EPOS, the premium audio brand, meets the growing needs of the hybrid workforce with a plug-and-play Bluetooth® speakerphone designed for small- to medium-sized meeting rooms. The EXPAND 40 Series takes away common meeting frustrations such as complicated setup and disjointed audio, making way for stress-free collaboration where every member of the team can be heard, regardless of the location.  Building on the strong foundations of the EXPAND Line speakerphones, the EXPAND 40 Series comes in three versions: UC Optimised (with or without Bluetooth® USB dongle) and Microsoft Teams Certified* with Bluetooth® USB dongle. 

Take Control of Meeting Room Acoustics
Meeting room acoustics can vary, which is why having a solution that filters out background noise and removes room reverb is critical to smooth collaboration. The EXPAND 40 isolates individual voices on the call with three beamforming microphones, creating a rich sound experience for everyone, whether they’re joining from the office or remotely.

Simplified Collaboration
With more meetings taking place in remote or hybrid settings, it’s more important than ever to recreate some of the in-person energy that is often lost in online exchanges. Industry-leading duplex performance lets teams engage in lively discussions where participants can speak at the same time without being cut off, breathing life back into online meetings and brainstorming sessions.

Connect and Go
The EXPAND 40 Series allows users to easily and quickly connect to meetings using a USB-C cable or Bluetooth® dongle. EPOS’ Software Solutions make it quick and easy for IT Managers to tailor preferences and update the device with the latest firmware, taking the legwork out of device management and leaving time for other tasks.

“The launch of the EXPAND 40 Series is the natural next step for EPOS. As we continue to meet the needs of an ever-changing workforce, we remain laser-focused on removing obstacles from the pursuit of meaningful collaboration online, helping to bring back enjoyment to everyday work settings”, Theis Mørk, VP Product Management.

Click here to find further information about the EXPAND 40 Series.

MRSP: AUD$ 533-625

Randstad, the world’s largest recruiter, has partnered with Get Skilled Access, founded by multiple Wheelchair Tennis Grand Slam Champion, Paralympian, disability advocate and 2022 Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott AO, to launch Recruitable – a ground-breaking mainstream recruitment program to transform employment opportunities for people with disability.

Supported by funding from the Morrison Government, the national pilot is designed to increase the inclusion and accessibility of mainstream recruitment processes by enhancing capacity and capability to employ more candidates with a disability. It will allow people with disability of working age (around 2.1 million Australians, AIHW) to have more choice and control over their careers.

Major Australian organisations including Coles, Tennis Australia, Bendigo Bank, Hydro Tasmania, RACQ and Randstad are amongst the first employers to participate in the pilot, which is initially scheduled to run for two years.

With the backdrop of a national labour shortage, simplifying and creating a more inclusive recruitment process will allow employers to tap into this underutilised talent pool, opening up doors for both candidates and employers.

Recruitable aims to provide organisations with insights into the accessibility and inclusion of the current recruitment process and identify the key areas for increasing the hiring process. The recommendations will guide organisations to better understand their current systems, processes, and behaviours to create a more inclusive recruitment experience for candidates with disability and access requirements, and provide recommendations and training to increase accessibility.

Businesses signing up to the program must commit to training their staff to ensure a supportive environment and meet an initial quota for hiring people with disability. Some businesses will also release new job opportunities to Recruitable ahead of going to their current preferred supplier panel.

Dylan Alcott AO, Founder, Get Skilled Access, said, “People with disability have unlimited potential which is why we’re committed to transforming the mainstream recruitment process and reshaping perceptions towards people with disability. A more inclusive model of recruitment is long overdue. Recruitable will offer all Australians an equal opportunity to go after the job of their choice, fulfil their potential and live the life they deserve.”

Madeline Hill, GM, Diversity & Inclusion, Randstad, commented on the launch: “As a major recruiter in Australia with significant influence on the shape of the workforce, driving diversity is absolutely key to Randstad. All the evidence shows that diverse and inclusive workplaces are happier and more productive and, in turn, support wider positive, societal change.

“We are proud to be extending this focus on diversity with the Recruitable program and carving out a new approach to the recruitment process, which keeps people with disability at its heart, brings enormous benefits to Australian businesses and organisations, and delivers greatly needed progress.”

Recruitable is the first initiative under the Federal Government’s Disability Employment Strategy – Employ My Ability, an associated plan of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 which is a commitment across all levels of government to create a more inclusive society where people with disability can reach their full potential.

Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, said that the majority of employers indicate an openness to hiring people with disability, but only around a third of businesses show behavioural commitment to doing so.

“People with disability are hardworking and dedicated employees but too often businesses fail to recognise or even consider their skills and capability,” Minister Ruston said.

“The Recruitable pilot will highlight the benefits of a highly talented but regularly overlooked workforce.

“It aims to provide organisations with insights into the accessibility of the current recruitment process and identify the key areas for improving the hiring process.”

The results of the pilot program will be externally evaluated by La Trobe University and the findings will help inform future reforms and initiatives under the Disability Employment Strategy. This strategy was co-designed by the Disability Employment Advisory Committee of which Kerry McQuillan, Queensland State Director and Randstad’s National D&I Lead is a member.

Randstad hopes that a successful pilot program will lead to the wider rollout of the program and a significant shift in employment outcomes for the many Australians with disability.

Research from leading SME travel management company Corporate Traveller on the travel habits of Australia’s SMEs reveals good news for the events industry: businesses value face-to-face interactions, with conference attendance the key reason for their travel. The data also revealed the factors SMEs are placing a high value on and the areas their travel management industry has been excelling in, from an easy booking process to a high duty of care.

Corporate Traveller, the specialist SME travel provider of the Flight Centre Travel Group surveyed 535 businesses – mostly SMEs – to gain insight into the planning, booking and expense management habits of corporate travel customers as well as their views on travel management companies.

The results found that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of SMEs travel to attend conferences, indicating an appetite for events as the last remaining covid restrictions are being removed. Over half (54 per cent) of businesses travel to conduct sales or conduct or attend training (chosen by 51 per cent of respondents).

Despite the pandemic shifting ways of working, face-to-face meetings still prove to be valuable, with 44 per cent of respondents revealing they travel for board or executive meetings, while a third (36 per cent) travel for internal meetings.

Larger SME businesses are more likely to travel for meetings, with 53 per cent of respondents in companies with more than 200 employees travelling for board and executive meetings and 41 per cent travelling for internal stakeholder meetings. This compares with 34 per cent and 18 per cent (respectively) of small businesses with 2-19 employees travelling for the same reasons.

With travel restrictions continuing to be eased and borders reopening around the world, the prospect of a reinvigorated domestic and international business travel market appears more promising than ever in 2022.

Tom Walley, Global Managing Director at Corporate Traveller, says: “After prolonged periods of restrictions, and as we come out of two years of remote working and virtual meetings, face-to-face communication will be an important part of the recovery and growth of the business sector. An increasing proportion of businesses will gradually resume domestic, then international, travel for meetings and events. Corporate Traveller has seen a significant increase in domestic travel bookings in 2022, and we’re seeing a similar pattern now Australia is open for business once again.

“The anticipated business appetite for events and conference attendance will give the events industry (who are SMEs themselves) the confidence it needs to recover, make networking possible again for businesses, boost business travel further and help economic growth. Business travel leads to significant incidental spending on accommodation, transport, and hospitality.”

Tom also stresses the importance of SMEs outsourcing travel to a specialist management company to help navigate the new complex travel environment. The Corporate Traveller survey found that, for businesses, not all travel management companies were equal and there are some key attributes that make the best in the industry stand out. Respondents were most satisfied with their travel management company’s responsiveness to requests and easy booking process (chosen by an equal 73 per cent of respondents), an understanding of the business’s travel needs (chosen by 70 per cent), a high duty of care (68 per cent), reputation (66 per cent) and 24/7 availability (63 per cent).

Conversely, a quarter (26 per cent) of SMEs are dissatisfied with their travel management company. Specifically, 34 per cent were not satisfied with their mobile app and 49 per cent said their provider did not offer easy reporting.

Tom says: “Partnering with a good travel management company helps businesses navigate the complexity of the current travel environment, which we expect to continue through 2022. User-friendly technology that streamlines the travel journey, a prioritisation of duty of care, an always-on service, and sustainability in travel are key areas that travel management companies must offer in this current environment.

“For example, our SAM app is a powerful pocket travel assistant app fuelled by AI that makes sure travellers have all the essential information they need at hand. Itineraries, notifications, updates, tips, and alerts – they’re all delivered in real time, 24-7.

“SAM organises, curates, and sends information to travellers based on the unique context of their individual trip – whether that’s geo-based alerts relevant to their current location, or predictive intelligence that identifies any local issues before they encounter them.

“The app is designed to be the ‘guardian angel’ for every traveller in times of disruption at home and abroad. SAM sends flight status reports, boarding gate changes, weather, and traffic reports, as well as the latest alerts and information on border closures and restrictions that are impacting the area.”

Small Business Summit program examines the perspectives, policy and purpose of small businesses in Australia 

The COSBOA National Small Business Summit, 5 – 6 April 2022, brings together Australia’s heavyweights, leaders and influencers, during a prime time for political parties to propose their plans for small business, while discussing the key challenges and directions for the industry.  

Alexi Boyd, CEO of COSBOA, said the Summit couldn’t be happening at a more important time for small business.  

“The Federal election is right around the corner, and over the past two years small businesses in Australia have faced fire, floods and the pandemic.  

“So, the question the industry wants answered is: what about small business now? What does the future look like? How do we recover? Who is going to support us? We aim to address these questions at the Summit and have invited key players in government and policy makers.  

“This is a chance for association leaders, governing bodies, board directors and chairs to hear what’s next, meet with peers and get the information to best support their members.
COSBOA will also launch the Small Business Perspective Report 2022 at the Summit providing key insights into the state of the industry now,” said Ms Boyd.  

The Summit has attracted the likes of the Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for Small and Family Business; the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party; the Hon Matt Kean MP, NSW Treasurer; the Hon Bruce Billson GAICD, The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions; and representatives from all the regulators.  

Hot topics being covered at the summit include:  

• Australian regulation and policy 
• Innovation – real stories from small business 
• Digitalisation and cybersecurity 
• Pandemic problems: insurance and landlords 
• Workplace wellness 
• Economic trends and the future 
• Industrial relations 
• Competition
•  

“The Summit looks to the future and what we need to implement now for the good of the industry. It’s the best opportunity for small business leaders, industry associations, regulators and politicians to come together to discuss how we can support the growth of small business in Australia,” said Ms Boyd. 

The COSBOA National Small Business Summit, takes place Tuesday 5 April & Wednesday 6 April 2022 at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. 

To see the full program visit: www.cosboansbs.com.au/program 
To register: www.cosboansbs.com.au

Nearly two years into remote working, Australia’s businesses are still facing barriers when it comes to meeting the needs of the workforce, with 40% of workers seeing no change in their productivity since working from home, and 14% seeing a decline in their productivity altogether. 

New research from DocuSign, titled The evolution of working from anywhere, finds that despite a majority of businesses embracing a flexible working model since March 2020, 74% of Australian workers admit that working from home still poses its fair share of challenges.

The survey of more than 500 Australian full-time senior business leaders, managers and employees, conducted in partnership with YouGov, finds that across the generations, barriers to successful remote working environments remain.

Millennial and Gen X employees find that they still lack the right technology support for their jobs (31%), compared to Baby Boomers (4%). Meanwhile, 7 in 10 Gen Zers find that they do not have the right tools to collaborate and communicate with their teammates, impacting their ability to learn and grow as the newest members of the workforce. 

In light of these barriers, more than half (52%) of Australia’s workforce, across all generations, feel that they are remaining stagnant or are falling behind when it comes to their workplace productivity.

“Our research shows that in this new work world, organisations need to continuously analyse and act to design the optimal workspace. In today’s workplace culture, employee needs are continually evolving, and as a result, businesses need to invest in innovative solutions to ensure their staff have the right support in their field of work. All the while remembering that in this new era, one size doesn’t fit all,” says Dan Bognar, DocuSign’s Group Vice President and General Manager for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region.

Organisations that are leading the way out of this crisis are the ones accelerating the speed of their digital usage. But it is not just about moving faster. Rather, it is about investing in the right technology that can help support growth, processes, people and ensure the security of your business. The road ahead will be challenging. But there’s also hope because of the opportunities that a digital-first strategy can bring”

Looking ahead, the future looks bright. Since the start of the pandemic, 6 in 10 organisations introduced new tools to improve the workplace experience. In parallel, nearly half (49%) of Australian office workers agree that their business performance has improved since starting to work remotely. 

Technology has gone from being a part of the business to a business enabler. Digital tools such as video technology, collaboration platforms and eSignatures have become imperative to day-to-day operations – helping with onboarding, new clients and management — and the evolution of these tools will only become more critical as remote working culture evolves.

Experts from some of Australia’s most established and fastest-growing companies have joined forces to create a new business program with the City of Sydney and NSW Government to help small businesses, creatives, retailers and hospitality owners bounce back from the pandemic.

The City, in partnership with the State Government, is hosting a series of nine webinars that will guide businesses on how to sell online, create cost-effective branding solutions and use the big platforms to accelerate growth.

The Reboot 2022 Small Business Series kicks off on 29 March and will feature experts from some of Australia’s most successful companies including RedBalloon, Shop You, news.com.au and Eucalyptus. 

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the initiative will help support businesses to develop new, innovative ways of thinking and working to ensure they can prosper and grow post-pandemic.

“The past two years have been extraordinarily challenging for our retailers, businesses and the hospitality sector and recovery will take time, adaptability and the willingness to consider new ways of doing business,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We’ve engaged industry experts and developed a series of webinars that will help these businesses to upskill, learn and navigate a path forward in a post-pandemic world.”

With a focus on digital content skills and growing customers and brand, the webinars will provide inspiring stories and practical examples to help businesses learn, innovate and grow in 2022. 

The Reboot series is proudly supported by the NSW government’s Business Connect program which provides advice and support to help businesses get off the ground, adapt and grow.

Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said the partnership between the City of Sydney and NSW Government will expand opportunities for small businesses to access support through the Business Connect network.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, their importance in providing jobs and services to the local community cannot be overstated,” Ms Petinos said.

“Business Connect has helped almost 44,000 businesses since the program began in 2017. It provides a network of accredited business advisors who provide expert, professional and independent advice on how to run a small business.

“With webinars on topics such as driving growth and nailing your marketing, the Reboot series is highly relevant for small businesses as they move on from COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges of the past two years, including the recent floods.”

The series includes:

Brand Building, Naomi Simson, co-founder, RedBalloon

29 March, 12pm–1pm  

If you want your business to stand out, building and managing its brand is fundamental to its success. In this noisy digital world, it is even more important for your brand to be memorable and have an impact. A brand extends far beyond a logo.

Getting financial fundamentals right – Melissa Browne, co-founder, The Money Barre 

5 April, 12pm–1pm

Managing money and finances in your business can make or break it. Learn how to manage your cashflow and finances, the financial implications of different business structures and some of the best financial planning and tools available.  

Create a winning online store – Kelly Slessor, CEO, Shop You 

12 April, 12pm–1pm

Technology can be extremely intimidating, with many businesses putting it in the too-hard basket. Learn which e-commerce platform is right for your business, the plugins that will help ‌grow your business and what combination of platforms and plugins will really drive results. 

Content that drives clicks – Lisa Muxworthy, editor-in-chief, news.com.au 

26 April, 12pm–1pm 

Creating content and getting your content out there is not easy. Learn to build an audience and create content that drives attention and customer conversions, which content drives the biggest click-throughs and how to pitch to media.  

How to create storytelling content that really connects – Wayne Quilliam, Aboriginal artist and digital creator  

3 May, 12pm–1pm

In a digital world, storytelling is the stuff high growth brands are made of. To stand out, a great brand, product or service is not enough. Learn the importance of stories in the digital world, how businesses create their stories and how to translate stories into imagery and video online to capture attention. 

 
Nailing your marketing mix – Sandradee Makejev, founder, St Frock, Kelly Slessor, CEO, Shop You and Sina Klug, founder, Nutie Donuts 

10 May, 12pm–1pm

To drive more sales and grow your audience, the guest speakers will give advice on which channels, content, and audience growth strategies they have used for success. Learn about some of the biggest challenges they have faced due to growth as well as some of their most successful campaigns. The speakers will share insights into how to grow followers that love you, which channels should you invest in and insights into conversion, content and paid advertising.  

The digital word of mouth: growth with Instagram – Mya Nichol, Instagram expert and coach  

17 May, 12pm–1pm 

Learn the secret of the Instagram algorithm and how to grow your social media channel. With the average person spending 142 minutes a day on social media, learn tips from the expert on how to accelerate your business. 

Driving growth with online search – Kelly Slessor, CEO, Shop You

24 May, 12pm–1pm 

Learn about search, Google My Business, search engine optimisation (SEO), driving traffic and generating more leads. Participants will also learn how to land the front page of Google, use free and paid digital marketing and how to improve visibility. 

Growth hacking – Tim Doyle, founder, Eucalyptus  

31 May, 12pm–1pm

Learn how Australia’s fastest-growing companies are accelerating their customer base and get insights on how to effectively market your business and grow your customer base quickly. 

“There’s no better time to start a business than right now because of the access to technology and customers online,” Kelly Slessor, CEO ShopYou said.

“As part of the Reboot series, we’ll share with businesses and start-ups the wealth of information and research online that can actually help make a business more sustainable and successful.

“The series has been curated to ensure that participants can learn practical tips and have a plan or ideas they can take away and implement. This is a great opportunity to learn from and interact with some great minds who have set up or worked in small business and worked their way through the challenges to success.”

For more details on the Reboot webinar series, visit whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch of two global accelerator programs to help startups address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in healthcare, space, and sustainability while building successful, cloud-based businesses. Both accelerators are open to Aussie and New Zealand startups and entrepreneurs.

The accelerators announced today build on successful programs conducted in 2021, and include:

• The AWS Space Accelerator (in collaboration with AlchemistX) is open to space startups globally with innovative ideas for using the cloud to reimagine both government and commercial space missions. Startups that participated in last year’s AWS Space Accelerator have collectively raised over $359 million in VC funding since May 2021. More specific info here.

• The AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator (in collaboration with Freshwater Advisors and Public Spend Forum) is open to mature clean tech startups globally that are working on micro-mobility, last mile-delivery, urban parking and route optimisation, EV charging infrastructure & applications, IoT transportation and traffic optimisation, or other solutions to promote sustainable transportation and mobility in fast-growing urban centers. Last year’s AWS Clean Energy Accelerator resulted in multiple commercial pilot deployments for participating startups. More specific info here.

For over 15 years, AWS has worked with startups to provide the tools and resources necessary to launch and scale their businesses. These accelerators leverage the experience of an AWS startup team comprised of ex-founders, VCs, technologists, product leaders, and subject matter experts to provide focused support and fuel innovation in specific areas.

AWS is committed to supporting startup innovation and providing the tools and mechanisms for startups to collaborate with the wider ecosystem, and leverage the latest cloud technologies to deliver solutions to transform customer experience and address some of society’s biggest challenges. Today’s announcement also follows the launch of AWS Startup Ramp in India, ASEAN, South Korea, and Japan, a program for early-stage startups building solutions in health, digital government, smart cities, agriculture, and space technology is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs as they build, launch, and grow.

You can learn more about the announcement here and how AWS helps startups succeed here.

Epson has developed an industrial 3D printer that can use commonly available third-party materials to produce strong, accurate industrial parts of various sizes and functions. 3D printers with these features will have uses in a far wider range of applications, including in the production of parts for final products, and will enable users to mass-customise their goods in support of small-batch production.

3D printers can be used to fabricate a wide variety of goods in small quantities in a short period of time. Manufacturers have responded to this promise by accelerating the development and launch of 3D printers for the industrial market, which is expected to expand rapidly in the future. However, conventional industrial 3D printers require the use of special modelling materials. Moreover, they are not well-suited to the production of objects that offer both strength and accuracy, so their use in industrial parts for final products has been limited.

Epson’s newly developed 3D printer employs a unique material extrusion method that is achieved using a flat screw (an inline screw with a flattened configuration) like that found in Epson’s precision injection moulding machines. This extrusion method enables the printer to be used with a variety of common third-party materials, such as resin or metal pellets, which are generally available at a lower cost than other materials, environmentally considerate biomass pellets, and PEEK materials, which can provide high heat resistance.

In addition, the amount of material injected is precisely controlled by regulating the pressure within the head and by regulating the action of a valve in concert with the modelling speed. The temperature at the surface of a piece being printed must also be controlled in order to obtain the required strength.

Epson employs a unique mechanism to precisely control this temperature and achieve both strength and accuracy. This 3D printer is thus engineered to manufacture strong, accurate objects with commonly available materials, facilitating printer use in the production of industrial parts for final products. It is ideally suited to mass customisation, as it can produce small batches of parts tailored to customers’ needs with higher quality, shorter lead times, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing processes.

Epson is aiming to commercialise the printer after first making needed refinements while utilising it internally to volume-produce certain parts for commercial and industrial equipment.

This 3D printer will be available in Australia at a future date.

In addition to industrial 3D printers, Epson seeks to innovate manufacturing by co-creating flexible, high-throughput production systems that reduce environmental impacts.