• Shopify Winter ’23 Edition sees 100+ product updates designed to help merchants convert better, sell faster, and win consumers
• New releases for next generation Shop app and one-page checkout to help merchants boost conversion amidst challenging economic conditions
• Shopify powers 25% of all ecommerce in Australia, including for ambitious retailers like JB HiFi, Culture Kings, and July

Shopify (NYSE: SHOP), a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, has today unveiled a major set of 100+ platform updates, with new features that unlock the power of mobile commerce and meet shifting shopping preferences with a seamless checkout experience.

A new suite of features for Australian merchants comes as retailers seek new ways to get more from less, as they double-down on customer experience in an effort to convert more conscious and considered shoppers in 2023. Shopify research conducted ahead of the holiday sales season found that 92% of retailers are focused on strengthening direct brand-consumer relationships to retain loyalty during the cost of living crisis, with 79% stating it is more important compared to a year ago.

“Not even a year ago we launched our first Edition, and now our Winter ‘23 Edition showcases over a hundred more products and features we’ve built in the last six months alone,” said Harley Finkelstein, President at Shopify.

“We know we need to be the fastest moving commerce company in the world because our merchants depend on Shopify’s innovation for their own longevity. So with this Edition, we moved quickly to offer tools that help merchants access the promise of mobile commerce, meet customer expectations for fast delivery and seamless checkout, and sell more with AI — it’s the best version of Shopify yet, and will shape the future of entrepreneurship.”

Optimising Checkout to drive higher conversion for Australian merchants

With more than 5.5 billion orders processed, Shopify Checkout is reliable, scalable, and lightning fast. However, with 74% of Australian consumers saying that price rules purchase decisions in the current economic environment, we’re launching new levels of extensibility to help merchants optimise for conversion.

Using our learnings from Shop Pay — which converts 72% better than a typical checkout and 91% better on mobile, while boasting the processing power of 40,000 checkouts per store per minute with 99.99% uptime — Shopify Checkout now offers:

• Drag and drop Checkout Editor so Shopify Plus merchants can install apps to checkout that add greater functionality, like upsells, recommendations, loyalty programs, and more,
• Enhanced developer tooling to make it possible for developers to customise their over version of Checkout to curate a brand-specific customer experience,
• One-page Checkout to streamline our existing Checkout and adding app-based customisations to create a faster, friction-free, and higher-converting standard for checking out.

More functionality for the Shop app to help merchants win in the mobile era of commerce  

Sales in third-party mobile platforms are continuing to rise — with Australia ranking third globally when it comes to social commerce adoption. While more channels and selling opportunities may seem like a positive, it actually presents a challenge for independent merchants in that they lose ownership of customer relationships at a time they need them most. 

Shop is a shopping destination and delivery tracking app that is available to Australian customers on both iOS and Android, with more than 100 million users globally. As mobile commerce continues to grow, we’re introducing new functionality to the Shop app to give Aussie merchants the tools needed for an out-of-the-box mobile strategy without needing the technical resources and personnel to build an app on their own. This means they can maintain ownership of their customer relationships on mobile, with a customised in-app shopping experience to acquire new high-impact shoppers, and convert browsers to buyers.

New for the Shopify Winter ‘23 Edition includes:

• Launching Shop Minis, to give developers a new way to build for mobile. The Shop Mini software development kit (SDK) enables developers to extend their Shopify app functionality to Shop, creating innovative in-app shopping experiences.
• Shop Store customisation delivers an increase of up to 15%  in conversion by giving merchants greater control over the look and feel of their Shop Store (a merchant’s storefront on the Shop app) with features like product collections, best sellers, reviews, and branding elements.
• Sign in with Shop seamlessly integrates with Shop Pay on Apple and Android devices with new biometric passkeys for an even easier sign in experience. 

Shaun Broughton, Managing Director, APAC highlighted the impact these changes will have on Australian merchants who are navigating significant economic and consumer shifts in 2023, “Commerce looks different this year as consumer behaviour and shopping habits shift in response to the current economic environment. Those who stay on the current edge will win, which is why we’re doubling-down on our investment in innovation and product development to keep Aussie retailers ahead of the curve and give them an advantage over their competitors that’s built to last. I can’t wait to see the incredible experiences retailers here build with these newest updates.”

In addition to these new releases launching with our Winter ‘23 Edition, we’ve also launched the following Down Under over the last six months:

• Shopify Capital: Provides quick and easy funding up to $2.5 million AUD for thousands of merchants to accelerate growth, expand to new markets.
• Shopify Translate & Adapt, a new app that works with Shopify Markets, to help merchants quickly and accurately translate a merchant’s store into different languages with both manual and machine translations.
• Shopify x YouTube Shopping allows creators and merchants in Australia to sell their full range of products on YouTube via livestreams, in-video clickable product shelf and store tabs.
• Shopify Starter Plan helps merchants that are just starting out and who want to sell to their customers through social media platforms or messaging apps, without maintaining an online store.

Australia is recognised as the third most expensive G20 country for international money transfers.^[1] Yet new research has found that nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) of Australian businesses don’t check exchange rates or shop around for the best rates and lowest fees before making international payments and money transfers, yet half (52 per cent) get ‘fee shock’ after the transaction. 

The findings were derived from a survey of an independent panel of 250 Australian business owners and senior decision makers,^[2] commissioned by Money Transfer Comparison, a global comparison service that helps Australian businesses source the best rate in international money transfers. The full survey results, including breakdowns across ages and States, can be found here.

60 per cent don’t seek better rates; 1 in 3 don’t check rates when making payments or transfers

The Money Transfer Comparison survey found that more than a third (36 per cent) of businesses don’t check the exchange rate or try to find better rates before making an international payment or transfer, and an additional 24 per cent said that while they do check the exchange rate, they don’t shop around for lower fees or rates.

Businesses with more than 50 employees are more likely to hunt down better exchange rates on money transfers, with 58 per cent of large businesses and 57 per cent of medium-sized businesses indicating that they check rates and look for better deals. This compares with 44 per cent of small businesses (11-50 employees) and 35 per cent of micro businesses (1-10 employees). 

Despite falling to a 30-year low of $0.61 against the US dollar in October 2022, the Australian dollar has slowly strengthened, fluctuating between USD$0.69-0.71 this year to date. Major national banks predict a strengthening of our dollar through 2023: NAB has estimated the dollar will reach an estimated $0.74 USD by June this year,^[3] while Westpac has predicted the same increase by December.^[4] 

Alon Rajic, Founder and Managing Director at Money Transfer Comparison, says the optimistic rise may help bolster the performance of Australian businesses in the foreign market, as long as they remember to shop around. “I was surprised to see that a large proportion of businesses in our research aren’t doing their due diligence and checking exchange rates and fees before making overseas payments. While the performance of the Australian dollar against the USD is predicted to improve this year, exchange rates have been volatile, particularly due to the global economic slowdown. 

“Comparing exchange rates and fees across providers can not only benefit larger businesses operating on a global scale, but also smaller businesses that may be using overseas suppliers and manufacturers. In fact, the ACCC estimates Australians could save up to AUD$500 on payments of around USD$7000, simply by comparing rates across providers.^[5] Businesses would also be wise to consider ways to reduce costs and waste in other areas, such as re-negotiating contracts with suppliers, contractors and manufacturers.” 

1 in 2 business admit to exchange rate ‘shock’ on transfers and payments

The survey respondents were also asked whether they have ever been caught out by higher-than-expected exchange rates and fees after making an overseas payment or money transfer. More than half (52 per cent) admitted the rate was higher than anticipated when making some payments. 

Interestingly, despite a higher proportion failing to check exchange rates and shop around, smaller businesses were less inclined to be blindsided by unexpectedly high rates and fees. Just 37 per cent of micro businesses admitted they were surprised to have paid a higher-than-expected rate on some money transfers and overseas payments, compared with 76 per cent of small businesses and 77 per cent of medium-to-large businesses.

Alon adds: “Unfortunately, many may not be aware that exchange rates and fees vary significantly across banks and fintech platforms – this is why comparing providers is a vital action to take before transferring money overseas. For instance, fees for international money transfers through Commonwealth Bank can range from $6 to $30, depending on whether internet, app, phone banking or a physical branch is used,^[6] while fees through ANZ can range from $0 to $32 for transactions under $10,000 sent to some countries, such as Papua New Guinea, depending on the platform used.^[7]”

From toilet selfies to intoxicated calls to an ex and an obsession with food photography, Circles Life, reveals the latest in mobile phone behaviour of Australians

Circles Life, one of Australia’s fastest growing digital telcos, surveyed Australians aged 18-35 to understand today’s mobile phone behaviours and attitudes. In true Aussie spirit, questions around toilet selfies, intoxicated phone calls and risqué texts were met with startling honesty, as well as some more topical subjects around the cost of living, with half of the respondents considering switching carriers in search of cheaper phone plans.

More than half of Australian adults could not go a day without their mobile phone. In fact, one in three Australian adults would go without sex for a week rather than their phone for a day, and one-quarter would go without a car for a week. 

Women were more likely to sacrifice sex for a week rather than their phone for a day (37% compared to 27% men), while men were willing to forego brushing their teeth (15% compared to 8% women) or showering (12% compared to 7% women) rather than sacrificing sex for a week, for their phone.

When it came to cringeworthy phone faux pas, Circles Life research also revealed that, 61% of Australians admitted to taking a call or selfie on the toilet; 41% have accidentally screenshotted a conversation and sent it back to the same person; 37% have called or texted an ex while intoxicated and 26% have texted or sent a risqué picture to the wrong person.

Commenting on the findings, Genevieve Brock, Head of Marketing at Circles Life, said: “The mobile phone has become an extension of Australians’ own self, so it was important for us to jump in and understand what is shaping phone usage and behaviour to help us design better mobile plans for our customers and Australians more broadly. We found that almost nothing is off-limits regarding mobile phone usage for younger generations”

Other shockingly common mobile phone behaviour from the research findings included:

• 73% of Australians have had to wait before eating until a photo of the food has been taken, and close to half (49%) have asked someone to wait before eating so they could snap a photo.
• Around one in five think they’re known for sharing private messages or inappropriate content.
• More than half of Australian adults play video games at least weekly, with a quarter playing daily. Half believe that playing video games has improved their problem solving and technical skills.
• On average, Australians spend 3.6 hours a day on their phone; more than a third spend over 4 hours each day on their phone; and almost a quarter are spending more than 5 hours a day on their phone.

While the findings have brought to life the fun and quirky facts and behaviours of Australians, it has also brought to light the cost of living pressures for people.

Australians pay an average of $63 a month for their mobile phone/data plan, and when asked about phone bills, more than a third feel their phone bill is too high. Half (50%)  of those surveyed have considered switching carriers because of cost of living pressures, and 68% are tired of phone plans getting more expensive each year.

D-Link has launched two versions of its new D-View 8 Network Management System, the Standard Edition (DV-800S) and the Enterprise Edition (DV-800E). These powerful software solutions for comprehensive network management offer users scalable, high-precision network monitoring and traffic management and enable them to easily categorise and manage third-party devices via a customisable dashboard for a real-time network overview at a glance.

“As networks become larger and more complex to manage, D-View 8 provides network administrators a clear choice with its advanced features and a best-in-class visual representation of your private, local or global network deployments.”, says D-Link ANZ MD Graeme Reardon. “Providing a tailored management solution for multi-site networks, D-View 8 offers end-to-end manageability of business network infrastructures of any size.”, he continued.

Whilst the Standard Edition will meet many market requirements, the Enterprise Edition provides several additional and even more powerful options supporting 5000 nodes (over the Standard’s 500), multi-server and multi-probe deployment, High Availability, REST API, sFlow Analyser and more.

Both Standard and Enterprise Editions provide intelligent management for your private network, enabling you to monitor multi-vendor devices and control everything from servers to applications. D-View 8 also provides simple, cost-efficient management to enhance network security, reliability and optimised performance making it a must-have platform for organisations with high traffic and high bandwidth needs for applications such as multimedia, mobile and cloud applications.

D-View 8 provides Proactive Network Monitoring to prevent outages by utilising immediate diagnostics to resolve network issues quickly. There are also customised alerts and actions to optimise your business networks and centralise management for remote locations to help business operations run smoothly.

D-View 8’s customisable dashboard also provides for better-informed decisions as its drag and drop dashboard widgets give users easy access to visualised network analytics that matter most to any business. This in turn means users can react quickly to network events in order to enhance operation efficiency, ensure system availability and minimise network downtime.

For comprehensive monitoring and efficient troubleshooting, you can quickly access vital information across all network nodes such as link interface, device connections, sFlow data, device details, visualised topology and rack view to quickly identify and resolve network issues.

D-View 8 also enables users to reduce total cost of ownership and simplify deployment with batch configuration, and schedule automated maintenance tasks such as firmware updates, file backup, and restore operations. Users can also easily compare configuration files using baseline file comparisons.

The D-View 8 Network Management System also allows users toseamlessly integrate third-party devices with templates for device management, configuration, customised categories and panels.

D-View 8 Network Management System key features

• Versatile Network Management Software

• Real-Time Network Analytics

• Role-Based Administration

• Intuitive Dashboard

• Centralised Reporting

• sFlow Analyser (D-View 8 Enterprise Edition)

• Inventory Management

• Batch Configuration

• Firmware Management

• Service Monitoring

For a full comparison of the Standard vs Enterprise editions visit.

Availability and Pricing

The new D-View 8 Network Management System Standard and Enterprise Editions are available now from www.dlink.com.au (RRP AU$5799.95 and RRP AU$12,499.95) and from all D-Link certified partners and resellers.

Uniden has released the App Cam Solo Pano wire-free smart home surveillance device offering enhanced features for homeowners looking to prevent crime and deter criminals both at home and when away.

The new dual-lens App Cam Solo Pano with 3K resolution is a 100 per cent wire-free Wi-Fi and spotlight-enabled security camera that is built to discourage criminals, day or night and function for prolonged periods without needing to be recharged. The powerful 440 Lumens Spotlight will ensure the whole area is light up when a person or vehicle enters it frame.

The long-lasting rechargeable battery has 120 days of standby time without being plugged in. Homeowners who opt to connect their App Cam PANO to a Uniden solar panel (Included) will receive non-stop power, with the battery recharging during daylight. This makes it the ideal security companion for those who want the peace of mind that anyone within 30 meters and 170-degree radius of the camera will not only be caught on video but alerted that they have been seen, and the homeowner notified.

The 170-degree wide field of view is the result of the App Cam Solo Pano’s powerful twin lenses. Users can easily view what their App Cam Solo Pano is capturing remotely from any smartphone device, controlling the two displays at the same time via the Solo App to have a 170-degree wide field of view outside their homes.

If an intruder enters the field of view, the camera immediately activates thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), which gives the App Cam Solo Pano the ability to distinguish between a person ,vehicle and animal. The camera’s rapid wakeup accurately alerts homeowners through immediate notifications while at the same time reducing false alarms.

Uniden’s Thermo Sense is an advanced feature that detects motion from people as opposed to movement from trees, further reducing false alarms and giving homeowners the ability to act quickly, triggering a siren alert or broadcasting a personalised voice alert if the spotlight is triggered or motion detected. Users can also immediately notify the police when needed.

The powerful motion-activated spotlight is supplemented with colour night vision, which is enabled through a CMOS sensor. With the passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) spotlight built into the camera, clearer night vision is captured – in colour – up to 30 metres.

A motion detection record saves all motion events, including AI-detected events, on a micro-SD card or Uniden Cloud for later playback. The App Cam Solo Pano Kit comes with seven days of free backups and cloud storage, although this can be extended through paid plans. This allows users to stream the camera in real-time or view, record, and playback videos at 3K (6MP) resolution, comparing videos, alerts and motion detection over an extended period to identify repeat intruders or to provide video footage to police for identification purposes.

Key features of App Cam Solo Pano

• 100% wirefree over Wi-Fi
• Dual Lens – Double The Coverage
• Solar power compatible (Solar Panel Included)
• rechargeable battery with 120 days standby time
• low-battery notifications
• rapid wake-up
• colour night vision
• 170° viewing angle with dual lens and dual view
• thermo sense technology
• 3K (6MP) resolution to view, record and playback video
• SD Card and 7 days free cloud backup and storage
• weatherproof design
• AI intelligent alerts
• customised voice-recordable alerts
• siren alert trigger
• motion detection record
• privacy masking to black out areas within the camera’s view
• black out areas within the camera’s view that you don’t want to be recorded.

Uniden App Cam Solo PANO RRP: $599.95 AUD

Visit www.uniden.com.au

Master Builders Australia has today released its latest new home forecasts to 2026-27 which shows the nation is falling behind in meeting its housing targets.

Overall housing starts sit below the 200,000 per annum needed between 2022 and 2025, dipping to its lowest over 2022-23 before rebounding in 2026-27 says Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.

“The current environment is a difficult one for the industry marked by rising interest rates, robust cost pressures and labour shortages. Despite this, the total volume of construction activity grew modestly (+1.5 per cent) to $215.1 billion during 2021–22.

“Whilst detached housing and renovations are stable or steadily growing off the back of the COVID stimulus boom, medium to high density remains hardest hit. This segment is more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and is still recovering from the absence of inward migration over the past three years. Even before the pandemic, higher density dwellings were in decline.

“The challenge will be to make sure that we put downward pressure on building and construction costs to increase output.

“At present these challenges relate to supply of housing, workforce shortages – particularly key trades, bottlenecks in the market for key building materials and products, and increased costs from regulatory changes,” said Ms Wawn.

Alongside the forecasts, Master Builders has released its priorities on Delivering the housing needs for all Australians which outlines the key housing policy areas that need to be addressed by all levels of Government in order to achieve sustainable and affordable housing outcomes.

“The dream of owning and investing in housing is underpinned by a fair and equitable desire to improve social, economic and productivity benefits for the country. But in the current climate of economic uncertainty many are seeing this aspiration become too far out of reach with flow on effects across the economy.

“Struggles around housing affordability have persisted over many decades but with state, territory and federal governments committed to addressing the challenge, this key policy area needs to be at the forefront.

“While this represents a challenge, it also provides a real opportunity for bold reform to be advanced and for business and the communities in which they operate to be unshackled.

“The Federal Government has announced an ambitious plan for housing which is supported by Master Builders, and we will work closely with them to ensure the most effective levers are pulled and are practically implementable by the industry.

“To achieve better housing affordability in the future, changes need to be made to the way we do things, now and over the long-term.

“To address these pressures, Master Builders recommends responses around housing supply, the construction workforce, supply chain risk and cost pressures, simplifying regulatory settings, and providing taxation settings that support investment in housing and productivity,” said Ms Wawn.

Australian small businesses are being warned to brace for continuing labour shortages this year as staffing woes continue to impact operations across a range of industries. Phil Parisis, Head of Product and Sales at My Business, the country’s largest business organisation, says one of the biggest issues facing SME owners in 2023 will be how to attract and retain staff.

“For many small businesses who managed to survive COVID, these ongoing staffing shortages are the final straw,” he says.

“Whether it be being forced to reduce opening hours, having to put growth plans on hold or being unable to keep up with customer demand, the labour skills shortage is having a huge impact on workplaces across the country,” says Mr Parisis.

“A recent survey of our members found 77% of them have found the quality of job applicants average or below for the advertised role. They’re struggling to find the right people.”

Industries expected to continue to feel the brunt of labour shortages in 2023 include hospitality, retail, transportation and construction.

“As a small business owner, recruitment can be overwhelming, not only does it feel like larger organisations have a greater pull power and the ability to outbid workers but there’s also the additional responsibility of having to correctly onboard new staff and ensure everything is above board,” he says.

“Here at My Business we’re trying to make recruitment easier for SME’s by making things simple with tailored recruitment checklists and legally drawn up contract templates for hiring new staff.”

Mr Parisis offers these tips for small business owners on how to attract and retain staff in 2023:

Give them equity.

“Think about involving your people in the business through an employee share scheme. These are now easier and much cheaper to put in place than previously and they’re a great incentive to attract quality job candidates that relieves the pressure of having to offer competitive salaries. By allowing your employees to share in the growth and success of your business you’re also giving them a reason to stay.”

Be flexible

“Staff these days value flexibility so don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t just offer remote or hybrid working but reconsider non-traditional working hours and be open to job sharing.”

Be human

“People want to work for businesses that care about more than money. Small businesses have a huge advantage over larger organisations because they can take advantage of their flatter organisational structure to make their staff feel cared for and valued.”

Benefits

“Re-evaluate what benefits you’re offering staff and what they cost to the business. Some of the most popular benefits you could offer are also cost effective such as shorter Fridays during the summer months.”

Personal touch

“During the hiring process make sure you respond to all your applicants. Help make them advocates for your business even if they don’t get the job.”

Master Builders Australia invites women with up to five years experience in the building and construction industry to apply for the 2023 Women Building Australia mentor program.

The program runs over nine-months commencing on 28 March with applications closing on 28 February.

“Mentees will be paired up with established industry leaders in the industry to access support, encouragement and advice through a mentorship relationship,” said Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.

“With monthly engagements, program participants will also be required to attend the program launch, mid-program review and end of year wrap up.

“The building and construction industry is one of the largest sectors in Australia. During November 2022, there were 1.29 million people employed in the industry working in over 445,000 construction businesses.

“However, women currently make up only 13.6 per cent of the industry’s total workforce. Three in 10 professionals in the industry are women by only 3.5 per cent are building trades and technicians.

“The industry is missing out on the skills and talents of half the population by not attracting more women into trades.

“Improving the attractiveness of the industry to women presents a massive opportunity to increase the pool of potential workers and this program is one of the many initiatives through Master Builder’s Women Building Australia to assist,” said Ms Wawn.

Rebecca Bishop and owner of Elite Building is a mentor in the program: “I loved watching my mentee grow so much during our time together. Being a mentor helped me to grow and learn new skills too.

“We need more women in construction. I recommend the program to all women who want to build their network, feel less alone, develop better communication skills, work on themselves, feel more confident and make some new connections and friends,” said Ms Bishop.

2022 program participant Laura Stevenson, a carpenter by trade, said: “My mentor Tara who has many years experience in the industry was really great at giving me some insights on how to navigate it all and some ideas about the future.

“I was just starting off in my career and unsure at first of what I wanted in the program. I’d highly recommend this program to anyone starting out even if they felt unsure like me as it was nice feeling to work with someone who just gets it,” said Ms Stevenson.

Ms Wawn said the industry is making progress. The gender pay gap is declining faster than average. The proportion of women in all occupation groups, except administration, is increasing.

“There are more female trades and technicians in construction than ever before and the number of females commencing a trade apprenticeship has more than doubled in the last five years,” said Ms Wawn.

Women Building Australia is supported through a Federal Government grant and delivered through Master Builders Australia aimed to attract and support women to succeed in the building and construction industry. It includes a range of initiatives including career expos, a female led business register, business resilience training and a dedicated harassment and discrimination support line.

For more information and to apply for the mentorship program visit: www.womenbuildingaustralia.com.au