News, views and reviews from NZ’s tech sector No Images? Click here Dear , Nothing piques the public interest like a well-timed PR disaster. And that’s what Uber’s self-driving automobile fatality well and truly was. Uber’s announcement this week that, in fact (as far as facts go in this realm), human decisions were more to blame than the technology, opens up a serious issue for an industry on the edge of a precipice. When the tragic failure - and it’s very real human cost - hit the headlines, even the otherwise indifferent among us suddenly found ourselves chewing over some of the more difficult questions of the burgeoning robo-age: When an automated piece of tech fails catastrophically, just who is to blame? Can we live with such tragedies - even if, statistically, such technology is safer than its analog alternative? And when it comes to robots, just how safe is safe enough? Also this week:
And in this week’s peek inside the factory walls, importer and distributor of luggage and travel accessories, The Caché Group, was carrying a lot of baggage handling costs in foreign currency and struggling to stay on top of its stocktaking and sales reporting - and the lack of visibility was hindering growth. Enter the Jiwa 7 ERP solution and, just 12 user licences later, the group knows exactly where inventory is, what it costs and who’s buying it. Simple stuff really, if you get the right technology on board. Bring on the long weekend! Jonathan Cotton The bleeding edge: Why driverless auto-tech must recover from its PR nightmareSelf-driving Ubers may be a hazard to pedestrians but the wheels are still turning for the driverless future - and that’s a good thing... At the time, it read like a sick joke: One of Uber’s driverless vehicles failed to auto-brake at a critical moment, killing pedestrian Elaine Herzberg. “Waiting for the cars to perform flawlessly is a clear example of the perfect being the enemy of the good.” Aotearoa’s mid-market: In urgent need of transformationMedium-sized businesses around New Zealand are facing barriers to growth and it could seriously impact our nation’s economy, says MYOB general manager Carolyn Luey... The New Zealand mid-market is a sector with extraordinary potential for the country. “The issue is less about the attitudes of the business owners and more about the environment in which they operate.” 2018 Hi-Tech Awards winners announcedThe full list of winners from the year’s most prestigious technology awards... Invenco was the big winner at the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards gala dinner in Christchurch on Saturday night, claiming the top prize category: PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year. “The calibre of this year’s entrants was at an all-time high, making the job of selecting winners exceedingly challenging.” Ballance Agri-Nutrients wins global innovation awardThe new tech lets farmers order and manage their nutrients online, turning raw data into useful information…. Ballance Agri-Nutrients has won the Best Run Award at the SAP Innovation Awards 2018 for its new farm-friendly digital platform. “The single CX platform helps farmers operate sustainably and protects the environment while maximising production profitability.” How IoT can enhance customer experiencesIn today’s competitive landscape, businesses need to provide an exceptional customer experience that stands out in the marketplace... Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, the most successful businesses are rapidly tailoring offerings for customers in real time. “It’s imperative that changes of any kind do not impact the different layers and cause everything to break versus bend.” Caché Group frees their data with powerful ERP upgradeThe importer is set to take off with better inventory and foreign currency control… The Caché Group of Companies is an importer and distributor of high-quality luggage and travel accessories, established in 1981 and headquartered in Melbourne. “Jiwa gives us all the information we need, instantly and right at our fingertips.” This week's sponsor: Upcoming events: > Futureproof your data modernisation | June 5 | Wellington iStart is proudly supported by these leading 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 eNewsletter 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
|