Tech
The progression of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) has completely transformed the way consumers engage with businesses. Recent breakthroughs have led to a new generation of Virtual Assistants (VAs) – these could be specific to your bank, telco and even your pizza ordering. As the Australian business landscape becomes increasingly more competitive – particularly as international […]
Cloud computing has been quickly adopted by businesses of all sizes, keen to take advantage of flexibility, elasticity, simplicity and cost savings. Yet, for many small and mid-sized businesses, a range of factors could mean shifting technology components to the cloud may not deliver all the expected benefits. Cloud proponents point to reduced IT complexity […]
Digital technology is driving change in the Australian workforce like never before. And while it’s creating more efficient and effective work environments, it also brings with it some unique challenges. Professions and career models have begun to morph, talent gaps are widening, and finding and retaining good-fit candidates has become more complex for businesses of […]
Facebook’s recent changes aren’t the only hit brands will take this year. Changes in socials and customer behaviour means brand pages will begin to hemorrhage audience members if they don’t start to adapt. The first quarter opens the floodgates for new gym memberships, refreshed wardrobes and of course, the mass clean outs of social media […]
Security is an ever-increasing threat for organisations and individuals and with the introduction of the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme (NDB) on Thursday (22 February), data security is now firmly on the agenda of businesses across Australia. While the scheme applies specifically to Australian businesses that have an annual turnover of more than three million […]
To avoid being disrupted, financial institutions are not just having to be far more experimental, in some cases they are having to cede control of their customers to fintech companies, according to Ian Pollari, the global co-leader of KPMG’s Fintech practice. Speaking at the Financial Services and Technology: Financial Inclusion and Stability conference, held at the University of NSW this […]
There’s no argument about it. Cyber security is tough for small and medium sized businesses. Most SMBs don’t have a dedicated IT staff member, meaning it falls on the owner or manager to be on top of computer security matters. One of the key milestones in cyber security is the upcoming data breach laws in […]
The NSW Government is investing $2 million in a university-led cyber security network, with the aim being to protect the public sector and industry against cyberattacks. Announced by Minister for Finance, Victor Dominello, the NSW Cyber Security Council will bring together leading scientists and engineers from seven of the state’s universities to: harness the expertise […]
The deadline has been known for more than two years, yet many Australian organisations are still woefully unprepared for new data breach regulations that come into effect next month. From Thursday, 22 February, the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme (NDB) will require all organisations that are covered by the Australian Privacy Act to notify individuals whose […]
With just over three weeks until mandatory data breach reporting laws come into effect, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Kate Carnell, has urged small businesses to ensure they are prepared as a matter of urgency. From 22 February, organisations with personal information security obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 will be […]
Every year we see an increasing number of people buying or selling online. In 2016, Australians completed 8.1 billion card transactions, totalling $714.5 billion. By 2020, forecasts project that online shopping will have doubled since 2015 and account for 15 per cent of all retail sales globally. However, as more people shop online, businesses not only […]
More than 2500 years ago, Greek philosopher Heraclitus declared the only constant in life is change. In the early days of 2018, his words have never been more accurate. But why is it that some organisations thrive in this environment while others wither? What’s the secret to success in a constantly evolving world? On the […]
Specialist advisers can now apply for grants from the Federal Government to help small business employers in metropolitan and regional areas take advantage of digital opportunities. As part of its Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) program, the Federal Government will invest up to $18.02million over three years on the provision of low cost, high […]
Facebook’s latest algorithm changes are being called a ‘nightmare’, even ‘apocalyptic’ for businesses and publishers. Yes, the update will make it more difficult for SMEs to reach their target audiences than previously. But we’ve been here before. And businesses will simply have to adapt their social media strategy to remain competitive. Why the changes? The […]
To coincide with the forthcoming local launch of Amazon’s cloud-based, AI-powered voice assistant Alexa, online employment market SEEK has announced a compatible voice-activated job search. According to Amazon, three Alexa-enabled, voice-controlled speakers – the Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Dot – will ship from the company’s local website “beginning early February”, with the devices also […]
Consumers have become increasingly comfortable with providing personal data to brands in order to receive a personalised experience and seamless customer journey. However, recent news that Uber concealed a data breach affecting 57 million users and drivers for a year, demonstrates the rapid mistrust a brand can generate when it doesn’t adequately protect this data, […]
Amazon’s recent Australian launch received a lukewarm reception, with average prices and faster shipping being the only apparent selling points. What you can’t see though is that their competitive advantage is behind-the-scenes of its website. Amazon embraces testing and experimentation, otherwise known as Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO). Amazon succeeds where other online retailers fail because […]
In 2017, we’ve witnessed numerous Customer Experience (CX) failures that have damaged the reputations of some of the largest companies in the world. From long call waiting times after a number of severe outages, to poor customer service ratings, and other critical service failures, there are a number of lessons to be learned if brands […]
Could a robot do your job? It’s a question that a lot of us are asking ourselves at the moment and, in many cases, the answer is probably yes. Well, maybe not right now, but as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, the higher the chances of us finding ourselves redundant in our current roles. […]
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a growing company, you’ll find that certain apps increase organisation improve productivity, and reach customers with less effort. Here are 10 small business apps worth trying. Asana Organize projects all in one streamline place online. Asana is an outstanding productivity app that puts email, spreadsheets, documents, and other essentials all in […]
