New research reveals that 2 in 3 Australian online retailers increased their revenue in 2022 despite inflation and rate rises, and 9 in 10 plan to invest more in their business to protect against current economic pressures. These include expanding their product ranges, improving their customer experience online, and offering more delivery options.

The findings were derived from a survey of 200 online retailers by leading parcel delivery service CouriersPlease. Business owners and senior decision makers across different retailer sizes – micro (1-15 employees), small (16-50 employees), medium (51-200 employees) and large (more than 200 employees) – were asked whether their revenue increased in 2022, and what investment plans they had to help protect their revenue this year. 

Nine in 10 online retailers have at least one business investment plan this year, to help protect their business from lower consumer spending.

How small business plan to stave off economic pressures

• 42 per cent will expand their product range
• 38 per cent will improve their E-Commerce stores
• 34 per cent will invest in marketing
• 31 per cent will expand into new markets
• 31 per cent will implement new technology such as customer service chatbots, automated fulfilment in their warehouses to improve their customer service
• 18 per cent will introduce more delivery options
• 15 per cent will create a better returns or exchange processes

Richard Thame, CEO at CouriersPlease, says the results are encouraging and indicate online retailers’ commitment to their business growth. “Online retailers are still enjoying the positive effects of the E-Commerce boom, and total revenue for the Australian market is forecasted to continue growing steadily year-on-year, with the market projected to reach US$35 billion by 2025.^[1] But the survey shows that retailers are not naïve to economic fluctuations and are acting now to prepare for potential future challenges.” 

Between the States, investment priorities vary. Online retailers in Queensland led the way with plans to invest in product range expansion, with just under half (48 per cent) of Queenslanders investing in this option, compared with only 20 per cent of West Australians.

The highest proportion of retailers planning to improve their E-Commerce store are in Victoria – at 40 per cent – compared with an equal 27 per cent of South Australian and West Australian retailers who plan the same.

The highest proportion of retailers planning to invest into new markets are in NSW – at 38 per cent – compared with just 13 per cent of West Australians.

Micro businesses are most likely to neglect the need to invest in their business to generate sales in a tough economic period, with one fifth (20 per cent) of this group admitting they will do nothing to hedge against an economic slowdown. This was followed by only 10 per cent of medium-sized businesses and 4 per cent of small businesses. Zero per cent of large businesses are willing to resign to fate in the event of economic turndown.

The proactive planning and resilience of these online retailers is exemplified by their positive results for 2022. Two-thirds (64 per cent) of online retailers reported increased revenue in the last calendar year, despite inflation and increasing interest rates throughout 2022. Just over a quarter (28 per cent) of respondents said their 2022 revenue remained the same as in 2021, and only 8 per cent of online retailers reported lower revenue in the last calendar year. 

A closer look at the data reveals 69 per cent of online retailers based in NSW reported a revenue increase in 2022, closely followed by Victoria with 66 per cent, then Queensland with 58 per cent. Given online retailers in these States are already planning ways to tackle recessionary impacts for the year ahead, it is arguable that NSW, Victorian and Queenslander online retailers will report another positive revenue year for 2023.

Larger retailers were more likely to have increased their revenue in 2022 from 2021 levels, chosen by an impressive 91 per cent of large retailers, 68 per cent of medium-sized retailers, 62 per cent of small retailers and 53 per cent of micro retailers.

Similar proportions of micro, small and medium-sized retailers achieved the same levels of revenue in 2022 as in 2021, all between 30-32 per cent. This compares with just 5 per cent of large businesses whose revenue did not change in the same period.

Richard says: “The link between scaling and investing in different areas of the business, and a positive revenue report is clear. It makes sense that the online retailers that are forward-looking in their business development will help keep their customers engaged and interested in their products and services. By offering new products, easier pathways through their E-Commerce store, or a range of delivery options, retailers provide customers with a positive user experience that can help convert sales and increase revenue, even during more challenging economic times.”

The full survey results, including age and State breakdowns, can be found here: Couriers Please Economic Pressures 

Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is proud to share the agenda for the upcoming Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium, being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 12. 

The Australian Women’s Leadership Symposiums are a national series of events, and one of the largest gatherings of professional women in Australia. More than 1,000 women are expected to attend the symposiums, with leadership, gender equity, diversity and inclusion and this year’s UN International Women’s Day Theme ‘Cracking the Code’ just some of the items on the agenda. 

Recipients of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership will also formally accept their awards, with Rochelle Courtenay (QLD state recipient) and Karen Mundine (National recipient) accepting their awards live in Brisbane. 

Speakers in Brisbane WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM include:

• Em Rusciano, Comedian; Writer; Singer; Radio, Television, and Podcast Presenter 
• Tiarne Shutt, Associate Director – Business Advisory, First Australians Capital 
• Breeanna Brock, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Lions Women’s Team 
• Candice (Yeong) Lam, Associate Director, Aurecon; Director, Change & Advisory, Engineering New Worlds
• Alina Dini PH.D., Founder, Whirl; Director, Energy, Climate & Circular Economy, Deloitte 
• Dr Mellissa Naidoo, Chief Health Officer, Viridis Consultants; Non-Executive Director and Board Member 
• Astrid Jorgensen, Founding Director of Pub Choir™ and Couch Choir; Finalist, QLD Young Australian of The Year 2020  
• Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, Award-winning Doctor; Co-founder, Doctors with Disabilities Australia; Disability Advocate; Researcher; Lawyer 

EPOS, the premium global audio and video brand, has announced the IMPACT 1000 – an on-ear, future-proof Bluetooth® headset. The IMPACT 1000 Series is the first headset designed to meet the challenges of a call in the New Open Office[1]* workspace. This headset for talk-centric professionals ensures that all sides of the meeting can stay focused for an impactful dialogue while minimising the brain energy spent on listening and understanding the essentials. EPOS IMPACT 1000 is designed to help the brain listen and understand, with at least one on the call being in a noisy environment. This reduces brain fatigue on both sides of the meeting through hybrid adaptive ANC and industry-leading adaptive voice pickup powered by EPOS AI™.

The IMPACT 1000 leverages industry-leading speech intelligibility technology. By harnessing machine learning technology, the IMPACT 1000 works to identify which sounds should be suppressed in a user’s environment and which sounds should be enhanced. Together, this first-of-its-kind solution addresses the challenges of modern work environments, empowering workers in open-plan offices to block out unwanted noises and create disturbance-free work experiences for both sides of a call.

The IMPACT 1000 delivers on the EPOS mission of unleashing human potential by perfecting audio experiences. Leveraging powerful technologies, the IMPACT 1000 mitigates brain fatigue by reducing disruptive sounds and enables both sides of a call to unlock new levels of productivity and performance.  
 
Powered by EPOS’ BrainAdapt™ technology – EPOS designs audio solutions built on EPOS BrainAdapt™, a group of pioneering technologies that work together to improve cognitive performance. IMPACT 1000 is built on EPOS BrainAdapt^™ technology to reduce brain fatigue with adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and industry-leading voice pickup powered by EPOS AI^™, making sure you’re getting your message through.
 

• Uses EPOS AI™ to adapt to environments – EPOS machine learning technology scans user environments 32,000 times per second to suppress disruptive sounds and enhances desirable audio to ensure only the relevant sounds slip through to the person the user is talking to.
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – Featuring hybrid adaptive hybrid ANC, the IMPACT 1000 ensures unwanted background sounds are blocked out to enable an undisturbed conversation and reduced brain fatigue.
• Built with layers of smart features – Triple Bluetooth connectivity lets users stay connected to three devices at the same time to enable movement while on a call. TalkThrough features allow users to communicate with colleagues without removing the headset while the 360 busy light signals when users are on a call.  
• Designed for comfort – Users can experience all-day wearing comfort with a lightweight design, soft cushions, headband padding, and Super Wideband for natural sound. Enjoy total ease of use with a contactless charging stand, intuitive on-headset controls, and a suite of smart features.  

The IMPACT 1000 is a top-of-the-line headset designed to address the challenges of modern work environments. With its powerful technologies and user-friendly features, it mitigates brain fatigue, reduces disruptive sounds, and enables users to unlock new levels of productivity and performance.  
 
Theis Mørk, VP of Product Management at EPOS, says: “The IMPACT 1000 is a true game changer. As businesses navigate the complexities of the New Open Office, it’s crucial to invest in products that deliver long-term benefits for both employees and the bottom line. Powered by our cutting-edge technologies, the IMPACT 1000 is the ultimate solution for talk-centric professionals, empowering them to achieve more, even in challenging environments. Our latest addition to the IMPACT product line is a testament to our commitment to providing durable, high-performance solutions that meet the evolving needs of the modern workforce and reducing listening fatigue.” 
 
Ecosystem certifications for collaboration platforms are pending. Click here for further information about the IMPACT 1000.  

Availability: June 2023  
MRSP: Prices start from $485.00 AUD

Australia’s gig workers are missing out on $400 million a year in super contributions, a new Industry Super Australia report has found.

Delivery drivers, disability carers, IT professionals, education workers and other services all make up the 275,000 workers Industry Super Australia (ISA) estimates are in the gig economy.

ISA analysis for the extending the super guarantee to gig workers report shows, the average gig worker could have up to $29,000 more in their retirement nest egg if super was paid to the on-demand workforce.

This mostly young workforce are often students, otherwise unemployed and many live with a disability, getting small super contributions from gig work would make a meaningful difference at their retirement.

ISA analysis shows the typical transport and food delivery driver gig worker misses out on $1,900 super contributions a year when working an average of 14.5 hours a week, earning $24 per hour.

Spending three years in the industry would mean these super contributions would reach $17,200 at retirement and $28,700 if in gig work for five years.

A caring gig worker – a growing part of the on-demand workforce – who earns the average $23.40 an hour and averages 8.6 hours a week would get $1,100 extra a year in super contributions.

After three years in the industry these super contributions could mean an extra $10,800 at retirement or $17,500 after five years of work.

Not only would this extra money improve the quality of life for individuals at retirement it would reduce the burden on the age pension.

Paying super to gig workers is becoming more important as the on-demand workforce grows. A 2019 academic survey with 14,000 responses estimates that within a 12-month period about seven per cent of Australians were in on-demand work and 13 per cent had undertaken digital platform work before.¹

More than half of Australia’s gig workers are under-35 and not earning super deprives them of decades of compounding earnings. Many also live with a disability, are students or otherwise unemployed. Small super contributions from gig work could make a big difference in these workers’ quality of life at retirement.

The Federal Government has flagged it will legislate to extend the Fair Work Commission powers to set a minimum set of employment standards for many gig workers, which would include the payment of super.

Industry Super Australia supports moves that upholds the flexibility and convenience of gig work but also ensures a minimum set of employment standards.

Comments attributable to Industry Super Australia Chief Executive Bernie Dean:

“Being a gig worker should not mean you miss out on the opportunity to save for a decent nest-egg at retirement.”

“Paying gig workers super isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes economic sense because they’ll be more self-sufficient in retirement and less reliant on the age pension, which we all pay for through taxes.”

“These workers are critical to caring for our elderly, delivering food and driving us home, they have every right to share in the benefits of what is meant to be a universal saving system.”

TikTok provides a unique opportunity for Australian small businesses to build a community of loyal customers and increase the growth of their businesses off-platform. TikTok has launched Business Booms on TikTok. Business Booms is a campaign that celebrates the success that small businesses are having on TikTok by telling the unique growth stories that small Australian businesses have achieved. Whether they are retail, e-commerce, food and beverage, construction or agricultural enterprises, any small business can harness the opportunities on TikTok to build a community of loyal customers and see success.

Every day, people worldwide are leveraging the power of TikTok to drive their small business success. Since 2019, TikTok has helped hundreds of thousands of Australian small businesses grow through exposure to TikTok’s large, multi-layered ecosystem of creators. Small businesses can get acquainted with new consumers, build engaged communities and drive sales.

Lee Hunter, General Manager at TikTok AUNZ, said, “At TikTok, we know that small businesses are essential to the Australian community. People share their unique stories daily, promote their products and services, and take us behind the scenes as they grow their businesses. TikTok can connect people and businesses uniquely and engagingly by allowing users to find and interact with emerging brands leading to the discovery of new brands and products. We’re honoured to showcase the businesses booming and highlight all the successes they’ve achieved with TikTok.”

Kristy Dickinson Wiradjuri, Jewellery Designer from Haus of Dizzy, said, “TikTok has paved the way for our First Nations fashion to be loved by more people in Australia.”

Ali Chebbani, Chebbo added, “What originally started as a bit of fun during COVID-19 has now become my full-time job. I began by posting videos of myself cooking and sharing recipes on TikTok. Now I’m about to open a restaurant in Sydney. It is crazy! There is no way I could have achieved this without TikTok, as I was able to reach a global audience from my kitchen!”

Small Australian Business Booms on TikTok. Here are some :

• @Chebbo (Food & Beverage): Ali Chebbani, also known as Chebbo, is an NSW-based burger enthusiast and full-time creator whose love of burgers saw his business rise to fame on TikTok, allowing him to open his very own burger joint in south-west Sydney. His recreations of popular fast food items cater to all home cooks looking to switch up their daily recipes. They have drawn in nearly 1M loyal followers, who now flood into his restaurant.

• @daughters_of_india (Retail & eCommerce): With a focus on women empowerment and the importance of enjoying a slow-paced lifestyle, Daughters of India is a slow fashion label that supports the art of handmade and traditional garment crafting methods that have been passed down through generations. Through sustainable and ethical production, the brand aims to bridge the gap fast fashion has carved between artisan and consumer, highlighting the artisans and makers and supporting them to continue family traditions for the benefit of their livelihoods and communities.
• @Haus of Dizzy (Retail & eCommerce): Wiradjuri Jewellery Designer & Queen of Bling, Kristy Dickinson creates bold, playful, statement-making jewellery that celebrates and honours Indigenous culture—imbuing a sense of empowerment and joy within everybody who wears it. Often featuring powerful political and social messages, the Fitzroy-based designer found her success on TikTok after starting her business in 2016.
• @zorali: (Retail & eCommerce) Zorali specialise in sustainable outdoor apparel. Through TikTok, they bring the greatest playground into our homes, inspiring Australians to get out and explore it. They’ve built a community of adventurers and loyal customers by sharing their secrets to a good life and giving it back to the planet.
• @Yasmin Brisbane (Agriculture): Yasmin, also known as the girl with a lot of camels, is the proud owner of a camel farm based in Brisbane, which rose to stardom when she rescued a young camel that’d strayed from its farm and posted it on TikTok attracting more than 8M video views. Since that day, videos of life on her family’s camel dairy farm have attracted more than 480k followers, allowing Yasmin and her family to boom in their business field of farm visits and tours.
• @clothing the gaps (Retail & eCommerce): Clothing The Gaps is a First Nations-led and controlled social enterprise based in Wurundjeri Country. On TikTok, they voice the conversations that their fashion sparks, inspiring people to wear their values on their tee and live them daily.
• @siteinspections (Construction): Site Inspections provides professional inspections to Aussie homes. Through TikTok, they expose shortcuts and defects to homes only experts can see. Educating homeowners and buyers about what to look out for when purchasing a property ensures they’re the team you need to talk to first.
• @lskd.co (Retail & eCommerce): LSKD is a Brisbane-based sportswear brand producing high-quality and functional fashion. Through TikTok, they take their community mission to another level, motivating their followers with workouts, challenges and all-around positive vibes. By getting their customers moving, nothing is stopping LSKD.
• @Chefs and Dogs (Retail & eCommerce): Chef Daniel started showcasing videos of him preparing fresh gourmet meals for his sick dog and sharing them on TikTok. Resonating with other pet parents, they had over 2M followers in a short period. Now a successful owner of a pet food eCommerce business, Chefs and Dogs, Daniel has converted his on-platform success to the real world.
• @ContourCube (Skincare): From their first TikTok video reaching 1M views overnight, the world’s first ice facial tool saw immediate traffic and conversions on the website globally, completely selling out the product. Sarah Forrai created the facial tool at the start of the pandemic. She could never imagine the instant success of Contour Cube. The tool is a go-to facial tool for Kendall Jenner.

It’s a question I’m often asked by business owners who are perhaps experiencing growth or are looking to expand their business – how can I raise capital ? In the current economic climate, it’s never been more difficult for SME’s to access this funding from traditional banks and so many business owners are having to think outside the box and look at alternative forms of finance.

There are 6 main options to raise capital that don’t involve bank finance –

Personal Capital

As the business owner you can lend money to your business from your personal wealth. If you have equity in your home and your mortgage allows for it, you could borrow money out of this and lend it to your business for mortgage rates. This is the cheapest form of capital however it comes with a high degree of risk. You’re risking your personal wealth for your business.

External Shareholders

Depending on where your business is in its life cycle you could consider selling equity to a third party or external shareholders. Think about what other values and skill sets your shareholders could also bring to you other than just capital. The downside of this option is that you are diluting your own equity in the business which may not be desirable as the business owner.

.

Invoice Financing

Invoice financing is the number one form of business financing in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe and allows a business owner to unlock the cash that’s tied up in their unpaid invoices. The financier gets paid when the debtor makes payment so there are no repayments to be made. Typically, businesses can access up to 90% of the sale value of an invoice whilst continuing to offer credit terms to customers. It’s a powerful form of business funding and allows cash flow to be maintained.

Credit Cards

This is a short term fix with long term pain unless you can afford to repay the full repayments each month. It’s risky and can lead your business into a cycle of debt.

Online Lenders

There are many online lenders in the Australian marketplace and these can be a good option for businesses due to their fast turnaround and not requiring property security. The downside is they can be expensive and as with all loans make sure you can afford the weekly, fortnightly or monthly minimum repayments. As with credit cards, this can lead the business into a cycle of debt and we do see some businesses that have a debt stack, that is multiple loans.

Asset Finance

If your business owns equipment or other assets you may be able to unlock cash against those assets and use that money within your business. This is typically known as a “sale and leaseback” but be aware that you are converting an unencumbered asset into an encumbered asset. However this strategy may have tax benefits that need to be considered.

Crowdfunding

Rather than having significant investors, crowdfunding involves a large number of people funding a business or a project. Marketing is crucial for success as you need to convince people that your project is worthy of their investment. There are four types of crowdfunding – donation, debt, rewards and equity. Donation funding is where people give money without receiving any return. Debt-based funding, donors are repaid with incentivised higher contributions whilst equity funding sees backers receiving a share of the business. Reward-based funding offers tokens or discounts from the company. The disadvantage of crowdfunding is that it takes a huge effort and marketing campaign to get it off the ground and attract the level of funding you need for business growth.

SME owners may currently feel disheartened as access to capital tightens which is why it’s important to look at alternatives. Choose the right type of funding for the current position of your business and make sure it also aligns with your plans for the future. 

By Angus Sedgwick, CEO of OptiPay

Shippit, the leading Australian logistics technology platform, and Wix.com Ltd. , a leading global SaaS platform to create, manage, and grow an online presence, today announced a partnership whereby Australia and Singapore-based eCommerce businesses using Wix can seamlessly connect their online stores to Shippit’s multi-carrier shipping and fulfilment technology. This provides businesses with the tools to ship smart, optimise their fulfilment and have high-quality post-purchase experiences for their customers.

Through the partnership, from storefront to delivery, Wix and Shippit will help eCommerce businesses create a positive customer experience and scale their online operations at every stage of their growth. 

Highlights of the shipping and fulfilment integration include:

• Hassle-free shipping: Retailers have access to Australia’s leading carriers and competitive delivery rates, enabling businesses to offer multiple delivery options at the checkout.
• Synchronised orders: Once an order is shipped, it automatically updates and marks orders as “fulfilled” and adds tracking numbers in the Wix Dashboard, making it easier for businesses to track their orders and keep customers informed.
• Optimising shipping costs: With Shippit’s smart carrier allocation, retailers can automate manual decisions, providing greater control over shipping costs.
• Streamlining operations: Flexible pick and pack workflows and automated packaging decisions, enable consistent, fast, error-free fulfilment.
• Consistent delivery experiences: Powered by Shippit’s automated tracking notifications and an in-house delivery support team, retailers and their customers receive high quality care.

Commenting on the integration, Rob-Hango-Zada, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Shippit, said: “Delivery is perhaps the biggest differentiator for retailers today. Australians have come to expect quick, transparent and convenient delivery options today; and their tolerance when those expectations aren’t met is low. 

“Shippit exists to bring retailers, carriers and shoppers closer together than ever before, ironing out the creases in a once-fragmented supply chain. Our partnership with Wix, which we’re hugely excited about, is our latest commitment to that mission, and will provide powerful shipping and fulfilment solutions to help Wix customers meet and exceed their customers’ evolving demands – from storefront to delivery.”

Shippit powered over 42 million deliveries in 2022 for over 4,000 retailers including Target, Myer, Cotton On and BIG W. Since its launch in 2014, $25bn worth of ecommerce orders have been fulfilled through Shippit – with 50% of all Australians receiving a delivery powered by Shippit in the last 12 months.

This integration is available to Wix users via the Wix App Market. 

For more information about Shippit, its services and its goal of powering 200 million deliveries without waste by 2025, visit: www.shippit.com/.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced its plans to invest AU$13.2 billion in its existing cloud infrastructure in Sydney and Melbourne from 2023 to 2027 to meet growing customer demand for cloud services in Australia.
 
This investment is estimated to contribute AU$35 billion to Australia’s total gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, according to AWS’s newly launched Economic Impact Study (EIS) for Australia.
 
The Honourable Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, said: “Digital transformation is integral to Australia’s future prosperity. A whole-of-nation effort is required to ensure Australia and its citizens and businesses can be resilient, secure, and prosperous.” 
 
“Economic and infrastructure investment from cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) helps create jobs, advances digital skills, boosts innovation, and uplifts local communities and businesses. The Australian Government acknowledges AWS’s investment into the nation over the past decade, and welcomes its planned investment over the next five years, the full-time jobs supported annually, and contribution to the nation’s GDP.”
 
This planned investment into AWS data centre infrastructure in Australia will support an estimated average of 11,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs at local Australian businesses each year.
 
Rianne Van Veldhuizen, AWS managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said: “For over a decade, AWS has invested billions of dollars into Australia through infrastructure and jobs, and worked closely with the public sector, and local customers and partners, to be a force multiplier across the nation.”
 
“We are committed to positive social and economic impact, investing in local community engagement programs, workforce development initiatives, cloud infrastructure, and renewable energy project investments. Our plan to invest more than AU$13 billion into the country over the next five years will help create more positive ripple effects, further solidifying Australia’s position in the global economy.”

GoTo, the company making IT management, support, and business communication easy with flagship products GoTo Resolve, Rescue, and GoTo Connect, has announced findings from its IT Priorities: 2023 Report. The report, conducted by Frost & Sullivan and commissioned by GoTo, looked at the global trends of 1,000 IT decision-makers at companies with less than 1,000 employees. Among the Key IT Trends in Australia, the survey continues to see businesses consolidating tools, with 81% of Australian respondents considering consolidation of communication and IT management and support tools an important initiative for 2023. As an added benefit, this consolidation helps to alleviate the burden on IT, a goal of 97% of Australian respondents.

As economic uncertainty, scrutinised budgets, and overburdened resources continue to be the norm, IT decision-makers are faced with determining the right set of goals and objectives to maximise their investment, grow their business, and streamline their processes. The survey uncovered four main business objectives to ensure their organisation’s success and support for their employees and customers. These top objectives include growing revenue, improving operational efficiencies, reducing costs, and increasing customer satisfaction. The key trends uncovered in this survey will allow teams to reach these objectives.

“IT management and support solutions will see a lot of re-evaluating by organisations in 2023. Economic uncertainty combined with mounting pressures from customers mean teams will be strategically planning the best steps and investments to make,” says Lindsay Brown, VP and General Manager of APJ, GoTo. “As organisations look forward, it is important to consider the impact their decisions will have on budgets as well as their IT staff and teams, as this will cause a ripple effect through to the rest of the organisation. Consolidation looks to address not only reduced or reprioritised budgets, but also business productivity”.

Key IT Trends in Australia

• Consolidation for enhanced productivity and cost savings: 32% of businesses are planning to switch vendors to reduce costs. 82% of respondents consider consolidation of communication, collaboration, and IT management and support tools an important initiative of the year. 92% have completed, planned, or are in process with these consolidation efforts. The top reason for consolidation was to give solutions to the IT team that are easier to manage increase employee productivity, followed by increasing employee productivity, and then ease to upgrade and scale.
• With choice comes responsibility: Nearly half (42%) said it was very important to consider reducing the burden on IT when choosing new software, compared to only 35% last year. 71% of company leaders say they are more involved in the purchase process of products and tools than they were a year ago.
• Support IT teams with better IT support tools: 52% of organisations say they saw an increase in the IT workload in the past year. 98% of respondents said they want to reduce the burden on IT through the right software choice. 39% of respondents said that their reason for digital tool upgrades and change was driven by IT team preference.
• Hybrid work is still the preferred way to work: While the survey saw almost double the amount of in-office workers compared to when the same question was asked in 2022 (37% now compared to 19% last year), hybrid work still remains the gold standard with nearly half the respondents (47%) splitting their time between home and the office. Two-thirds of offices have official guidelines, with 67% of Australian businesses having a requirement regarding the number of days knowledge-based employees in the hybrid work model should work from the office.
• Find new ways to prioritise the customer: While businesses will only function if the right IT support and communication tools are enabled for employees, it’s equally important that externally facing teams have the right technology to seamlessly support customers. 63% of respondents plan to spend more on customer experience (CX) technology in 2023 than they did in 2022.
• Partners play a key role in decision-making: 46% of businesses choose a Partner versus 29% going to the solution provider directly to find new business communication and IT support tools.

For more information about GoTo’s IT Priorities Report, please visit: www.goto.com/it-priorities-report.