Hi there,

IT services provider Datacom is putting some serious muscle into building its own software products, debuting a new cloud-based suite of solutions for city councils.

The move signals a major strategic investment in IP for the NZ$1.3 billion group, with development of the system (complete with its own ERP accounting core) taking three years and a team of 50 developers. It also pitches the company head-on with ASX-listed TechnologyOne.

We talk to Datacom about the new offering, the market opportunity and its plans for the future.

In other news:

"Socialism for nerds": taxpayer backing of VC fund cops flak
NZ government pledges to guide ‘trustworthy’ AI
How not to announce a security breach, courtesy of Canva
Dumb chatbots sending users potty
Blockchain gets new sheen as diamond tracker

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

SMART CITIES

Datacom takes on TechOne with new council ERP

New ERP system at heart of local govt push…

Datacom is ramping up a strategic move into product development, launching a new smart council cloud offering designed to help councils with DX.

"It’s a market that is crying out for a new player and needs this new technology."

[Read more]

STARTUPS

Budget news: $300m fund for Kiwi startups

But should taxpayers really be chipping in and picking winners?…

A new $300 million fund to ‘help fill the capital gap’ for Kiwi startups, has been dubbed ‘socialism for nerds’.

The venture capital fund is simply socialism for tech nerds.

[Read more]

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Australia and NZ sign global agreement for trustworthy AI

Includes AI R&D recommendations…

Government funded AI R&D is among the principles the New Zealand and Australian governments have agreed to as part of a new OECD push.

The onus is on governments to ensure that AI systems are designed so people can trust that their safety and privacy will be paramount.

[Read more]

SECURITY

Canva fronts up to massive breach…kind of

It was all going so well…

Last week Canva made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it announcement….that 139 million user accounts had been compromised.

If Canva thinks it’s appropriate to bury security notifications in public relations puffery, they should think again.

[Read more]

CHATBOTS

Forget bots: Aussies opt for humans

Chatbots still just too dumb to do the job effectively…

A new survey suggests businesses’ love of chatbots might be out of touch with consumers desires, at least for now.

Both human customer service and speed were deemed to be the most important element of personalised customer services.

[Read more]

BLOCKCHAIN

Dirty pretty things: Can blockchain end the conflict diamond trade?

The end of conflict diamonds? Or just more blockchain fever? The race to track diamonds from mine to matrimonial token…

You know you’re going mainstream when even Louis Vuitton is getting in on the action, with LVMH dipping an immaculately finished loafer into the still unplumbed blockchain depths.

Blockchain tracking seems like a good match for shiny, pretty, high ticket items, as well as those particularly prone to theft and counterfeit.

[Read more]

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