Hi there,

You can put a person into lockdown, but you can’t stop them shopping. And if you want proof of that, just look at Alibaba. The e-commerce giant has seen transaction volumes soar by more than 85 percent during the pandemic, helping it break into the ranks of trillion dollar companies.

Not one to let a crisis go to waste, it is now looking to capitalise by hosting virtual trade shows and introducing a range of financing and freight services to simplify cross-border transactions.

For many Kiwi companies battered by a strict lockdown that banned even e-commerce for most, the success of a company which was able to continue shipping ex-China may well feel like a slap in the face.

Or is it a matter of if you can't beat 'em?…

In other news:

Forget sister cities, digital twinning is where it’s at
Datacom’s Aussie expansion plans
MX + UX + CX + EX = MUCE, the new acronym for digital success
AU border facial recognition system sparks biometrics debate

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

B2B ECOMMERCE

Trillion dollar Alibaba launches online trade shows

It’s boom times for the e-com leviathan, as it looks to bring B2B commerce into the digital age…

It’s been a good couple of weeks for tech giant Alibaba.

“Online sales is no longer an option, but a necessity.”

[Read more]

DIGITAL TWINS

Digital twins find a home

Digital twins appear to be on a roll...

They are popping up in field support, manufacturing operations and infrastructure planning and even featuring in recreations of cities and entire states.

“Underlying these digital twins are common data standards, shared platforms and clear implementation plans to maximise the benefits.”

[Read more]

CUSTOMER SERVICE

650+ jobs on offer as Datacom opens new customer service hub

Datacom flies in face of economic downturn with Aussie expansion…

Covid be damned! Kiwi founded IT services company Datacom is bucking the economic downturn with plans for a new 650-plus-person customer service hub in South Australia.

“Investments like these will be critical to kick start our economy.”

[Read more]

DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

Of Muce and Men: Finding success in the digital experience economy

X marks the spot…

It’s the meeting of the x’s – CX, EX, UX and MX – spawning a new term (MUCE) which Gartner says is a critical factor for success in the digital experience economy.

“Less effort, fewer steps, faster outcomes and quicker answers are needed.”

[Read more]

BIOMETRICS

Australia’s new border biometric ID system goes live

New face-matching tech uses algorithms to spot border crims…

Australia has launched a new biometric ID border processing system, developed for the Department of Home Affairs by Unisys.

“We can do better with getting the balance right.”

[Read more]

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