Written by Australian organisations are navigating a transformative period as artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates across industries. The potential of AI is vast, offering opportunities to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and reshape entire sectors. However, with this potential comes significant responsibility. The process of implementing AI is complex, and the challenges associated with getting it right the first time should not be underestimated. Data from the Logicalis Global CIO Report 2024 shows that 89 per cent of Australian CIOs are actively seeking opportunities to integrate AI into their businesses, with 85 per cent earmarking specific budgets for AI development. (1) This level of commitment highlights the critical role that AI is playing in the strategic planning of Australian businesses. Despite this enthusiasm, Australian CIOs are approaching AI adoption with a healthy dose of caution, according to Logicalis Australia. Leon Scott, Head of Cloud, Data, and AI, Logicalis Australia, said, “The reality is that unlearning an AI model is far more difficult than deploying one. Once an AI model is trained, its learned behaviours become deeply embedded and reversing these behaviours can be both time consuming and resource intensive. This makes it crucial for organisations to lay a solid foundation before embarking on their AI journey. “AI can drive incredible efficiencies and innovation; however, it requires clean, well-structured data and a clear understanding of its intended use. Without this predesigned structure, organisations risk embedding incorrect or biased behaviours into their AI models.” It’s important to have a solid business use case to promote AI implementation within a business. A strong use case aligns AI initiatives with the company’s strategic goals, maximising the potential for positive impact and return on investment (ROI). It lets organisations identify specific problems that AI can solve, avoiding the risk of implementing AI for the sake of it. Clarity in a well-defined use case also aids in securing stakeholder buy-in and resource allocation by providing a clear roadmap of expected benefits and outcomes. A well-defined business use case also plays a pivotal role in project management and risk mitigation. It outlines the scope, requirements, and potential challenges of AI implementation, facilitating better oversight throughout the project lifecycle. This promotes AI deployments that are purposeful, efficient, and scalable, driving meaningful business transformation and providing a competitive advantage. The CIO Report reveals that 72 per cent of technology leaders expressed concerns about the challenges of regulating AI use within their organisations, and these concerns are well-founded. (2) The state of data is one of the key challenges facing Australian organisations. Data that is siloed, unstructured, or poorly governed reduces its value and complicates its efficacy when it’s fed into or used to train AI models. The risk of AI models producing incorrect or biased outcomes increases without proper data governance, leading to potentially significant operational and reputational risks. Additionally, because AI is not a static technology, and it evolves and learns over time, its outputs can change as new data is introduced. This dynamic nature requires constant oversight and management to ensure that the models continue to operate as intended. CIOs must establish robust governance frameworks that include ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment of AI models to address these concerns. This is particularly important given the ethical considerations associated with AI, as AI models can inadvertently learn and propagate biases which can have serious implications for businesses, particularly in sectors where fairness and equity are paramount, such as finance, healthcare, and law. Both well-structured data and a clear use case are essential foundations that organisations must establish from the outset to ensure long-term AI success. Leon Scott said, “The rush to adopt AI without proper governance and oversight can lead to significant failures within a business or department, so it’s crucial that organisations address these challenges early in the AI implementation process. Without clearly defined measures, outcomes, user enablement, and purpose, AI is just another tool that businesses may invest valuable time and money into, only for it to sit on the shelf. Understanding where, why, and how AI can improve a business is the most important first step. “Organisational leaders must take the time to understand what AI can and cannot do, ensure their data is in order, and establish the necessary governance frameworks before they begin their AI journey. Doing it right the first time will save time and resources, and it will save an organisation from potential reputational and financial damages in the future from using ungoverned data.” The pace of technological change is relentless, and AI is just one of many emerging technologies that require management. CIOs are being pulled in multiple directions as they seek to balance the demands of AI implementation with other priorities such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, and sustainability. This requires a strategic approach to resource allocation and a clear understanding of where AI fits within the broader technology landscape. AI must be carefully integrated with other technological initiatives to ensure organisations are prepared for the wider impact of digital transformation. Australian CIOs demonstrate a strong commitment to AI adoption, recognising its transformative potential and taking proactive steps to ensure that their organisations are well-positioned to capitalise on it. However, they are also aware that the stakes are high, the decisions they make today will have long-lasting implications for their organisations and, as such, there is little room for error. Leon Scott said, “The global AI race is on, though it is not a race that can be won by rushing to the finish line. It’s about taking the time to do things right from the start. The organisations that succeed will be those that approach AI with caution, care, and a commitment to excellence. “CIOs must take the time to understand the technology as doing so will empower organisations to harness the power of AI to drive innovation and growth while minimising the risks associated with this rapidly evolving technology.” The post Why Getting AI Adoption Right the First Time is Crucial for Success appeared first on Small Business Connections.
A new report from CPM Australia spotlights customer shopping habits ahead of the holiday season, providing insight for retailers ahead of the busiest trading period of the year. 89% of people surveyed said they planned to both shop online and visit brick–and–mortar shops. However, 69% of people said that online marketplaces were still their preferred choice for gift buying. Key Findings: Online shopping is fast becoming the more preferred choice for gift buying. Increased Christmas and summer trading could leave both online and brick-and-mortar retailers at risk for a cyberattack. With 63% of shoppers forecast to complete their Christmas shopping before 1 December, SMEs may want to renew or review their insurance well ahead of holiday trading. But while it seems that shoppers aren’t looking to slow down their spending ahead of Christmas, despite the current economy, an increase in trading can bring certain risks for SMEs. “This is the busiest time of year for retailers, and it’s easy to forget about things like renewing insurance or purchasing new policies,” says Brad Miller, General Manager at BizCover, Australia’s number one business insurance service. “With more and more people turning to online shopping, this could present increased risks for e-commerce SMEs.” For small retailers, e-commerce presents clear risks. Online sellers are tasked with collecting, transmitting, and storing customer payment details which are valuable to cybercriminals. Yet, many SMEs don’t think they are at risk, despite making up an estimated 43% of cyberattacks in Australia according to one study. But cyberattacks don’t just affect e-commerce SMEs. If a business has a website, processes payments with an EFTPOS machine, or uses a smart device to conduct business, then it may also be at risk. “No business owner wants to think about shutting up shop during the busiest trading period of the year because a cyberattack has completely disrupted business,” says Miller. “Cyber insurance can help protect SMEs in the case of a cyberattack or a data breach, including connecting them with 24/7 incident response services to help them contain damage and get back up and running as quickly as possible.” Many Australians (63%) plan to have their Christmas shopping completed by the end of November, coinciding with Click Frenzy, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This signals to retailers that they may want to ensure they’re prepared to meet demand well before the beginning of summer. “Retailers have good reason to be optimistic about the upcoming shopping season,” says Miller. “But it pays to review and update your insurance to make sure you’re properly covered. This gives you peace of mind that you’re protected during the busiest trading period—and all year long.” The post Online Shopping Boom: A Double-Edged Sword for SMEs appeared first on Small Business Connections.
Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) in Australia and New Zealand are feeling the brunt of inflation more than the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (U.K.) and Canada, according to a 2024 study conducted by global digital marketing and automation platform, Constant Contact. The company’s Small Business Now: Holiday Crunch report found that, in response to inflationary pressures, 60 per cent of A/NZ consumers are reducing spending at SMBs – the highest of any region polled. According to the report, 43 per cent of A/NZ SMBs have had to increase costs to combat inflation – slightly below the global average (44 per cent). “Small businesses make up almost 98 per cent of businesses in Australia and New Zealand, and supporting them right now will genuinely help some of these businesses survive the economic storm,” said Renee Chaplin, VP Asia Pacific, Constant Contact. “Big businesses have the economy of scale to weather inflation and decrease costs in the face of competition. But small businesses are rarely in this position and instead need to find ways to stay top of mind and connect with the community to keep them coming back.” A/NZ SMBs less reliant on end-of-year spending than other regions Unlike the U.S., Canada and the U.K., A/NZ SMBs are less reliant on spending over the Christmas and New Year period to boost spending. U.S. businesses are significantly more dependent on Q4 (Oct-Dec) and, therefore, feel the most pressure to drive revenue during this time than other regions. However, in A/NZ SMBs report to have the most evenly distributed dependency throughout the year, with just 29 per cent feeling the most pressure to drive revenue during this period (Q4) – the lowest among polled regions. A/NZ businesses report a fairly even distribution in pressure throughout the year, with 23 per cent in Q1 (Jan-Mar), 25 per cent in Q2 (Apr-Jun) and 23 per cent in Q3 (Jul-Sep). “It’s reassuring to see that the Christmas and New Year period isn’t ‘make or break’ pressure for small business as is the case in other regions,” said Chaplin. “Although, it’s clear that SMBs are missing an opportunity to further drive revenue in what is typically the busiest spending season of the year for many industries – particularly at a time when, regardless of inflation, people are looking to spend more than usual. “It comes down to marketing and being prepared in areas like labour and training for staff. SMBs in Australia and New Zealand seem to be lagging behind their global counterparts.” CEO and Founder of the Small Business Association of Australia, Anne Nalder, believes this can be attributed to the culture in Australia and New Zealand. “The ‘she’ll be right’ mentality in this region is a part of who we all are, but it doesn’t bode well when it comes down to a small business owner assessing how their business is going, and whether they’ll be able to survive some of the hardest times we’ve seen for businesses in this country in thirty years,” said Nalder. “Small businesses do need to be taking opportunities to educate themselves, train their staff and promote their business. Communication is essential to being competitive, and many small businesses don’t prioritise it enough.”. A/NZ region slowest to think about Christmas/New Year period spending and marketing The report found that A/NZ consumers begin to plan on spending over the Christmas and New Year period at the last minute. The report found that 72 per cent of A/NZ consumers typically only start thinking about end-of-year spending from October onwards, with 26 per cent beginning their end-of-year spending plans in October, 28 per cent in November and 18 per cent in December – the latter of which is the highest among polled regions. “The opportunity is there for SMBs to drive revenue at a time when local customers are looking to spend in what, comparatively to the world, is a relative flurry,” said Chaplin. “But much like their customers, A/NZ SMBs are leaving things to the last minute when it comes to marketing and promotion.” SMBs in the ANZ region tend to start marketing for this busy end-of-year rush later than in other regions, according to those surveyed. In fact, nearly half (48 per cent) of ANZ SMBs surveyed wait until Q4 (18 per cent in Oct, 20 per cent in Nov and 10 per cent in Dec) to start preparing their marketing for the peak spending period of Christmas and New Year. By way of comparison, just 40 per cent of SMBs in the U.S., 31 per cent in the U.K. and 41 per cent in Canada start marketing preparations as late in the year. “When customers do have money to spend, SMBs need to have those customers thinking of them first,” said Chaplin. “Now granted, ANZ consumers typically start to think about holiday shopping later than other regions, but that’s no reason to wait. In tight economic times, being first to market and working hard to be top-of-mind is not only smart, it’s good business practice. “A focus on customer service should also be a priority for small businesses in the lead up to peak spending periods, which can often be an afterthought,” said Nalder. “This stems from the owner level down, and it can really impact a business if they don’t get this right — so it’s important to make the time and invest in training of employees.” Lack of Marketing Budget Amid Inflationary Environment In some cases, the reason for a lack of marketing may come down to financial constraints and budgets, particularly amid an inflationary environment. Budget limitations were cited by 38 per cent of A/NZ businesses as the biggest barrier to marketing ahead of and during the Christmas and New Year period – slightly above the global average of 37 per cent. “Inflation is clearly having an impact on small business owners who are looking to reduce expenses by trimming the fat where they can,” said Anne Nalder. “It’s important for marketing to continue; this isn’t the time to go
Small and family businesses have just a week to make sure they do not have their vital business systems and equipment fail when the 3G network is switched off on 28 October, says the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson. “Many of us do not realise there is an awful lot of technology and equipment we use every day that’s enabled by 3G as the wireless comms link and that it will stop working when the system is turned off later this month unless it is upgraded,” Mr Billson said. “I fear many small, family and farming businesses are unaware of the scope of this event and the possible business-harming disconnection and technology dysfunction they may face.” Checklist for the 3G network Switch Off on 28 October Time for small business to check older-style EFTPOS terminals; Check tap-to-pay pads at car park exits and on vending machines; Check medical monitors and sensors; Check security systems and cameras; Check asset tracking tools; Check water and environmental monitors; Check hand-held pads and tablets; Remember some 4G devices also run on 3G; Check telephones in elevators; Check the modem on your tractor; Check fire alarms; Check remote sensors will still close the farm gate. “This change is about far more than upgrading an old 3G phone,” Mr Billson said. “Business owners need to ‘check your tech’ on vital business systems and services that have a wireless communications link back to a base, service hub, control centre or panel that relies on 3G. “Quite understandably, many of us focus on what the piece of kit actually does and the timesaving or technology enhancing way it allows us to get on with business. “It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when it shuts down, and that might be critical to your business operations.” Mr Billson said more could be done by telecommunications companies and technology manufacturers and suppliers to improve awareness and action among small businesses, to identify those who might unknowingly be using 3G, and to explain the wide-ranging effects and options to upgrade or replace their equipment as soon as possible. “Don’t risk being caught out. Please, check the functionality of your technology so you’re not a 3G casualty,” Mr Billson said. The post One Week until 3G Shutdown – Small, Family and Farming Business Checklist appeared first on Small Business Connections.
Remote work has become more than just a trend; it’s now a preferred way of working for many people. This shift started gaining momentum well before the pandemic, but the global health crisis accelerated the change. Today, the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid model has improved work-life balance for workers everywhere. The concept of working remotely isn’t entirely new. Early forms of remote work began with freelancers and independent contractors who could perform their jobs without being tied to an office. However, widespread adoption didn’t occur until technological advancements made it feasible. With the rise of cloud computing and collaboration tools, remote work has become a viable option for many more businesses. The appeal of remote work lies in its flexibility, but there are several other reasons why employees favour this mode of work: Customised work environment: Employees can tailor their work environment to their needs, whether it’s working from home, a coworking space, or even a cafe. This personalisation can lead to increased comfort and productivity. For example, some people work best in a quiet home office, while others thrive in a more social environment like a coworking space. Enhanced work-life balance: Remote or hybrid work allows employees to integrate their work schedules with their personal life. For instance, they can take care of personal errands during the day without needing to take time off. This flexibility leads to increased job satisfaction and less burnout. In fact, according to the 2023 State of Remote Work report by Buffer, 91% of remote workers report having a better work-life balance. Increased autonomy: Remote work often comes with a level of autonomy that is difficult to achieve in traditional office settings. Employees can manage their own time, which not only boosts productivity but also encourages a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work. This autonomy is a significant factor in job satisfaction and can lead to higher employee retention rates. Time and cost savings: Commuting to an office can be time-consuming and costly. By eliminating the daily commute or limiting it to one or two days a week, remote and hybrid workers save both time and money. This benefit is especially significant in cities like Sydney and Melbourne where heavy traffic during commute can take up a considerable portion of the day. The cost savings on transportation, meals, and work attire can also be significant over time. Access to worldwide talent: Remote work allows companies to hire talent from anywhere in the world, not just those within commuting distance of their office. Hybrid models enable companies to attract local talent who prefer some social interaction in an office environment while still providing the benefits of working remotely part of the time. This opens up opportunities for businesses to find the best talent, regardless of location. It also provides employees with the opportunity to work for companies they might not have considered otherwise. Source: Zoho The post Remote & Hybrid Work: Accessing Global Talent, Transforming Work appeared first on Small Business Connections.
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has released a guide to raise awareness among small businesses selling online about United States’ copyright laws that can shut down their access to customers without warning. “We have seen Australian-based small businesses have their livelihoods damaged by unfounded allegations being made under these laws and then have their products taken down without warning by the major selling platforms,” Mr Billson said. “If you are an Australian business that sells online, you probably use a US-based platform – like Etsy, Shopify or Square. And this means that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) can seriously affect your business, so it is very important that you know how it works and what your rights are. “The DMCA is part of the US copyright law and protects intellectual property. It applies to any material that goes online – this includes online shops, descriptions of services and objects, images and media. “I am very concerned that this law is being weaponised by some unscrupulous competitors to unfairly knock out genuine Australian businesses, so my agency has created a guide to raise awareness about the DMCA among Australian businesses. “Australian businesses need to be aware of competitors who seek to manipulate the DMCA for market advantage and understand their rights if this is used against them.” Mr Billson said the law is designed to protect businesses from the theft of intellectual property but can sometimes be used maliciously to put genuine competitors out of business. Under the DMCA if a person or a business believes any online content infringes on their copyright, they can contact the online service provider – Etsy or Shopify, for example – and ask them to take down that content. This is called a takedown notice, and the online service provider will usually remove the content without warning. “If a small business receives a takedown notice, we recommend seeking legal advice and acting quickly and carefully,” Mr Billson said. “A takedown notice doesn’t necessarily mean you have breached copyright law – it just means someone claims you have. “Australian businesses can challenge the takedown notice by contacting the person or other business that issued the notice to negotiate removal or they can issue a counter-notice. “If you decide to issue a formal counter-notice it will put you under the jurisdiction of the US legal system and the party who made the original claim can take it to court, which can be an extremely expensive battle to fight. “This can be a terrible dilemma because we have seen Australian companies forced out of business or lose access to a lucrative market because they could not afford to defend their economic interest. Not responding to a DMCA notice will be interpreted by the platform as a surrender to the claim of copyright violation and will see the removal of the allegedly offending product, service or content affirmed. “But sometimes the mere act of issuing a counter-notice causes the original party to back down and the online service provider will restore the content.” Mr Billson cautioned Australian business not to consider their own unfounded DMCA action against competitors, warning misuse of legal protections could backfire and lead to action being taken against them. “In all cases, Australian small and family businesses should get their own legal advice if they are hit with a DMCA notice. In addition, they can get support from my agency,” he said. In one case brought to the Ombudsman, a DMCA notice had been issued against an Australian homewares business every time they advertised. That led to Shopify shutting down their store each time until it was resolved, but that caused the Australian business to lose sales and it took time and effort to fight the attacks. After this had happened several times, the business contacted ASBFEO, and a dedicated case manager was able to help prevent future notices being issued. In another case, a company purporting to be a US-based brand that was located in South-East Asia raised several DMCAs against a beauty product made by an Australian business, which held an international trademark. In this case, it was wholesale customers/re-sellers who received the DMCA notices and had their access to selling platforms disabled until they stopped selling the product. The post Why Australian Small Business Selling Online should be Aware of US Copyright Laws appeared first on Small Business Connections.
To radically boost housing supply, state and territory governments need to undertake significant rezoning of land to allow more homes to be built and at greater density, with access to quality transport infrastructure, according to the Business Council’s new report. The It’s time to say yes to housing report is targeted at measures to drastically boost housing supply, with part two calling for major changes to zoning laws that block the creation of more homes in areas of housing demand. The BCA believes zoning reforms are imperative to address housing supply. As it stands, based on current construction rates, Australia will not be able to meet the targeted 1.2 million new dwellings under the National Housing Accord over the next five years. ABS data for dwelling completions over the 2023-24 financial year shows around 176,000 new dwellings built, falling around 64,000 homes short of what will be needed each year going forward. The BCA is calling for the following changes: An extensive program of land rezoning across major cities and towns, to allow medium and high-density development in the vicinity of infrastructure and services. A transparent process for home builders to put forward proposals to boost housing supply, through rezoning, managed by state government. Consolidated zoning types that are broad and consistent across entire states, providing clarity for home builders. Business Council Chief Executive Bran Black said rezoning was a nation-wide problem and significant changes are needed to fix Australia’s housing supply crisis. “We need state and territory governments to unlock more land for more homes in cities and towns across Australia so we can fix this supply crisis,” Mr Black said. “These changes need to allow for greater density and height near good transport services, while at the same time protecting the quality of life, green space and heritage of an area.” Mr Black said states like NSW and Victoria had started addressing zoning issues to unlock more supply and build higher density housing that is needed in metropolitan areas, like Sydney and Melbourne. “Put simply, we need to build enough homes where people want to live, so until we fix that problem, it will be very hard to hit our housing targets—building a home in the right place is as important as building it at all,” Mr Black said. “We’ve seen a focus on rezoning across Sydney in areas well-connected to train services and new metros—it’s a good start, but we see so much more to do there to meet demand. The most recent work by the NSW Productivity Commission underscores the need for even more ambition, despite the good reforms so far in NSW. “South Australia is a good example for consistent zoning, with a single consolidated approach across the state—this makes a big difference when it comes to home builders getting housing projects off the ground. The BCA’s report will outline specific instances of how rezoning has been, and will continue to be, critical in building homes where people want to live. Mr Black said that across the Tasman in New Zealand, Auckland is an excellent example of how rezoning changes have been successful in improving supply and ultimately lowering price pressures. “In 2016, Auckland rezoned about three quarters of residential land, and a massive increase in home building followed—they’ve now shared a report showing that this has contained the cost of housing in the long run, approving affordability, with rents at least 26 per cent below what they would have been without the rezoning, and a stabilisation of long-term dwelling prices” Mr Black said. Source: BCA The post Rezoning: The Key to Solving Australia’s Housing Crisis? appeared first on Small Business Connections.
Major sale days are coming up, is your small business prepared to make the most of the online sale events? A sales promotion can help your business: increase immediate sales respond to opportunities attract new customers encourage repeat purchases from loyal customers move excess stock. It’s important you know what sale events are coming up and how your business can plan for a sale success. What are the online sale events? Here are some online sales you may want to add to your calendar: Singles Day: this day is the largest shopping event in the world, originating in China to celebrate people who are not in relationships. This day is lesser known in Australia but is a great opportunity to reach international customers. This year it is on Monday 11 November. Click Frenzy: an online shopping experience that works with businesses to promote all the best deals and exclusive offers. Customers can browse through deals and once they’re ready to make a purchase they will be directed through to the business website to complete purchases. Click Frenzy starts on Monday 11 November and ends on Friday 15 November. Black Friday: it is the biggest sale shopping day in the United States (the day after Thanksgiving). In the last few years, it has become popular with Australian businesses. This year it will be on Friday 29 November. Green Friday: created in response to Black Friday and impulse purchasing, this day encourages mindful and sustainable shopping from local businesses. This year it will be on Friday 29 November. Colour Friday: this day encourages supporting local small businesses’ creative handmade products. This year it will be on Friday 29 November. Small Business Saturday: on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s a day to encourage people to shop from small businesses. This year it will be on Saturday 30 November. Cyber Monday: falling on the Monday after Black Friday, Cyber Monday is an annual one-day online shopping event. This year it’s on Monday 2 December. Free Shipping Day: a day where online stores offer free shipping held in mid-December to help orders arrive before the holiday season. This year it falls on Saturday 14 December Boxing Day: for years the Boxing Day sale was the biggest Australian sale of the year, starting on the day after Christmas. This year it will be on Thursday 26 December. 8 tips to help your business get the best out of the online sales Add a click-and-collect option to your online shop to help save you and your customers the cost of shipping. Check your bandwidth can handle an increase in traffic to your website on sale days. Adapt your sale to what customers a looking for at the time, for example: In pre-Christmas sales customers are thinking about gifts for the holiday season. You may want to add gift ideas or give the option for gift wrapping. In post-Christmas you may want to sell your holiday season stock, so consider a higher discount. Review your analytics to help promote what your customers have been purchasing. Mix it up for each sale event, you could do different discounts or deals for different sale days. If you want to take part in the online sales, but don’t want to damage your profit margin you could consider other options, such as: free or cheaper shipping if the customer spends a specific amount extended returns quantity discounts (example: buy 3, get 10% off) gift with purchase. Promote your sale on social media and through your newsletter and consider: using related sale hashtags to widen your reach offer exclusive sales or early bird deals to your followers and subscribers run a competition or ask your followers to post in exchange to win a prize. Consider adding the option to send reminder emails to customers who may have abandoned their online shopping cart. The post Gear Up for the Online Sales Rush: 8 Tips for Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Connections.
The number of small business disputes with Big Tech platform providers is 86 per cent higher than the same time last year, according to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson. Mr Billson said over the past two years, the number of small and family businesses who have suffered some sort of disruption to their business at the hands of a digital platform has more than doubled. “Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Uber, Amazon, eBay, Shopify or any of the many other digital platform providers, small and family businesses are getting a raw deal when they need help,” Mr Billson said. “Digital platforms have fundamentally changed the way small businesses connect and sell to their customers and provide fantastic opportunities to reach and delight new customers. “But when there is a problem – such as having your account shut down after being hacked – solving it can be a nightmare. “These platforms require a time and resource-poor small business to navigate the most elaborate maze of dead-ends and blockages. “Big Tech digital platform providers need to urgently lift their game and provide clear, appropriate and easily accessible help for small business – with a real person they can talk to.” Mr Billson said over the past three months alone, 73 per cent of the disputes involved Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram. Nearly two-thirds of those cases related to the account being hacked. Uber accounted for 17 per cent of the caseload, with one in four disputes about not being paid. “The common thread we see is small business owners and those who are self-employed devastated by the sudden, unexpected suspension of their account and then having no clear avenue to resolve the problem,” Mr Billson said. “The advice from those big tech firms is, can you please log into your account to tell us you can’t log into your account? To quote John McEnroe, you can’t be serious!!” Mr Billson called on digital platforms to urgently do better. “Small businesses tell us it can take many months to resolve a dispute and get back to business. Some have told us these delays have cost them many thousands of dollars,” he said. “Small business owners seeking our assistance are overwhelmed and stressed and the dispute has compounding existing pressures. Frustrations are amplified by the ever-challenging fiscal environment, economic pressures and carry vulnerability aspects. “Too often small businesses watch helplessly as the financial and emotional damage occurs in real time with no ability to stop it. “They lose customers and money, if a credit card linked to these accounts is being used by the hacker or the hacker uses the account to access and harm other customers. “Having someone else access and control their account is devastating for their business and their reputation. Some never recover.” Mr Billson has called for digital platform providers to be required to implement clear, appropriate and standardised procedures for small business dispute resolution, as part of the 14 Steps to Energise Enterprise he recently released. “Digital platforms need to implement clear, appropriate and standardised procedures to enable a timely resolution for small business disputes with clear internal escalation points, promotion of external dispute resolution support and dedicated contacts for dispute resolution agencies like the ASBFEO so small businesses can have their dispute handled efficiently, hopefully resolved and resume operating their businesses sooner,” he said. “And it needs to be backed by a real person you can speak to when a problem can’t be easily fixed.” The Ombudsman has also produced a Guide to Using Social Media Securely, available at www.asbfeo.gov.au/sm-securely, which includes tips for small and family businesses about how to reduce the risk of being hacked and steps that can be taken with the digital platforms if you are. “Treat your online business security like you would a shop, factory or your home,” Mr Billson said. “You wouldn’t leave the doors open when there’s no one there. And you wouldn’t give a person you have just met the keys to your business or your house, so only give access to your business account to trusted individuals. And remember not all users require full admin access. “We urge people to organise multifactor authentication, change their passwords frequently, have some other way of verifying their identity, back up your files regularly, activate software updates and consider using eInvoicing or PayID.” The post Surge in Small Business Disputes with ‘Big Tech’ Platforms appeared first on Small Business Connections.
The Business Council has today released a new landmark report calling for significant policy changes to address Australia’s chronic housing supply crisis. In its milestone report — It’s time to say yes to housing — the Business Council says significant changes are needed to build the 1.2 million homes required over the next five years. The BCA has outlined 29 recommendations, including a call for a new national reform fund, to help meet the national Housing Accord target, which is currently running behind by 64,000 new homes a year. The report recommends: A Federal Government established national reform fund be created to incentivise states and territories to fix housing regulation, planning and approval processes. Rezoning land to legalise housing in areas in demand and creating more flexible and consistent zoning rules that respond to need. Building more infrastructure to support new housing. Faster and more efficient approval process to accelerate critical developments. Performance management of council approval processes and giving state governments new intervention and approval powers. Addressing labour and materials shortages and training more workers in the skills needed to build housing. New approaches to community consultation and heritage management. Ensuring taxes and charges do not impact investment for new housing supply. Tackling criminal behaviour on building sites. Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Bran Black said Australia is at a critical juncture to deliver on the homes the nation needs. “Australia has a housing supply crisis and we need urgent action from all levels of government to fix it,” Mr Black said. “Our prosperity is being held back because many Australians can’t buy a home or are paying too much rent, and fixing this issue means putting hard but important policy changes on the table. “We want the Federal Government to create a new national reform fund, like the one created in the 1990s, that incentivises states to fix regulation and planning bottle necks that hold back homes being built. “Governments at all levels have recognised the importance of supply as the real solution to our housing challenge. We back many of the measures that are already being rolled out, but the scale of the task before us remains immense, and so we need every good reform on the table if we’re to hit our targets.” There are a range of ways to tackle this challenge and one of the report’s key focus areas is apprentices. “We urgently need to address Australia’s skills shortage crisis, because we can’t build homes if we don’t have enough trades to build them,” Mr Black said. “We need strong incentive structures in place to boost numbers and opportunities for young Australians in the construction trades. “We also need skilled migration visa settings that attract the trained workers we require and better systems to recognise existing qualifications.” The report calls for harmonising trade licencing and accreditation across jurisdictions in Australia to the highest standard, boosting apprenticeship numbers in construction trades and incentivising skilled migration where domestic labour supply can’t meet demand. “There’s no sensible reason why a highly qualified tradie in one Australian state shouldn’t be recognised as a highly qualified tradie in a different Australian state, if they choose to move”, Mr Black said. “This rigid approach limits economic opportunity and mobility for workers, shrinks the talent pool for employers, and is a handbrake on getting more homes built.” This report notes there are a range of levers, at all levels of government, that can be pulled to boost supply and allow more Australians to find a home. The BCA believes a Federal Government established national reform fund is needed to incentivise states and territories to move on housing reforms, like fixing approvals processes, that unlock productivity growth and meet the growing demand for more supply. “Stamp duty is a horrible tax that stops Australians getting into a home,” Mr Black said. “Stamp duty represents a massive upfront cost for people who want to move, whether to downsize and free up a family home or to move closer to a new job, and we’d like to see the Federal Government establish a reform fund to incentivise states to phase stamp duty out and replace it with a land-tax.” Mr Black said a number of states and territories are already making headway in delivering the reforms needed to drive additional supply, but more is needed to make sure housing targets are achieved in every jurisdiction. “States and territories are already making good headway, though we know more is needed, and so sharing ideas and solutions to ensure every part of the country benefits from lived experience in seeking to achieve housing supply targets is key,” Mr Black said. The BCA is also calling for better laws to stamp out corruption in the construction sector, which is making building sites unsafe and unproductive. Construction sector productivity has declined in the last decade. “We need to ensure building sites are lawful and safe places to work,” Mr Black said. “Stamping out criminal conduct, unlawful behaviour and stand-over tactics is key to fixing the productivity problem on building sites across the country.” Source: BCA The post Housing Shortage Stifling Small Businesses: BCA Calls for Urgent Reforms appeared first on Small Business Connections.