Jabra, world’s leading professional audio brand, expands its best-selling line of professional headsets, the Jabra Evolve series, with new Evolve2 mid-range headsets. The revolutionary Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, the Jabra Evolve2 55 and Jabra Evolve2 50 are engineered for ultra-flexible hybrid working. 

Jabra’s 2022 research** found that 80% of all meetings globally are either fully virtual or hybrid, and hybrid natives like Gen Zs consider their “office” to be their laptop, headset, and wherever with a strong internet connection, and find themselves working in a “third space” such as a co-working space, café, or library. The new Evolve2 headsets are meant to empower users with the most useful and professional features to protect their focus zone and enable them to take calls and meetings no matter their environment. Additionally, they have optimised sound for professional use and music, so there is no need to switch headsets when it is time for a break. 

 
Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex: the most portable professional headset* with unique fold-and-go design  

To provide maximum flexibility, the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex has a unique fold-and-go design with a collapsible hinged headband, slimmed-down earcups. It comes with a soft sustainable pouch, allowing users to easily tuck it into even the smallest of bags, or your pocket. With the headset, users can be sure to be heard clearly even in loud locations, thanks to a powerful chipset, advanced digital algorithm, and beamforming Jabra ClearVoice microphones for the open office. The chipset and noise-cancelling technology delivers a best-in-class* Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and close-fitting memory foam earcups help seal out even more of the surroundings.  

Using the headset for flexible working and for entertainment means that users would likely be wearing their headsets for hours each day. Evolve2 65 Flex features the Jabra Air Comfort technology and flexible earcups that rotates to move whenever users do – making the headset incredibly comfortable, no matter how long it is on. The unique technology also layers ultra-soft perforated foam inside the collapsible headband for a gentle cushioning effect.  

The headset has a 360° busylight, a shorter hide-away boom arm and it is certified for all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom. Workers can be rest assured for all-day work and play with the headset promising up to 32 hours of music time and up to 20 hours of talk time with ANC/busylight off.  

Jabra Evolve2 55 and 50: on-ear headsets designed with new, revolutionary comfort technology 

With more flexible working, and therefore more potential for distractions, Jabra is bringing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) into more professional headsets, with a wireless option, Evolve2 55, and a corded version, Evolve2 50. The headsets are built with powerful ANC that has a unique acoustic chamber design, 28mm custom speakers, a specially designed chipset that powers speech-separating, and two premium noise-cancelling microphones.  

Both products are certified for all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom, all while providing a comfortable fit with the Jabra Air Comfort technology.  

Holger Reisinger, SVP for Enterprise Solutions at Jabra says, “The current generation of hybrid workers are in search for comfortable, flexible, and easy to use devices for both work and music. Meanwhile, headsets are evolving from mere accessories to a business necessity for productive work. This was why we sought to create high-quality mid-range headsets so we can meet the needs of both the business and end-user. Particularly with the foldable version, everyone will have the ability to look, sound and be professional, working from anywhere.” 

Key features of all three Evolve2 products:  

• Maximum comfort with Jabra Air Comfort technology 

• Jabra ClearVoice Microphone systems that meet premium microphone for the open office standard 

• Integrated 360° busylight  

• 28mm custom speakers deliver premium sound for music  

• Certified for leading virtual meeting platforms (UC-certified and Microsoft Teams-certified variants available) 

• Up to 30m/100ft wireless range (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

• Personalisation with Jabra Sound+, Jabra MySound and voice assistants (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

• Connect two devices at the same time with dual connectivity (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55) and connect to another device via Bluetooth while plugged in (Evolve2 50) 

• Boom arm mute and answer call 

• Available in stereo and mono (Evolve2 55 & Evolve2 50 only) – Evolve2 65 Flex available in stereo 

• UC and Microsoft Teams variants 

• Optional charging stand (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

Key features only of the Evolve2 65 Flex: 

• Most portable professional headset* with unique fold-and-go design 

• Best-in-class Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)*  

• Hide-away boom arm for discreet on-the-go professionalism 

• Up to 20 hours of talk time with ANC/busylight off, up to 15 hours talk time with ANC/busylight on, up to 32 hours of listening time with ANC/busylight off, up to 21 hours listening time with ANC/busylight on 

Key features only of the Evolve2 55: 

• Up to 16 hours talk time with ANC/busylight off, up to 10 hours talk time with ANC/busylight on, and up to 18 hours listening time with ANC/busylight off, up to 15 hours listening time with ANC/busylight on  

• A comfortable fit that’s the best-in-its-class* 

Jabra Evolve 2 Pricing and availability 

The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, Evolve2 55 & Evolve2 50 will be available from April. 

Evolve2 65 Flex MSRP AU$499 (AU$599 with Wireless Charging Pad) 

Evolve2 55 Stereo MSRP AU$389 (AU$489 with charging stand) 

Evolve2 55 Mono MSRP AU$369 (AU$469 with charging stand) 

Evolve2 50 Stereo MSRP AU$299 

Evolve2 50 Mono MSRP AU$279  

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex at www.jabra.com/evolve2-65-flex 

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 55 at www.jabra.com/evolve2-55 

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 50 at www.jabra.com/evolve2-50 

Uniden Australia’s range of Location sharing UHF radios, the XTRAK 50 PRO and XTRAK 80 Pro, promise to keep you connected no matter where you are. From the trusted outdoor adventurer to the lifestyle traveller, these UHF radios offer a reliable and trusted solution for every user. 

Both the XTRAK 50 PRO Handheld and XTRAK 80 Pro In-Vehicle take communication to the next level by offering app-enabled location sharing functionality between a handheld and in-vehicle UHF Radio, a first in the industry. You can easily share the location of the radio through the XTRAK Bluetooth app, which is available for both iOS and Android. It also helps manage your selective calling (Selcall) contacts and additional receive channels, access the settings controls, and send in-app text messages, all from one convenient app.

Talk to a friend or colleague and know exactly where they are, by using the app’s advanced positional tracking and location sharing features as part of the XTRAK App on your smartphone when connected to your UHF radio. Whether in another vehicle with the XTRAK 80 Pro or on foot with XTRAK 50 Pro, you’ll never be out of contact and always be able to communicate and establish your exact position, as Uniden’s location tracking works between the in vehicle and handheld UHF radios, ensuring both locations are accurate.

The XTRAK 80 Pro also has a large, anti-glare OLED display and backlit keypad that is easy to read in any lighting condition. The powerful integrated two-watt speakers and four-level voice enhancers 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 can record up to six minutes of recently received communications and is available in the in-car and a first in the UHF handheld as well, and the smart key lets you toggle between instant channels, monitor, call tone, quality, or equaliser. The magnetic mount is a quick, easy, and convenient way to hold your speakerphone.

When off the mount, the XTRAK 80 Pro has up to five watts of power and provides up to 18 kilometres of range (dependent on topographical factors) compared to the XTRAK 50 Pro which delivers up to five watts of power and provides up to 17 kilometres of range (dependent on topographical factors). Both devices share some common features such as a large, anti-glare OLED display that is easy to read in any lighting condition. The integrated two-watt speakers and four-level voice enhancers ensure maximum sound clarity in noisy environments. 

All units have an impressive standby time of up to 30 hours and the one-touch instant replay functions let you record and replay up to four minutes of recently received communications, so you’ll never miss an important message. The first-time instant replay feature is also available on the UHF handheld. 

XTRAK 50 Pro and XTRAK 80 Pro UHF radios are designed for use in a wide range of industries and activities making them versatile tools for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts as they are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and challenging environments. With their durable construction and weather-resistant design, these radios are built to withstand the elements and provide reliable communication, no matter the conditions.

From extreme heat to heavy rain, you can rely on XTRAK radios to keep you connected when you need them the most. 

In addition to the XTRAK PRO radios, Uniden is introducing a new Bluetooth headset perfect for adventure-seekers. This headset will provide seamless communication and perfectly complements Uniden’s range of UHF radios. It is lightweight, comfortable, and features a high-quality microphone for clear voice transmission. 

Uniden’s reliability and experience in UHF make the XTRAK 50 Pro and XTRAK 80 Pro ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers who demand robust, reliable and quality equipment. Both radios offer the finest components, engineering, and styling, just what you would expect from Uniden. Whether you’re camping in the great outdoors or travelling off the grid with a group, the XTRAK 50 and XTRAK 80 Pro are the perfect tools to help you stay connected.

Uniden XTRAK 80 PRO Smart UHF radio with large OLED display, location sharing through app and instant replay – RRP: $549.95

Uniden XTRAK 50 PRO  5-watt waterproof smart UHF handheld radio with large OLED display, location sharing, waterproof and one touch instant replay function – RRP: $449.95

XTRAK 4×4 PRO Pack – (this is a XTRAK 80 PRO plus a ATX970S Antenna) – RRP $719.95

XTRAK Ultimate Pack – (This is a XTRAK 80 PRO + XTRAK 50 PRO and a ATX970S Antenna) – RRP $999.95

visit www.uniden.com.au

In 2023, employers of all shapes and sizes are focussing on creating a sustainable workplace that prioritise employee health and wellbeing. But what about environmental sustainability for the planet?

Recent YouGov figures indicate many consumers believe sustainability equals a higher price point, and it follows that many small business owners would think the same. We get it – as a small business, it’s highly likely that you’re struggling in the current inflationary business environment, and are therefore shying away from any unnecessary costs.

But the reality is that eco-friendly choices don’t need to cost employers more – in fact, they can actually save you money. So, how can hard-working owners reduce their overheads and do their bit for the environment at the same time?

Enter: refurbished electronics. Refurbished electronics reduce your business’s contribution to e-waste by saving phones, tablets and laptops from premature death with a new lease of life. Not only are refurbished devices cheaper, but they’re also better for the planet.

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste category on the planet, with 52M tons of e-waste produced worldwide last year alone. Out of that, only 20% is properly recycled, with the rest going to landfill and polluting countries throughout Africa and Asia. Smartphones heavily contribute to the escalation of this damage through damaging toxins such as chlorine and mercury that can pollute the air and water supply around the landfill.

In response, businesses around Australia are currently facing rising landfill costs, making it more expensive to dispose of large amounts of e-waste at the rubbish dump. Taxes and other government incentives are making it increasingly cheaper to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. The recent REDcycle collapse is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by local councils and governments when it comes to recycling, and the need for businesses of all sizes to bear their own level of responsibility.

If you’re keen to make the switch to refurbished devices, the first step is to make a careful assessment of your needs versus your wants and align them with your budget. What is your team using their phones for? In most cases, they probably don’t need the niche features in the very latest iPhone, and could simply choose to keep their old model or opt for a refurbished model instead.

If businesses are ready and willing to jump on the refurbished train, the environmental impact can be massive. Since launching in Australia and New Zealand, for example, our team at Reebelo has emitted 1410 tonnes fewer greenhouse gases, saved 197 Million litres of drinking water saved, planted 15,000 trees, and saved five tonnes of e-waste.

With economies struggling, unemployment rates wobbly, and small businesses looking to save as much money as possible, shifting towards refurbished devices is nothing but a smart move. With the right mindset in place, your business can save both money and the planet.

Story provided from Gulrez

Businesses across Australia could save up to $12,000 each year after Australian-born financial platform Airwallex slashed the cost of online payments processing for domestic credit and debit cards by nearly 30 per cent.

From Monday 27 March, Airwallex’s new and existing Australian business customers will see a 45 basis point reduction in what they pay to take online payments done by domestic credit and debit cards – down from 1.65 per cent to 1.20 per cent per payment plus 30 cents. This compares to other major providers charging between 1.75% and 2.20% plus 30 cents to process each online payment.

Airwallex Head of Strategy for Australia, Matt Sek, said the price drop would save businesses thousands of dollars in transaction costs, particularly leading into the busy Easter and Mother’s Day periods.

“We know the cost of doing business has only been going up, so cutting back payments costs will mean businesses can keep more of what they earn,” Matt said.

“These mates rates for our customers means cheaper products and services for their customers and more growth.

“We’ve made a commitment to invest in our Australian customers, and as they succeed, so do we.”

Savings scenarios:     

• An average business doing $100,000 a month in domestic transactions in Australia would save $12,000 per year in transaction fees from the change, compared to other companies’ offerings at up to 2.2%.
• A smaller business doing $20,000 a month in transactions would save $2,400 per year.
• A business doing $50,000 a month in transactions would save $6,000 per year. 

Matt said Airwallex had doubled-down its investment into building leading online payments infrastructure in Australia and abroad, which meant it could lower its transaction fees.

“We’ve been investing in our online payments infrastructure as we grow which means we can pass on the cost savings by dropping our prices for our merchant customers,” Matt said.

“We’re a modern payments platform built from the ground up for modern businesses of any size – which means we don’t have all the baggage of banks or other legacy payment platforms.

“In recent weeks we’ve seen other payments businesses announce increases in transaction costs, but at Airwallex we’re taking a different approach.

“Not only does our online payment gateway make it easier to accept domestic and international payments for businesses, but our fee change will make it even cheaper too.”

Airwallex processes nearly $50 billion in transactions each year and powers more than 6,000 businesses in Australia.

Xencelabs Technologies Ltd. is giving artists a new creative choice with its Pen Display 24 Studio Series. The new drawing display joins the company’s full line of professional digital design tools including its Pen Tablet Medium, Pen Tablet Small, and the Quick Keys customizable remote – creating a comprehensive portfolio of professional drawing tools available for creative communities worldwide.

The new drawing display will make its public debut at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), March 22 to 24, 2023 in San Francisco.

The Pen Display 24 offers a range of features and capabilities compared to competitive offerings, including enhanced glare reduction and fingerprint resistance, an edge-to-edge drawing surface, a natural drawing experience, Pantone® Color and SkinTone™ validation, the included Tilt Stand, VESA mount flexibility, silent and fanless operation and a security slot for the Kensington MicroSaver® 2.0 lock.

“Since we launched our first product, we’ve constantly looked for new ways to improve the creative workflow,” said Michael Thompson, Head of Global Product at Xencelabs. “We listened to artists and their input is reflected in the Pen Display’s design: stunning display fidelity, excellent drawing experience, superior ergonomics and more. This device is designed for maximum productivity, adapting to the user’s preferences, not the other way around.”

The Pen Display 24 comes with all key accessories, including a Tilt Stand, to let users start working immediately after downloading their preferred driver (Mac, PC or Linux) and plugging in the display. The Linux driver works similarly to the Windows and Mac drivers and has full functionality.

Key Features and Benefits of the Xencelabs Pen Display 24

Studio Quality Drawing Experience

The display features edge-to-edge tempered glass with Xencelabs’ Super-AG Etching™ for exceptional glare and reflection reduction, delivering clarity even in bright rooms with overhead lighting. The continuous surface is uninterrupted by buttons or seams. An anti-fingerprint coating reduces streaking and smudges caused by everyday use. The etched glass screen provides the right amount of friction for a natural drawing feel.

Two pen sizes are provided to fit different-sized hands and preferences. One pen comes with three buttons, while the other has two buttons, and each has an eraser. The three-button pen is particularly useful for 3D work or for artists who prefer more pen buttons. Pens can match users’ preferred sensitivity and initial activation pressure is adjustable to as low as 3g.

Thedisplay’s pressure curve has been meticulously tuned for optimal responsiveness and stroke-to-stroke accuracy, with the pen response adjustable to each user’s drawing style.

Brilliant Imagery and Color Performance

The Pen Display delivers 1.07 billion colors for accurate color reproduction. Its 4K Ultra-high definition resolution (up to 3840 x 2160) contributes to an improved workflow, as images that are enlarged several times still retain clarity and sharpness, helpful when sketching details. The display supports six industry-standard color spaces.

The new display meets key performance criteria from Pantone, recognized globally as a trusted and familiar color system used across many applications well-suited to the new display. The Pen Display 24 is Pantone Validated, assuring users of the product’s ability to faithfully simulate the full range of Pantone Colors. It is also Pantone SkinTone™ Validated, which means the Pen Display 24 meets Pantone’s testing criteria (a patent-pending process) and can authentically reproduce the diverse set of skin tones found in the Pantone SkinTone Guide.

The screen is optically bonded to minimize parallax and produce a bright, clear image with no “sparkling” effect to cause distraction or eye fatigue.

Increased Productivity

The included Xencelabs Quick Keys can be attached to anywhere on the side of the Pen Display 24 making it easy to find a comfortable location. The Xencelabs Quick Keys allows artists to incorporate shortcut keys into their workflow through an easy-to-use interface. The integrated OLED display lets users see button assignments at a glance. There can be up to 40 shortcuts per application using the set button which allows users to group eight keys into five different sets. The physical dial offers four function modes for zoom, rotation, brush size, and other functions. Button settings switch automatically when a new application is activated with the pen.

Users can quickly access settings via three programable LED buttons on the top of the Pen Display. By changing color, these buttons also provide a reminder that the pen buttons or Quick Key button assignments may have changed when a different application is in use.

A Virtual Tablet Mode allows pen control of multiple displays. Users can drag or manipulate objects from one display to the other using just the pen.

Ergonomics

The included Tilt Stand enables the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 to be tilted comfortably at any angle between 16 and 72 degrees and is easily adjusted with one hand. A standard VESA mount (100X100mm) allows the lightweight (5.8 kg / 12.8 lbs) Pen Display 24 to be easily used with additional stand options, such as an arm, with no adapter needed.

An adjustable clip holds the Quick Keys in place and allows it to be attached anywhere along the four sides of the display for maximum comfort and usefulness.

The Pen Display is designed for silent and fanless operation, with a magnesium alloy rear housing that dissipates heat and eliminates the need for a fan.

For more information about Xencelabs and the new Pen Display 24, visit www.xencelabs.com.

​​Launching in Australia in April 2023, Xencelabs Pen Display Tablet will be available through its exclusive distributor MacGear and their retail network.

Award-winning Australian hospitality tech platform HungryHungry has recently launched Ready to Serve, a suite of new software technology solutions all can all be run off one tablet, designed to give restaurants, pubs, clubs and cafes the flexibility to provide their customers with targeted ordering options while tapping into insights that enhance the way they engage with and market to their loyal customers.

The tech startup was founded in 2019 by hospitality industry pioneers and OrderMate founders (they sold to MSL Solutions for $7.5million in 2021), Mark Calabro and Shannon Hautot in 2019, who have 40+ combined years of delivering innovative, technology solutions to the hospitality industry.  

During the pandemic HungryHungry pivoted quickly from mobile order & pay to online ordering for restaurants and as a result built a loyal database of over 2,000 restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars across Australia, and in the process helping many overcome the challenge of lockdowns to stay open for business.

As the hospitality industry continues to embrace and benefit from technology driven solutions, HungryHungry has continued on its mission to deliver new, innovative tech solutions that will help venues of all sizes deliver amazing customer experiences while driving revenue. As a result the business now offers a suite of products across digital menus, online ordering, payments and direct to consumer marketing solutions.

HungryHungry Concierge, is an exciting new feature within Ready to Serve that allows restaurant owners and staff to access ‘real-time’ consumer data insights so that they can instantly recognise regular customers and reward them for their loyalty through on the spot VIP services and/or future marketing and promotions. 

Initial trials with select venues show that this data-led approach allows venues to engage with customers in a more meaningful way with the dual win of greater customer satisfaction and an uplift in revenue by as much as $3 per order when using HungryHungry’s assisted marketing algorithms.

Adding to the mix, HungryHungry has also launched their own paperless, bespoke ordering kiosks, a service that caters to Australia’s growing casual dining sector and an offer that none of their competitors can match. The shift into stand alone hardware meets a growing demand for service versatility from a wider range of venue types beyond fast food locations. Being trialled by Royal Stacks in Melbourne, the kiosks will continue to be rolled out to restaurants across Australia this year. 

Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HungryHungry, Mark Calabro says, “From learning if a customer is a Tuesday regular, loves a dirty gin martini, or orders a steak and chips each time they visit, our new data driven service Ready to Serve now makes it possible to personalise every customer’s visit, helping to repeat business and keep loyal customers engaged. 

“As well as providing venues with the opportunity to gather insights on their customers, we then also deliver the bespoke, targeted promotions and ads via email or SMS direct marketing straight to loyal customers at no additional cost to our clients. Initial trials have already shown that venues can get a return average uplift of $3 per order, not to mention the ROI ratio is high. 

“This targeted approach directed at existing customers also provides a great benefit to venues allowing them to see where they can save costs or generate additional revenue, providing maximum efficiency and a hassle free service.”

Co-CEO and Co-Founder Shannon Hautot added, “In our first business OrderMate, and now with HungryHungry, our focus has always been to build tech that seamlessly integrates with a venue’s existing technology so the venue manager or staff can focus more on the actual customer and less on the logistics.  

“Loyalty is a huge factor in the hospitality industry and we’ve seen it become increasingly more so since we first started out in this industry 20 years ago. Ready to Serve and within that HungryHungry Concierge is kicking off a new suite of tech services we will be launching this year and something we’re really excited about because we’re giving venues the power to step up their customised marketing and promotional efforts with little effort and the potential for huge returns.”

General Manager at Royal Hotel Mornington, Alex Bird, who has been trialling Ready to Serve says. “I’ve only had the feature for two weeks, but in my opinion they’re worth their weight in gold and have already paid for themselves. Being able to have eyes and ears on every transaction without fail has saved my venue hundreds of dollars each weekend.”

In January 2023 the business reached profitability and has grown its headcount by 500% to 60 in the last two years. 

Adobe kicked off Adobe Summit 2023 – the world’s largest Digital Experience Conference – by unveiling a wide range of product innovations across Adobe Experience Cloud, the world’s leading customer experience management solution, and Adobe Creative Cloud, the world’s leading platform for creating compelling content, together empowering brands to drive experience-led growth.

As content becomes the critical foundation of next-generation digital experiences, new Adobe innovations are connecting Experience Cloud and Creative Cloud to optimise content creation, delivery and measurement. At Adobe Summit, Adobe debuted new Adobe Sensei GenAI services, including Adobe Firefly – a new family of creative generative AI models, first focused on image generation and text effects – as well as new generative AI innovations across Adobe Experience Cloud to power end-to-end marketing workflows. The company also announced new Adobe Product Analytics and a reimagined content management solution enabling marketers to self-serve website and mobile app edits.

To accelerate and democratise creative development at enterprise scale, Adobe unveiled Adobe Express for Enterprise, empowering anyone within an organisation to rapidly create and iterate content, regardless of their creative skill level. Adobe also announced the world’s first comprehensive Content Supply Chain solution, made possible through Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud innovations that connect popular tools for planning, creating, reviewing and distributing creative collateral so teams can come together to meet growing content demands in less time.

“As the digital economy continues to expand, profitable growth will come from connecting the complete customer experience – from acquisition to engagement and retention,” said Anil Chakravarthy, president, Digital Experience Business at Adobe. “Our latest Adobe Experience Cloud innovations uniquely connect customer experience creation and management, empowering brands to efficiently scale, unify and personalise digital experiences across surfaces, and achieve sustained, experience-led growth.”

Industry Momentum

Adobe Experience Cloud is the industry’s leading platform for delivering, measuring and personalising customer experiences, now relied upon by over 12,000 customers – including 87% of Fortune 100 companies and 74% of Fortune 500 companies – with support from 4,000 global ecosystem members and 450 Adobe Experience Platform partner integrations. Adobe Experience Cloud has continued to gain traction across multiple verticals by introducing solutions to alleviate industry-specific pain points.

In the healthcare space, CVS Health, Elevance Health and UnitedHealth Group are the latest companies that have adopted Adobe Experience Cloud for Healthcare, enabling secure delivery of engaging consumer experiences, and empowering patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions.

Adobe is also increasingly addressing business-to-business (B2B) use cases, empowering highly personalised marketing for B2B industry leaders such as Amazon Web Services, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Qualcomm and Splunk.

Within the financial services industry, businesses are increasingly adopting Adobe Experience Cloud to support highly personalised experiences. Adobe’s Real-Time Customer Data Platform (Real-Time CDP) helps businesses including Bank of America, Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo ensure their customers can manage their financial goals by receiving information and offers that are relevant, timely and consistent.

AI and Generative AI Innovations

New Adobe Sensei GenAI services in Adobe Experience Cloud will redefine how businesses deliver customer experiences. The services will be integrated natively in Adobe Experience Cloud as a co-pilot for marketers, improving productivity and efficiency while providing full creative control and trusted governance capabilities. Sensei GenAI will leverage multiple large language models (LLMs) including Microsoft Azure OpenAI and FLAN-T5 within Adobe Experience Platform, depending on unique business needs.

Adobe also unveiled Adobe Firefly—a new family of creative generative AI models, first focused on image generation and text effects—which will be integrated into Adobe Experience Cloud for businesses to generate content designed to be safe for commercial use. Adobe’s first Adobe Firefly model is trained primarily on hundreds of millions of professional-grade Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content and public domain content where copyright has expired. Firefly-generated output will have real business value in commercial settings, as it doesn’t generate content based on other people’s or brands’ IP.

Sensei GenAI services and Adobe Firefly will act as co-pilots for creative and marketing departments, enabling them to generate new content-driven experiences at the speed of their imaginations with more precision, power and ease – directly within Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Cloud and Adobe Document Cloud applications and workflows.

Additional Product Innovations Announced at Summit

• New Adobe Product Analytics in Adobe Experience Cloud redefines the product analytics category by unifying customer journey insights across marketing and product. For the first time teams focused on customer experiences can benefit from a unified view of the customer and collaborate seamlessly across an organisation.
• Adobe’s revolutionary new release of Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) redefines the Content Management System category, enabling teams to easily update company websites and mobile apps using popular word processing or spreadsheet tools. By lowering technical barriers, next-generation AEM will democratise and accelerate enterprise content management. The new AEM also uses Adobe Sensei AI to analyse how various attributes of content impact performance among different audiences and recommend changes that will resonate more strongly with viewers.
• Adobe unveiled the industry’s first comprehensive Content Supply Chain solution, empowering teams to develop more effective content in less time. By connecting planning, production, delivery and analysis, Adobe’s integrated Content Supply Chain solution drives efficiencies and major cost savings, while delivering experience success. The solution brings together applications, services and integrations across Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Experience Cloud and is already delivering value to top brands including Xfinity Creative.
• New Adobe Express for Enterprise brings one of Creative Cloud’s most innovative and accessible tools into a universal creative solution for marketers and enterprise leaders, empowering anyone at any creative skill level to easily create, collaborate on and share branded content. New integrations between Adobe Express and Adobe Experience Manager Assets streamline end-to-end content workflows, facilitating more unified content development and marketing processes.

To watch the Adobe Summit keynotes online, as well as explore more than 200 sessions and hands-on labs across 11 tracks, network with peers or speak live with an Adobe expert, visit the Summit web
experience.

Jabra, leader in personal sound and hybrid work solutions, is launching the Elite 4, the latest addition to its unique Elite lineup. Following in the footsteps of the entry-level Elite 3, these affordable true wireless earbuds are a step up from its predecessor, ideal for the modern earbud user. At the push of a button, users can escape from a busy day by immersing themselves in media or connecting with colleagues, friends or family. 

The Elite 4 has been tailored to cover earbud essentials, such as comfort, optimal sound and convenience, all at a very reasonable price. For users that need to connect to two different devices simultaneously, the Jabra Elite 4 offers Bluetooth® Multipoint, facilitating smooth and stress-free switching, without skipping a beat. Even the initial pairing of earbuds to a device is simple, with Fast Pair* connecting instantly to a mobile device and Swift Pair* linking straight to a laptop or computer. 

Ready for travelling or commuting, the feedforward Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in these earbuds filters out unwanted sounds, so distractions fade into a thing of the past. It doesn’t end there, as the Elite 4 are engineered for crystal-clear sound with 4-microphone call technology and 6mm speakers, so users can rest assured that they too will be heard loud and clear. For those seeking tailored listening experiences, the Jabra music equalizer and intuitive Sound+ app lets users customize the sound to suit their individual tastes. Personalisation like this is key to creating an earbud experience that feels seamless. 

The Elite 4 last for 5.5 hours of playtime on your chosen device, and 22 hours with the sleek case (28 hours with ANC off) – all while providing all-day wearing comfort with its Danish ergonomic acoustic engineering. The earbuds are made with premium durable materials that offer an IP55 durability rating against dust and water and come in four classic colours: Dark Gray, Navy, Lilac and Light Beige.

Calum MacDougall, SVP at Jabra, said: “The modern earbud user is looking for tech that’s ready for work and play at their fingertips, whilst not compromising on key features. The Elite 4 offers a solution to this and is the perfect all-rounder, designed to help users to concentrate, connect, and call without distractions, and is the ideal companion to balance work and life.”   

Key features of the Elite 4: 

·         Bluetooth® Multipoint means seamless switching between calls and apps

·         Fast Pair and Swift Pair* ensure instant connections to laptops/phones

·         Active Noise Cancellation blocks out background noise

·         Comfortable fit for all-day wearing

·         4-microphone technology for optimised call clarity

·         Up to 22 hours total battery with ANC on (28 hours ANC off)

·         Go solo feature to use either earbud for listening or taking calls while the other charges

·         Spotify Tap playback

·         Qualcomm® aptXä unlike competitors

·         IP55-rated rainproof protection, plus 2-year warranty**

The Jabra Elite 4 is available in selected retailers, MSRP AU$139/NZ$159

Find out more about Jabra Elite 4 here.

Podium, a leading provider of reputation management solutions for local businesses, has today announced the imminent launch of “Review Response Suggestions”, a feature designed to help Australian local businesses manage their online reputation effectively. The cutting-edge feature, powered by revolutionary tool ChatGPT, utilises the power of AI technology to generate review response suggestions, making it quick, easy and convenient for local businesses to stay on top of their online reviews and respond to customers in a timely and professional manner.

The integration comes not only as businesses continue to investigate tangible ways of building Artificial Intelligence into their operations, but as Google Reviews grow in influence. According to Podium research, 84% of Aussies are influenced by Google Reviews when choosing a business. What’s more, 51% say that a business’ responses to reviews have changed their perspective on the business and 46% are more likely to look at a local business’s Google listing before visiting than pre-Covid. And amongst local businesses, 45% say that online reviews are “very important” to their business’ success.

Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature offers Australian businesses an effective and efficient way to respond to online reviews in context. The feature generates customised response suggestions that businesses can quickly edit and personalise to their satisfaction. It supports Google and will be followed by Facebook reviews, allowing businesses to respond to customer feedback across multiple platforms.

“As a business owner myself, I understand how crucial online reputation management is to local businesses in Australia,” said Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. “That’s why we’re excited to launch our new ‘Review Response Suggestions’ feature, which will make it easier for businesses to manage their online reputation. Online reviews have never been more influential, but as a business owner staying on top of them – good or bad – can be a daunting and time-consuming task. 

“Our integration with ChatGPT is designed to unburden local businesses – from dentists and retailers to tradies and mechanics – enabling them to manage their online reputation more efficiently and spend more time working on meaningful, face-to-face or revenue-generating tasks.”

Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature has been designed to provide high-quality review response recommendations, with a focus on responding in the context of the review. By responding promptly and professionally to reviews – whether positive, negative or neutral – businesses can build trust with their customers, which leads to greater brand loyalty and improved customer retention.

“We’re proud to offer a solution that helps local businesses in Australia manage their online reputation in a simple and useful way,” Rea continued. “Our feature provides businesses with the tools they need to respond to customer reviews with confidence, while saving them valuable time and effort. As technology and the needs of local business evolve, so too must Podium. This is the latest example of our dedication to innovation, R&D and providing the tools our customers need to meet and exceed the needs of their customers.” 

Rebecca Browne, Marketing and Brand Manager, at Phil Gilbert Motor Group, commented: “Since we started using Podium four years ago, we have constantly seen the platform grow and offer us new enhancements which have always been beneficial to our Dealership. The latest one of these developments, the ChatGPT integration with ‘Reviews’, has been one of the most significant. The AI Assistants suggestions are incredible. Given the vast amount of data we’ve generated by using Podium over the years, the tone and language suggested for the review replies are so consistent to what I would write myself, it’s like I am watching my thoughts type before my eyes! I actually feel the quality of the review replies are more diverse and there would be no way for people researching our business online to know that the feedback to our guests was generated by AI.”

Cameron Mackay, Director at Plumbcall Australia, added: “It’s great, it takes the guesswork out of responding to reviews and is far more efficient. Gone are the days of finding the time to respond to all our recent reviews individually, which on average would take us 20 minutes. With this feature it now takes me one minute. It’s a really valuable new feature from Podium.”

Marcus Tomczak, GM of Marketing at car dealership Rex Gorell commented: “Since getting access to the new Review Response Suggestion feature, we’ve been using it almost daily. It’s been fantastic to respond promptly and professionally to our reviews through the power of Chat GPT. We’re extremely pleased with where it’s going and look forward to seeing more exciting releases from Podium in the future.” 

With its cutting-edge AI technology and user-friendly interface, Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature is poised to revolutionise the way local businesses in Australia manage their online reputation.

Podium is used by 4,000 local businesses in Australia and 100,000 globally. 

To learn more, visit: www.podium.com.au