To help support and boost growth for Australian retailers, Klarna, a leading global payments and shopping service, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia have announced zero Klarna merchant fees for the first six months for CBA merchants who integrate with Klarna online or in-store.
In addition to waiving fees for the first six months, Klarna will also offer eligible merchants continued marketing support, working closely with them to identify opportunities to drive brand awareness and engagement through social media, Klarna media services, and in-app content and activations.
The initiative comes at what is a challenging time for Australian businesses, with the latest CBA Economics Update revealing retail trade fell 1.8 per cent in June 2021, driven by lockdowns and restrictions in Victoria and Greater Sydney.
Klarna’s Chief Expansion Officer, Camilla Giesecke, said: “With over 90 million users and more than 250,000 merchants globally, Klarna’s ambition is to become Australians’ favourite way to shop while delivering incremental growth for Australian retailers. Retail has been under pressure from the persistent nature of the pandemic, and small businesses, who are at the heart of our communities, have felt its impact most.
“Through our partnership with CBA, we are delighted to make this offer available to
retailers, big or small, as part of our broader commitment to be a growth partner for the
Australian retailers. We hope this will go some way in supporting their business in the short
term, in the lead up to peak shopping season. ”
Commonwealth Bank’s Group Executive of Business Banking Mike Vacy-Lyle said: “The pandemic continues to impact retailers across Australia, with small businesses, in particular, facing cash flow challenges as a result of the lockdowns and restrictions. We recognise that some of our small business customers, particularly those in retail industries, are where the effects of lockdowns are being most acutely felt and may need extra support.
“CBA remains committed to playing a leadership role in Australia’s economic recovery, and this forms part of our broader business support. Having supported tens of thousands of businesses in the last 18 months with repayment holidays and fee waivers, we know how valuable cash flow relief can be for businesses. We believe this initiative goes some way to providing support to businesses across the country,” he said.
Merchants can sign up for this exclusive offer through their CBA relationship manager or through an online application form on Klarna’s website.
Wired security cameras have been around for a very long time. Once, they were only for those with deep pockets and lots of technical know-how. Consumerism has changed everything, and an indoor wireless camera can be purchased at your tech retailer from $50. This guide will look at why you would use video surveillance, what you need to know and how to make your purchase decision.
A wired security camera system is one that not only has a physical cable connection but also a recording devise onsite. There will be one or more cameras and the system can be connected to the internet to review remotely.
WHY should you consider a security camera?
To secure your business or home business where once you may have installed a burglar alarm, security cameras will do this and more.
Benefits of a wired security camera
Deterring crime- A thief does not want to be caught on video
Video proof – If an incident does occur, footage can be reviewed, and police can use images
Check up on the business remotely – Is the store busy at the moment
Employee safety- Watch and review staff member behaviour to ensure safety procedures are being followed.
Insurance claims – Camera footage can validate a claim, or the camera may lead to a discount
24/7 recording – A mains power supply and onsite large storage device means all cameras can record all the time, providing you with a complete record.
Realtime large-screen viewing of camera footage. Onsite you can have a large monitor versus a small smartphone screen.
WHAT security camera technology do I need to understand?
There are wireless and wired camera solutions. A wireless camera solution uses a wireless network solution such as your Wi-Fi network to transport the video. A wireless camera may also have a battery enabling it to be completely wireless.
Advantages of a wired camera over wireless
No batteries to keep charged
No monthly fees for cloud storage are required as you have your own onsite storage
Higher quality and more reliable video versus using Wi-Fi to transport
Cables are less likely to be hacked versus a Wi-Fi signal
A cable length can reach far further than a wireless (Wi-Fi) signal
Disadvantages include installing the cable and power outages (blackouts).
There are two types of modern wired security camera systems. A DVR (Digital Video Recorder) requires an analogue coaxial video cable and a power cable. The newer NVR (Networked Video Recorder) systems use a single ethernet cable to power the camera and carry a digital video signal. Both DVRs and NVRs can connect to the internet via an ethernet cable. NVRs have the latest technology and are capable of recording at a higher video quality. NVRs also incorporate features found in wireless camera solutions, such as two-way talk and smart detection. An NVR with its extra features will be more expensive than a DVR.
HOW do I use and choose a wired security camera?
NVR/DVR setup
The setup of a wired surveillance system is very simple, except for running cables.
Select a location for the video recorder box (DVR/NVR) that has power and can accommodate a TV or monitor with an HDMI cable. For remote monitoring, you will also need internet access.
Select suitable locations for your camera, considering whether the camera can capture what you want to record.
Run the cables between the cameras and the video recorder. You may need longer cables or extensions and the assistance of an electrician. Consider the aesthetics and the vulnerability of an exposed cable being cut.
Connect your monitor via HDMI cable and the mouse to the DVR/NVR.
Follow the on-screen instructions to customise settings (such as alerts) and enable remote viewing from a smartphone app.
Familiarise yourself with recording settings and how you can playback live video as well as recorded video.
Features you should consider when buying a wired security camera:
Outdoor or indoor– If the camera is located outside, it will need to be weatherproof Camera types – There are two common types of cameras – Dome and Bullet. Both can be mounted in most locations. Bullet are normally better for long-range video, whilst dome tends to have a wider viewing angle and are suited to shorter distances. Optical zoom and pan and tilt functionality which is more expensive, will give you better live viewing options. Resolution of the camera – The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the picture and the greater ability to zoom in digitally to see details such as faces and number plates. You can choose between Standard Definition (SD), High definition (Full HD) or Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K). Each resolution jump is 4 x the number of pixels or dots. Viewing angle of the camera – This refers to the field of vision of a camera. The larger the number represented in degrees means the camera will record a wider view in tight locations. A camera with a 90-degree viewing angle would see everything 45 degrees left and right from the centre. Low light – Also referred to as night vision, is the cameras ability to see in the dark. Most modern cameras will support this but look for the distance from the camera it will see. E.g. 10m Wireless camera’s – Some fixed camera solutions will also allow wireless cameras to be included and recorded. This has some disadvantages, as discussed above but has a massive installation advantage. Technology to stop false alerts – Normally based on measuring a heat source in the camera view, this technology is critical in reducing false alerts, especially on a windy night with moving vegetation. Alerts can also be programmed only to occur at certain times, like outside business hours. Other – various other features may be attractive to you like Siren, strobe, 2-way audio or a spotlight DVR or NVR – As discussed above Channels – This expressed as 4 channel DVR means you can connect a maximum of 4 cameras. Ensure you buy a DVR/NVR with enough channels for the cameras you require and also consider any future expansion requirements Hard drive – The DVR/NVR has an internal hard drive where all the video is stored. The larger the hard drive, the more video can be recorded, often also references as hours or days of recording. Note a higher resolution camera will require more hard drive space to record the same time frame of footage User interface of recorder (DVR/NVR) – A brochure or the marketing on a box can make a product sound very attractive. However, nothing beats doing some research to see how the user interface works and is it simple to use and will it meet your needs? Research on YouTube may prove to be useful. Display options can include rotating single images, multiple cameras at once, and 4 or 9 camera views. More advanced will be a larger image with small pictures to one side. Remote functionality of an App – A smartphone app will allow you to receive security alerts as well as provide live views from anywhere with internet coverage. This can potentially remove the need for expensive security monitoring with you having the ability to review and call the police if necessary. Multiple people can be given access to share the responsibility. Solution price and bundle options – Once you choose a brand, you will have to stay with that brand unless you start again. Price will increase with functionality, and we do recommend you go with a known brand. Once you know the number of cameras you need, you may buy a bundle to suit. Different compatible camera types can be purchased and added separately, assuming you have available channels.
HINTS
Some wired cameras will operate independently with an internet ethernet cable and no NVR. An SD card installed in the camera will capture images, as can a cloud-based backup.
As a point of comparison, we have reviewed a DVR and NVR from two well-known brands:
Swann Enforcer Security System 4 channel DVR. This Ful HD analogue recorder comes with 4 cameras and a 1TB hard drive. That 1TB drive is quoted as being able to store up to 6 months of surveillance videos giving you plenty of time to go back to review footage. The weatherproof cameras have a 90-degree viewing angle and can see 10m into the dark. By using the Swann Security app, users can access live and recorded footage from multiple Swann cameras (from wired systems to Wi-Fi standalone cameras to doorbell) and receive alerts when activity is detected. We really like the feature that the cameras have a built-in spotlight and police like red and blue flashing lights that can be activated. This is a great all in one package for a simple surveillance setup. https://www.swann.com/au/swdvk-446804sl $599.95. Swann has a range of other models including NVR capable of supporting 8 cameras.
Guardian App Cam 4KNVR8 8 channel NVR. This is a 4K digital recorder with a 2TB hard drive. It does not come with any cameras; instead, you can add up to 8 fixed or wireless cameras. When used with the App Cam solo smartphone/tablet app, you can do two-way audio and receive alerts if a vehicle or person enters the field of view. https://uniden.com.au/product/guardian-app-cam-4knvr8/ $499.95 The recommended cameras are available in both a bullet or dome and have 87-degree viewing angles and up to 30m night vision. They are weatherproof and include both a speaker and microphone, allowing you to communicate with someone at the camera. https://uniden.com.au/product/guardian-app-cam-4k-bullet/ $249.95 https://uniden.com.au/product/guardian-app-cam-4k-dome/ $249.95
Alternative cameras must be mains connected and include the Guardian App Cam Home, which is wireless for the video signal. This indoors camera can pan and tilt as well as supporting a real-time conversation with two-way audio. https://uniden.com.au/product/guardian-app-cam-home/ $129.95. The Guardian App Cam Spotlight + is also wireless for the video signal. This outdoor camera includes a spotlight that will illuminate when triggered, being a great deterrent to intruders. https://uniden.com.au/product/guardian-app-cam-spotlight-plus/#1493714178990-db34738f-658e $179.95
We like this NVR solution as you have the flexibility to pick the right camera, including wireless or fixed as well as supporting audio.
SUMMARY – Wired security systems
A wired security camera allows you to have movement alerts high-quality video recordings of activity at your business 24/7. The system can act as a burglar alarm, evidence of an event or even safety monitoring. Some solutions allow integration with a wireless camera. Still, fixed are likely to be of higher quality video and more reliable. Via a smartphone app you can receive movement alerts and also view cameras in real-time. This access can be shared with others.
An out of the box solution does not require professional installation, although you may need help running cables. A configurable solution allows you to mix and match different cameras to suit your exact requirements.
Wired security cameras can be purchased directly or from office supply and electrical retailers.
If you own a restaurant or café or have suppliers or customers visiting your premises, you have probably considered offering a customer Wi-Fi network. Is it expensive? How hard is it to do? This guide will explore why you should have a guest Wi-Fi network and how easy it is to offer and ensure you secure all your data from your guests.
A customer or guest Wi-Fi network is a separately named network (or SSID) from your Wi-Fi router. This guest network will provide access to the internet but not to allow connection to any other devises on your network.
WHY should you offer a guest network?
As the price of Mobile data (internet from your mobile phone carrier) continues to fall, you could conclude that your customers could just as easily use their own data.
Reasons to offer a guest network:
Limited smartphone coverage. Customers can still access the internet if there is poor mobile phone reception. Encourage people to use their laptops. It is potentially easier to connect to a permanent Wi-Fi network than to switch on a Wi-Fi hotspot from their phone. Thus, mobile workers may come to your café to work and spend money on a coffee or lunch. Customer service. Having a supplier or customer regularly visit you is an advantage. Thus, making it easy for them to work from your premises will facilitate this. More reliable internet connection. Many factors are at play when using a mobile data connection to the internet. Wi-Fi from a high speed fixed NBN connection can be more reliable. Means to gather customer data. When logging onto a Guest Wi-Fi network, you can request customer contact data and ask permission to communicate with them. This allows you to build a database of customers to which you can market too. Customised splash page – When a customer connects to your network, it is possible to display a customised page. Here you can promote your brand, make offers and reassure customers they are on a secure network. “Free Wi-Fi”. People still feel they are getting something for free.
WHAT do I need to understand about a customer Wi-Fi network?
Each Wi-Fi base station (or effectively an antenna) has a range of between 20 to 40m line of sight. This range will dimmish with each solid item the signal must pass through, like a wall, window, chair, table etc. There is a limit to how many devices Wi-Fi can connect at once based on the number of channels and antenna’s the base station offers. A standard router will support around 30 devices. A device is anything that connects, whether a customer’s smartphone, laptop or your POS cash register.
To add more coverage and more devices, you can add a 2nd or more base stations. Your first base station must be a Wi-Fi router that acts as a policeman. Each subsequent base station offers a new Wi-Fi signal extending the range and the number of devices supported.
These additional base stations are known as Wi-Fi Extenders. Suppose your guest network extends over more than one base station. In that case, you will have different network names for your customers to connect to the network. This can be overcome with a mesh network that seamlessly roams between base stations using the same network name (SSID). A mesh network will provide a more stable and faster internet speed for users.
A Guest Wi-Fi network is a way to offer your customers easy access to the internet without also giving them access to your LAN, computers, printers, cameras etc. You do not want anyone gaining access to your accounts or using your printer for free. This means your customers will be securely partitioned from your business or home network.
Let us assume you are running a restaurant and 30 of under 16 netball competition turn up for dinner. Your guest network suddenly becomes very popular. Let us also believe that you have a POS ordering system running off Wi-Fi tablets, Wi-Fi printers in the kitchen, A Wi-Fi cloud-based cash register and your children out the back being entertained by a Netflix movie. If everyone can access bandwidth, chances are your staff will have trouble getting internet access to take the food orders.
This can be overcome by restricting the bandwidth on the guest network. Better still, if you could set up different networks (SSID) such as one for customers (guests), one for the staff POS tablets, one for the back office and one for staff’s personal use, this would be ideal. Then having the ability to adjust bandwidth between each network allows you to ensure your business is always running as it should. A home-based Wi-Fi router is unlikely to have more than two SSID’s that you can set up. A business-based router solution will enable you to have multiple SSID’s.
HOW do I choose and set up the right Wi-Fi router?
A simple guide on purchasing and setting up a router can be found here.
Your customers will want free, fast and easy-to-access Wi-Fi, so you should consider this when making your purchase decision and setting up.
Choosing a business Wi-Fi router solution:
When making your decision, you should take the following into account.
Look for an internet Wi-Fi router that is specifically designed for small businesses. This will generally mean it will have the capability to handle more devices than home and offer security features to protect your business.
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest version of the Wi-Fi standard that is available. Although most devices do no support it yet, they will moving forward, so this helps to future proof your network. Wi-Fi 6 brings several new smarts, including speed, stability and security enhancements.
Triband mesh is a technology that allows a third Wi-Fi channel to provide a dedicated backhaul for a router base station and its satellite base station to communicate. This ensures there will be no interferes with the satellite extender getting the internet bandwidth it needs. Mesh technology allows you to have a single network name across your base stations delivering Wi-Fi attached devices a more reliable and quicker connection.
The number of antennas will determine the maximum number of devices that can connect to your Wi-Fi router. The more employees and the larger the number of devices you attach to a router starts to compete for resources.
Most routers will have an App for your smartphone that will allow some control. Most of you will want set and forget functionality. Still, it is useful to have an App that offers a user-friendly interface to assess current conditions. It is also handy to deny access to a device like an ex-employee’s smartphone from your network without resetting passwords. Some routers also allow you to prioritise some devices and restrict others, which is especially useful when you prioritise your POS system for ordering or sales.
Having enough internet bandwidth is important for any business. Although not really a buying decision for your router, you should take it into account. For those businesses with very high-speed requirements such as the transfer of video. You should also ensure your Wi-Fi router can support your internet connection speeds (speeds greater than 1Gbps).
On the rear of a router, you will find several Ethernet ports. These allow cable connection to your modem (internet into your business) and devices only supporting a wired ethernet connection. Devises such a streaming TV, a fixed connection will deliver better results. Consider how many ethernet ports your router has. An ethernet switch can always be purchased to add additional ethernet ports to your setup.
Look for a router that will allow a printer or hard drive to be directly plugged into a USB port. This will give you the option to share a non-network printer and or turn a hard drive into a shared storage devise.
A Wi-Fi router designed for business is normally quite a complicated solution requiring professional setup and selection of components. However, some out-of-the-box solutions are available (we discuss one below) that are easy to set up administer and will meet most small business needs.
Ideally, you want a set and forget network that will not detract from you running your business. Look for a solution that does not require an IT expert to set it up, maintain it, and will send you alerts only when something has gone wrong. Thus you are already fixing an issue before your staff start complaining. E.g. notification that your router has lost internet connection or has been turned off.
The cost of a Wi-Fi router solution will be determined by the quality and the features. Remember that a few extra dollars spent on getting the right product the first time will save you many headaches down the track. A home network Wi-Fi router that supports a guest network can be bought for as little as $200. However, if you expect to professionally support an office or hospitality venue, you should spend $500 to $1500 the first time around.
How to set up a Guest/ customer Wi-Fi network?
Each router will have its specific setup instructions. Once you have connected the Wi-Fi router to the modem and powered up, it will set up a default network. We suggest you make the following adjustments for a business environment that can be completed through a smartphone app or an internet browser on the same network.
Separate employee and customer network names or SSID’s. This allows the quarantining of devices on different networks in your business so customers can never access your business devices, and priority can be given to network and internet resources. E.g. you might want your POS tablets to have unlimited resources but limit your customers to 1 Mbps download speeds. An ideal situation would be to have a separate network for staff, business and customers.
Passwords. Set up unique passwords for each SSID, ensuring that your customer-facing ones are easy to remember and related to your business
Limit data or time. There is a fine balance between encouraging people into your café with free Wi-Fi and what is called Wi-Fi or Internet squatters. If a customer orders a coffee, that’s great. Still, if that same customer occupies a table for 3 hours with no further purchases, that is not great. A good router should limit guests to a set time (e.g. 1hr) for free Wi-Fi and put a cap on how much data they can download.
Security. To protect your business and your customers, you should ensure that only secure logins are possible. A minimum level of encryption called WPA-2 should be enabled. This will ensure customers will not be able to see other customers network traffic.
HINTS
To improve your internet, see this guide in our sister publication GadgetGuy.
A good quality router will allow you to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN), enabling you to access resources on your network from a remote location. E.g. access files saved on network-attached storage devise at your business from your home.
If everything discussed above is becoming a bit complicated and you feel that this is beyond you? There is a purpose-built out of the box solution that Small Business Answers has tested. The orbi PRO AX6000 from Netgear RRP $1,499 is a simple business solution that will cover up to 550 square metre premises. This latest generation Wi-Fi 6 Mesh triband router can also be expanded with additional base station satellites, all with a dedicated Wi-Fi backhaul channel. The orbi Pro will support 90 concurrent devices across four SSID’s. This means you have four business-grade secure networks for the back office, staff, IoT devices (e.gPOS) and guests. The router and the satellite each have a 1 x 2.5Gbps internet port and 4 GbE ports allowing up to 8 devices connected by ethernet cable. The Orbi Pro supports the latest security protocols, including WPA3, which means people will be safe on your network. As seen in this image, we especially like the ability to control the guest network with a splash entry page, guest SSID bandwidth control, and time limit.
The Orbi PRO uses the NETGEAR insight app to allow easy setup and management of your router. This app will alert you if the router goes offline or the internet is lost. If you are more technical and want further control and management. The orbi PRO comes with a 1-year insight subscription, which will help you manage other network devices if your network goes beyond the orbi.
Also, see our guide on IT support getting help with technology.
SUMMARY – Customer Wi-Fi network
A customer or guest Wi-Fi network is a great way to improve customer or supplier relations. If set up correctly, it will be an easy-to-use and secure internet access solution without impacting your business key network-attached business devices.
Networking a business can be a daunting proposition. Still, out of the box solutions mean the whole process can be painless. Understanding what is involved and how to make minor setting changes will ensure your business gets the most out of this technology.
New RapidReceipt RR-600W scanner and software solutions help digitise, organise and manage receipts, invoices and documents
To help ease the burden on small businesses, gig workers and consumers, Epson has launched the new RapidReceipt® RR-600W fast, easy and smart receipt and document scanning solution.
There is no denying how organising and managing financial information can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer amount of receipts, invoices, expenses, and critical paperwork that most small and home offices accumulate. It is very easy for documents to pile up. The arduous task of manually processing each one can be time-consuming and cumbersome. The result is often data-entry errors and the risk of lost data, ultimately costing businesses valuable time and money.
RapidReceipt is the only solution in the market specifically designed to organise and manage receipts and invoices. Perfect for small business owners, office managers, road warriors, field-based workers, consultants and gig economy workers who often wear multiple hats and are short on time and resources. RapidReceipt with receipt and invoice management software is a simple, cost-effective and time-saving financial management solution.
With Epson’s leading technology and success in the scanning market, the company focused its expertise on delivering a unique scanning solution to help alleviate their common pain points. Developed with very small and nimble businesses in mind. The RapidReceipt is the ultimate organised digital filing cabinet that enables easy financial document management of all types of information with incredible efficiency.
Cloud intergration to manage receipts
The RapidReceipt scanner includes Epson ScanSmart® Accounting Edition software, which converts stacks of unorganised receipts and invoices into actionable digital data. Small business owners and consumers can finally say goodbye to manually entering data because RapidReceipt software accurately extracts and organises data from receipts and invoices and seamlessly integrates into Excel® spreadsheets or third-party applications such as MYOB®, XERO®, and more. Users can also scan directly to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive™ and OneDrive.
A well-planned organising system can make financial management much easier. So Epson engineered RapidReceipt scanners with speed, image quality, efficiency, and low cost in mind. The RapidReceipt RR-600W wireless desktop scanner is built for productivity, capturing both sides of a document in one pass with blazing speeds as fast as 35 ppm/70 ipm.
It features a robust 100-page Auto Document Feeder accommodating stacks of paper of varying sizes and includes an intuitive 4.3″ touchscreen and convenient USB port so users can scan directly to a USB memory drive without a computer.
Included software
The RR-600W also includes a TWAIN driver for easy integration to most document management software. It includes Kofax® Power PDF® for Windows® and PDF Converter for Mac® to allow users to simply create searchable and editable PDFs, at no extra cost.
With NewSoft® Presto! BizCard® software included with the RapidReceipt RR-600W, users can easily scan business cards and manage contact information.
Epson scanners deliver amazing image quality and intelligent image adjustments with automatic cropping, blank page deletion, background removal, dirt detection, paper skew correction, and staple protection capabilities so users can scan worry-free.
Availability
The Epson RapidReceipt RR-600W desktop scanner is available now for an RRP of $699 from Epson Australia by going to: https://www.epson.com.au/rapidreceipt/ and from all authorised Epson resellers.
