Australia

The On Demand Economy

July 26, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Over time the consumer service model has evolved with consumer demands. Over the past 5 years many industries have adapted to the On Demand community.

Traveler’s for instance are using Uber to replace taxi drivers and people are also opting to use AirBnB for accommodation as opposed to hotels and motels. The change in consumption has been due largely to the process being more cost efficient.

As the consumer On Demand service model has evolved, so has the On Demand business-to-business (B2B) model.

At the forefront of the On Demand B2B model are Millennial workers wanting more flexibility in their work and life balance. From sales and marketing to HR and copywriting, companies and organisations are utilising the On Demand platforms to gain a competitive advantage through faster and smarter scaling of their workforce.

There is a big movement in the creative sector where companies are using On Demand platforms like Workfast and Freelancer to assist in creating campaigns for particular projects. The reason for this change is largely due to the nature of these projects having fixed in rates and also a fast turn around.

Keep an eye out for the following apps:

Workfast

Businesses can use the Workfast On Demand work platform to hire a worker in any industry for an hour, a week or a month. It offers independent contractors who bid on the job posted. What makes this app attractive is that it offers reviews of workers from previous employees. You can then align yourself with workers that you feel are most fitting.

Directly

Directly is an app that helps improve customer service. It remotely connects workers to supportive roles where customers get expert help. Directly workers are rewarded on their knowledge of their clients business and their ability to help customers solve issues.

Andela

Another app Andela works with startups to provide the top one percent of developers On Demand. Their alumni is based on problem solving abilities, technical training and professional development.

Axiom

Axiom works as an On Demand legal service. It works with over 1500 employees over 3 continents.

It specialises in many industries including tech, media and financials services.

Important factors to consider before buying a Hosted PBX phone system

July 6, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

With global internet speeds increasing & dependability on communications so prevalent, many organizations are considering making the move to a VoIP phone system. Hosted PBX is a type of VoIP system that allows a business to eliminate expensive, on-site phone system hardware and utilize cloud PBX infrastructure to run their phone system. Moving to this type of service has many benefits along with its associated risks. When implemented correctly, a Hosted PBX phone system can significantly improve the way an organization communicates & reduce expenditure by up to 50%.

Below are 5 key questions to ask your supplier when you are evaluating the transition to a Hosted PBX phone system.

How secure is the VoIP system?

As Hosted PBX phone systems are located on servers on the internet, they can be prime targets for hackers. If the system is not properly protected, an intruder is able to make calls from your phone system and run up massive costs in a very short period of time by calling international premium phone numbers. If you are considering a Hosted PBX solution, it is essential to make sure the security measures of your VoIP provider are up-to-date and that they have state-of-the art hardware and software firewalls in place to protect your system from unwanted intruders.

Are your current phone requirements supported?

Even though VoIP phones have more features that traditional phones, sometimes the VoIP phones will not support simply functions that you use on your current PABX phone system. Ask your supplier if their Hosted PBX platform supports functionality such as call parking, BLF (Busy Lamp Field) indicators on phones, intercom functionality and call queuing. These are basic functions that 20-year-old PABX phone systems can support, yet some Hosted systems cannot replicate. Request a demo of the proposed phone system so you can try before you buy.

Is faxing supported on VoIP?

Sending & receiving faxes over VoIP technology can be both challenging and erratic. Fax technology was only designed with analog networks in mind. If faxing is essential in your business make sure you have a fax service that will work over VoIP and work the way you need it to. Some suppliers provide an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) that works with your existing fax machine while others provide full cloud fax solutions. Understand how faxes work over VoIP with your provider prior to switching.

What happens if the system goes down?

If the Hosted PBX provider’s system is not available, your phones will not be able to access the system at all. This means you will not be able to make or receive calls. Missed calls can cost an organization millions of dollars of lost revenue depending on how long the system may be down. However, in the event of a system outage Hosted PBX systems have unique & flexible abilities to automatically forward calls to another network, such as a mobile phone or backup PSTN service. It is important to find out what backup measures are offered by your provider for in the event of an outage. A total internet network outage maybe be when there is a local power failure, or a physical on-site hardware fails or potentially when the provider’s system/server goes down. Automatic failovers are essential for continued operations when running a Hosted PBX.

Can the system be scaled or upgraded?

One huge benefit of a Hosted PBX system is that there are often no restrictions to how big or small your system can scale to. Providers will structure their plans and infrastructure differently so ask them what restrictions there are on extensions & simultaneous calls. Make sure you think ahead because how you communicate today is completely different to how you communicated 3 years ago, and it will be completely different in another 3 years’ time.

Labour Hire Agencies in Melbourne – Bridging the Gap between Demand and Supply

June 30, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Labour hire agencies in Melbourne

6 ways biking can boost your productivity, creativity, and bottom line

June 27, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

by: Hunter Walsh

Encouraging employees to ride a bike to work is growing in popularity not just because of cycling and employee wellness trends, but because it makes sense for both employers and employees to take advantage of the many benefits cycling has to offer. Today only about 1% of Australian workers cycle to work while about 66% drive, according to data from The Heart Foundation. Motivating and supporting active transportation can make a significant improvement in the health and wellbeing of your employees and your business.
1. Inactivity is a killer.
Physical inactivity like sitting at a desk all day and driving to get around instead of walking or cycling takes a toll both physically and financially. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that physical inactivity is a known risk factor for high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, anxiety, depression, cancer and obesity. KPMG – Econtech data reports costs of physical inactivity in Australia to be $719 million in healthcare costs, and $9.2 billion in productivity cost. Cycling to work is an excellent solution because it’s efficient – combining exercise and transportation. Healthier workers make a healthier workplace, and cycling makes people healthy and happy…
2. Cycling makes employees happier.
A study conducted at the University of Sydney surveyed 846 urban commuters in Sydney and found that commuter cyclists are happier than drivers, pedestrians and people using public transport. About two times happier, to be exact, which leads us to reason number 3
3. Biking to work boosts productivity.
Happy employees are about 12% more productive, according to a study by economists at the University of Warwick. “When I bike to work I’m refreshed and relaxed,” said Lia Weston, partner at Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs in Adelaide who has been cycling to work for 7 years. “The movement wakes me up.” Many people who cycle to work liken their morning ride to a cup of coffee, and the data backs up that feeling. A study of 100 employers conducted by Cyclescheme found that two-thirds of employers surveyed reported that employees who cycle to work are more energetic and productive.
4. Cycling improves mental health.
A long-term commuter study (10 years) looked at workers who commuted by car, public transportation, foot and bicycle. Thestudy, conducted by University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School and the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York, evaluated all types of commuters and took a closer look at those who had switched from commuting by car or public transport to active transportation like cycling. They found that those who made the switch had improved concentration and less stress.
5. A ride a day keeps the doctor away.
Employees who regularly cycle to work take one day less sick leave per year on average than their non-cycling colleagues, according to study findings from Dutch Research and Testing organization the TNO conducted on behalf of Tineke Huizinga, the deputy minister for traffic and works. The same report says that every 1% increase in the number of employees that cycle to work saves their employers nearly €27M per year due to lowered costs due to illness and absenteeism.

6. Parking cars is expensive. Parking bikes, less so.
A parking space can fit a single motor vehicle and cost about $22,000 to build. In comparison, that same space can fit as many as 20 bicycles in a bike rack, which costs only about $400 to install.
Bike shops Bio-Mechanics Cycles & Repairs in Adelaide and Ivanhoe Cycles and Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Melbourne have teamed up with global public health alliance My City Bikes to create beginner biking resources that assist entry level riders learn where to bike safely in their city.

These resources can help employees who are new to cycling find safe routes and need-to-know safety and maintenance information so they can start biking to work. For more information about beginner biking and organized workplace wellness programs to encourage cycling to work, visit mycitybikes.org/australia-work.

The Advantages of taking Professional Assistance for Tree Removal in Melbourne

June 7, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Tree removal is a task that is required for various reasons. It may be necessary for the removal of dangerous trees, as a measure to safeguard property and occupants. It may be deployed as a component of landscape beautification process. Tree removal service in Melbourne also becomes a necessity while clearing large sites for developmental projects. Irrespective of the reason, it is advisable to delegate this task to a professional tree care firm.

Hazardous tree management is considered to be the most common and important reasons for tree removal. Trees that are old, ailing or rotted lose their structural integrity and become shaky and fragile. Their branches or sometimes even the entire tree can fall, especially if there is a windstorm. This puts the safety of the occupants and others passing by, at risk.

Overgrown trees can be a nuisance for homeowners. Apart from bringing harm to the surrounding vegetation and plants, trees with overgrown limbs can lead to extensive damage to the property. Many property holders have frequently whined about pipes issues and broken sewerage pipes that are caused by roots of an overgrown tree.

Another cause of concern for homeowners is that septic damages resulting from untrimmed trees are usually not covered by insurance agencies due to which they have to bear additional expenses to fix such issues.

Therefore, if you intend to avoid all the above mentioned issues, it is advisable to enlist the services of a firm that provides top notch professional tree removal & pruning in Melbourne. Here are a few benefits of taking professional assistance.

· Some people tend to underestimate the complexity of the process along with the implications in case the procedure is not carried out properly. Taking the responsibility of removing trees from your property on your shoulders implies that your are inviting unnecessary complications. Besides compromising the quality of the task, carrying out tree removal on your own can lead to injuries.

It can likewise put an undue strain on your pocket with additional expenditure. This is precisely where professional and trustworthy firms that provide tree removal and tree pruning services in Melbourne come into picture. They have a team of highly skilled arborists and specialised tools to execute the process, safely, quickly and effectively.

· Similarly many homeowners assume the responsibility of tree pruning in Melbourne with a final objective to save money. Be that as it may, it can increase the expenditure with all the investment required to purchase the required gear. Also, if in procedure any harm is brought on to your property or surroundings, the cost involved may even get multiplied. Taking professional assistance, as a general rule, ends up being the most cost efficient choice. By outsourcing tree removal, you can spare a great deal of costs on fuel, transportation and equipment.

· Besides tree removal and pruning, the services provide by these tree care firms include checking the health of trees, identifying the unhealthy or infected trees. They also provide service for regular maintenance of the trees by trimming the branches and spray of medicines for a germ free environment.

All the above mentioned points make the decision of taking professional assistance for tree removal and pruning, a wise one.

In any case, before contracting these tree care companies for tree removal in Melbourne, you ought to take a few things into account. The best way to gain insight into company’s track record of its customer service is client reviews. For this, try getting in touch with previous clients of a particular company and they will give you a fair idea of their service.

How can your Business gain from Labour Hire companies in Melbourne

May 19, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Every business irrespective of its scale or industry requires a skilled workforce. The business world is getting competitive by the day and is undergoing a continual evolution with changes happening on daily basis.

Taking the increasingly competitive nature of the market into account, it imperative to have access to workers that are highly trained & experienced with an ability to adapt. Qualified & proficient workforce makes sure that you keep up the desired levels of performance, irrespective of any challenges. This is precisely where labour hire companies come into picture.

Labour hire in Melbourne has been an integral component of the business world for a long time now. These agencies are a growing business’ best ally. They provide skilled labour whenever required, without putting undue strain on the finances of the company.

Labour hire has grown in prominence in recent times throughout Australia, with a persistent requirement for short and long term projects emerging all the time. As this industry has developed to serve clients across a broad spectrum of industries, more and more business owners realise the benefits of enlisting the services of a labour hire firm

From a business viewpoints, it is vital to have a team of skilled employees with a multitude of skills ready to assist at any given time. Skilled labour hire services can be highly advantageous to any business, established or newly found as they can provide employees with skills that suits the exact business requirements, either on a temporary or permanent basis and that too, without any delay.

Here are some of the benefits your business stands to gain by enlisting the services of labour hire companies.

· Most organisations have fluctuating workloads relying upon the season. This implies the work prerequisites of the business keeps changing as per the workload. Having in-house staff members on payroll even when there is no requirement, results in a lot of unnecessary expenditure. Labour hire enables you to get skilled workers you need at your convenience without the obligation of full time employment, thereby, curtailing the outlay.

· Employing staff is a challenging task. At the point when entrepreneurs or business managers need to expand their workforce to take care of increasing consumer demand or an important project, these firms are an ideal option to recruit the workers with appropriate skills.

· Finding competent individuals with right the skill set for the task at hand is, to a great degree, tedious. From interviewing applicants to selecting them, the whole procedure can be quite time consuming and does not generally ensure that the right candidate will be selected. We all know the importance of time for business owners and managers and that they can’t afford to fritter away their valuable time in this process. A labour hire agency gives them the leverage to recruit pre-screened workers who are not only qualified but also have the experience of dealing with any kind of work requirement. This way they decrease the downtime considerably and as a consequence, increase the operational efficiency.

· Labour hire workers have the experience of working in an assortment of organisations within & outside your industry. Moreover, on-hired employees bring different skills to the table that your on-board employees may not possess otherwise. Rather than wasting a considerable measure of time & resources on training workers to execute a particular task, you can easily hire skilled workers on temporary basis. These employees will work for you as long as your require their services.

The benefits of enlisting the services of labour hire companies are quite apparent. So, with regards to your next business venture, get in touch with a professional & trustworthy firm that provides labour hire in Melbourne.

Sydney startup AppealMe helps Australians get their parking fines dismissed

May 17, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The fastest and easiest way to appeal a parking ticket in Australia.

^{Founder : Matthew Malcolm}

On a sunny Sydney afternoon Matthew Malcolm and Annie Gunn received a parking ticket. They had unknowingly parked in a pay and display zone which was missing parking signs. Not knowing they were committing an offence they returned to their car and found a ticket.

Unsure of how to appeal a parking ticket, they spent that weekend researching, drafting and submitting their appeal. The appeal was a success, the ticket was dropped, and they had an idea.

Talking with friends and family it seemed this was more common than first thought.

What started as a simple side project, quickly turned into a idea to develop a platform to help all Australians contest their parking fines. With the goal of reducing the time spent researching, drafting and creating an appeal, AppealMe wanted to make it easier to contest a parking fine and to improve the chances of a successful appeal.

Video – https://vimeo.com/156070535

How AppealMe Works from AppealMe on Vimeo.

The service is free and helps you draft a professionally written appeal by analysing your circumstance, combining your details with the relevant State laws and providing recommendations to increase your chance of a successful appeal.

AppealMe covers numerous appeal situations such as a lack of parking signs, faulty ticket machines, medical emergencies, locking your keys in your vehicle and many more.

Of the services launch, AppealMe’s Founder Matthew Malcolm said, ‘For the women and men who use AppealMe, the platform represents a new and convenient way to access the law in Australia.’

With over 1.2 million tickets issued in NSW alone in FY14/15 (Source: http://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/info/statistics) the service aims to help Australians avoid paying for incorrectly issued parking tickets and to provide local councils clearer and more accurate appeals in hopes of reducing time spent on their review process.

AppealMe is now working on helping Australians contest speeding, red light and stop fines. Get special access to this new feature by visiting appealme.com.au and using the social buttons.

Gungahlin suburbs the top choice for Canberra home buyers

May 15, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Gungahlin’s suburbs are the fastest growing in Canberra and the most popular choice for families looking to buy homes, according to the latest figures on population growth and property sales in the ACT.

Canberra’s population is expected to keep moving north as more families abandon traditional suburban regions such as Tuggeranong in favour of Gungahlin’s new developments, affordable house prices and convenient amenities.

Population boom

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) predicted that the ACT’s population will increase by 50,350 persons in the 12 years from 2007 to 2019 – with 20,500 persons or 40.7 per cent of this increase claimed by Gungahlin alone.

Gungahlin’s own population is expected to increase by 58.6 per cent to a total of 55,450 residents by 2019. Young families are increasingly choosing the rapidly developing suburbs of Gungahlin over older, established regions in the south such as Tuggeranong, which is forecast to decrease by 0.1 per cent annually over the same period – the only ACT area set for decline.

Families head north

Residential property sales bear out these predictions, with real estate agency Allhomes reporting that 488 more family homes (25 per cent) and 276 more townhouses, apartments and other units (33 per cent) were sold in the north of Canberra compared to the south over the past year. In total, Gungahlin and northern districts saw 2,457 family home purchases and 1,104 unit sales in the 12 months to the end of March 2016.

Gungahlin also leads the rankings of Canberra’s most popular areas for family homes, with four of its suburbs – Ngunnawal, Casey, Bonner and Nicholls – being named among the top 10 in the city. Developers have taken notice of Gungahlin’s property boom, leading to an influx of new houses and apartments to keep up with buyer demand.

Why is Gungahlin so attractive for home buyers?

There is no single reason behind Gungahlin’s success. For many new and existing residents, the choice of Gungahlin suburbs for their family home is due to a combination of:

· Affordability – Gungahlin offers lower prices for family homes compared to the inner city and other established districts, particularly for buyers taking advantage of the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) scheme. With an average house price of $438,000, Ngunnawal was the fourth most affordable suburb in Canberra in 2015.

· Smaller blocks – Gungahlin has the smallest block size of all Canberra districts, at 512 square metres on average compared to 906 sq m in South Canberra, which means lower maintenance costs for residents.

· Amenities – Ongoing investment in public services and amenities means that Gungahlin’s suburbs offer access to everything families need, from schools and sports grounds to road upgrades and the proposed light rail project that will make commuting to the city even easier.

Shop and dine in the heart of Gungahlin

The Marketplace is your one-stop shop for food, fashion, health and wellness in Gungahlin Town Centre.

Discover our eclectic mix of boutiques, cafes and professional services on Hibberson Street, close to all Gungahlin suburbs and just 13 kilometres from Canberra CBD.

Top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out

May 15, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

I’ll set the scene for you. You’ve been working in your office for the past five years, and of late (thanks in no small part to your hard work) you’ve started to experience incredible growth for your business. You have a dedicated team have been working diligently by your side the whole time, grafting with you, and growing your business to the point where you want it to be.

You’re a young and funky team and you know that you have a lot to offer the creative and digital space that you are moving into, but there’s just one problem. You happen to occupy and work in an office building where the cubicles are drab and atmosphere-less, the walls are special colour of grey that no one’s ever really seen before, and the atmosphere in the office building could best be described as funeral. So what do you do here?

Studies have gone a long way towards suggesting that the environment that a business operates in impacts the output, and that’s exactly what I’m suggesting here. When you have a creative team – or any kind of team at all really, you need to have exposure to natural light, greenery; at least some kind of stimulus in order to experience the kind of results and output that you are after.

If you are looking to breeze a new lease of life into your office space, you need to have a very well designed workplace in order to get the results you want. We all want maximized productivity, limited downtime and a positive work environment – they are all huge parts of productivity. A new office fitout can help you!

I want to outline for you the top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out so that you can move forward with your business success.

A new lease on life

When your business starts to expense growth (or continues to grow), it’s important that you grow your business surround with it. Companies with the best office fitouts in Sydney are usually the successful ones who saw the value of a well-designed office space for their teams.

Creative control

When you occupy an office building that has been decorated by previous tenants or a landlord, you have to deal with the poor design decisions that have been made before you. If you choose to invest in an office fit out, you are actually investing in the future of your business. This is a great decision for anyone looking to identify or re-identify their businesses aesthetic.

Elegant updating

Part of getting a new office fitout is taking huge amount of gratification from throwing out all of the horrible shabby decorations that have been there up until now. You can be as elegant or as cutting edge as you like with your design, the fact is is that you can control all of the design elements yourself. Creative control is a powerful thing!

Clients will be impressed

If you are a business that has clients coming into your office to do business, then you will need to ensure that you have a office space that suits your style. It simply doesn’t do to have clients coming into your office and seeing shabby furniture, crummy bookshelves, or just plain old tatty furniture. You need to ensure that your office fit out suits your clientele, and the style of business that you are hoping to secure.

Employee morale

Last but definitely not least is the benefit to employee morale. The benefit to employee morale is a huge part of getting a new office fitout. Staff and people feel that you are invested in their enjoyment in the space if you spend time and money on getting the office painted and refurbished. Employees will feel a lot happier about coming to work every day in a funky, fresh environment and will be more attached to the workplace.

Key considerations when selecting a security system for your business.

February 20, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Traditionally, talking about security has never been the first thing to cross business owners or managers minds when rolling out their business plan. However, many Australian businesses operate in a state of fear once they realise how vulnerable their business is to a security breach.The Victorian Police released alarming statistics about crime against property from 2013-2014 citing 273, 413 recorded offences. According to PwC’s Global State of Information Security Survey, Australia is leading the world in cyber security incidents increasing by 109 per cent to 9,434 over the past 12 months.

A global study from Accenture revealed that many business owners and company directors have prioritised security in order to identify and prevent threats that could harm business operations. Rather than taking the reactive approach, businesses are prepared to commit to proactive security measures that will prevent breaches to their business’s physical and virtual operations.

TheAustralian Cyber Security Centre has predicted an increase in cyber-crime over the next decade and that the Australian government and private sector must be vigilant when it comes to taking responsibility of cyber data that could affect the Australian public. Australian security specialists Chartercom Security, have provided the following considerations when selecting a security system for your business.

Vulnerability to the business’s physical presence.

Minimise risks to the business’s physical presence by investing in security surveillance that can provide visibility in all areas of the business. This includes:

● Monitoring staff and visitors through security cards or access pins.

● Installing security cameras in the business that will monitor interactions with inventory.

● Leveraging security patrol that can monitor all physical areas of the business and alert managers or security teams of any potential security breaches.

Internal theft.

Internal theft is one of the biggest causes of shrinkage for a business. Businesses need to prevent this by monitoring staff and visitors that come into contact with inventory. Added security systems such as cameras can also deter activities of theft in your business. Business managers should also foster a positive workplace environment that encourages staff to adopt best practices and to discipline any staff engaging in theft.

External damage.

Businesses also need to protect the exterior of their business from vandalism activities such as graffiti. Ensure that the perimeter of your business is well lit and maintains security presence through cameras or patrols.

External theft.

Businesses need to take security measures that will protect them against external theft from shoplifters and intruders. Invest in alarm systems, camera surveillance and security patrols that can help deter would-be criminals.

Threats to the business’s cyber presence.

The threat to a business’s IT security is predicted to rise over the coming decade. Businesses must enforce strict security measures that will protect business and personal data from the threat of hackers, viruses and malware.

Recommended actions

Invest in staff training.

Educating your employees on loss prevention will help to minimise shrinkage in your business. Have them understand the impacts on the profitability for the business and how shrinkage can impact their job security. Some things that staff can look out for includes:

● Monitoring the business metrics to see if the cost of goods is increasing, but the sales are the same or decreasing.

● Ensuring employees are reporting shoplifting.

● Inventory costs are reducing, but there aren’t any reports of theft.

● Sales are down consistently when certain employees work.

● The cash drawer never balances.

● Employees have a high number of refunds, voids and minimal sales.

Check with your security company to find out if training will incur any additional fees.

The threat of crime against businesses may be high, however they can take action to deter criminal activities with the right security setup.