Poly has announced the Voyager 4300 UC Series to its award-winning family of Voyager wireless Bluetooth headsets. Designed with flexible workers in mind, the Voyager 4300 UC Series keeps workers connected and productive at home or in the office and is now available in Australia.

Works the Way You Do

As work dynamics have shifted, the Voyager 4300 UC Series offers a wireless headset that frees you from your desk, allowing you to roam up to 50 metres from your computer. It’s jam-packed with high-quality audio and multiple connectivity options – all at an accessible price point. The Voyager 4300 UC Series has seamless connectivity to your choice of smartphone or computer via the included BT700 USB adapter to provide you with the flexibility you need throughout the day.

This headset enables workers to control one of the biggest pain points of remote meetings – their mute state. This headset comes with an easy-to-find-and-use mute button so you can remain confident that no one on the call can hear the dog howl at the delivery man. Dynamic Mute Alert notifies users when they talk while muted, meaning that talking to yourself or needing to apologise for talking on mute is a thing of the past.

The Voyager 4300 UC Series offers flexibility to work with the partner of your choice. The Microsoft Teams-certified version comes with a dedicated Microsoft Teams button on the headset that instantly invokes the Teams app and provides visual alerts when a Teams notification occurs. For a seamless out-of-the-box Zoom meeting experience, this Zoom-certified headset includes remote call control and mute sync to simplify the way you connect.

Pro-Grade Audio Quality

Wherever you are, whether at home or in the office, the Voyager 4300 UC Series provides outstanding pro-grade audio quality. Poly’s Acoustic Fence technology blocks unwanted background noise, so the person on the other end only hears the speaker’s voice, not disruptive background noises. Poly SoundGuard Digital technology ensures a safe and comfortable listening experience with natural-sounding speech to provide a best-in-class audio experience for everyone on the call.

Andy Hurt, Poly’s ANZ MD, said, “Over the last 18 months, we have seen demand skyrocket for a flexible, reliable, and affordable solution for workers that are working remotely or from the office. The Voyager 4300 UC Series brings a combination of pro-quality audio, freedom to roam, all-day comfort, and connectivity, wherever you work.”

The Voyager 4300 UC Series also offers:

• Easy set up and usein the office or at home, without the need for IT support.
• All-day wear and wireless connectivity up to 50 metres, freeing users from their desk (or kitchen table) and is available as a two-ear stereo version or single-ear mono wearing style.
• The Voyager Office base is an optional accessory for desk phone users, which also charges the headset. Alternatively, you can opt for a Voyager 4300 UC charging stand, designed to keep the device charged and ready to use at any moment (sold separately, also compatible with the Voyager Focus 2)
• World-class support with Poly Lens – a personal device support service, a 2-year limited warranty and access to Poly’s standard support. For additional peace of mind, Poly+ paid subscription service is available and offers 24/7 technology support for personal devices worldwide and a three-year warranty.

Pricing and availability

For more information on styles, local pricing and availability, please contact certified Poly partners and resellers in Australia or visit: Voyager 4300 UC Series.

Check out Small Business Answers buying guide to headsets for business

Increased phishing, ransomware attacks, human error, and greater reliance on the cloud is why backing up data is crucial for businesses.

Over the past year, Covid-19 has led to unprecedented lifestyle changes around the world. Whether you are working from home for the first time, adjusting to the changing social distancing rules, or taking part in eLearning, the pandemic has thrown up various new challenges and cyber threats. As many organisations transitioned to a remote workforce, organisations witnessed a dramatic rise in cyberattacks from hackers looking to exploit remote employees working without the safety net of their corporate network.

According to data from Check Point Research’s 2021 Mid-Year Report, ransomware attacks in the APAC region increased by 13% since the beginning of the year, with Botnet attacks leading the cyberattack category at 41%. Globally, the average number of ransomware attacks increased each week by 20% in May and April, by 41% in the first half of the year and 93% in the last 12 months.

Given the high level of risk that this represents for companies and their data security, Check Point Software wants to highlight the crucial importance of restoring a company’s stolen or encrypted data if it falls victim to a cybercriminal. As such, the data security specialist reveals five reasons why businesses should make backups a priority:

Five key reasons why backing up data is crucial for businesses:

1. Preventive measures do not always work: As cybercriminals continue to target the remote workforce, companies have started to expand their cybersecurity strategy through robust defence software, both for the corporate network and the cloud, to update systems and apps regularly, to install a VPN and to increase levels of protection on employees’ devices, as well as to provide cybersecurity training for workers. While these measures do considerably increase the level of protection for a business. It is still possible that they could fail to stop an attack, as cybercriminals constantly develop new ways to get around the defences. It is essential to have a backup plan so that no data is lost in the event of a cyberattack. If a company becomes the victim of a double ransomware extortion attack, having a backup system in place gives them the chance to quickly restore things back to normal.
2. Cyberattacks are evolving: Cyberattacks are evolving every day, and cybercriminals are constantly striving to find security loopholes. Companies are often unprepared for new ransomware, phishing emails, and malware. This is why new generation cyberattacks could still get through these defenses and achieve their objectives despite the updates and protective barriers they may have in place.
3. Data theft puts a company’s reputation at risk: Losing information by exposing customers’ personal data can have irreparable consequences for a business in terms of reputation and financial loss. Since GDPR came in a few years ago, allowing customer’s personal documents to be compromised can lead to litigation.
4. The cloud becomes another attack vector: The cloud has indeed brought great advantages to companies, like reducing costs and allowing remote working. However, storing data on cloud platforms exponentially increases the attack surface through which cybercriminals could access the corporate network. So, it’s a good idea. In fact, it’s essential to carry out regular manual backups of the information stored in the cloud if anything outside the company’s control happens.
5. Internal dangers are sometimes undetectable: Unfortunately, even with all possible cybersecurity measures and the best protection software in place, the responsibility of users is fundamental. It is essential to train employees on the different techniques and correct approaches to cybersecurity. Instilling in employees the importance of having up-to-date backups if an unforeseen event or cyber-attack can be one of the best defences.

“Having the security of a backup of our company’s most sensitive and important data gives us many advantages and protects us against any unexpected attacks, both on our company and employees, as well as on our customers and suppliers. This technique is a form of protection in addition to all the hardware and software measures we may have, even if we are migrating our data and files to the cloud,” advised Ian Raper, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Check Point Software Technologies.

Read more on the Small Business Answers guide on backup keeping your data safe.

Poly has released new research which identifies six distinct workplace personas found within the majority of Australian businesses.

The six workplace personas, which represent approximately 92% of employees within a typical business, each have their own distinct character traits. By identifying the attributes, pain points, and communication preferences associated with each persona, businesses are better equipped to match workstyles and employee behaviours to devices and technologies, increasing organisational productivity.

The six baseline workplace personas, along with the product that would be most suited to each group based on their work style, needs, and behaviours, are:

OFFICE COLLABORATOR

Making up the largest proportion of the Australian workforce at 29%, these workers have a traditional office-based work style that is highly collaborative in nature and open to new technology. However, this brings with it background noise, constant disruptions, and a need to seamlessly manage their communication across devices.

In Australia, workers are most likely to be Office Collaborators, with fewer non-office-based staff than most other nations. This may be partly due to the lower impact that COVID has had in Australia, with fewer lockdowns. However, the research predicts a future decline in this type of worker persona underpinned by the uptick in their desire to work more flexibly.

FLEX WORKER

Splitting time between the corporate office, the home office, and travel, 18% of the Australian workforce is classified as a Flexible Worker. This persona is always innovating and adapting their communications channels due to their frequent remote and on-the-go work. They risk having difficulty collaborating with colleagues, and missing important information in the office, so they need to be “always-on” and communicate across several devices to minimise this risk. The size of this persona group will likely grow as Office Collaborators who want to work more flexibly adapt to work at home, in the office and elsewhere.

REMOTE COLLABORATOR

With fewer opportunities for in-person meetings, the 12% of the Australian workforce who are Remote Collaborators face challenges, including successful and productive collaboration. They need multiple devices and technologies to bridge the gaps between their colleagues, co-workers and clients. In the future, the number of Remote Collaborators is expected to increase, likely due to the number of Office Collaborators who choose to work remotely following the COVID-19 pandemic.

OFFICE COMMUNICATOR

Office Communicators are most comfortable with familiar systems and devices such as a desk phone. They make up 16% of the Australian workforce, and it is important to acknowledge their challenges, such as being diverted by interruptions, background noise and lack of privacy on calls. More traditional workstyles changed during the pandemic, and this persona group is expected to remain stable in the short term as this is a group anxious to return to the office.

CONNECTED EXECUTIVE

These tech-savvy business drivers make up 11% of the Australian workforce. They go wherever needed to make decisions and solve problems. Versatile in their work style, they use more communication tools than any other persona. Their pain points include diversions, interruptions and unpredictable background noise as they need to stay connected across all devices. Executives need to connect will continue to be persistent, due to which there will be a negligible effect on this persona type in the future.

ROAD WARRIOR

Accounting for 4% of the Australian workforce, Road Warriors are always moving outside of the office more than 50% of the time. They need highly portable and easy to use solutions that eliminate noise and reduce the chance of unreliable connections. Some people will still need to travel at times to complete business tasks that require in-person contributions. This group size will remain stable as those who were prevented from travelling during COVID-19 get back out to see customers and colleagues.

The remaining 10% of employees not covered by the six personas fall under the Office Independent type. This includes people operating in self-directed roles with limited communication and collaboration technology needs.

Andy Hurt, ANZ MD at Poly, explains: “We have been studying workplace personas for almost a decade, but never has it been as crucial as it is now to truly understand the personality types within your business and how to get the best out of them. Whilst this study was conducted during COVID-19, we believe that the behaviour shifts observed in the workplace will remain long-term. Identifying these and ensuring that everyone has the correct tools and devices to maximise efficiency and productivity is the key to a successful and efficient workforce both now and for years to come.” 

The Poly products best suited to each workplace persona:

• Office Collaborators

The Poly Savi 8200 Office wireless DECT^TM headset and Poly Studio P5 professional webcam best suit these traditional office-based work styles.

• Flex Worker

The Poly Voyager 6200 UC Bluetooth^® neckband headset and Poly Studio P5 professional webcam will help minimise the collaboration difficulties for those embracing this new era of flexible working.

• Remote Collaborator

Utilising the Poly Voyager Focus UC stereo Bluetooth^® headset and Poly Studio P15 personal video bar will help these workers retain effective communication channels with their colleagues in different locations.

• Office Communicator

The Poly Blackwire 8225 headset is ideal for this persona group as it addresses their challenges, such as background noise and interruptions in the office.

• Connected Executive

The Poly Voyager Focus UC stereo Bluetooth^® headset and Poly Studio P15 personal video bar best suits their versatile workstyle needs.

•  Road Warrior

The Poly Voyager 5200 UC headset is a go-to solution for Road Warriors who need highly portable and easy to use solutions as they are always on the move.

To select the right headset, also see Small Business Answers review on wired vs Bluetooth headsets.

If your business is starting to look and feel a little outdated, refreshing your brand is a great way to adjust to new trends and remain contemporary. But first, decide whether your business needs just a revamp or a complete rebrand.

A rebrand can be quite a big investment that requires a lot of thought – you’re not only rehauling your look but essentially changing your business’ personality. Instead, a refresh is a simple yet effective way of taking your existing core brand message, along with the visual elements and giving them an update or mini-makeover. Vistaprint Australia’s Art Director, Bhavani Lee, shares her top tips for a simple and effective brand refresh with limited resources.

Know Your Audience

When it comes to revamping, or really any business decision, it’s important to know your audience. Knowing who you’re talking to will heavily influence what your communications look and sound like – e.g. bold colours vs. a subdued colour palette, casual vs. formal tone – and how they make customers feel. Always keep your desired audience top of mind and ensure your brand’s visual identity speaks directly to them. If you can make small improvements to relate to them, you’ll be set up for success.

Simplify Your Logo

Your logo is where your brand begins, so it’s best to keep it simple. More often than not, there will always be something that can be simplified. Remove any elements that could be distracting, like too much text or busy images. Think about some of the most iconic brands, like Nike, Apple, Google and Amazon – their logos are simple and sleek. 

Experiment With Colour

Look at ways to revamp your brand by exploring the most recent colour trends and applying these where it feels appropriate. 2021 has seen a mix of neutral tones with a bright coloured accent for contrast and impact and the continued popularity of colour blocking to create interest and eye-catching visuals. 

Consistency Is Key

Create a consistent look across all your marketing, both printed and digital. Whether it’s a flyer in the mail, a poster on your window, an email or an Instagram post, every time a customer comes into contact with your business, they should feel an instant connection back to your brand.

Typography Comes In Twos

Be mindful of your typography. Generally, it’s best to have just two fonts in your repertoire. Fonts can be fun to use, but mixing too many different styles, weights and sizes can quickly distract from your message as well as the visual appeal of your design. 

Don’t Forget About Social Media

Extend your rebrand to social media. We all know social media is a great way to connect with your audience and share your brand’s personality, so have fun with it and use strong visuals to catch the eye of even the most avid scroller. You can also add your refreshed look to merchandise; run giveaways or competitions to engage users and get your brand in their hands. 

Be sure to also read Small Business Answers guide to marketing to grow your business.

eftpos today announced a supporting partnership of Beyond Blue as part of a $200,000 multi-year engagement encouraging all Australians to achieve their best possible mental health. The partnership will focus on funding and providing access to the Beyond Blue Support Service and aims to raise awareness about the link between financial and mental health, particularly for small businesses and young people.

eftpos CEO Stephen Benton said the alignment between eftpos and Beyond Blue’s purpose and core values was immediately clear and enormously important to both organisations.

Mr Benton said that through the partnership, eftpos would be encouraging consumers and small business owners to take steps and seek support to improve their overall mental health and wellbeing, particularly during these difficult times of COVID lockdowns and recovery. 

“eftpos’ purpose is to do Good for Australia, and we see this partnership as having a direct and positive impact. By contributing to and supporting Beyond Blue’s Support Service, it is our hope we can make a difference to the lives of people in Australia, especially in these challenging times,” Mr Benton said. 

“With disruptions to how we live, learn and work, we have limited access to the usual supports and coping mechanisms that help keep us well. This comes at a time where many in our community, including young people and small business owners, are also experiencing financial pressures which we know are closely tied to mental health,” Mr Benton said

Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman thanked eftpos for its support, with partnership donations going towards the Beyond Blue Support Service.

“eftpos’ support is vital, especially at a time when millions of people are experiencing the effects of the pandemic, including the impact on many people’s financial wellbeing,” Ms Harman said.

“Contacts to Beyond Blue’s support services are up 30 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, so we are extremely grateful to eftpos for supporting us so we can keep answering every call and online chat.

“Every dollar will go to the Beyond Blue Support Service, which is staffed around the clock by mental health professionals. They are ready to provide free, immediate and confidential counselling, advice and referrals online or over the phone. We thank eftpos for their support.”

Research shows two-thirds of small business owners say the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health, a figure that has doubled since before the pandemic. 

Even more worryingly is that small business operators support others, such as their family and staff, rather than tending to their own needs when they need support themselves. 

“Along with the eftpos partnership funds going to the Beyond Blue Support Service, we’re also encouraging small business owners to find out more about Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners, a program supported by trained mental health coaches who have a background in small business,” said Mr Benton.

Uniden is releasing the App-enabled XTRAK Pro Series, setting a new benchmark and delivering an industry first in UHF radios for both in-car and handheld communications.

As communication is critical and remaining connected is more important than ever, the new XTRAK Pro includes in-vehicle and handheld UHF radios, both of which can track and share the user’s exact location through the XTRAK Bluetooth App. Offering both a handheld and in-vehicle UHF with location sharing is a first in the market. Users are never out of contact and are always able to talk to a friend or colleague while on the road and in remote locations.

Whether in the car with the XTRAK 80 Pro, or on foot with XTRAK 50 Pro, contact is always possible between the vehicle and handheld units, utilising the advanced positional tracking and location sharing feature for accuracy through the Uniden XTRAK app.

Designed and engineered in Japan, the Uniden XTRAK Pro features a large, high contrast anti-glare OLED display and backlit keypad on the in-vehicle UHF radio, clear and easy to read in all lighting conditions. Sound is not compromised with a powerful integrated 2-Watt speaker and 4 level voice enhancers that enable maximum sound clarity in noisy environments. Bluetooth connection is available on the XTRAK 80 Pro, connecting to the vehicle’s audio speakers.

Uniden’s innovative one-touch instant replay avoids missing important transmissions, with the ability to listen to recent communications received up to six minutes prior. This has been a popular feature of Uniden in-vehicle UHF Radios for many years and is an industry first for UHF handheld radios with the launch of the Uniden XTRAK Series. A Smart Key also helps to easily toggle between instant channel, call tone or equaliser.

Pairing with the Bluetooth XTRAK App, available for iOS and Android, is simple and immediately pinpoints a map position with the UHF radio. The App also gives access to settings controls on the radio, allowing the management of Selcall contacts and extra receive channels, as well as sending in-App text messages.

Uniden UHF radios are tough, designed and built to withstand the harshest conditions, with the magnetic microphone mount across both in-vehicle XTRAK and XTRAK Pro providing quick access and keeping the mobile safe and secure when driving. The XTRAK 50 UHF Handheld Series is waterproof, offering a range of up to 17 kilometres with 30 hours of operating time.

Watch Uniden XTRAK in action: https://youtu.be/l2ripCbTvcM

Uniden XTRAK Pro key features:

• UHF Radio and Location Tracking in 1 – Industry first for UHF Handhelds
• Industry First Instant Replay Function (Both UHF Handheld and UHF In-Vehicle)
• Bluetooth App enabled
• Large Anti-Glare OLED Display with Dimmer
• 2-Watt Speaker in Remote Microphone
• 80 UHF Channels
• Magnetic Microphone Mount (In-car UHF Radios)
• Voice Scrambler
• Open/Group Scan with Priority Channel watch
• 5-Watt Maximum TX Output Power
• Designed and Engineered in Japan

Uniden XTRAK (available from late August 2021)

XTRAK 80 – Smart UHF Radio with Large OLED Display and Instant Replay Function – $449.95 RRP

XTRAK 50 – 5-Watt Waterproof Smart UHF Handheld Radio with Large OLED Display with Instant Replay Function – $329.95 RRP

Uniden XTRAK PRO (available late September 2021)

XTRAK 80 PRO – Smart UHF Radio with Large OLED Display, Location Sharing Through App and Instant Replay – $549.95 RRP

XTRAK 50 PRO – 5-Watt Waterproof Smart UHF Handheld Radio with Large OLED Display, Location Sharing Through App and Instant Replay Function – $449.95 RRP

Customer enquiries: phone Uniden on 1300 366 895 or visit www.uniden.com.au

Also, see Small Business Answers guide to handheld radios.

WeWork, the leading flexible space provider, has launched WeWork Growth Campus, a new initiative aimed at boosting Australia’s entrepreneurial start-up ecosystem. 

While Australia has seen some scale-ups rise to new heights during the pandemic, COVID-19 has presented a huge challenge for startups and the community that supports them. With innovation being key to a thriving economy, Growth Campus will support the sector and its role in the region’s economic recovery.

With emerging technology businesses and entrepreneurs playing a central part in WeWork’s community, Growth Campus is built on its expertise in providing its members with the network and space to help their business grow and thrive. 

With campuses across Australia and beyond, Growth Campus gathers a whole entrepreneurial community together virtually and through subsidised space. Members will have complimentary access to WeWork Labs, which offers virtual acceleration support: online access to mentoring and coaching opportunities, customised educational programming, a global network and member community, and exclusive member benefits and discounts to help them grow.

Monica Wulff, Head of WeWork Labs, Australia, Southeast Asia and South Korea, shared, “WeWork has played an integral role in many companies’ growth strategies, and as COVID-19 continues to impact the economy and disrupt the way we work, we saw the need to offer a network and workspace designed to help businesses thrive. As economic recovery evolves across the region, we can expect more companies to emphasise workspace strategy to advance productivity, collaboration and creativity.

“Founders know that building a business isn’t a solo endeavour. Through subsidised workspace, virtual mentoring, customised education and access to our global network of members, we can provide more to help startups grow and kickstart this sector.”

Growth Campus is open to start-ups, accelerators and investors of all sizes. Launched in the UK in February, the program attracted over 800 signups in the first six months, including Antler UK and Crowdcube.

Further information on how to apply for the WeWork Growth Campus can be found here.

Small Business Answers also has a guide to help you find business premises.

To help support and boost growth for Australian retailers, Klarna, a leading global payments and shopping service, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia have announced zero Klarna merchant fees for the first six months for CBA merchants who integrate with Klarna online or in-store.

In addition to waiving fees for the first six months, Klarna will also offer eligible merchants continued marketing support, working closely with them to identify opportunities to drive brand awareness and engagement through social media, Klarna media services, and in-app content and activations.

The initiative comes at what is a challenging time for Australian businesses, with the latest CBA Economics Update revealing retail trade fell 1.8 per cent in June 2021, driven by lockdowns and restrictions in Victoria and Greater Sydney.

Klarna’s Chief Expansion Officer, Camilla Giesecke, said: “With over 90 million users and more than 250,000 merchants globally, Klarna’s ambition is to become Australians’ favourite way to shop while delivering incremental growth for Australian retailers. Retail has been under pressure from the persistent nature of the pandemic, and small businesses, who are at the heart of our communities, have felt its impact most.

“Through our partnership with CBA, we are delighted to make this offer available to

retailers, big or small, as part of our broader commitment to be a growth partner for the

Australian retailers. We hope this will go some way in supporting their business in the short

term, in the lead up to peak shopping season. ”

Commonwealth Bank’s Group Executive of Business Banking Mike Vacy-Lyle said: “The pandemic continues to impact retailers across Australia, with small businesses, in particular, facing cash flow challenges as a result of the lockdowns and restrictions. We recognise that some of our small business customers, particularly those in retail industries, are where the effects of lockdowns are being most acutely felt and may need extra support.

“CBA remains committed to playing a leadership role in Australia’s economic recovery, and this forms part of our broader business support. Having supported tens of thousands of businesses in the last 18 months with repayment holidays and fee waivers, we know how valuable cash flow relief can be for businesses. We believe this initiative goes some way to providing support to businesses across the country,” he said.

Merchants can sign up for this exclusive offer through their CBA relationship manager or through an online application form on Klarna’s website.

For more information and Klarna’s eligibility criteria, please visit:
https://www.klarna.com/au/commbank/

Small Business Answers has a guide to Buy Now Pay Later which can be found here.