Latest news

Artificial Intelligence
Gartner reveals top three tech trends for banks this year
Gartner says generative artificial intelligence, autonomic systems and privacy-enhancing computation are gaining traction in banking and investment services.

Amazon Web Services / AWS
Databricks strengthens AWS partnership with new Lakehouse offering
Customers will experience faster onboarding and unified account administration to make building a Databricks Lakehouse on AWS easier.

SAS
New SAS service overcomes subscription fatigue for media companies
SAS has launched SAS 360 Match which helps media companies move towards a AVOD model to generate revenue as subscribers cancel.

Amazon Web Services / AWS
AWS granted OIO consent for billion dollar NZ Region project

Marketplacer
Marketplacer and True Woo partner for wellness marketplace

Gaming
Mastercard users can now use rewards points in gaming
Mastercard has launched Mastercard Gamer Xchange (MGX), allowing APAC consumers to convert their rewards points into gaming currency.

Cybersecurity
More than 40% of banks worried about cloud security - report
Publicis Sapient's new report finds security and the lack of cloud skills and internal understanding of business benefits are big obstacles for banks moving to the cloud.

Chorus
Chorus enhances West Coast infrastructure for upgraded telecoms
Chorus has announced the completion of a 250km infrastructure project set to provide the West Coast with upgraded and enhanced telecommunications.

HP New Zealand
HPE NZ sees $8 million decline in latest financial report
HPE New Zealand has seen a decline of over NZD$8 million in the sale of its goods year-over-year, according to its latest financial report.

Omnichannel
Lexmark launches A/NZ first with retail publishing solution
Lexmark, a global imaging and IoT solutions leader, launched its Publishing Platform for Retail (PPR) in Australia and New Zealand.

Forrester
commercetools named a Leader in B2B Forrester report
commercetools has been named a Leader in The Forrester Wave: B2B Commerce Solutions, Q2 2022 report, receiving the highest scores possible in 10 criteria.

Xero
More solutions updates and developments from Xero announced
Xero has announced a raft of new globally available solutions, features and product updates for the month of May, along with future developments soon to be rolled out.

SaaS
Forrester Research names BigCommerce a Strong Performer
BigCommerce has announced it has been named a Strong Performer by Forrester Research in both the Forrester Wave: B2C Commerce Solutions, Q2 2022 and the Forrester Wave: B2B Commerce Solutions, Q2 2022 reports.

Fintech
Incumbent banks must embrace data-centric capabilities
Retail banks are lagging in their ability to offer true omnichannel experiences, as customers pivot to competitors that offer more personalised experiences.

Adyen
Adyen expands partnership with Afterpay as BNPL payments increase
Adyen has expanded its partnership with AfterPay allowing more of Adyen’s merchants in more countries worldwide to use the BNPL provider.

CRM
Freshworks launches new CRM with Shopify availability
Freshworks has launched a new customer relationship management (CRM) solution, which has also been made available on the Shopify apps store.

Customer experience
Dell Technologies expands edge innovations for retailers
Dell Technologies has announced the expansion of its edge solutions to help retailers quickly generate more value and deliver enhanced customer experiences.

Microsoft
Spark launches Microsoft Dynamics 365 upgrade across enterprise
Spark and Microsoft NZ have recently collaborated to launch Microsoft Dynamics 365 across the entire Spark business enterprise.

CRM
Zendesk announces new conversational CRM solutions
“The last few years have made it obvious that digital is the front door, convenience is paramount and relationships are anchored in conversations."

Microsoft
FIS Modern Banking Platform now available on Microsoft Azure
FIS says the partnership will expand its digital online banking to markets like New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Thailand
Booster
Booster Innovation Fund. A fund of Kiwi ingenuity – for Kiwi investors.

Invest in tech behind motion-capture gloves that will enable the Metaverse, and other leading edge Kiwi innovations
booster.co.nz

Open banking
A look at the rewards and risks of open banking - report
RiskBusiness says its report on open banking finds that while it holds much potential, financial services firms need to ensure they have robust, risk processes.

Artificial Intelligence
SAS unveils AI experience to improve kids' batting abilities
SAS has created The Batting Lab, an interactive experience using AI, computer vision and IoT analytics to help kids improve their baseball and softball swings.

Online shopping
A/NZ shoppers plan to spend less, be more selective
For retailers, 2022 is set to be a year of introspection as shoppers across Australia and New Zealand indicate they plan to spend less.

Machine Learning
Moloco launches updates to Cloud Demand-Side Platform
The latest updates focus on improving performance through intelligent budget allocation, automating workflows through smart campaign UI/UX, and ad creation.

Cryptocurrency
Prominent cryptocurrency trader hit by 'perfect storm'
A leading local crypto currency trading platform, BitPrime, says a "perfect storm" has hit its finances, forcing it to put a halt on operations.

Phishing
Google reveals new safety and security measures for users
Google's new measures include automatic two step verification, virtual cards and making it easier to remove contact information on Google Search results.

Veryfi
Veryfi announces Mobile Receipt Capture for D2C marketing apps
Veryfi has announced a new enhancement to its portfolio, with Mobile Receipt Capture for direct-to-consumer marketing apps.

Manhattan Associates
Shortening the click-to-customer cycle through smart technologies
Speed of delivery without accuracy is a dealbreaker for consumers. How can retailers operating in an omnichannel environment overcome the challenge of click-to-customer cycle times.

Fintech
Visa chooses NZ startup for APAC Accelerator Programme
Visa has selected New Zealand payments startup Cymonz for the 2022 cohort of its Visa Accelerator Programme in Asia Pacific.

Phishing
Retail and wholesale at significant risk of phishing attacks
New research from Zscaler has found that many retail and wholesale environments are at significant risk, with a 400% increase in phishing attacks being reported in the last 12 months.

Pinterest
Pinterest partners with WooCommerce and launches app
The new app gives businesses of all sizes the power to turn their product catalogues into shoppable product pins on Pinterest

Sustainability
The AI Forum helps NZ pave the way with AI sustainability practices
Non-profit organisation The AI Forum is helping Kiwis learn about addressing climate change issues through the use of AI technology.

Customer experience
Research unveils precarious customer loyalty for retailers
New research has found customers are reassessing established brand loyalties as their priorities and behaviours shift.

Sustainability
Hootsuite 2021 Impact Report shows workforce more diverse
Hootsuite has released its annual 2021 Impact Report detailing the results of its social impact initiatives following the launch of its corporate guiding principles.

Climate change
Record growth for NZ startups as conscious investment trend emerges
New Zealand has a reputation for efficiency and innovation, and has strong potential to be a leader in climate tech.

Mobility
Hands-on review: STM laptop bags
The advent of hybrid working has meant we need laptop bags. We got our hands on two of the most popular laptop bags from STM.

Artificial Intelligence
Laybuy launches new AI chatbot Hugo using Ambit tech
Laybuy partners with fellow New Zealand company Ambit to launch conversational AI in a bid to support its international growth.

Lightspeed
Lightspeed launches all-in-one marketing platform in A/NZ
ECommerce provider, Lightspeed has launched a new all-in-one marketing solution, Lightspeed Marketing & Loyalty in Australia and New Zealand.

Vodafone
Vodafone NZ buys remaining stake in retail joint venture
Vodafone New Zealand has purchased the remaining 50% stake in the specialist joint venture (JV) with private equity company Millennium Corp.

CrescoData
SPS network now available to CrescoData eCommerce customers
CrescoData, a Pitney Bowes Company and PaaS business in the commerce space, says its customers can now connect to the SPS Commerce Retail Network.