Hi there,

With lockdowns in force on both sides of the Tasman – and across large tracts of the planet – life as we know it has changed.

Tourism and hospitality are in deep crisis mode, but businesses across all sectors are braced for the impact. We collectively have a responsibility to sustain business activity and mitigate the impacts of this pandemic on the economy, and society as a whole.

When the shock of the level 4 response recedes, leadership needs to turn attention to transitioning home-based operational resources into knowledge workers. Front line expertise is often sorely lacking in digital initiatives, so now is a golden opportunity to fix that problem.

The team here at iStart is continuing to work through these difficult times to deliver news and editorial services covering the crisis – keeping you up to date with developments, hopefully adding a glimmer of light through telling the local success stories and continuing to ensure a sense of community among our industry.

In this week’s news:

Geospatial tools on the Covid front line
Govt funding policies strangle e-health options
Chorus network handles WFH strain – despite All Blacks' RWC failure
Open sesame: Alibaba offers jewels to researchers
Is your privacy a fair trade for stopping the spread of Covid-19?
DX: Ready or not?

Meanwhile, in a time of heightened business uncertainty, we take a look at ways you can streamline your operational processes through collaboration, business intelligence and mobility.

Stay safe, and let’s help stop the spread and keep New Zealand running.

Heather Wright
Editor
editor@istart.co.nz

iStart remains committed to delivering our news and editorial services covering the crisis during these difficult times.

We empathise with those in affected sectors. We will be doing our bit to encourage the tech and business community to keep operating effectively and get everyone safely through.

STOP THE SPREAD!

GEOSPATIAL

Mapping the world one infection at a time

Geospatial data isn’t just showing us where infection is, it’s helping prevent the spread…

During World War II war rooms featured big tables with model ships and planes pushed around a map like a grown up game of Battleships.

GIS can help trace who may have been exposed to infection and how transportation routes, for example, could compound the spread.

[Read more]

HEALTHCARE

Covid-19 presents pivotal time for digitisation of healthcare

It doesn’t have to be ground breaking to be life-saving…

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a pivotal time for the digitisation of the healthcare sector, putting a rush on initiatives previously stymied by funding regimes which often don’t recognise the value of innovative tech solutions.

“It’s a chance to look to digital technology to really be innovative.”

[Read more]

WORK FROM HOME

Chorus packs down under WFH onslaught

RWC capacity proves the perfect preparation…

After the All Blacks’ disappointing showing at the RWC, the peak capacity of New Zealand’s fibre network was not put to the ultimate test, but the preparation has played a key role in keeping Chorus’ network up and running...

Chorus has everything protected in its supply chain in preparation for further increases.

[Read more]

CLOUD SERVICES

Alibaba brings cloud services/AI to Covid-19 fight

As the world hunkers down, Alibaba opens its tech to medical professionals around the globe…

Alibaba’s DAMO Academy and enterprise comms platform Dingtalk, are aiming to bring better collaboration, computing capabilities and data intelligence to the worldwide Covid-19 research effort.

We can’t beat this virus unless we share our resources, know-how and hard-earned lessons.

[Read more]

BIG DATA

Contact tracing a key tool in CV19 war chest

Data privacy or the greater good?...

Oxford University’s Big Data Institute has a simple message: “It is possible to stop the epidemic.”

“It has to be on everyone’s radar particularly in those countries where we haven’t seen Covid-19 get away from us.”

[Read more]

DIGITAL SKILLS

1,001 tech attitudes contrast with companies’ DX beliefs

As Covid forces digital to the fore, new reports reveal our beliefs about our tech skills – and our DX…

With just over 24 hours until New Zealand goes into Covid-19 lockdown, and parts of Australia already locked down, the role of technology in our lives has never been more important.

“Ninety-three percent said they were sufficiently skilled in digital to do their job.”

[Read more]

EBOOK

Streamline your business operational process

Discover how three technology trends can help you overcome today’s top four industry challenges…

You don’t need a software vendor to tell you the most effective ways to combat intense competition and grow sustainably.

"Move forward."

[Read more]

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