adverting in perceived. It was […]
Over the last few years, improvements in technology have set the bar higher for events. From event specific technology, such as badges and apps, to AI, robots and VR, new technologies are revolutionising the way businesses conduct events. No longer will an interesting or unique venue be the draw card it once was. Today’s events are […]
Most mornings I buy my coffee from the same beachside café. While I order the same coffee every morning, the waiters never remember my order nor do they show me any hint of recognition. In contrast, in The Strand next to my city office, my local coffee shop greets me by name, brings me my […]
The use of chatbots in mobile messaging will inevitably ‘usurp’ call centres as the norm in customer care but businesses must take care not to overstate the capabilities of their bots, according to Steven Fitzjohn, the regional vice president (APAC) at LivePerson. To better understand attitudes towards the use of chatbots in customer care, the […]
With all of the talk about artificial intelligence either stealing your job or revolutionising your industry, it’s easy to overlook something that can be revolutionary for your small business, right now. I’m talking about Marketing Automation. No, this doesn’t involve machine learning, natural language processing or algorithms. Instead, taking some fairly simple steps to implement […]
With winter well and truly kicking in, it’s that time of the year when people get particularly vigilant about their own health. And there’s always that one person in the office who, upon hearing the hint of a sniffle, finds the culprit and demands they go home immediately to protect the well-being of everyone else. […]
Data is arguably tomorrow’s most valuable resource. It gives us unprecedented access to copious amounts of information and insights, all with the potential to define trends and reshape thinking. It also has the potential to turn every industry on its head by unlocking new efficiencies, new business intelligence, and new ways of working. Unsurprisingly, one […]
It is widely acknowledged that Search Engines are a critical medium for driving website traffic. In fact, 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine such as Google. Despite this, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) continues to be one of the most misunderstood and underutilised online marketing channels. Most businesses miss the mark in […]
Companies that sign-up to the voluntary Australian Supplier Payment Code commit to not only paying small business suppliers within thirty days of receiving a correct invoice but also helping them implement technologies and practices to speed up invoicing. The code is an initiative of the Business Council of Australia (BCA), which believes that it will […]
