Partner Content

Whether it’s down to rapid digitalisation, the effects of the pandemic or, more likely, a combination of multiple external forces, consumers have never been so influential.

In the wake of that event, SmartCompany senior business journalist David Adams sat down with the winner, runner-up and judges of The Pitch to explore current trends in the startup world as well as advice on the best ways to approach a pitch. Here were some of the top takeaways from the webinar.

If the current news cycle has shown us anything, it’s that it’s never been more important for businesses to be serious about security. It can feel like the next data breach is just around the corner.

Across two events on October 25 and 27, SmartCompany and AWS gave businesses the chance to dive into the world of customer experience, hearing from esteemed guest speakers from Deloitte, Amazon, NAB, Vodafone NZ and nib. If you couldn’t make it, here’s a recap of the major themes from the talks.

As workplaces continue to morph into a blend of home and office-based configurations, many businesses are discovering there is some technical finessing needed to make this hybrid work as seamless as possible.  

As workplaces continue to morph into a blend of home and office-based configurations, many businesses are discovering there is some technical finessing needed to make this hybrid work as seamless as possible.  

Ambitious business owners and entrepreneurs always have one eye on the future. But whether you want to strengthen the team, ramp up sales and marketing, build out capabilities or expand operations, one of the most pressing cashflow issues is deciding how to finance this growth – specifically, when to borrow (debt funding) or when to raise (equity funding). 

According to one of the largest global employee surveys, one in five workers plan to quit their jobs this year.

It’s no secret that businesses know they need to reinvent themselves digitally to succeed. But what to do first — and how to do it — may not be so clear for some.

Increasingly regular reports of security breaches are a timely reminder of the importance of data protection. When it comes to organisational growth, a strong security posture is necessary to attract, and then keep, customers. 

Consumers have their own part to play in effecting change for a more sustainable future. Multinationals like Unilever believe around 70% of its carbon emissions are down to consumer decisions — the products they purchase and how they dispose of them. But it’s the businesses that can really make the difference — and consumers are starting to realise that.

Consistent growth: it’s the ultimate marker of business success. It can energise staff, elate investors and determine future success. In the face of global uncertainty, market challenges and rising costs, achieving growth goals can be tricky