Hi there,

If Bird Flu and Mad Cow disease were worrying, Coronavirus, described by UK health authorities this week as a 'mild illness', is smashing all-comers as governments enforce quarantines and shut down borders.

If we thought society was being broken down by social media's fake news, COVID-19 is the proof.

It's no laughing matter, but in the screeds of hysteria and hypotheses the pandemic has triggered, this one stood out: "Climate change needs to hire coronavirus's publicist".

The tech sector has not been immune. Nervous global tech conference organisers have, justifiably, cancelled events as airlines suspend flights, borders are shut down and corporates impose travel bans. Regardless of your science or mathematics, the unknown, infectious and deadly is scary. And scary spells risky.

Blessed are we, then, to be into day six now with no new cases beyond the five known and tracked individuals. NZ's public health authorities have shown level-headedness in the face of unprecedented public anxiety and a frenzied media. They ought to be congratulated.

So it was with some surprise, and dismay, that in amongst news of global tech event cancellations, ITP announced that it was also postponing until 2021 its 2020 ITx event. ITx is usually in October. It is not a global event. While there may have been international keynotes planned, typically local speakers address local delegates.

As media partner for the upcoming CIO Summit in June, we were relieved to see IDC and Conferenz adopting WHO and Ministry of Health advice to go ahead with public events, request anyone unwell not to attend and for attendees to take the well advertised precautions with personal hygiene.

It’s an example of the two different tacks being taken – and the clear divide forming in wider society, between those who want immediate lock-downs to keep the virus from our shores and communities, and those taking a more pragmatic science-based approach.

In other news this week:

ICT's stellar export stats released
Vector metering plugs in to Spark's IoT network
Six tips for improving the user interface on your software
It's only a matter of time for TikTok’s influence to grow here

And we take a look at how an agricultural services provider banished paperwork, put accounts payable in its teams’ pockets and freed up time to focus on the real business of farming.

Stay safe, keep washing those hands and take whatever precautions you believe are necessary to keep yourself, your families and those around you safe.

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

CORONAVIRUS

Tech sector sweats Covid-19 as major events cancel

2020 the year of live streaming and webinars as organisers react to panic…

In the wake of the coronavirus, a multitude of high profile tech events have been either cancelled or postponed.

“Coronavirus adds another factor – you won’t die attending a webinar.”

[Read more]

TECH EXPORTS

NZ raises a glass to ICT software and services exports

Overtakes wine for export sales and domestic is looking good too…

Wine might be more celebrated, but ICT software and services exports are bringing in more dollars for New Zealand.

New Zealand’s published software exports are showing particular strength, up 70 percent.

[Read more]

INTERNET OF THINGS

Vector adds IoT to smart metering

The emancipation of energy data…

Vector is eyeing innovations including the prospect of consumers being able to use more than one energy provider, as it connects its meters to Spark’s IoT network.

This technology is a building block and enabler to allow us to be more innovative in the way our market evolves.

[Read more]

UX DESIGN

Getting UX right

It’s not a ‘nice to have’ anymore…

As businesses serve up websites, mobile apps, chatbots, SaaS and enterprise apps to customers both externally and internally, user experience design is increasingly coming to the fore.

“Adding new features to a product is relatively easy. Ensuring we’re solving the right problems is not.”

[Read more]

SOCIAL MEDIA

Is the countdown on for a social shakeup?

TikTok’s time is here…

TikTok is making rapid inroads into online entertainment, with some big name organisations using it to reach consumers and local usage on the up.

“I’ll bet my lunch that TikTok will be upsetting more of the established social platforms this time next year.”

[Read more]

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

More time for farming. Less time on Accounts Payable.

FarmRight now enjoys improved visibility, faster processing and a smaller AP team…

With more than 60 farms under its control across A/NZ, a specialised provider of third-party management services turned to Fuji Xerox New Zealand and Esker's AP automation software solution.

It promised to quite literally put AP in your pocket.

[Read more]

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

Latest articles by this vendor:

- Rising to the top with real-time data
- A thirst for automation speeds up success
- Automation boosts margins and efficiency

[Read more about this vendor]

Upcoming events:

More events

iStart is proudly supported by these leading New Zealand software providers:

Latest Buyer's Guides

ERP Buyer's Guide | CRM Buyer's Guide | HR/HCM Buyer's Guide | BI Buyer's Guide

Privacy statement: We have sent this weekly newsletter to you at your e-mail address: [email address suppressed]. iStart will never share your e-mail address, but you may from time to time receive other event invitations or partner communications from us. You can opt out of these by managing your subscription preferences, where you can also update your e-mail address and other details.

Find out more about iStart | Advertise with iStart | Subscribe

Please support independent journalism!

Here at iStart we are passionate about independent fact-based journalism.

If you feel the same way, and like what we do, then we welcome your support through crowdfunding platform PressPatron.