The constant evolution of technology means the pace of change is more relentless than ever. Keep one eye focused on the future, with regular content exploring fresh business ideas and the latest technology trends across Australia.
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Effective market research is vital to running a successful business, but how exactly do you ensure that the information you're getting is valid? Consumer research professionals...
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Getting ready for the nbn™ network is simpler than you might think. Test your knowledge and learn more about what to expect with the Smarter Business™ nbn quiz. The nbn network...
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Here’s your go-to resource to understand tricky tech jargon. With new technology comes new terminology. So many acronyms and jargon words are created on the internet all the time, which can be difficult to keep up with. So to decode the terminology, we’ve created a glossary of terms. From AdWords to VPS, from Machine Learning to Artificial Intel...
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It’s possible to create your own viral story, here are the core ingredients you’ll need to do it. When a story or a picture goes viral, it can be a wonderful marketing tool if ...
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Instagram has evolved well beyond still images. We look at video-sharing: what does it mean for your business and how can you use it. Grab a cuppa and take in some of the best ...
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Running a jobs-driven business with a mobile workforce? It’s a challenge, but smartphone app technology trends are making it much easier. Field service, mobile sales and consu...
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Hotels have been around for centuries, but the hospitality and accommodation sector has certainly embraced the digital age by using the latest technology to improve operations....
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5G networks across the globe are set to change the very nature of wireless connectivity, with predictions suggesting they could have the same impact as the introduction of mobi...
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Cyber security is a hot topic across the business world. Whether your business is big, small, or somewhere in between, data protection is now essential for you to gain and main...
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In an increasingly connected world small businesses need to embrace technologies and tools that can make them stand out from their rivals, according to a Telstra Business Award...
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Since computers were invented, we've given them information and told them what to do. What if they could decide what to do with the data themselves and become smarter in the ba...
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of Ian Aitken's tech startup, SofiHub. He believes businesses should stop trying to understand it and instead focus on how they can...
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It’s 2020 and network engineers are no longer just IT nerds. Sure, they need technology skills, but their problem-solving ability and sense of empathy are just as important to ...
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Welcome to In the Loop, our monthly snapshot of Telstra’s research into the state of small business in Australia. Small businesses may be underestimating how much mobile tech...
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The microbusiness boom is a 21st-century phenomenon. These days, thanks to the power and accessibility of technology, almost anyone can start up a business – and a huge number ...
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The increasing complexity of IT systems has been outed as the biggest challenge for Australian small businesses in 2017. Welcome to In the Loop, our monthly snapshot of Telstra...
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What do a vegan dairy and real estate styling business have in common? They used new tech platforms to help fund their growth, without a bank manager in sight. For Jules Dono...
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It’s 2020 and the demands of clients and ever-growing use of smart technologies have changed the way construction managers operate, for the better. Off to work … Fresh from...
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Hot-desking is still a thing, but the secret to making it work is to look beyond mere desks and realise it's not about moving, swapping or removing furniture, it's about workin...
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In today’s growingly digital-centric society, it would be hard to find anyone who would argue against the idea that the internet ‑ and the devices it connects ‑ have become cen...
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Customers increasingly expect an omnichannel experience. But what does that actually mean and how might it differ from a multichannel retail strategy? “You say multichannel, I ...
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“Since the ancient Greeks, every generation has said that the pace of change has never been so fast. They’ve always been right but I think this time it is especially true.” Tec...
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Michela Ledwidge and Stuart Ridley take a deep dive with Nasir Ahsan and Masood Naqshbandi of Abyss Solutions into the world of underwater autonomous drones revolutionising map...
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Welcome to the world beyond 2020: Where smart houses know exactly what temperature will keep us comfortable and the fridge can automatically remind you or your retailer to repl...
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Connected devices are fundamentally changing the way healthcare and retail operations are using technology. And it’s not going to slow down. The Internet of Things (IoT) is as ...
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Welcome to In the Loop, our monthly snapshot of Telstra’s research into the state of small business in Australia. Ever been frustrated at not being able to find a business onli...
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The big principle of the nbn™ is to give everyone in our nation fast, reliable internet access. It’s a simple idea with a lot of future-proofing potential for your business and...
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Thanks to VR, visitors can spend minutes rather than seconds on sites, and the more time they spend, the longer you have to convert interest to a sale. Joseph Wall of Wow 360 V...
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From 3D printing to robot bricklayers, we take a look at what the future could look like in the manufacturing, retail and construction industries. Sixty-five per cent of childr...
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With rapidly changing technology and big bets being placed by companies like Google, Facebook and eBay, Virtual Reality (VR) is about to have its moment. So who is using it wel...
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We round up the best up-and-coming technologies from The Consumer Electronics Show, and look at how these revolutionary ideas can be applied directly to your business. The Cons...
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Technology is the key to staff training that can help make this year the education year. So stop looking for the best talent and start growing it, says Jeff Haden. Your employe...
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The on-demand economy is turning the world into the consumer’s oyster. So how can your business benefit? Things work differently in New York. In New York, you walk faster, and ...
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Automation and technology is disrupting businesses across Australia, with finance predicted to be among the most affected. So should accountants be worried? As an accountant, I...
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Signing on the dotted line doesn’t need to slow down your workflow with a suite of new apps. Whether you are looking to put on new staff, or add a new supplier to your lists, c...
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Builders and project managers operate in one of the most competitive industries in Australia. And this competition means a bottom-line approach to management is no longer enoug...
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The idea of a paperless office has been on the cards for the world since 1975. It’s 2015. What’s happened? Back in the 70s, innovative thinkers imagined a future where paper wa...
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The healthcare sector is seeing significant challenges. But with great challenges comes great opportunity to evolve.
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For finance, accounting and other professional services, technology has fundamentally shifted operations. What used to be primarily functional is now about much, much more. Whe...
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When it comes to the finance industry, protecting data isn’t optional – but many businesses aren’t prepared for the risk.
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A recent report from Sensis looking at the state of online business in Australia has shown connectivity is more important than ever.
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The hipster trend is on the decline, but now we have another on our hands. It’s time to meet your new customers. First we had yuppies. Then post-GFC it was all about muppies (m...
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HR can be one of the most complicated areas for small business including strict regulations and legal obligations. But tech is helping simplify the process. There are plenty of...
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Regulatory requirements put onto the big four and Macquarie Group mean big changes for the financial sector. The big issue affecting the finance industry over the next three mo...
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Leon Gettler says tech, the dollar and changes to GST are the big things for Aussie business to watch out for in the coming months. The biggest trend to watch out for in small ...
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Facebook IQ could change how Aussie businesses market themselves online. What happens when you take the world’s largest social network and a world-class group of researchers, d...
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Manufacturing has had a challenging few years, but great challenges have led to a leaner and more efficient industry. Activity across the Australian manufacturing sector fell s...
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Figures show that retailers could be in for a rocky ride for the next six months. But being adaptive and online can help manage a difficult period. In the months ahead, retaile...
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Rather than just track your own performance, you can chart Google searches for your business alongside searches for your competitors – offering a snapshot of how you're faring ...
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The Land Of Sweeping Change report released by Telstra on trends in the Machine to Machine (M2M) sector shows varied uptake and interest, but the sector shows great promise. Th...
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The construction industry has been going through healthy growth but there are doubts from some analysts whether it can be sustained. We look at what the future holds for constr...
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The Aussie economy can have a huge difference to how small businesses run. Leon Gettler looks at what it holds for the first quarter of the new financial year. The most recent ...
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In a series of six research reports, Telstra Smarter Business™ explores the trends affecting Retail, professional services, construction, healthcare, finance and manufacturing.
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Much has been made of Bitcoin – an anonymous, unregulated currency. But is it worth the time and investment? Maybe all you know about a Bitcoin is that it represents yet anothe...
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Pop-up restaurants aren’t just creating heat in these portable kitchens, but in the business world, too. Food vans are all the rage. Restaurant owners looking for new ways to b...
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As we offload more of the storage of information to technology, might we humans be losing the art of remembering? Find out about the repercussions of ‘outsourced memory’ and le...
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Beacon technology promises to turn the shopping experience on its head – or at least that’s what Retailers hope.
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If you want to understand your customers, pick up a good book and get lost in its characters. Discover what prolific writer and psychologist Hugh Mackay thinks about the insigh...
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From 3D printing to reality computing, here are four tech trends set to take off in 2015. Find out how they could help improve business efficiency.
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Recent falls in the value of the Australian dollar are placing upward pressure on costs for local businesses.
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Remember when BlackBerry was the king of the smartphones? Times have changed since then but the Canadian manufacturer is hoping to gain some of its former business-friendly moj...
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Films and books dream big – what was once just imaginings on the page or screen can become everyday technology. Being open to ideas could be the next start-up goldmine. Here we...
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Beacons, small bluetooth gadgets that can communicate with smartphones, are one of the hottest technologies on trial in the Retail industry.
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On average, a mobile phone user checks their handset a staggering 150 times a day. With a smartwatch, you can stay on top of your day by simply glancing at your wrist while you...
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In the next few years, everything from trains to shoes will connect to the internet. Things will have built-in sensors that will transfer data over the network, and the informa...
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2014 was a pivotal year for many mobile technologies – 2015 will extend the gains.
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Straight from CES 2015, the biggest consumer electronics conference in the world, Krishan Sharma rounds up the business gadgets that help you cut down on business administratio...
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This year will be all about data and what it can do. Read on to discover how these tech trends will change the way you run your business.
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There’s been more than a few “light bulb moments” in the innovation of new technology avenues for small businesses. Here are six trends primed to deliver success in 2015.
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By the standards of recent Christmas seasons, 2014 is shaping to be solid, if a little unspectacular, for the nation’s Retailers.
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Our smartphones are always with us so it’s no surprise it’s estimated that in four years m-commerce will account for the same global sales as e commerce did in 2013. The portra...
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Customisation is a means for customers to fulfil their ultimate product fantasies. Thanks to emerging technologies, innovative companies are seizing new opportunities.
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Smart mobile devices are reinventing the average Australian’s workday with almost 50 per cent saying they are doing work after they get home. What's surprising is the percentag...
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Vending machines may be shaped like a box, but the thinking behind them is outside the square.
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Where would you go to buy a Swiss Army Knife? To a Swiss Army Knife store, of course. Michael Baker explains why manufacturers are increasingly opening up their own stores to s...
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What does it mean for local stores when shopping centres build spaces for international brands to establish a presence in Australia? How do these mega-malls fit into the overal...
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Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has a million applications, but is Retail one of them?
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Keep on top of legal, marketing and technology matters this quarter with Australia’s leading experts.
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Australia Post gives spice vendor Gourmet Morsels a variety of delivery options for orders of all sizes.
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We’re a nation of dessert lovers: in fact it could be said we have somewhat of an obsession with confection. We’re mad for macarons, crazy about cupcakes and all scream for ice...
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Australian consumers are showing signs of being sceptical about the value of paid smartphone and tablet apps, a new survey has found.
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Fast connections are essential for Qscan Radiology Clinics. The business's 16 centres in Brisbane are linked by fibre-optic lines, and out in the field its consulting doct...
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Close to half of Australian medium-size enterprises could start failing in three years, according to a new survey of chief financial officers. Close to half of Australian mediu...
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Always on the road? Safely boost in-car productivity with 7 top gadgets. If you spend a lot of time in the car, you can boost your daily productivity significantly with the fol...
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The ultimate accessory for your iPhone has arrived. Earlier this morning, Wednesday, September 10, Apple announced their entry into the wearable market with the long-rumoured A...
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Australian farmers are less confident about the national agricultural economy but more confident about their own business performance, according to a recent report. The latest ...
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It’s back to store for etailers as online shopping collection points get physical. On August 12, Craig Woolford, consumer sector retail research analyst at Citi drew attention ...
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Australian Retailers may risk swallowing a double dose of GST liability if they choose to trade in crypto-currencies, law firm DLA Piper Australia warns. The Australian Taxatio...
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According to a ranking published by 24/7 Wall Street, a US financial news / commentary site, they are absolutely at the bottom of the corporate heap as far as their current and...
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Despite the increasing optimism of small, medium, and large Australian businesses since the May 2014 Budget, Australia's micro businesses are feeling the pressure according to ...
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These six free apps use your little data to streamline your day. Construction companies are integral to the Australian economy, with their total contribution to the production ...
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Avoid end of financial year (EOFY) stress and ensure your business is well prepared. When three leading minds in Australian Retail recently met to share their views on the...
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Before you invest in a 3D printer, there are some key things to be aware of which could ultimately save you time, money and frustration. Here’s what you need to know. 3D printi...
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Independent Retailers have been doing it tough in recent years and the accelerating globalisation of Australian fashion Retail isn't doing them many favours. As recently as fiv...
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When people think about technology and the shopping experience it’s common to focus on the ‘wow’ factor of technology as entertainment. There is a more prosaic and arguably muc...
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A recent survey discovered that Aussie business travellers get more homesick than global counterparts. Aussies miss the comforts of home more than business travellers from the ...
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Social responsibility: Why doing your bit for the community can do wonders for your small business. Earlier this month Gail Kelly, CEO of Westpac, announced that the group had ...
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Like David and Goliath, one small business dared to take on the big names in the Super Bowl ad war and went viral. Find out how TV and social media campaigns can benefit your b...
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Research shows all Aussie small business owners want for Christmas is a better work/life balance. A survey conducted by Telstra Business has found Australian small business own...
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Is the business of crime in decline? Thieves are taking half what they were a decade ago. Most of us choose to live on the right side of the law, but crime, in some ways, can b...
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How motorcycle business braaap gets the most out of social media. Brad Smith was 18 when he designed the motorcycle of his dreams. Then he got on a plane to China in hope o...
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Why Aussies are browsing on mobile devices but not checking out the cart. While the country has the one of the highest rates of mobile device ownership in the world, with 65% f...
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Apprenticeships are built into the foundations of Gold Medal Services, a plumbing service based in Darwin. Business manager Jackie Maclean says they have employed at least one ...
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JWT have peered into the future again. Here are the business ideas that are taking off. Each year renowned marketing communications brand JWT compiles a list of 100 of the bigg...
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Not so long ago, uttering the word 'showrooming' was enough to evoke a shudder of fear and loathing in a room full of Retailers. The word raised the image of iphone-toting merc...
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Retail analyst Michael Baker asks if mobile marketing can pull customers into bricks-and-mortar stores. The new technologies of ‘geo-fencing’ are an enticing prospect for retai...
