Hi there,

After weeks of hints and rumours, New Zealand’s contact tracing app has finally been officially launched and as of midday Thursday, had 236,000 users register, or five percent of the population.

As a contact tracing app it’s functionality is limited – essentially it is a digital diary, little more effective than a paper one. A clunky and complex procedure, and unclear incentives, will mean not all businesses will add the NZ Covid Tracer QR poster to their already established 'official' contact register (yes, you read that right, the app does nothing for business CT – patrons will still need to fill in whatever register the venue is using).

In fact, a paper diary may be a better option, or, even better, the use of your smartphone's location history (best turn that on peeps).

The idea is that if you get Covid, you can then provide your check-ins to the contact tracing team for them to decide what action might be required. They won't know (from the app) who else was at the venue, nor who you were close to or how long you were there.

The 44 percent (and counting, much higher in some communities) of Aussies who are tracking their proximity to other users of the CovidSafe app must be scoffing into their skeeny lattes.

Two weeks ago, as hospitality providers were rushing to put their own contact tracing systems in place, this app might have been helpful. Today, it’s an added signage and people-flow headache for many struggling to put a dollar in the till.

Combined with softly softly 'only if you want to' messaging and lack of clear incentive for users and businesses, the uptake, and effectiveness, can be expected to be low. What damage that does to potential uptake of future releases remains to be seen.

As iStart readers will know, the big question is whether the app will listen to the 'Exposure Notifications' that are soon to be automatically released (no pre-installed app required) in Android and iOS updates. With 56 percent of the population likely to be so-enabled, to not do so would be nothing short of negligent.

Are the politics of privacy, voluntariness and non-discrimination toward the non-smartphoned undermining public health and our freedom?

In other news this week:

Ensuring IT cost cutting doesn't throw the baby out
Covid misinformation yet another challenge for Facebook censors
Killing us softly: Cloud cybersecurity's overwhelming numbers
The same but different: Making the move from real world to online events successfully

With all the disruption and uncertainty today, preserving cashflow and maintaining high service levels for customers is key. With that in mind, we’ve got an eBook outlining how you can adapt your accounts receivable process to come out on top.

Enjoy the read,

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

CONTACT TRACING

NZ goes live with Covid Tracer

Underwhelming tool adds to proliferation of contact tracing ‘check-in’ apps…

Around 800,000 New Zealand businesses are being contacted by MBIE, as the government rushes to get QR codes to businesses in the wake of the launch of NZ Covid Tracer.

“There has been some work to ensure each branch has a unique identifier.”

[Read more]

FINANCIALS

Gartner’s Kost plots path to IT savings

Knee jerk cancellation of projects needs close analysis…

Can the ‘new normal’ for IT and business be less expensive than it was pre-Covid?

“Is there an intentional evolution to something else – we think this is where opportunity is.”

[Read more]

Running successful online virtual events

COVID19 MISINFORMATION

Facebook struggles to stem Covid-19 misinformation flow

AI falters with Covid, but sees success with hate speech…

Facebook says 89 percent of hate speech it removed in the three months to March was detected by its machine learning and AI systems, but it admits Covid misinformation is proving to be more challenging.

“These are difficult challenges and our tools are far from perfect.”

[Read more]

CLOUD SECURITY

Frankenstein security as companies suffer ‘cloud security readiness gap’

Cloud data security keeping IT teams up at night…

The continuing move to the cloud is challenging security preparedness and configuration management with a ‘Frankenstein-like’ patchwork of security tools and processes putting pressure on IT teams.

“Until security becomes the cultural norm, DevSecOps serves as a call to action.”

[Read more]

Seven tips for effectively managing your accounts

EVENT HOSTING

Guide to successful online events

(And the tech to support them…)

Virtual events, online meetings, webcasts or webinars – call them what you will – are an effective and efficient alternative to in-person events.

“There are some unique challenges that those new to the medium need to adapt plans around.”

[Read more]

EBOOK

Seven tips for effectively managing your accounts receivable process in challenging times

Adapt your collections strategy and come out on top…

During times of significant disruption and uncertainty, it’s essential for organisations to maintain business process efficiency as well as communication with customers and team members.

In today’s current climate, your strategy may need to be adjusted to continue to bring efficiency.

[Read more]

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