Two Subway® locations have become the first major Australian quick-service restaurants to serve-up eftpos QR code payments ahead of its plan to roll out the cutting-edge technology to innovation-hungry guests in partnership with Australian-made Beem mobile wallet, both of which are part of newly formed Australian Payments Plus (AP+).

Guests at Subway’s North Sydney (Miller Street) and Brisbane City (460 George Street) restaurants will be able to use eftpos QR via Beem wallet to pay for their favourite Subway 6-Inch®, Subway Footlong®, salad, or wrap. The technology will open the door to a raft of richer rewards, offers and opportunities to connect with and delight guests and is expected to be rolled out across more restaurants in the coming months.

The launch of eftpos QR code payments for Subway® in Australia is a significant milestone for both the retail and payments industries and delivers on a commitment by eftpos (now part of AP+) to rapidly have the technology live and in market.

Mark Britt, Managing Director AP+ Digital Plus said: “Australians have been telling us they want their mobile payments experience to be more valuable, and to cut down on the fumble factor by unifying and orchestrating what was once a mishmash of separate paper and plastic cards. eftpos QR payments make this happen in a simple and elegant way.”

Subway® Australia & New Zealand Communications Manager, Rhys Reynolds, said giving guests the option to pay using eftpos QR just makes sense for the brand. “We know that customisation and personalisation are driving factors for our guests,” said Mr Reynolds. “Subway guests can choose from an array of fresh, healthier ingredients to create a sub, salad or wrap that’s just right for them! We’re excited to extend that choice beyond the sandwich unit, to include cutting-edge payment options.”

For a limited time, guests at Subway® North Sydney and Brisbane City restaurants will also be able to load up on loyalty rewards with triple SubCard® Reward Dollars on offer.

“AP+ is committed to providing Australian consumers and merchants with better, simpler, highly secure and data-rich payments experiences no matter the form factor, or where the shop is – online, mobile or at the checkout,” Mark Britt said.

Square marks another key milestone in its integration of Afterpay and Square, extending buy now, pay later (BNPL) functionality to its millions of in-person sellers in the United States and Australia. Just three months after first bringing Afterpay into the Square ecosystem with e-commerce integration, Square and Afterpay moved swiftly to unlock the ability for sellers using any Square point of sale software – Square Point of Sale, Square for Retail, Square Appointments, or Square for Restaurants – to now offer Afterpay across online and in-person commerce.

To use Afterpay in-person, buyers simply tap to pay using a mobile wallet loaded with their virtual Afterpay card and pay over four interest-free instalments. Square sellers receive their full earnings from each sale immediately.

In their first quarter together, a combined Square and Afterpay has already proven to attract new shoppers and drive incremental revenue for sellers of all sizes. Sellers using Square Online are seeing the following impact on their businesses:

• Transaction sizes are up: Across both the US and Australia, the average transaction size with Afterpay is 3x greater than non-BNPL purchases.
• Rapid growth in buyers: Globally,we observed a 180% increase in new consumers leveraging Afterpay through Square sellers between February and March 2022.
• Meaningful growth among key merchant categories:
• In the US, retail businesses that offered Afterpay as a payments option on their website are seeing a meaningful lift in overall online sales, with men’s and women’s clothing stores growing 17%; specialized apparel and accessories, 15%; pet stores, 13%; sporting goods stores, 12%; and jewellery and watch shops, 10%.
• In both countries, beauty and personal care businesses saw significant upticks in online sales, registering a 26% increase in Australia and a 16% increase in the U.S.

This growth is already extending to in-person commerce; during the beta period, average order value (AOV) for in-person Afterpay purchases more than doubled in Australia, while in the US orders averaged a 50% increase.

“More than ever, shoppers expect to be able to make purchases with their preferred method of payment,” said Leslie Babineaux, owner of Fort Worth, Texas-based A Touch of Chic Boutique. “Square has made it straightforward for a business of my size to offer Afterpay, with no additional work required on our end. Our customers are thrilled that they can use BNPL when they come in store, and in a short amount of time, we’ve already seen that shoppers spend nearly double the amount with us when purchasing with Afterpay.”

Sydney-based wedding jeweller, The Callie Corp, has seen first-hand the value that offering Afterpay via Square has had on their business: “We’ve been offering Afterpay on our Square Online store and have been blown away by the demand. Our average transaction sizes are up, we’re acquiring more new customers, and more are returning for multiple purchases,” said Rebecca McIntyre, CEO and founder of The Callie Corp. “With restrictions lifted and weddings well and truly back on, we can’t wait to offer Afterpay to our customers at wedding expos and at our studio. Afterpay really helps our customers to manage their cash flow around what can be an expensive, but really special, time.”

To further sales growth, Square sellers will be discoverable in Afterpay’s Shop Directory, a marketplace available both online and from the Afterpay app that showcases sellers offering Afterpay. Shop Directory supplies hundreds of millions of leads per year to sellers and gives buyers the ability to search for Square sellers near them making it easier to shop and support local small businesses.

“Adding Afterpay to Square’s in-person commerce software furthers our goal to give all sellers omnichannel tools that unlock new growth opportunities for them,” said Alyssa Henry, Head of Square. “Omnichannel isn’t just about selling across multiple channels, it’s about meeting your consumers’ shopping habits, whatever and wherever they are. Afterpay adds an omnichannel tool to our ecosystem that our sellers haven’t typically had access to. For sellers of all sizes, Afterpay has proven to be more than just a new payment method; rather it serves as an omnichannel commerce solution that can offer meaningful value and growth to sellers.”

“Our buyers are young, high-intent consumers who prefer Afterpay and quickly become repeat customers for our merchant partners,” said Nick Molnar, Afterpay Lead at Square. “Together, Afterpay and Square can help sellers of all sizes capture the next generation shopper and compete at a larger scale.”

Square sellers can enable Afterpay starting today and try BNPL at promotional rates until September 10. Automatic enablement will roll out to eligible Square sellers over the following weeks, and Afterpay can be easily toggled on or off via sellers’ Square Dashboard at any time. For more information, visit www.squareup.com/buy-now-pay-later.

Read more about BNPL in Small Business Answers guide.

After two successful rounds which saw Shopify helping Victorian businesses start selling and growing online, Shopify is once again partnering with the Victorian Government to support its Small Business Digital Adaptation Program. 

Through this program, eligible Victorian businesses will enjoy a $1200 rebate on their Shopify subscription, equivalent to 12 months’ worth of access to its ecosystem of tools and experts to help build and scale their online business.

Shaun Broughton, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Shopify said “Shopify is proud to once again have the opportunity to support sole traders, micro and local small businesses in Victoria with the tech tools and resources needed to adapt, grow, and thrive. Schemes like the Small Business Digital Adaptation Program are crucial for incentivising business digitalisation, setting the stage for Victorian businesses to flourish amid an increasingly competitive environment.”

Shopify is also providing additional enhanced incentives including:

• An extended 30-day free trial – Take the time you need to get your store online with an exclusive extended free trial that’s double the standard offer.
• Live training and webinars – Our Victoria educational hub offers step-by-step guidance including blog posts, tutorials and trendspotting to help you launch and grow your business with confidence. 
• Special offers from our robust ecosystem of partners, agencies, developers and freelancers – We have curated a wide variety of offers that range from basic setup to completely custom solutions, all the better to cater to different needs from merchants of all shapes and sizes.
• 24/7 customer support – Our support team is here for you every step of the way via chat, email, call-back, and social media.

Merchants must already have a registered business in Australia and will be provided the opportunity to choose from 14 different commerce vendors, including Shopify. Once businesses decide on their partner, they can visit the Victoria Government website to start their rebate process. 

For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the Shopify Small Business Digital Adaptation Program website.

Business management platform MYOB has partnered with Master Builders Australia to provide a seven-week online Business Resilience program as part of its Women Building Australia program, a joint initiative with the Australian Government. The content aims to boost the business success and resilience of women in the building industry, by bridging the digital skills divide facing women in construction.

 Women Building Australia is designed to attract more women to the building industry and provide services that support them to achieve their career potential, including as small business owners and operators.

 “Women who have completed their construction apprenticeship or certificate, and gone on to set up their own business, might come out of their training highly proficient in practical skills but still require the knowledge to run a business. Equally, women who are managing the family construction business may not have had the time or opportunity to gain the knowledge required to run a successful SME in the industry,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia.

 “With no universally available digital business course currently on offer, this program is a first of its kind, industry-led learning approach providing hands-on business skills to set them up for success from the beginning.”

 The program is made up of seven weekly webinars of 45-60 minutes each, focussing on practical elements such as managing cashflow, opportunities to generate revenue, understanding compliance such as tax requirements, as well as managing relationships with clients and suppliers.

 “The modules available in the Business Resilience Program cover vital business management basics, while introducing the benefits of digitisation that many small businesses may miss out on,” said Helen Lea, Chief Employee Experience Officer at MYOB.

 “In addition to saving time and improving accuracy, businesses with advanced levels of digitisation are 50% more likely to grow revenue[1] and eight times more likely to create jobs[2]. Helping small businesses in construction to get online not only benefits the individuals but the economy overall.”

 MYOB modelling shows one in five small businesses – around 80,000 in the construction industry – have no or low digital engagement, and that bringing those SMEs with low or no levels of digitisation online could grow the industry’s contribution to overall GDP 1.9%.[3]

 “To help more Australians benefit from digital skills, and more Australian businesses reap the productivity rewards of a digitally-skilled workforce, we see an opportunity for the Government to support the industry-led creation of targeted skills programs like this one,” Ms Lea said.

 The Business Resilience program is available free of charge for women working in construction, as well as women running a family construction business. Content will be available the week commencing 17 May and is open now for pre-registrations via MYOB Academy.

Synology® launches RT6600ax Wi-Fi 6 router and releases major update for SRM operating system

Synology announced today the launch of RT6600ax, a high-speed and security-focused router designed to provide households and offices with fast and secure connectivity. Supported by the new Synology Router Manager (SRM) 1.3,¹ RT6600ax is fully equipped to address the challenges of modern network environments, including the massive rise in connected devices and the resulting necessity to protect users against ever-increasing security threats.

Designed for performance and stability

Synology’s first Wi-Fi 6-certified router, RT6600ax delivers more reliable Wi-Fi thanks to better data encoding, beamforming, scheduling, and signal isolation. A 2.5GbE port configurable for WAN or LAN deployment enables users to leverage Multi-Gig internet connections or high-performance devices such as a NAS, as well as high-speed wireless backhaul. Fast connection speeds and snappy operation are ensured by a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor, even with multiple devices connected and all features enabled.

Tri-band technology works in conjunction with Smart Connect to optimize device distribution, eliminating data transmission bottlenecks. Compatibility with the newly licensed 5.9 GHz spectrum² unlocks non-DFS channels at 80 and 160 MHz for a combined 6.6 Gbps of wireless throughput,³ higher concurrent connections, and faster VPN server performance.

Building a solid network foundation

RT6600ax is powered by SRM 1.3, the latest version of Synology’s intuitive operating system for routers. With improvements and added functionality that greatly expand network management capabilities, SRM 1.3 meets the demands for better security and more flexibility typical of today’s network environments.

The option to create up to five separate networks, each available for mapping up to three Wi-Fi SSIDs, makes it easy to strengthen security when managing multi-purpose network environments.⁴ One-way firewall rules can be configured independently for each network to limit the connectivity to and from less secure devices such as IoT equipment, while support for the 802.1q standard simplifies integration into existing networks in router, AP, and mesh configurations.⁵

Comprehensive tools for better internet ahead

The latest update also brings SRM’s host of applications for web filtering, traffic control, and remote access to the new generation of Synology routers.

Safe Access

Per-user profiles can be configured to limit time spent online or block browsing when set conditions are met. Devices assigned to the same profile will share the same set of internet access rules, without requiring repetitive manual configuration. For devices not belonging to any user that still require internet access control and auditing (e.g., guest or new devices), network-specific profiles are also available.

Parental control features include limiting internet usage time (either on a schedule or according to a quota-based system), filtering out entire categories of websites or specific domains through allow/block lists, and restricting inappropriate search results with safe search options for YouTube, Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Security is enhanced by network-wide threat blocking through DNS & IP Threat Intelligence Database and support for Google Safe Browsing.⁶

Traffic Control

Available bandwidth can be distributed among connected devices, prioritizing a single client or application when specific needs arise. Real-time and historical data support granular auditing, with traffic reports generated automatically or on demand that can be easily shared in CSV or HTML formats.

VPN Plus

Remote workers and hybrid teams can leverage SRM’s suite of remote connectivity tools to access intranet-only websites directly from their browser (WebVPN), establish high-performance connections with a dedicated client over various protocols (SSL VPN), bridge multiple locations for simple resource sharing across different networks (Site-to-Site VPN), and enable remote operation of devices compatible with the RDP/VNC standard (Remote Desktop).

More powerful mobile management

An overhaul of SRM’s companion mobile app, DS router, delivers an improved network management experience while on the go. The 2.0 version⁷ brings functionalities that were previously SRM-exclusive to the smartphone, including creating new wireless networks, configuring web filtering and parental control, setting traffic control schemes, and many more.

Availability

RT6600ax is available for purchase in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the United States starting from May 11.

1. SRM 1.3 is currently only available on RT6600ax units. Availability will be extended to the other Synology routers — MR2200ac and RT2600ac — later this year.
2. Dependent on local wireless regulations.
3. Performance figures are obtained through internal testing by Synology. Actual performance may vary depending on the testing environment, usage, and configuration.
4. Multiple SSIDs per network are only available with the Smart Connect feature turned off.
5. Support for connecting RT6600ax with prior-generation MR2200ac and RT2600ac routers will be added in H2 2022.
6. An API key is required to activate Google Safe Browsing.
7. DS router 2.0 will be available for all devices running SRM 1.2 or newer.

Horticulture industry employees will benefit from a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Woolworths Group and the Retail Supply Chain Alliance this week which will see the organisations collaborate to safeguard the welfare of Australian workers.

The Retail Supply Chain Alliance is a partnership between the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU); Australian Workers’ Union (AWU); and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA).

The MoU partners will work to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of decent work and gender equality across the industry, in the support of not only fair, but rewarding work for Australia’s essential horticulture workers. 

The groups will collaborate on worker education initiatives and industry engagement, including forums and workshops in key growing regions to enhance awareness of challenges and promote positive outcomes for all workers. The practices of third-party labour-hire companies and increased transparency will be core to the MoU’s objectives.   

AWU National Secretary Dan Walton said: “Consumers want ethically sourced produce, and farm workers want a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

“This agreement will go a long way to promoting fair and ethical conditions for pickers, packers and other workers in the supply of fruit and vegetables right across Australia.”

TWU National Secretary Michael Cain said: “The Retail Supply Chain Alliance and Woolworths are totally committed to ending all forms of worker exploitation in the retail supply chain.

“Labour-hire providers will be a key focus, as we aim to increase visibility and consistency in the experience of foreign workers, who play an essential role in the nation’s horticulture industry.”

SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said: “Retail Supply Chain Alliance members want to create a more transparent supply chain, one that champions the welfare of all those who work in it, in partnership with farmers, unions, industry groups and governments.

“We are committed to a safe, sustainable, ethical, and fair system in which no worker regardless of their employment status, citizenship or visa status needs fear exploitation, wage theft, bullying, sexual harassment, unsafe work, or modern slavery.”

Woolworths Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer Alex Holt said: “This is an important milestone as we endeavour to partner with every level of the horticulture industry to promote fair conditions for the workers our country relies on.

“Australia’s farmers work hard to feed families across the country and are valued partners in this work to support the experience of pickers, packers and other workers in the supply of fruit and vegetables.

“We know there’s more progress to be made, and under our new partnership with the Alliance we look forward to deepening our engagement with workers, labour hire providers, farmers and legislators to create better experiences for the people who help deliver great Australian produce.”

D-Link has launched the G415, an AX1500 4G Smart Router that allows you to use your mobile carrier’s SIM card to share your 3G and 4G mobile network access through a dedicated Wi-Fi 6 network or any of its three Gigabit ports. With its LTE CAT 4 support, you can also download at up to 150Mbps, enabling you to stream in 4K, make conference calls and surf the web seamlessly, without having a fixed broadband connection.

Designed with built-in EAGLE PRO AI capabilities and by using the clever EAGLE PRO AI App, the G415 analyses traffic and optimises the home network through its AI Engine and some very clever functionality.

Firstly, the AI Wi-Fi Optimiser continuously scans and monitors the network to keep users connected to the best Wi-Fi channel.

Then, the AI Mesh Optimiser is D-Link’s unique AI-enhanced Beamforming Technology that delivers more powerful, reliable Wi-Fi throughout the entire home.

The AI Traffic Optimiser automatically prioritises and allocates bandwidth to different applications and provides users with feedback of which devices are causing congestion.

The AI Assistant aggregates actionable information to keep users updated on the network quality, and AI Parental Control allows more customisation and flexibility for parents to manage their children’s online activities.

The EAGLE PRO AI App also features an embedded Speed Test for checking Internet speeds as well as support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. 

The G415, being a 4G LTE AI-featured Router whose IEEE 802.11 AX standard helps the Router reach a maximum 1500Mbps data rate, gives users the ultimate in flexibility, being able to take the router with them and share their Internet connection via the Mobile network easily, virtually anywhere they need. Connecting to the Internet using a SIM card is extremely easy, by simply inserting an active SIM card into the Router’s SIM card slot, and then connecting your devices to it.

If you do have a fixed Broadband connection available, users can also share Wi-Fi via this connection too. You can set either Fixed or Mobile as the primary connection type and with Automatic Failover mode, one connection can be used to provide uninterrupted connectivity in the event that the other connection fails. The G415 also features an SPI firewall with stealth mode so that connected devices will be secure when you connect to the Internet.

The G415 brings all the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 including the expansion of the Wi-Fi band from 80MHz to 160MHz, doubling the channel width and creating a faster connection from the Router to your devices. It also features bi-directional MU-MIMO technology to handle more simultaneous users at faster data rates and OFDMA technology to serve more device connections at once to significantly reduce network latency.

The G415 also supports both Access Point (AP) mode and Mesh mode. When users select Mesh mode, they are able to connect other D-Link devices including the EAGLE PRO AI M15, E15, and R15 to provide a flexible, scalable Mesh network. A unique roaming mechanism will keep a solid connection between the Wi-Fi devices and client devices. There’s also network self-healing and an auto Mesh setup which are seamlessly managed by the G415’s AI Mesh Optimiser.

Enabling the G415’s AI based Wi-Fi optimiser helps to avoid interference from neighbouring Wi-Fi networks and maintains the best channel for optimal Wi-Fi performance. The Al Traffic Optimiser then prioritises traffic such as emails, file transfer, high quality video and voice calls, whilst the AI based QoS gives higher preference for 4K videos and voice calls, over emails and file transfers with the packet size used to determine the data priority.

The G415’s AI Parental Control allows parents to easily manage children’s online activity. Parents can create a Child profile and apply that to any device to block or give minimal Internet access to a specific user. With just a few taps parents can create profiles, add devices, and pause the Internet access on devices. Parents can also add a web filter and set a warning message for the blocked websites.

D-Link’s AI Assistant will also keep an eye on and then communicate all users’ activity through a weekly report that details Internet traffic and provides simple, recommended actions. Users can set a weekly schedule for delivery of the report and will get notified once it’s ready to view.

The G415 is always kept up to date with the latest firmware releases downloaded directly to the Router utilising the built-in Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) software. Alternatively, users may opt to get a notification through the app and then upgrade by a single touch or schedule the update for a more convenient time. FOTA increases security, enhances the G415’s features, reduces user burden as well as failed upgrades.

With user privacy of utmost importance when connected to the Internet, the G415 utilises the very latest WPA3 technology aligned with CNSA standards and features 192-bit encryption to ensure your connections are safe and protected from unauthorised access.

The G415’s Target Wake Time (TWT) technology schedules connected devices to be awake or asleep during designated time periods, which not only saves device battery life, but also reduces network congestion. 

Uniquely the G415 also has a Health Mode which enables users to schedule Wi-Fi transmission hours to reduce possible effects of electromagnetic radiation, schedule Wi-Fi access hours to maintain a balanced family lifestyle and turn off Wi-Fi entirely to conserve energy.

The G415 is part of the EAGLE PRO AI Series, a first of its kind Wi-Fi solution that empowers users to embrace the new stay-at-home culture and reimagine the home Wi-Fi experience. Whether for video conferencing, 4K streaming, or high-quality gaming, D-Link’s EAGLE PRO AI Series provides faster, more secure and more reliable connectivity.

Key features of the G415 Smart Router

• 4G LTE CAT4 Connectivity at up to 150Mbps

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11AX) Support, up to 1500Mbps

• 1x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet WAN Port with automatic failover

• 3x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Ports

• WPA/WPA2/WPA3 Support

• Mesh with other Eagle Pro AI Devices

• AI Wi-Fi Optimiser

• AI Traffic Optimiser

• AI Parental Controls

• AI Assistant

For more on the EAGLE PRO AI Series