Hi there,

It seems a lifetime ago when New Zealand director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield assured us we had a ‘gold standard’ contract tracing system. In reality, it was just four months ago.

So much has happened since then. And so little. Despite a cacophony of debate, technology was never a focus for New Zealand’s contact tracing. The official app, Covid Tracer, released two weeks after businesses were told to maintain their own contact register, provided little benefit for users and flopped. And then we relaxed. Afterall, for more than 100 days, we didn't have any Covid contacts to trace.

That changed this week with the resurgence of Covid in the community. Downloads of the app skyrocketed overnight, it is now mandatory for businesses to display the QR codes and, for the first time, the app has been used to push out alerts (although statisticians among you will deduce the likelihood of a hit is negligible). Sadly, the confusion over businesses needing to maintain their own register remains unresolved.

But the app is but one part of the picture. Contact tracing remains a very human affair, and tracers rely entirely on your memory and your record-keeping trails (digital or otherwise).

If you haven't already, you should download the app (and use it) and, despite the lack of any government leadership on its use, also turn on the location tracking functions on your phone (instructions herein). The automated digital diary that it creates may just save the day.

In other news:

What's so difficult about creating an official digital identity?
Tech-led recovery runs counter to govt IT spending cuts
BCG and Accenture advisories on supply chain resiliency
Bega combines cheese with high tech hives for honey bees

Cash flow is always crucial for business. But never more so than now, when accelerating your cash conversion cycle and freeing up unproductive cash could be a godsend. We’ve got the guide to do just that.

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

CONTACT TRACING

Covid resurgence: A Kiwi guide to contact tracing

NZ contact tracing is under a blowtorch. What you can do to help…

Despite all the analysis on personal contact tracing technologies, the official conclusion, at least in this part of the world, seems to be that they have contributed little to health authorities’ response to the pandemic.

In the midst of lockdowns, willingness for contact tracing is likely to be much higher – for now at least.

[Read more]

DIGITAL IDENTITY

Inching towards a digital ID reality

How long until Australasia joins the digital ID future?…

There are plenty of great reasons for national digital IDs: Frictionless payments, better health record- keeping even the transformation of govt services as we know them.

Providing immeasurable benefits of better medical tracking of Covid-19 infections, an effective national digital ID scheme is overdue.

[Read more]

GOVT TECH SPENDING

A/NZ Govt IT spend slump deeper than global

In the wake of Covid-19, state spending on IT is set to shrink across Australasia…

Gartner’s latest research offers a grave forecast for the tech sector Downunder, with declines in state-level spending significantly greater than the global average.

Governments are spending large to build community resilience to the Covid-19 threat.

[Read more]

DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN

BCG, Accenture call for A/NZ supply chain reset

In the rush for efficiency and lean supply chains, did we forget resiliency?…

We have lean, just-in-time supply chains, but we’re not geared up for resiliency – and Covid-19 has shone a harsh spotlight on the need for resiliency and digital supply chains.

“True supply chain resilience comes from strengthening the strategic view of supply chains and investing in digital supply chain technologies.”

[Read more]

PROTECT OUR BEES

The beehive gets a high tech makeover

Saving the bees with solar powered IoT and AI…

Aussie’s Bega Cheese is harnessing technology to keep the honey bees flying – and Australia’s agriculture buzzing too.

“It was clear we needed to invest in technology and innovation to support the future of our honeybees, beekeepers, & in turn, agriculture.”

[Read more]

CLIENT INSIGHT

Whitepaper: How to make your cash work harder for you

Free up your cash trapped in inefficient AP and AR processes…

Now more than ever, businesses are realising the importance of having an optimised cash conversion cycle and tools that provide full visibility into the day-to-day payables and receivables processes that have a big impact on cash flow.

Day-to-day payables and receivables processes have a big cash impact on a business.

[Read more]

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