Hi there,

Finance has been front of mind, more so than normal, for many businesses this week, as Kiwi companies return to business under what, for many, remain challenging conditions, and the government unveils its ‘Rebuilding Together’ Budget.

For many companies, the abrupt lockdown and move to work from home has seen an increase in public cloud usage. But while it’s often billed as a winner for the accounts – moving spend from capex to opex – Gartner is cautioning Kiwi companies to make sure they remember to rightsize cloud usage as business settles back into a new routine and staff in many cases return to the offices.

In an interview with iStart, Gartner’s Chris Ganly also discussed how cloud is challenging for some company budgets, and what they need to do to avoid ‘difficult’ conversations with management and boards.

In other news this week:

Budget 2020’s offerings
The CFO’s post-Covid focus
The quantitative benefits in data-driven decision making on the frontline
Social distancing wearables join safety equipment lineup

We also take a look at the benefits of taking accounts payable out of the 1970s' manual paper shuffle, and the benefits automation can bring.

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

BUDGETS

Cloud shifts ‘challenging’ company budgets

The move to opex isn’t a winner for all…

The move from capex to opex has long been hailed as one of the benefits of cloud.

“Having visibility across all of it and the ability to manage multiple providers, systems, bills and so on is becoming more complex.”

[Read more]

NZ BUDGET

Budget 2020: Ecom, e-invoicing and digital priorities (or not)

The Covid rebuild – and cost – on display…

It’s the ‘rebuild’ Budget, with a $50 billion Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund – the single biggest spending package in NZ’s history – at the heart of Budget 2020.

“This includes increasing activity for NZ firms in priority markets and expanding the digital services.”

[Read more]

POST COVID-19

CFOs ponder their post-Covid-19 prospects

Investment in digital the key to meeting the Covid-19 challenge say CFOs…

Whether you’re fighting for the edge in the post-Covid-19 future, or fighting for survival in the short term, everyone’s trying to figure out what the global Coronavirus pandemic means for their business.

“The pandemic has underscored the need for new skills.”

[Read more]

FRONTLINE STAFF

HBR: Empowering frontline staff with data-driven decision making reaps returns

Report quantifies the benefits of frontline tech…

We’ve long heard that enabling data-driven decision making for frontline employees – and the whole citizen data scientists concept – can bring benefits for companies.

“These efforts are also generating enhanced innovation, top-line growth, market position and profitability.”

[Read more]

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Wearables take on social distancing

Bracelets for port and industrial workers…

In a world of social distancing, staying apart from each other might be critical, but it can be a challenge, particularly in large work environments. Enter wearables.

“It is fundamental that our economy can get back to full speed as soon as possible and that we focus on ways to ensure this restart will proceed safely.”

[Read more]

CLIENT INSIGHT

It’s time to bring your Accounts Payable into the digital era

Kicking the AP blues – and the manual paper shuffle – to touch…

Most Kiwi businesses are handling AP more or less the same way it’s been done since the 1970s – manually, with all the admin and errors associated with shuffling invoices from desk to desk.

Most finance executives describe their AP in pained terms: ‘manual’, ‘slow’, ‘cumbersome’, ‘clunky’, ‘tedious’ and ‘sad’.

[Read more]

Seven tips for effectively managing your accounts

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