News, views and analysis from A/NZ tech sector
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Hi there,
Fake news, online hate, bizarre politics and visceral events – 50 years on from the moon landings, 2019 might be remembered as one giant leap toward our dystopian future.
Technology has become pervasive across all facets of society. Digital privacy, the rule of the algorithm, the control of digital powerhouses. Software is indeed eating the world.
The issues, of course, will rumble on in 2020 (and no doubt beyond) as we come to terms with the increasing role – and power – of technology and its impact on all of us as consumers and business decision makers.
Of course, there are plenty of new technologies promising fertile ground for local businesses to harness technology in smart, practical ways and succeed here and on the world stage.
The role technologies like AI and robotics will play in the face of the inexorable forces of climate change and sustainability remains to be seen. Come what may, the team here at iStart will keep you abreast of all the latest developments – from the business software you need to know about, to the business of software and its impact on our digital world.
Before we take on 2020, like much of New Zealand, the team will take a summer break and be back for more bytes in January.
In the meantime, in your final iStart news fix for the year:
- Good grief. Workers prefer robot managers. Whatever next.
- Enterprise drones take on new business and natural disasters
- Kiwi robotic apple packer finds European success
- NZ’s fintech standing not so shiny
- Aussie watchdog eyes loyalty schemes – should NZ follow?
- The data-enabled future
From the team here at iStart, we wish you all a wonderful festive season and hope you have the chance to enjoy some lazy summer days surrounded by loved ones – and find some respite from these crazy times.
Merry Christmas and here’s to a fantastic 2020!
Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Most workers would prefer a robot manager
Forget the fear-mongering about AI taking over. Most of us would prefer to be managed by the algorithms…
A new paper from Oracle has found workers more enthusiastic about interacting with AI than their human managers.
“The employee/manager relationship may not just be shape-shifting; its very existence may be called into question.”
[Read more]
DRONES
Bushfires and volcanoes giving drones wings
Emergency services, surveillance and monitoring key use cases behind growing demand…
As drones gain increasing prominence in A/NZ skies, Gartner has forecast a 50 percent year on year increase for the enterprise drone market in 2020.
It’s the construction industry which is leading the charge for drone usage.
[Read more]
ROBOTICS
Seasonal worker shortages drive Robotics Plus apple packing tech
Shortage, what shortage…
Christmas has come early for the Kiwi designed Aporo automated robot apple packer, which has grabbed a slice of the pie in the UK market.
“Labour shortages at critical packing times are a growing concern.”
[Read more]
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FINTECH
Fintech glory for Australia, but a long way to go for NZ
Lessons to be had from Lithuania’s success…
In the fintech world, NZ apparently still has a long way to go, but Australia is sitting pretty in the top 10 for global fintech countries.
Many traditional financial centres are missing out on fintech and being usurped by emerging centres.
[Read more]
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DIGITAL PRIVACY
Loyalty scheme data grab raises ACCC ire
Industry on notice over data practices and payment card linking…
The ACCC is taking aim at loyalty schemes, calling on companies to improve their data practices, and for some big names to stop linking payment cards to member profiles.
“Many consumers would be shocked to find that some supermarkets collect their customers’ data even when they do not present their loyalty cards.”
[Read more]
DATA ANALYTICS
Data and the future: we’re standing at an inflection point
Mobilising data onto cloud platforms is a key step in exploring data innovation for NZ companies…
The case has long been made for the value of data and that’s why we’ve seen the emergence and maturation of BI and related analytics software.
“The volume, velocity and complexity [is] simply too overwhelming for human cognitive ability.”
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