D-Link A/NZ has launched the DWM-314-G 5G Multi-Connect Dual SIM M2M VPN Router which unleashes and uses the power of 5G for superior machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity.

The DWM-314-G 5G Multi-Connect Modem harnesses 5G technology to accelerate ultra-fast speed, reduce latency and ensure reliable connectivity with its automatic failover feature enhancing M2M communication.

Ideal for smart parking poles, kiosks and ATMs, this modem supports real-time data transfer and remote management. A built-in 4-port Gigabit Ethernet switch expands the scope of the unit across a wide variety of use-cases and applications, saving costs and making it perfect for space-constrained environments.

Additionally, secure VPN capabilities safeguard data transmission, ensuring robust security for all connected devices.

Designed for instant setup, the DWM-314-G 5G modem offers real-time remote access and uninterrupted connectivity over long distances. Equipped with dual SIM slots, users simply insert two Micro-SIM cards (3FF) for a reliable connection to a high-speed 5G network with seamless 4G/5G switching and for failover redundancy if one carrier network is down.

Convenient wall and DIN-rail mounting options allow the DWM-314-G to be mounted virtually anywhere. As a result, this plug-and-play modem ensures robust service even in challenging environments.

The industrial-grade casing provides reliable high-speed connectivity in extreme conditions. With a corrosion-resistant zinc-plated steel case with wide operating temperature range and high humidity tolerance means that the DWM-314-G is ready for the most demanding M2M applications in virtually any environment.

The DWM-314-G 5G Multi-Connect Modem offers effortless integration with its 4G/5G Cellular and Ethernet interfaces, providing instant access for Ethernet-enabled devices without any need for pre-configuration or special software and this plug-and-play capability makes it ideal for versatile applications.

It extends wired connectivity to many devices ensuring it can be easily integrated into diverse settings including parking lots, retail shops, surveillance systems and service stations.

It can also be used for Smart Bus Stops providing remote access for real-time bus information and ad updates, enhancing commuter experience.

For tailored configurations, the device’s web interface is user-friendly and readily adjustable through any standard web browser.

Key features of the DWM-314-G 5G Multi-Connect Dual SIM M2M VPN Router

• 5G SA & NSA speeds of up to 3.4 Gbps¹ for Internet access and data transfer​

• 4 GbE LAN ports ensure reliable connectivity and reduces extra hardware costs

• Plug & Play design for quick and easy integration​​

• Durable zinc-plated steel case is corrosion-resistant to ensure device longevity​​

• -30 to 70°C operating temperature to resist harsh environments​​

• Wall or DIN-rail mounting allow for optimal device placement​

The new DWM-314-G 5G Multi-Connect Dual SIM M2M VPN Router is available now from www.dlink.com.au and all authorised D-Link resellers and partners in Australia for the RRP of AU$1249.95

As people increasingly look for ways to stay safe from hackers and avoid horrendous roaming fees, eSIM specialist Simify is witnessing its eSIMs and unlimited roaming data plans on essential pre-flight checklists for travellers heading overseas this summer, more so than ever before.

Taking advantage of school holidays and end-of-year breaks, more Australians travel overseas in December and January than at any other time of year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

When practically every traveller has a smartphone in their pocket alongside their passport, it’s no surprise that summer is also peak season for eSIMs.

eSIM technology is embedded directly in smartphones and tablets, allowing users to easily switch between mobile networks as they travel. This makes it simple for international travellers to access affordable high-speed mobile data, without the need to juggle physical SIM cards or switch phone numbers.

The convenience of eSIMs is perfect for families heading overseas for the summer break, making it easy and affordable to keep everyone online, says Aidan Butler, co-founder of Simify.

Simify offers mobile coverage in more than 150 countries, providing international travellers with peace of mind: unlimited data for up to 90 days, with no need to worry about top-ups or extra roaming fees.

Waiting until you land before organising your eSIM risks getting stung with hefty international roaming fees, warns Butler.

“A few countries prevent tourists from purchasing foreign eSIM services after they arrive in the country,” he says.

“Things can change very quickly, so it’s safer to get your eSIM up and running before you fly, rather than risk getting caught out at the other end.”

Along with avoiding oppressive international roaming fees, Butler says savvy Australians also recognise the importance of eSIMs for staying safe.

“Summer is our busiest time of year as Australians flock overseas, but the smart ones know that eSIMs aren’t just about saving money,” he says.

“People are waking up to the fact that public WiFi isn’t safe anymore, so they’re taking advantage of unlimited eSIM plans to avoid relying on dodgy WiFi when they travel.”

Even connecting to secure hotel WiFi can be risky, as 58 per cent of hotel cybersecurity leaders reported five or more cyberattacks during the 2024 peak travel season, according to Hospitality Net’s 2024 Cybersecurity in Hotels Report.

Today’s unlimited eSIM travel plans mean that travellers can always stay online using secure mobile data. As a bonus, they can keep their Australian mobile number active to receive important messages, such as verification codes from their bank.

“Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving; you just can’t be sure whether any WiFi network is really legit and secure,” Butler says.

“You’re paying a very high cost for so-called free public WiFi if your bank account gets cleaned out when you’re travelling abroad.” 

For details on all of Simify’s eSIM unlimited roaming data plans, go to: https://simify.com

Jabra has announced that it has teamed up with Zoom to achieve new certifications for its professional headsets, underscoring their shared commitment to empowering both frontline and hybrid workers with communication tools that help them stay connected and productive in any environment.

Jabra Perform 75: Certified for Zoom Workplace for Frontline

Zoom announced its new Workplace for Frontline platform in April 2025 to better serve the 80 percent of the global workforce that operates on the frontline. The Jabra Perform 75 mono headset is now the first audio device to be certified for that program. Designed for employees who spend their workdays on the move, Jabra Perform 75 integrates with Zoom Workplace to keep teams connected, hands-free and more focused during every shift.

Zoom Workplace for Frontline combines on-shift communications and work management, giving frontline teams tools for chat, calling and push-to-talk (PTT), shift scheduling and reporting. Paired with Jabra Perform 75, frontline workers gain easier access to these tools, remaining heads-up, hands-free, and comfortable throughout their shift, while managers benefit from task overviews and attendance insights that keep operations running smoothly.

AI at the Core of Collaboration

Zoom AI Companion is a generative-AI digital assistant, that delivers powerful, real-time capabilities to help users improve productivity and work together more effectively. With this certification news, Jabra plays a key role in ensuring that frontline workers can interact with Zoom’s AI features through clear, accurate voice input and dependable audio performance. This collaboration helps make AI-driven communication practical and effective in busy, real-world environments.

Jabra Evolve2 75: Certified as a Zoom Native Bluetooth Headset

In addition, the Jabra Evolve2 75 professional headset has been certified as a Zoom Native Bluetooth Headset. This headset enables workers to enjoy the full Zoom collaboration experience without the need for a dongle. The result is greater flexibility and consistent performance for teams who depend on straightforward tools to stay connected.

Janne Jakobsen, SVP for Enterprise Headsets at Jabra said: “These certifications mark a special milestone for our collaboration with Zoom. Users can trust that our headsets deliver not only premium sound and comfort but also full compatibility with Zoom, the platform they rely on every day. Together, we are enabling an even better experience for mobile professionals worldwide.”

Key Features of the Jabra + Zoom Collaboration

Jabra Perform 75: Certified for Zoom Workplace for Frontline

• Hands-free Bluetooth headset built for shiftwork, helping associates stay connected and focused
• Noise-cancelling microphone technology that blocks out 99% of background noise for clearer conversations in busy environments
• Modular design with hot-swappable battery and easy pairing for smooth shift handovers and uninterrupted performance
• Lightweight comfort with cushioned earcups and multiple wearing styles, seamlessly integrated with Zoom Chat, push-to-talk, task management and scheduling tools for both associates and managers

Jabra Evolve2 75: Certified as a Zoom Native Bluetooth Headset

• Enables seamless connectivity without a dongle
• Delivers dependable, flexible performance for teams who need effective tools to stay connected

Eric Yu, Head of Hardware Partnerships , at Zoom said: “Our goal is to provide users with the best possible tools for their daily work. By certifying Jabra’s headsets, we make it easier for mobile professionals using these Jabra products to enjoy seamless connectivity,  and the confidence of full Zoom Workspace performance.” For more details on these certifications, visit the Jabra blog: First in the industry. Twice the impact. Jabra innovation gets Zoom certification.

Intuit, the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today announced a suite of powerful new Intuit Mailchimp features designed to help retailers reach new customers and drive revenue growth during the busiest shopping season of the year. Mailchimp’s recent Holiday Shopping Unwrapped report found that 43% of shoppers made a purchase tied to at least one holiday moment during the Early Lead-Up phase (October 1–31), underscoring how critical it is for marketers to prepare their holiday marketing strategies earlier than ever.  

“For years, holiday marketing has centred around a handful of peak moments. Our research shows shopping is now spread across a longer, more fragmented season, which raises the bar for Australian businesses to be timely and relevant,” said Anthony Capano, Regional Director, APAC, Intuit Mailchimp. “These enhancements and improved integrations give local businesses the tools they need to orchestrate truly omnichannel journeys, capitalise on festive-season demand, and build lasting relationships with their customers.”

To help retailers meet this seasonal moment and reach their sales goals, the latest Mailchimp release includes an improved Shopify integration, smarter segmentation tools, advanced ecommerce analytics, global and multi-audience SMS capabilities, and a refreshed email template library—all powered by the Intuit platform. These innovations can make it easier for ecommerce marketers to get more customers, deliver high-performing omnichannel campaigns, and show the revenue impact of every touchpoint, with the aim of more money, less work, and more confidence. 

“With these improvements, businesses can move faster, personalize with more precision, and measure the tangible business impact of every omnichannel campaign,” said Diana Williams, vice president, product management at Intuit Mailchimp. “The holiday season is an enormous opportunity for retailers, but brands must move beyond traditional major retail moments of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to gain a significant competitive advantage. With these new tools, Mailchimp delivers the confidence and clarity marketers need to turn customer engagement into reliable revenue growth, extending their impact far beyond the peak holiday shopping windows.”

Here’s what’s new:

A Smarter Shopify Integration

Mailchimp’s updated Shopify integration unlocks deeper behavioral insights and new triggers—like product views, checkout started, page views, and search terms—and turns them into revenue-driving triggers.

Additional capabilities include:

• Single-Use Shopify Discount Codes: Minimise code sharing and personalise offers at scale.
• Expanded Segmentation: Improved Shopify data compatibility lets retailers segment audiences by more behaviours, statuses, and browse activity.

“Right now, marketing owned platforms like Mailchimp are more important than ever,” says Intuit customer Connor Swegle, co-founder and CMO of Priority Bicycles. “The very bottom of the funnel—anybody who’s willing to add something to cart, or get four pages into the content on your website—is very important. Having really strategic, Shopify-specific campaigns built in Mailchimp helps us convert with confidence every customer we legitimately can. And since we can easily track the revenue uplift of those initiatives, we only continue to optimize and improve.”

Global SMS with Multi-Audience Control

Meeting customers where they are is critical and integrating SMS into an omnichannel strategy is now easier than ever with Mailchimp. In fact, according to a recent QuickBooks’ study, 65% of consumers say they’ll use their phones to browse, compare prices, and buy gifts this holiday season. Retailers who want to reach customers in the US, UK, Australia, and Europe can now send SMS campaigns across multiple countries from a single Mailchimp account. Plus, with multi-audience capabilities, customers can send personalised messages to different customer segments, without toggling between tools.

Additionally, Mailchimp Transactional (formerly known as Mandrill) builds on its reputation as the go-to engine for reliable, event-triggered communication by expanding into SMS. With Mailchimp Transactional SMS, retailers can strengthen shopper relationships by delivering critical, timely, one-to-one text updates about their purchases at every step, offering choice and convenience to customers as they engage with their favourite brands. Now available in 10+ countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Ireland.

Advanced Reporting & Supercharged Insights

New dashboards surface real-time trends across email, SMS, revenue attribution, and store behavior, helping marketers measure campaign ROI and optimise faster.

Additional capabilities include:

• Audience Analytics: Better identify contact sources and source performance with improved UI and growth tracking.
• Conversion Insights Tool: Customers now have full visibility of their sales funnel with data from user behaviour to help boost conversion. 
• Blotout API Integration: Cookieless tracking helps restore visibility across the funnel.

Holiday-Ready Email Templates and Journeys

Holiday sales are a make-or-break moment for retailers of all sizes. According to Mailchimp’s Holiday Shopping Unwrapped report, the top holiday moments with the highest spending propensity in Australia are Christmas Day (61%), News Year’s Day (37%), Christmas Eve (35%), News Year’s Eve (33%), Halloween (25%), Advent Season Dec. 1-24 (4%), and Epiphany/Three Kings Day (4%). For shoppers in Australia, the post-Christmas period rivals the November sales season in importance, with Boxing Day (32%) ranking as top shopping moments during the “Betwixtmas” period. This underscores the critical need for marketers to prepare their holiday-specific marketing strategies earlier than ever.  

New seasonal templates and automation flow templates can help retailers build beautiful, on-brand campaigns in minutes—just in time for the early shopping window.

With these latest innovations, Mailchimp is delivering enterprise-grade tools to high-growth ecommerce brands.

“When marketers can quickly and accurately turn data into action, they unlock new ways to serve existing customers and acquire new ones,” Williams adds. “Whether it’s through done-for-you workflows, streamlined omnichannel marketing tools, or just smarter reporting, the Intuit platform continues to offer solutions that help every business reach their full potential.”

Norton has teamed up with Intel® to provide powerful detection against AI-powered scams on the newest generation of Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Norton 360 customers with Norton Genie Scam Protection now have advanced deepfake protection on AI PCs with the latest Intel processors, enabling faster, always-on detection that proactively protects against today’s most sophisticated scams.

The partnership with Intel puts Norton Deepfake Protection at the heart of peoples’ devices without the need to send data up to the cloud and back. With Intel’s leading processing power, Norton instantly analyzes suspicious material, providing immediate warnings to help people avoid potential personal or financial harm resulting from advanced deepfake scams.

“From the early days of fighting email and web scams to now tackling sophisticated video deception, Norton has always stayed a step ahead continuously evolving its protection to outsmart new threats,” said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. “Now, with scam detection for videos powered by the latest Intel processors, we’re raising the bar again. Norton Deepfake Protection delivers real-time, private, and ultra-fast protection right on peoples’ devices, so they can feel confident they’re a step ahead of scammers and their latest AI-generated tricks.”

Deepfake Protection for Videos: Reading Between the Lines

To detect scams in video content, Norton Deepfake Protection doesn’t just look for technical hiccups, it reads the message between the lines. Norton AI has been trained on an ever-expanding library of real-world scams including financial fakes, phony giveaways, crypto cons, and more. And it grows sharper with every scam it sees. Norton Deepfake Protection also analyses the audio in videos to identify deepfake content, operating like a team of expert sound detectives, combing through a recording with magnifying glasses, searching for the tiniest clues of audio manipulation. Each snippet of audio is examined like a piece of evidence, and when all the clues are put together, the truth in the audio content is revealed.

Private, Fast, and Efficient Protection

Through the partnership with Intel, Norton enables malicious deepfake scam analysis directly on the device by offloading the compute to the NPU. This on-device processing helps ensure sensitive data remains private while increasing the speed of detection.

“Today’s cyber threats demand real time detection, which is why Intel is excited to partner with Norton to bring AI-powered cybersecurity directly to users’ devices.” said Carla Rodríguez, Vice President and General Manager, Client SW Enabling at Intel. “Together, we are demonstrating the power of local compute right on the AI PC, enabling instant detection of AI-generated scams in video content without compromising privacy or requiring cloud connectivity. We’re proud to help Norton deliver the protection that today’s digital landscape requires.”

Staying a Step Ahead of Scammers

The availability of Norton Deepfake Protection on Intel-based AI PCs is part of a longer journey, widening the scam detection net and adapting to new scam types over time. In July this year, Norton added Deepfake Protection to the Genie AI Assistant in Norton 360 products on mobile so that people who don’t have AI hardware can still benefit from protection against manipulated video content. Moving forward, Norton will continue to put scam-busting technology in the hands of more people, faster.

Norton Deepfake Protection on Intel® Core™ Ultra processors supports YouTube and Facebook^[1] videos, with support for other social media platforms planned for future releases. It is available now in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand as part of Norton Genie Scam Protection and Scam Protection Pro in Norton 360 products. For more information, visit https://us.norton.com/feature/ai-scam-protection.

[1] Automatic Deepfake Detection is available for YouTube in any browser. Automatic Deepfake Detection for Facebook is supported on Chrome with compatibility for other browsers coming soon.

We’re in the middle of one of the most exciting, disruptive, and downright transformative moments in business history—the AI tech revolution. Across the globe, artificial intelligence is reimagining how companies operate, market, hire, and scale. It’s fast. It’s smart. It’s getting better by the minute.

But let me be crystal clear: AI is not going to kill the need for humans in business. In fact, it’s going to do the exact opposite. AI will create an unprecedented demand for one thing that only humans can deliver—real connection. AI will become the noise, and experience will become the differentiator.

As AI becomes embedded in every marketing campaign, customer service platform, content strategy, and product development cycle, it will raise the bar of average. Businesses will be able to output more, faster, and cheaper than ever before. But that also means your competitors will too. Everyone’s marketing will become smarter. Everyone’s service will become quicker. Everyone’s content will be tailored.

So what’s going to separate the great from the forgettable?

Experience. Service. Community. Human moments.

I’ve built or invested over 200 companies across industries—from tech to e-commerce, space to sport—and the writing is on the wall: the real winners of this AI revolution will be those who lean into humanity, not away from it. When everything becomes automated, people crave the real.

Think about it. When your inbox is full of AI-generated emails… when every ad you see online is surgically personalized by a machine… when chatbots are replacing human voices…

What do you start to miss?

A handshake. A conversation. A name remembered. A service that feels like it was made just for you—not by an algorithm, but by someone who actually cares.

We are emotional creatures. Connection is wired into us. We want to feel seen, heard, valued. And no matter how advanced AI becomes, it can’t replicate the magic of one human genuinely serving another.

So, if you’re a business owner, founder, or leader reading this—take this as your call to arms:

You must re-engineer your business around the human experience.

Experience and community is the new sales funnel, and in a world where AI can build a funnel in 30 seconds, it’s not your click-through rate that will win. It’s how your customer feels after they’ve interacted with your brand – and feelings can’t be faked. They’re created in the way your team follows up. In how your service makes people feel understood. In the delight of receiving a handwritten note instead of a templated email. In the community you build—not just on social media, but in the real world, at your events, in your stores, through your customer conversations.

Your brand must stand for something that can’t be replicated by machines.

Because soon, your prospects and clients won’t be asking: “Can they do the job?”, they’ll be asking: “Do I feel something when I work with them?”

AI can enhance you— but it shouldn’t replace you. 

Let me be clear: I’m not anti-AI. In fact I’m building a new Business AI company and I’m investing heavily in it across multiple businesses right now. AI is an incredible accelerator. It can save time, cut costs, give insights, and amplify your efforts tenfold. But it should enhance the human side of your business, not replace it.

Let AI do the heavy lifting behind the scenes—so your people can be out front doing what only people can do. Inspiring. Serving. Connecting.

That’s the edge.

The future of business is hybrid: high-tech meets high-touch

If you’re serious about building something that lasts in this new era, you need to become a hybrid business. One that uses the best of AI, but still anchors itself in experience, service, and community.

This means:

               •             Designing customer journeys that feel personal—even if they start with automation.

               •             Training teams not just in process, but in presence.

               •             Hosting events, meetups, and real-world activations to drive face-to-face loyalty.

               •             Building tribes, not just databases.

               •             Turning customers into fans, and fans into tribe members—because of how you made them feel, not just what you sold them.

Humanity will become a competitive advantage

We’ve spent the last decade digitizing every part of business.

The next decade will be about re-humanizing it.

This is where the real opportunity lies. Businesses that understand this now will build brands that people don’t just buy from—but rally behind.

As AI commoditizes what we do, the real value will be in who we are.

So ask yourself: How does your business make people feel? How are you creating real moments, not just digital ones? How are you building not just a company, but a community?

Because in the AI age, being more human is your ultimate advantage.

Contributed by Aaron Sansoni who has founded Scaling.com.au, a SaaS platform helping entrepreneurs partner and scale

Zoom Communications, Inc. has delivered new agentic AI capabilities to help users complete tasks across platforms and save time during the work day. With the Custom AI Companion add-on, Zoom AI Companion can now connect to 16 third-party apps to help orchestrate tasks without leaving Zoom. Additionally, the Custom AI Companion add-on is now available for online purchase, enabling small business owners to leverage AI Companion across third-party video conferencing platforms like Google Meet and others, customise meeting summary templates, create custom avatars, and connect third-party apps to boost productivity and help them get more done so they can focus on building and growing their business.

“With Zoom AI Companion’s agentic skills, users will see a significant productivity boost to help them get more done — not just in Zoom, but across business-essential apps like ServiceNow, Jira, Asana, Box, and more,” said Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. “The Custom AI Companion add-on empowers users to streamline their workflows by having AI Companion join their Zoom Meetings and in-person meetings, and can now access AI Companion across other video conferencing platforms.”

New connected third-party apps for Custom AI Companion add-on

AI Companion uses agentic AI capabilities to maximise efficiency, helping users save time and get more done without leaving Zoom Workplace. With the Custom AI Companion add-on, users can already connect to apps like Amazon Q, Glean, and Jira to deliver powerful indexing, enterprise search, and ticketing capabilities. New third-party apps also deliver context-rich answers and help complete tasks across workstreams with intelligent app orchestration.

• Improve sales and service outcomes: Accelerate decisions and improve customer satisfaction by empowering teams to resolve service tickets, track opportunities, and update records in real-time, directly from Zoom. When connected to ServiceNow, Zendesk, and other applications, AI Companion helps organisations streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and ensure customer interactions drive meaningful business results. 
• Reimagine document collaboration: When connected to Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Box*, Confluence, Notion, or Coda, AI Companion helps drive meaningful conversations with secure access to existing documents during meetings, and the ability to generate new documents based on current meetings, update existing documents with simple prompts, or get a quick summary of a document. *Not all document features available at launch.
• Simplify project management: Keeping teams updated on projects and activities can be challenging, but when connected to Asana and Jira, users can query and command project tools, using AI Companion to update project statuses, assign tasks, and set deadlines without app-juggling or manual workflows.
• Reduce communication silos: Keep chats and ideas organised in third-parting messaging appswith the ability to search, summarise, and post messages from AI Companion. 
• Recruit and onboard new talent: When connected to Workday, AI Companion can help expedite recruiting, interviews, and onboarding workflows with search and summary capabilities about open jobs and candidate profiles. 

Visit the Zoom website to learn more about how app integrations with the Custom AI Companion add-on can boost efficiency.

Custom AI Companion add-on expands to online customers

Many entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, small business owners, and consultants often find themselves switching meeting platforms throughout their day to take calls with clients and stakeholders, without a central way to organise their meeting notes. 

The Custom AI Companion add-on, now available for purchase online, expands AI Companion’s meeting summary capabilities to third-party video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and others, with Cisco Webex coming soon, and delivers agentic AI capabilities to help small businesses get more done

• Professional service providers like consultants and freelancers can simplify workflows and save time beyond Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone calls, and in-person meetings by using AI-generated meeting summaries across third-party meeting platforms like Google Meet and others. With connections to third-party applications like Asana, they can automatically have projects updated in Asana without leaving the meeting.
• Sales professionals can nurture relationships with prospects and clients while reducing admin time by automatically updating sales records in CRMs based on the conversation. 
• Educators can go beyond meeting summaries and lecture plans to reliably generate summaries and takeaways with custom summaries that can be shared with students to reinforce learning and create personalised videos using Custom Avatars for Zoom Clips to connect with students in different languages. 

With the Custom AI Companion add-on, small businesses can connect AI Companion to these 16 apps, plus tailor AI Companion skills to address their unique needs and drive efficiency across their organisations:

• Work across platforms: Zoom is an open platform, and AI Companion can attend third-party meetings, including Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, with Cisco Webex support coming soon. AI Companion can join meetings on a user’s behalf to automatically transcribe, summarise, and deliver actionable follow-ups.
• Save time with AI-generated clips: With Custom Avatars for Zoom Clips, users can create an avatar in their likeness, provide a transcript of the desired content, and allow AI Companion to generate a clip for them, saving time and helping them scale their efforts.
• Customise meeting summaries with templates: Users can turn meetings into tailored, actionable summaries by selecting from 11 purpose-built templates designed to reflect the tone, structure, and focus of each meeting and match the meeting goals.
• Expand knowledge: Admins can connect Google Drive and other external drive accounts as data sources in AI Studio while respecting existing permission controls, and crawl public URLs as a data source for knowledge collections so AI Companion can provide more relevant answers to users’ queries.

The Custom AI Companion add-on is now available for purchase online for $12 per user per month with paid Zoom Workplace plans. To learn more about how organisations can tailor AI Companion to meet their unique needs with the Custom AI Companion add-on, visit the Zoom website.

Maximise the workday with AI Companion

Zoom AI Companion continues to enhance productivity and collaboration across Zoom Workplace. These new capabilities are included at no extra charge as part of Zoom AI Companion for all paid Zoom Workplace licenses.

• Get started faster: The new onboarding experience within the Zoom desktop app makes it easier to configure AI Companion settings, including what meetings are summarised, who summaries are shared with, and how they are shared.
• Build better meeting agendas: Users can easily add structure to meetings by creating agendas for upcoming meetings from templates. AI Companion can also leverage previous meetings or Zoom Docs to create even more tailored agendas.
• Get more out of calls: Users can now query AI Companion before, during, and after Zoom Phone calls to help them catch up and gain deeper insights. They can ask questions like, “What was the disagreement about?” or “Can you tell me the main points being discussed?” Users can also have AI Companion pull up information from previous conversations, prioritise missed calls, and draft follow-up messages.
• Summarise documents in chat threads: AI Companion can summarise supported text-based documents shared in Zoom Team Chat to help quickly and efficiently digest new information without leaving the chat thread.
• Capture notes and tasks for in-person interactions: AI Companion also supports in-person meetings with the Voice Recorder, transcribing, summarising, and capturing action items, allowing users to focus on the conversation and revisit details and action items later.
• Easily access meeting assets: Users can access meeting summaries, transcripts, recordings, and event details from the meeting card in the calendar event and via email. Hosts will also be able to share the assets with participants via the meeting card in Zoom Calendar (coming later this month), and participants can request access to the meeting card via the Zoom Calendar event.
• Seamless sharing: AI Companion can be configured to automatically share meeting summaries to third-party platforms, like Microsoft Teams (coming soon) and others, to update counterparts and refresh customer records with the latest conversation highlights.

Zoom Workplace powers collaboration and productivity 

Zoom Workplace continues to accelerate collaboration and help users ideate, create, and deliver effective work effortlessly on a single app. 

• Track edits and publish externally in Zoom Docs: Easily track content changes to docs, highlighting content additions, deletions, replacements, and formatting with specific styles. Users can also now publish Zoom Docs as public webpages, accessible to anyone, whether they are logged in or not.
• Stitch, combine, and create longer clips: Merge multiple Zoom Clips into one seamless video without external apps, preview and make adjustments before finalising edits, and preserve original content without overwriting original assets.

To learn more about Zoom Workplace, visit the Zoom website.

It’s a huge shift, going from working for someone to running your own business, but when your target audience is young families, this comes with a range of extra elements to consider. The first year transitioning from educator to entrepreneur was a winding road that came with many lessons I hadn’t learned in a classroom. Here are six of the most important to consider for other businesses that work with kids and new parents.

Find a sought-after niche

For more than a decade I worked as a primary school teacher. I loved the work, the children, the relationships and the small wins in learning each day. But over time I began to notice a recurring pattern. Many children were starting school without the confidence, emotional readiness and independence they needed to thrive. It wasn’t a question of ability. These children simply hadn’t yet had the chance to build the skills school demands from day one.

After also working in a school readiness program I saw how transformative early support could be. The right preparation set children up not only for academic success but for a lifelong love of learning. That inspired me to make the leap from teacher to business owner, launching HeadStart Club. It is a place where young children can build strong foundations and where parents can feel supported and empowered.

Relationships and word of mouth Are everything

As a teacher, trust was built inside the classroom. As a business owner, trust extends to every interaction, from the first phone call to the first session. Parents aren’t just enrolling in a program, they are trusting you with their child’s wellbeing.

While I initially thought marketing would be about ads, websites and SEO, I quickly learned that word of mouth was my most powerful growth tool. Positive experiences naturally led to referrals but that doesn’t happen automatically. You need to nurture it. I actively ask for testimonials, check in regularly with parents, celebrate milestones and invite feedback. Building strong personal relationships creates a community of advocates who proudly recommend your services to others.

Build a business around community not just programs

In teaching I was part of a school community and in business I had to create one. I soon discovered that many parents crave connection just as much as their children need support. Simple touches like open communication, opportunities for parents to meet and celebrating children’s progress helped turn HeadStart Club into more than just a service. It became a place where families felt they belonged.

The community approach has also helped families stay with us long-term, moving through our various programs as their children grow. That sense of belonging has become one of the most valuable parts of the business. We are now building on this even further by planning events, presentations and workshops designed to educate, connect and support parents on their journey. Creating these shared learning spaces allows families to feel part of something bigger and strengthens the trusted relationships at the heart of what we do.

Privacy and safety are non-negotiable

Supporting young children means operating with the highest levels of privacy, safety and care. I invested early in clear policies, secure systems and staff training to ensure we protect every child’s personal information and wellbeing.

We are careful about everything from photo permissions to how we handle enrolment data. In a business serving families, one mistake in this area can erode trust quickly. Having strong protocols in place not only protects families but also gives them confidence in the care we provide.

You need a backup plan for life’s unexpected turns

One of the hardest lessons I faced came when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage one bowel cancer during my first year of business. It was a stark reminder that even with the best planning, life can change overnight.

Fortunately, I had begun building systems early on including automated processes, procedure manuals and trusted staff who could step in. This allowed the business to continue while I focused on my treatment and recovery. For any service-based business owner, especially sole operators, having contingency plans isn’t a luxury, it is essential for long-term sustainability.

Collaboration beats competition

As a teacher, collaboration was second nature. In business I have carried that same approach. Rather than viewing other businesses as competition I have built partnerships with local allied health professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, child psychologists and local playgroups.

These partnerships allow us to create holistic support networks for families and open up valuable referral pathways. When businesses serving young families collaborate everyone benefits, especially the children.

The transition was worth it

Moving from teaching into business ownership was one of the biggest and most rewarding transitions of my career. The heart of my work hasn’t changed. I still get to support children and families every day but now I also get to shape the way we serve them, build meaningful community connections and adapt quickly to meet emerging needs.

For anyone considering making the leap my advice is simple – stay mission-led, build strong relationships, prepare for the unexpected and lean into collaboration. When you focus on people first, the business will follow.

Contributed by By Ali Carter, Founder, HeadStart Club

AMP Bank has announced its latest product release as it continues evolve its proposition to meet the challenges and needs of small businesses, the launch of a business overdraft in AMP Bank GO.

AMP Bank’s research found that 70% of Australian small business owners are worried about cash flow and 3 in 5 small business owners worry about paying bills.

The unsecured business overdraft is a flexible funding option to help manage the ups and downs of day-to-day cashflow, designed to help small businesses have access to funds when they need it.

AMP Bank GO’s instant app notifications help business owners stay on top of their spending, helping them adjust how much they want to spend with the in-app business overdraft cap feature.

AMP Bank GO’s business overdraft has a competitive, transparent interest rate and interest is paid only on what is used. The business overdraft is accessible through the Everyday Business Account; eligible customers can apply in less than 10 minutes to access from $2,000 to $20,000. It’s initially available for sole traders and will continue to evolve further over time.

Redefining banking for small business

AMP Bank first launched its challenger mobile-first proposition in February, now named AMP Bank GO. It has been designed and built to help Australia’s millions of small business owners – including solopreneurs, side hustlers and mini businesses – more effortlessly run their business on the go. 

John Arnott, Director, AMP Bank GO said:

“Small business owners don’t need more complexity – they need simple, smart tools that help them stay in control.

“AMP Bank GO’s business overdraft is designed to do just that – giving business owners the flexibility to manage cash flow, smooth out income dips, and handle the unexpected without stress.

“We’re building AMP Bank GO from the ground up to reflect how Australians actually live and work – especially those running small businesses.

“Too often, banking in Australia overlooks the needs of small business owners. We’re changing that by designing solutions that put their experience and success at the centre.”

For more information about AMP Bank GO and the business overdraft, visit AMP’s website.