With online shopping cart abandonment resulting in a staggering annual loss of $18 billion in sales revenue for E-Commerce stores across Australia^[1], it is not surprising that, in a recent survey of online shoppers, 88 per cent abandon online shopping carts. Interestingly, 63 per cent of respondents identified expensive shipping costs as the main cause of cart abandonment.

The figures have been revealed in a survey of an independent panel of 1005 Australian adults who shop online, commissioned by leading parcel delivery service CouriersPlease. 

The survey results found that only a small minority of online shoppers – 12 per cent – are decisive shoppers that do not abandon online shopping carts, and the proportion is higher among over-50s. Cart abandonment is more common among 18-30-year-olds, with only 3 per cent of this age group proceeding to checkout without leaving items in their carts. Whereas in the 31-50-year-old category, 10 per cent do not abandon their carts and 18 per cent of those over 50 do not leave items in their online shopping carts.

Shipping costs are a concern shared across all age groups, with 65 per cent of under-30s and 59 per cent of over-50s abandoning their shopping carts because of shipping costs and not proceeding through check out. This close margin suggests that consumers of all ages are actively seeking ways to minimise additional expenses amid current cost of living challenges. A higher proportion of women (71%) abandon shopping carts due to shipping costs than men (55%).

Other online shopping expenses are also a concern for shoppers, with 26 per cent of respondents not proceeding to check out after discovering currency exchange fees and other fees associated with their purchases. 

The survey results indicated that a significant proportion of consumers also use shopping carts as a form of ‘window shopping’, leaving their items in the cart while research better deals elsewhere or realising they didn’t need the product. For instance, 38 per cent of respondents – and 45 per cent of 18-30-year-olds – admitted to abandoning their carts after researching and discovering the same item at a cheaper price elsewhere. Twenty-nine (29) per cent of respondents abandoned their carts because they realised the product was unnecessary, while one in four (26%) directly admitted that they use online shopping carts as wish lists. One in five (20%) simply lost interest in their selected product.

Inconvenient delivery options are the reason why 16 per cent of shoppers don’t complete their online purchases. With hybrid working arrangements becoming a mainstay across corporate Australia, flexible and customer-friendly shipping choices are becoming more of a priority.

Commenting on the findings CouriersPlease CEO Richard Thame says: “We are heading into peak sales season – with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas running in succession – where cart abandonment rates might rise due to wider choices and limited time. Our research aims to inform retailers, who may decide to strengthen sales and marketing messages for individual products to reduce cart abandonment.

“We are proud to partner with major online retailers who prioritise offering value, just as we aim to provide value in shipping. In today’s economy, affordability is key, and our strategic partnerships focus on aligning with retailers whose product offerings resonate with cost-conscious shoppers. 

“CouriersPlease is committed to improving the customer experience and making the delivery process simpler by allowing customers more flexibility in how and when they receive their parcels. We can now offer customers who shop with many of our retail partners the option to collect their parcels – even after hours – from over 3,000 conveniently located collection points. Receivers can also elect to reschedule their deliveries to a different date or redirect to a neighbour’s house in response to a notification that their parcel is on its way.”   

The full survey results

Uniden Australia has announced its latest handheld UHF device, the UH825 series, which is built for rugged conditions and offers enhanced features to cater for lifestyle enthusiasts, off-road adventurers, and thrill seekers beyond the ordinary.

The UH825 series is an upgrade from its predecessor: the UH820 series. Incorporating an impressive 2-watt maximum TX output power, the UH825 ensures clear communication over distances of up to 13km. Its long-life 2000mAh lithium-ion battery delivers up to 23 hours of usage, ensuring users are always connected throughout their adventures.

Uniden has integrated USB-C charging into the UH825 series, ensuring rapid and convenient charging. Given the ubiquity of the USB-C cable, you’re likely to find one easily wherever you are, whether you’re borrowing from someone or searching around—a perfect feature for those always on the move. With 80 UHF channels, users are assured of uninterrupted communication, even in the most isolated terrains. Beyond its reliability, the radio is designed to be made durable and is backed by a three-year warranty.

Advanced features like Master Scan®—technology which lets a group of users seamlessly communicate on not just one channel but a group of channels—, voice enhancer, smart key allocation, and rapid scan refine the user experience, ensuring clarity and efficiency in every transmission. The range extender (duplex) capability can amplify the range, while the VOX hands free feature offers the ease of communication even when your hands are occupied.

The digital coded squelch (DCS) and interference eliminator (CTCCS) ensure clear channels with no unwanted disturbances. With its backlit large LCD display, users can navigate with ease, even in low-light conditions. Other user-friendly features include open scan, group scan, auto battery save, instant channel programming and recall, five call tones, and keypad lock.

The innovative smart key feature lets users toggle seamlessly between various functions like voice enhancer, noise reduction circuit (NRC), priority channel (PRI), and CALL, tailoring the device to the user’s exact requirements.

Brad Hales, national marketing manager, Uniden, said, “Our customers are at the heart of our innovation process. The UH825 series is our answer to their evolving needs, delivering top-tier technology that doesn’t compromise on durability or functionality.”

The Uniden UH825-2TP Tradies Pack comes with:

• 2x UH825 UHF radios
• 2x lithium batteries (2000mAh)
• Essential accessories including antennas, belt clips, USB-C charge cable, a dual drop-in charge cradle, AC adaptor for charging, DC cig-lead adaptor, speaker mics, earpiece mics, and a sturdy hard carry case.

For those who need just one unit, the UH825 pack includes:

• 1x UH825 UHF Radio
• 1x lithium battery (2000mAH)
• An antenna, belt clip, and a USB-C charge cable.

Embrace the next generation of handheld radios. Dive into the unknown, traverse rugged terrains, and keep the adventure alive with Uniden’s UH825 series.

Uniden UH825 RRP AU$129.95

Uniden UH825-2TP RRP AU$279.95

Even in hospitality where a warm personal touch is a hot commodity, that chatbot has sparked a lot of talk about the AI wave.

But while Chat GPT is a brilliant tool that can generate fun menus, it’s a distraction from the true impacts of the rapidly building AI tidal wave.

Venue owners have three choices: Put their head in the sand and ignore it, but be ultimately drowned. Another is to pretend their riding the wave by playing with Chat GPT.

The smart ones are starting to get their teams and systems in order.

That’s because AI’s real value lies beneath the digital tools that many venues and their suppliers already use, such as making orders, taking payments and tracking down the best produce.

Pivotal time

In most venues these digital tools have replaced pens and paper. But in the rush to digitize some businesses are now suffocating from SaaS and the monthly fees for the range of apps they’ve downloaded.

We’re now at a pivotal moment when venues must choose tools that will provide streamlined support into the long term.

Those tools will be sourced from quality partners who offer data for good, not from opportunism, and will provide dynamic pricing, forecasting and inventory management.

Venue owners and wholesale suppliers with this information will be empowered to be 10 times better and more scalable.

Those that can’t access it will be pounded by that coming wave then struggle to come up for air.

Guesswork to get the chop

Quality digital solutions find the best suppliers for an individual business’s needs at the right time and simplify procurement. They ‘say’ things like, ‘Are you really sure you want to order that quantity? Did you know if you ordered these, you could get better return on investment?’.

It’s like having a scalpel to snip costs in precisely the right places to drive up revenue rather than the old blunt knife ‘chop 10% across the board’ method.

And, if a business’s financial heart beats strong, it can channel resources into the things that truly matter to customers – great menus and produce at the best available cost – plus those baristas who remember regulars’ names, in a tight and transient labour market. The equivalent is true on the supply side too.

End consumers get venues they love which stay afloat and which are contributing to a more eco-friendly future by minimising their waste.

Top three tips to prepare for digitization’s third AI wave

1. Make sure your existing teams – and any new hires – are at ease with the right tech.
2. Shift your ordering and invoicing into the digital realm so everything funnels seamlessly into one unified accounting system. This is the ticket to unlocking the valuable insights that AI brings to the table.
3. When you pick a tech provider, ensure they have a track record of not just keeping up but leveling up their solutions over the next decade – or more.

Conributed by Adam Theobald who with Andrew Low, founded Ordermentum in 2014 and it is now Australia’s leading ordering and payments platform for the wholesale food and beverage industry.

Major sales such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday (24-27 November) are regarded as windfall events for retailers. Last year, Australians spent more than $7.1bn across the four-day Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales^[1]. Now, new research by a major parcel delivery service reveals that in the weeks before these events, retailers are likely experience a drop in sales as 2 in 3 shoppers hold back their wallets in anticipation of deep discounts during the sales. The findings may help retailers decide whether to introduce earlier or more regular sales.

The results were derived from a survey of an independent, nationally representative panel of 1005 online shoppers^[2] commissioned by parcel delivery service CouriersPlease.

How long do shoppers delay purchases before the sales?

CouriersPlease asked survey respondents whether they hold off on purchasing some non-essential goods in the two weeks, one month, two months, three months or six months leading up to shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the hopes of nabbing a bargain. 

The survey’s most surprising finding was that nearly 65 per cent of Australian consumers opt to defer their online purchases until the peak shopping event of Black Friday, lured by the prospect of significant cost savings and unbeatable deals. It is a purposeful strategy aimed at securing massive bargains.

It appears patience pays off when it comes to the quest for enticing deals. Thirty (30) per cent of shoppers prefer to wait until just two weeks before Black Friday to make non-essential purchases. An additional 17 per cent choose to hold off for a full month. However, the most strategic shoppers display incredible discipline, with 10 per cent postponing their shopping for two months, 5 per cent for three months, and 3 per cent delaying ultimate shopping satisfaction for an extraordinary six months.

Fashion tops the list of purchases shoppers hold out for 

The survey found that shoppers strategically navigate the E-Commerce landscape to pursue enticing deals and cost savings for specific shopping list items. CouriersPlease asked respondents which retail items they generally hold out for, in the hopes of getting a better deal during the sales. Fashion tops the list, with 61 per cent usually holding off on purchasing clothing, accessories and jewellery. 

More than half (57%) delay purchasing personal electronics, 55 per cent delay purchasing household electronics, 45 per cent hold off on household appliance purchases and 43 per cent would delay purchasing beauty and personal care items to try and reap better deals during the sales periodd. One third (35%) of respondents delay buying furniture or homewares, and 30 per cent hold off on books, movies, music and games. One in four (25 per cent) wait to make holiday purchases.

Younger shoppers hold back longer for the sales 

When it comes to what shopping list items are worth waiting for, 23 per cent of respondents aged 18-30 are willing to hold back from purchases for a full month, compared with 17 per cent in the 31-50 age group and 13 per cent of over-50s. Evidently, younger consumers exhibit greater patience in their pursuit of the best deals, as over-50s are less likely to delay purchases, with 52 per cent just buying items as needed.

Additionally, an impressive 65 per cent of respondents aged 18-30 prefer to hold off on purchasing clothing, accessories, jewellery, or shoes, compared with 60 per cent of those aged 31-50 and 57 per cent of over-50s. In comparison, respondents aged 31-50 are more inclined to delay personal electronics purchases, at 61 per cent.

CouriersPlease CEO, Richard Thame, suggests, “Our findings show there may be a temporary dip in sales for retailers in the weeks leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Consumers are withholding spending on non-essential items in anticipation of discounts. To counteract this, retailers might want to consider introducing Black Friday-type deals earlier in the year or invest in a big sale event that becomes synonymous with their brand. 

“From previous surveys that we have commissioned, we know that shipping costs and fast shipping are a major influencer on shopper behaviours. At CouriersPlease, we have forged a strategic alliance with the E-Commerce partner HUBBED where parcels can be directed to over 3000 collection points Australia-wide, with many being accessible after hours. We encourage retailers to choose a delivery provider that provides their customers with plenty of value, including alternate parcel pick-up and drop-off locations, next-day deliveries and redirections.”

The full survey results can be found here: https://couriersplease.com.au/portals/0/Black%20Friday%20White%20Paper%202023%201_02.pdf 

American Express’ Shop Small movement returns for its 11^th year in Australia, highlighting the valuable contribution small businesses make while encouraging shoppers to show their support.  

New this year, American Express is offering eligible small businesses across Australia the chance to win one of ten $10,000 Shop Small Business Grants, on top of its continuing commitment to help encourage spend with small businesses through an American Express Card Member offer. 

Launching today, each American Express transaction processed in store or online at a Shop Small business during the month of November will receive an entry into a draw to win one of ten $10,000 Shop Small Business Grants each. All American Express Shop Small businesses are automatically enrolled into the promotion and stand a chance to win¹.  

American Express is also giving eligible Card Members the chance to win a share of 10 million points. Once enrolled in the Shop Small offer, each time a shopper uses their enrolled American Express Card to make a purchase at a Shop Small business, they stand a chance of winning 1 million Membership Rewards points, Qantas points or Velocity points, depending on their individual loyalty program. Each transaction increases a Card Member’s chance of winning.²  

Emily Roberts, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer and Commercial Services at American Express, said: “Since 2013, American Express has shone a spotlight on the importance of supporting the small business community through Shop Small as we believe that small businesses are the heart of communities and the backbone of our economy, but they need all of our support if they are to thrive.”  

“Australians are proud to support local in the knowledge that every dollar spent with a small business is important in maintaining the vibrancy of local communities and the livelihoods of hard-working small business operators. We look forward to seeing shoppers backing small businesses, especially during the all-important lead-up to Christmas.”  

To learn more visit. 

Zeller, the Australian fintech reimagining business banking, has enabled businesses using Zeller to seamlessly and securely accept in-person contactless payments using Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone contactless payment acceptance technology, and the Zeller App.

 Tap to Pay on iPhone accepts all forms of contactless payments, including, contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets, using only an iPhone and the Zeller App — no additional hardware or payment terminal is needed.

 At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, or another digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.

 Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology uses the built-in features of iPhone to keep the business’ and customers’ data private and secure. When a payment is processed, Apple doesn’t store card numbers on the device or on Apple servers.

Benefits of Zeller’s Tap to Pay on iPhone offering for business owners include:

• No additional hardware or apps required: Business owners can accept contactless payments with only their iPhone and the Zeller App, eliminating the need for a card reader and the hassle of downloading a separate app.
•  Ease of getting started and simplicity of use: They can easily use Tap to Pay on iPhone with the Zeller App. They simply need to log in, enter a payment amount, and have the customer tap their contactless card or smartphone to the merchant’s iPhone.
•  Access industry-leading payment features within the Zeller App: Business owners can enjoy Zeller’s industry-leading payment technology, which includes features like built-in tipping, surcharging, transaction notes, digital receipts, and more. Businesses can also manage their finances, accept contactless payments, open transaction accounts, issue debit cards, and track performance, all from their iPhone.
•  Affordable pricing: One low, flat transaction fee for all cards, including American Express, and no monthly subscription fees. Plus, business owners get their money faster with nightly settlement to their Zeller Account, 365 days a year.
•  Secure contactless payments: Tap to Pay on iPhone ensures fast and secure contactless payments, backed by Zeller’s industry-leading security for the protection of business and customer data.

“Zeller’s launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone is a significant step forward in our mission to simplify financial management for businesses of all sizes. By offering Tap to Pay on iPhone within the Zeller App — our dedicated business super app — we’re offering increased efficiency for our customers, who can accept payments, manage finances, and streamline operations all from their iPhone. This is a game-changer for business owners at every stage,” commented Ben Pfisterer, Zeller CEO and co-founder.

Tap to Pay on iPhone enables Zeller customers to use a contactless payment acceptance solution that is easy to set up and use. On an iPhone XS or later running the latest version of iOS, merchants can simply download the Zeller App from the Apple App Store to get started accepting contactless payments within minutes.

 For more information on Tap to Pay on iPhone using Zeller.

Hospitality and tap, order, pay technology firm, me&u, unveils an expansion to their hospitality ecosystem with ‘me&u engage’ — a tool set to transform venue marketing by providing deeper customer insights and unlocking new revenue streams.

Developed in an exclusive partnership with global SaaS leader Eagle Eye, me&u engage is an omnichannel loyalty, promotions and subscription platform set to influence customer behaviour along the path to purchase, helping to drive incremental spend from both new and existing customers. 

With me&u engage, venues can streamline customer lifecycle management, with a unified view of the customer journey, impact on revenue and return on marketing investment. Engage sits as part of me&u’s new suite of Influence tools, which help venues connect with their customers across the customer lifecycle journey.

Using Engage, venues can now target customer groups on and off premise via the channel of their choice, whether that be social, eDM, SMS, poster or digital. The tool helps with the claim and redemption flow, with full attribution analysis to understand the path to purchase, channel performance, campaign impact and ensure continuous optimisation.

Key benefits of me&u engage:

• Drive incremental revenue – Increase footfall and customer spend by engaging customers on and off premise with personalised deals, offers and loyalty promotions.
• Seamless campaign management – Engage customers with personalised campaigns at scale, with the right content in the right channels.
• Full campaign attribution – Campaign reporting provides channel performance, ROI and attribution insights to help venues test, learn and optimise.
• Drive customer loyalty – Increase marketing opt-ins and drive customer loyalty using data to incentivise customer segments.

Available now via me&u engage is Targeted Promotions, enabling venues to efficiently manage large-scale promotions, like those aimed at encouraging an additional order or another visit. Soon to be introduced is Stamp Cards, a digital loyalty card to foster repeated visits and reward customer loyalty. More functionalities will be added as time progresses. 

me&u CEO Katrina Barry said, “Historically, me&u’s product suite has helped hospitality businesses serve, operate and manage their customers and venues. Engage is part of our Influence suite of products to help them market to their customers, giving venues a deeper insight into their customers and opening up new revenue streams.”

“Partnering with Eagle Eye has enabled us to deliver a market leading product with the same fantastic software that underpins the loyalty programs of the world’s leading retailers, including Woolworths Group in Australia, and biggest hospitality operators in the UK, including Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers and Pret A Manger. Engage delivers clear benefits for both sides – the customer and the venue.”

“We’re excited to continue to grow and answer the demands of our partner venues to expand our suite of offerings at me&u so we can achieve our mission of creating a better future for hospitality, both for business owners and venues, as well as customers alike.”

The first applications of me&u engage are currently beginning to be rolled out in some of Australia’s top venues from today. 

To learn more about me&u engage and book a demo, head here.

Empowering photographers to produce the finest exhibition quality prints, Epson has launched the new 17-inch SureColor Epson P5360 professional printer designed to meet the demanding needs of professional and production photographic markets.

Incorporating technological breakthroughs and enhanced reliability to produce prints as the artist intended, the new printer has an improved printhead, new ink set with an extended colour gamut in dark blue hues, plus an advanced print engine for productivity boasting a higher resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi and including sheet and roll capability.

Boasting a refined design, the SureColor P5360 combines an improved advanced Micro Piezo printhead with Epson’s Variable Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT). This pairing ensures the consistent production of prints with smooth tonal transitions, allowing it to reproduce intricate details captured by today’s modern high-resolution cameras.

Featuring a new 10-colour UltraChrome PRO10 ink set in high-capacity 200 ml cartridges (costing just RRP AUD$169 and NZ$189 including tax), including Violet Ink, the printer delivers an extended range of blue hues. With dedicated channels for photo and matte black inks, there’s no ink switching, helping to save time and reduce ink waste.

The printer’s built-in Carbon Black Mode increases Dmax, allowing for rich blacks and exceptional contrast on glossy paper.

Offering flexibility and increased productivity, the printer includes a built-in roll feeder, auto cutter and a high-capacity cassette that accommodates up to 100 cut sheets ranging from 8″ x 10″ (203 x 254 mm) to A2+ (432 x 610 mm) sheets.

In addition, to further support today’s workflows that leverage both Epson and third-party media, the SureColor P5360 includes Epson Media Installer, a software application designed to help control parameters for successful printing with a variety of media, including thick fine art papers.

By listening to market needs and incorporating customer feedback, Epson has integrated the latest printhead and ink technologies that are optimised for photography into this new printer so professional photographers can maximise productivity, reliability and consistently produce the finest exhibition-quality prints.

Designed to meet demanding needs, the SureColor P5360 is an evolution to the hugely popular SureColor P5070, adding improved reliability, deeper black density and wider colour gamut in blue hues.

Additional SureColor P5360 features include:

• Intuitive operation – a new large 4.3-inch colour LCD touchscreen and interface allows for easy setup, control and maintenance

• Expanded connectivity – Ethernet, USB and now included, Wi-Fi connectivity

• Advanced software support for enhanced productivity – includes Epson Cloud Solution PORT¹ for fleet management and Epson Print Layout software for simple print production

Availability Epson SureColor P5360

The Epson SureColor P5360 is expected to start shipping in Australia in December 2023, with a price tag of $3,495.00 (including tax) in Australia maintaining the same price point as its predecessor, the SureColor P5070.