News, views and reviews from AU’s tech sector No Images? Click here Dear , It’s been a helluva week in politics. As Australia’s first ever tech-savvy PM teeters on the brink, his government has released a policy which seems to fly in the face of protecting data privacy by forcing providers to crack open encrypted data when asked to. Jonathan Cotton takes a look at the proposed Assistance and Access Bill 2018 and the furore it has sparked, along with what the bill might mean for data handlers (let alone the flood of resignations from tech-aligned ranks across government). Add to all that yesterday’s news that the Government is indeed banning Huawei and ZTE from future network upgrades – as has long been speculated in the wake of US action against the two companies – and we can expect more government guff in the tech news, albeit not necessarily for the right reasons. In other news:
We also have a case study showing how MYOB ERP has enabled Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia to consolidate disparate accounting practices and deliver accurate, up to the minute information while maintaining transparency. And lastly, we’ve restructured our Cloud as a Platform for Growth webinar with new panellists and a new date: Wed 5 Sept. Join these cloud experts to learn what modern cloud computing offers. Happy reading, Heather Wright Govt pushes anti-encryption legislationNew Aussie draft legislation proposes sweeping powers to intercept communication linked to illegal activity – ramifications be damned... The Assistance and Access Bill 2018, proposes new laws which would see tech companies compelled to supply the government with access to private encrypted data if requested. “The broad powers outlined in the bill are neither necessary nor proportionate." Forget the chatbots, ‘virtual assistants’ are taking over nowThe psychological and technological come together in the race for CX AI supremacy... With voice-enabled AI applications like Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, Cortana, and Google Assistant, it’s a bold new world for enterprise, marketers and increasingly consumers. "Chatbots were the canary in the coalmine. Now VAs are coming to give customer experience an AI-enabled upgrade." Back to the future: The power of predictive analyticsWho needs a crystal ball when you've got a better mouse-trap?... Business analytics has been around for some time, but a newer branch, known as predictive analytics is helping businesses predict the unpredictable. “Sophisticated analytical techniques are embedded into more and more applications.” Mapping a road to saving cashEsri user conference in town this week demonstrates the value that a simple map can deliver… “CFO’s love saving money. Maps can save money.” “Sometimes, the simplest map has the biggest impact.” AI and ML transforming supply chain managementChanges are driving further demand for human workers with a digital engineer’s skill set... We live in curious times. Technologies such as AI, ML and analytics are transforming how we do business and rewriting what skills are most highly desired. "The ability to discover new patterns in supply chain data on an ongoing basis offers compelling benefits.” MYOB Exo delivers consistency and efficiency for charityTo work smarter and improve efficiencies with its financial management and reporting an upgrade was necessary... Ronald McDonald House Charities is a global charity, providing accommodation and other support for the families of seriously ill children. “Consolidating all the information was a very messy, complicated process.” This week's sponsor: Upcoming events: > Cloud as a Platform for Growth | Sept 5 | At your desk iStart is proudly supported by these leading Australian software providers: Latest Buyer's Guides ERP Buyer's Guide | CRM Buyer's Guide | HR/HCM Buyer's Guide | BI & Analytics 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 Please support independent journalism! If you feel the same way, and like what we do, then we welcome your support through crowdfunding platform PressPatron. |