With merchants estimated to suffer more than US$48 billion in eCommerce fraud globally in 2023 – 22% of that in Asia[1] – Mastercard has announced the expansion of its partnership with Vesta, the global leader in payment fraud protection. Building on the two firms’ existing fraud detection collaboration, Mastercard will be integrating Vesta’s iron-clad Payment Guarantee™ and Payment Protect risk scoring solution into its Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MGPS) platform. Starting in the second half of 2023, MPGS customers in the Asia Pacific region will be given optional access to both fraud fighting solutions which would offer total protection for their eCommerce transactions and take their cost of fraud to zero.

With 200+ global acquirer connections, and the ability to seamlessly process safe, secure payments in 170+ currencies across 30+ payment methods online, in-person or in-app, MPGS is a powerful omnichannel payments platform that enables merchants – large and small – to easily accept a payment from anywhere in the world, helping businesses to grow and expand into new markets.

“To provide MPGS customers with the toughest, most impenetrable fraud protection available, Mastercard is committed to nurturing strategic partnerships with the most trusted service providers in the payments, technology and security industries – like Vesta,” said Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Products & Innovation, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “Through this first-of-its-kind solution combining the scale and reach of MPGS with Vesta’s unrivalled fraud protection powers in a single integration, merchants can enjoy the peace of mind – and extra time in their day – that comes from knowing that their eCommerce transactions are fully protected from fraud and financial risk.”  

With Vesta Payment Guarantee™, transactions are 100% guaranteed against fraud. This means that if a fraudulent order approved by Vesta’s rigorous risk scoring engine makes it through the checkout process, Vesta will absorb the full cost of the transaction. By eliminating a merchant’s risk and liability from fraudulent chargebacks, it takes their cost of fraud to zero, letting them focus on growing their online business instead of worrying about trying to stop fraud attacks themselves.

From the moment a customer selects “Place order” to the final order confirmation, Payment Guarantee™ is fast, frictionless and accurate, analyzing thousands of individual signals across the user journey to uncover fraud patterns while simultaneously increasing approvals of legitimate online sales, driving revenue growth.

“Our promise: Every approved transaction is covered by Vesta’s 100% fraud chargeback guarantee. If we’re wrong, it’s on us.  We are excited to enable all MPGS customers and their businesses to focus on what matters – growing sales without the fear of fraud,” said Shabab Muhaddes, SVP and GM APAC for Vesta.

With new and emerging ways to make money, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is reminding taxpayers to consider if they are ‘in business’ and to declare all income when lodging their tax return this year.

Record numbers of taxpayers are now working multiple jobs or supplementing their income with ‘side hustles’ or ‘gig’ economy activities, and it’s important everyone pays the right amount of tax.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said if you earn money through continuous and repeated activities for the purpose of making a profit, then it’s likely you’re running a business.

‘While there are always new and different ways to make money, the tax obligations remain the same. Don’t fall into the trap of forgetting to include all your income thinking the ATO won’t notice,’ Mr Loh says.

‘You also need to declare any additional income earned through that side hustle’, Mr Loh said.

Businesses have a range of obligations depending on their structure and turnover, including registering for an Australian business number, keeping the right records and lodging the right type of tax return. They may also have to register for goods and services tax (GST).

The ATO is running an advertising campaign to remind taxpayers about their obligations if their side hustle is generating income.

‘With tax time just around the corner, if you are bolstering your income with new activities, make sure all your records are up-to-scratch. This could be anything from animal breeding to earning income through digital platforms, such as ride share or food delivery, or even online content creation, like social media influencers,’ he said.

‘If your home has become more like a warehouse and is stocked to the hilt with goods to sell, then you may in fact be running a business’

‘If you’re running boot camp sessions, in addition to your 9-5 job, well, this is a side hustle, and you need to declare all income to the ATO’

‘If you’re an online content creator earning money or receiving gifts, you’re also likely to be running a business and there are tax obligations you need to comply with.’

Mr Loh acknowledged ‘sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re ‘in business’ and we recognise not everything you do to make money is considered a business. The ATO won’t consider activities as ‘in business’ when they are a one-off transaction (unless it is the first step in carrying on a business or intended to be repeated) or an activity from which you don’t seek to make a profit.’

The ATO has sophisticated data-matching and analytical tools to identify taxpayers that under-report their income. From 1 July 2023, the Sharing Economy Reporting Regime will commence and the ATO will receive data from more electronic distribution platforms. The ATO will match this information with the information taxpayers provide on their tax return or activity statement to identify income that has not been included.

‘It doesn’t matter whether you are carrying on a business or simply earning additional income through a digital platform, such as a website or even an app, you must keep accurate records of your income and include it in your tax return,’ Mr Loh said.

‘Every dollar dodged is a dollar that can’t be used for vital services like health and education’

‘The ATO needs to ensure there is a level playing field for everyone, with no unfair advantages,’ Mr Loh said.

If you are finding your feet in business, the ATO is here to support you. The ATO has new to business resources, webinars and tools to help you kick-off on the right foot. You can also talk to a registered tax professional.

Case study: Hayley heads off-track for fun, but on-the right-track for business

Hayley works in hospitality at night and spends most days fishing or four-wheel driving. She decides to start developing ‘how-to’ YouTube videos when fishing and four-wheel driving. Hayley’s online following is rapidly increasing, and she’s now earning money from her videos.

With the growing online interest, Hayley cuts back her hospitality work and starts to invest more effort into her videos. Hayley sets up a production schedule that sets out the type of content she will produce on a weekly basis, buys equipment to improve her production quality, completes an online video editing course to improve her editing skills and records all expenses from her content creation activity.

Hayley wants to know if her side hustle activities are a business. She looks at all her activities together and determines she is running a business because she:

■       intends to make a profit to supplement her salary and wage income

■       set up a regular schedule for these activities

■       operates in a business-like way (she has a plan and system for making a profit).

Case study: Byron’s bolstering biceps becomes a business

Byron works an office job Monday to Friday and runs a bootcamp on the weekend. It started as a free weekly fitness session Byron organised because he loves exercise. Byron invited friends and members of his local community to meet each Saturday morning and do weights and cardio together. No payment was expected, but there was an optional donation into a kitty. Byron would generally buy equipment for the group with the money from the kitty. Byron isn’t a qualified personal trainer (PT), but due to the growing interest in his sessions, he has decided to start studying PT. At this stage, Byron’s activities are considered a hobby because he:

■       doesn’t complete the activities with the intention to make a profit

■       isn’t qualified

■       isn’t running the activities in a business-like manner.

However, once Byron becomes a licensed PT, he starts running more sessions and charging customers a set rate for the sessions. He also buys an insurance policy and arranges marketing activities to promote his sessions. Byron has now changed the intention of his activities and he is now considered to be running a business.

Pay rise expectations have skyrocketed according to a new survey of over 1,400 Australian workers. The ADP® Research Institute’s People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View, found that in Australia, more than half (58%) of workers are anticipating a salary increase in the next 12 months – with an additional 26% expecting a promotion. 

On average, almost half of Australian workers (49%) expect an uplift in pay of up to 6%, with over one in 10 (13%) expecting to receive a pay rise of 10% or more. 

Alarmingly, almost half of Australian workers (49%) feel that they are underpaid in their current roles and over half (58%) are not satisfied with their salary. 

The findings come amid the ongoing cost of living crisis and as workers in many countries demonstrate a willingness to take industrial action in order to force their employers to be more generous on pay and conditions.

The desire for a pay rise is strongest amongst millennials, with two-thirds (66%) of 25-34 year olds expecting a pay rise in the next 12 months. Amongst industries, IT/Telecommunications (70%), construction (67%), and manufacturing (66%) have the highest rates of expecting a pay rise.

Kylie Baullo, Managing Director ANZ at ADP, comments: “Employers have the difficult task of weighing up the expectation for higher pay against their own challenges around rising costs and tightening profit margins. Workers are confident that they will get a pay rise from their current company – but if not, there’s a strong sense that they’ll be able to secure one by moving jobs. The implications for talent acquisition and retention are substantial.”

“Employers who aren’t in a financial position to offer decent pay rises need to carefully consider the risks and start thinking creatively about how to retain staff in other ways, such as offering workers more value from their jobs through skill development and training, as well as increased flexibility.”

Mrs Baullo says, “With workers and working families experiencing the highest increases in cost of living registered over the past two decades, it’s no surprise employees are expecting their pay to keep up with the ongoing crisis.”

“Workers across lower and middle-income bands have found that their disposable incomes have been severely hit. Spending on essentials, let alone luxuries, is being tightly squeezed as they grapple with rising rents, increasing interest rates and escalating food and energy bills. Even if inflation has peaked, it looks like it will take some time to return to more comfortable levels.”

Demands for higher pay come after just over six in 10 Australian workers (65%) were given a pay rise last year. Those pay rises averaged 5%. Given that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) global inflation forecast for 2022 was 8.8%, even the increase in pay equates to a pay cut in real-terms for the majority of Australians.

The report explores employees’ attitudes towards the current world of work and what they expect and hope for from the workplace of the future.

Adobe has announced innovations to Adobe Aero, its innovative and user-friendly platform designed to author and deliver 3D AR experiences for users on mobile devices. Adobe is introducing groundbreaking geolocation capabilities in Aero through its collaboration with Google’s ARCore, enabling retailers to create 3D AR experiences seamlessly connected to real-world locations.

The retail landscape has dramatically shifted in recent years, and competition for audience engagement has never been higher. Businesses are finding new and innovative ways to interact with customers online and in person. Immersive experiences delivered through Augmented Reality (AR) are a compelling way to engage customers today in an increasingly digital and mobile world. According to Google, shoppers engage with 3D imagery 50% more than static images, demonstrating the significant advantages of incorporating AR and 3D tools for retailers to enrich shopping experiences (Google, 2023)

Adobe Aero is an intuitive and user-friendly platform designed to author and deliver 3D AR experiences for users on mobile devices. This experimental capability is being introduced through the invitation-only Aero Geospatial Pre-release. Sharing these 3D experiences with customers is quick and easy, requiring just a QR code scan for AR access on supported smart devices. AR experiences have the potential to offer businesses and marketers worthwhile returns on creative and time investments with engaging results that can be easier to update and keep fresh. Here are some new opportunities that Adobe Aero’s Geospatial Pre-release is bringing to elevate the customer experience:

More impactful audience engagements

The Adobe Aero Geospatial Pre-release makes it easy to connect physical locations and AR experiences by leveraging Google’s Geospatial Creator platform. Retailers and marketers can now use Photorealistic 3D Tiles powered by Google Maps Platform to view and select real-world anchor points for experiences and enhance customer engagement by delivering interactive AR content directly to supported mobile devices. This approach offers customers memorable experiences and encourages them to explore and revisit locations for ongoing interactions.

Personalised and flexible experiences

One of the key advantages of using AR experiences in retail and marketing is they offer unmatched flexibility, allowing businesses to personalise, modify and refresh content quickly and easily. By overlaying stories onto the physical world, Aero experiences extend beyond the traditional limitations of physical and digital media, elevating the customer journey. Now with the ability to deploy location-based 3D content, businesses can further enhance their physical presence remotely or nearby, broadening the reach and effectiveness of their marketing and retail efforts.

Adobe Aero intuitive and familiar workflows

With the Aero Geospatial Pre-release, teams also have an accessible entry point into 3D technology with Adobe’s approachable design and Google’s reliable geospatial technology. Best of all, using Adobe Aero does not require any coding experience. By seamlessly connecting with Adobe Creative Cloud, designers can start building engaging AR experiences with 2D assets they already have and gradually progress to add 3D elements as their skills advance. This streamlined approach allows businesses to create captivating AR experiences in-house, reducing the need and cost for external help to create or maintain experiences.

With these impactful and easy-to-use features, retailers are already looking forward to using Geospatial AR capabilities in Aero to bring their work to life.

Mattel and Gap x Barbie collection takes the stage in New York City

Bringing this experience to life on May 23, Gap and Mattel are partnering to showcase their new Gap x Barbie clothing collab and the potential for location-based Aero AR experience in retail at the heart of New York’s Times Square. Powered by Google’s Geospatial Creator in Adobe Aero, Gap and Mattel provide an engaging experience for users to view and interact with 3D scenes, adjust character outfits, and even look for hidden “Easter Eggs” around Times Square. This experience will provide an exciting way to introduce the new collection using an interactive AR call-to-action encouraging viewers to shop the Gap x Barbie collection showcased within the Aero experience.

Embracing new technologies like AR with tools like Adobe Aero’s Geospatial Pre-release is essential for businesses looking to stay ahead in today’s competitive retail environment. With this intuitive and cost-effective platform for creating engaging 3D AR experiences, Adobe Aero equips businesses with the tools they need to drive customer engagement and maximise impact of physical settings.

Learn more about the power of 3D AR experiences and the full capabilities of the Adobe Aero Geospatial Pre-release here. It’s the perfect time to start your 3D journey and innovate your customer experience with Adobe Aero and Google.

With economists predicting that Australia will enter a recession and ABS data reporting that 44% of businesses expect operating expenses to increase, it is imperative that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)start streamlining e-commerce processes and cut costs. SMEs are the backbone of the Australian economy, accounting for 99% of all businesses in the country. Their success is critical to ensuring economic growth and stability.

Forced by the pandemic, SMEs shifted to embrace e-commerce, and the numbers show that this transition was essential. Research shows that Australians spent more than $50 billion online in 2020, an increase of 57% from 2019. However, despite this growth, many businesses struggle with the logistics of e-commerce, including shipping, packaging, and returns. Now it is vital that businesses ensure their e-commerce processes and delivery models are efficient and effective to maximise their profits, minimise costs and grow their businesses further.

Automate your shipping process

Shipping is a vital component of e-commerce, but it can also be a time-consuming and costly process. Recent research by SOTI shows that 61% of Australian consumers rate the speed of online delivery as the most important factor when buying online. Automating your shipping process can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide customers with a better experience.

Choose the right delivery partner

Look for a provider that offers a range of delivery options to suit your customers’ needs and budget, such as express or economy delivery, or click-and-collect options.

Simplify your packaging

While it is essential to ensure your products arrive safely, complex and expensive packaging can drive up costs. Consider using standardised packaging materials to reduce costs and streamline your packaging process.

Use real-time tracking

Real-time tracking allows you and your customers to track the progress of their deliveries in real-time. This not only provides transparency but can also help you identify any potential issues and resolve them before they become a problem.

Implement a returns process

Returns are an inevitable part of e-commerce, but they can be time-consuming and costly. Recent research by Klarna found that more than eight in ten (84%) online shoppers do not repeat buy from a retailer after a bad returns experience, highlighting the power of returns as a customer acquisition and retention tool, and the repercussions of getting it wrong. Implementing a reliable and streamlined returns process can help you retain customers and reduce costs.

Optimise your warehouse operations

Efficient warehouse operations are essential for streamlined product delivery. Implementing technology such as automation and barcoding can improve accuracy and speed up the process. For small business owners without the people power, equipment and space should consider outsourcing these services.

Streamlining e-commerce processes and delivery models can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction and the bottom line. The benefits of efficient e-commerce processes extend beyond the businesses themselves, with the flow-on effect of increasing employment and economic growth for the country.

By Nicholas Woodward, Country Manager of PACK & SEND

With multiple interest rate hikes in recent months, just over a quarter (27 per cent) of Australian SMEs remain optimistic about Australia’s chances of escaping a looming recession[1]. Many are making concerted efforts to track and reduce their money pitfalls in the event consumer demand drops off with further rate hikes.[2]

It’s in those efforts to reduce unnecessary spending that a staggering 86 per cent of Australian SMEs have discovered that they are overspending on at least one expense category[3], which are adversely impacting their bottom line. 

In light of an uncertain economic outlook for Australia, Alon Rajic, Founder of Small Business Loans (smallbusinessloansaustralia.com ), encourages SMEs to be disciplined with their business expenses this year: “With SMEs making up 97 per cent of the Australian business market, the fact that research is showing so many are failing to shop around for better deals on their business expenses is a cause for concern. This is a time when businesses should be forensically monitoring their outgoings and reviewing overpriced suppliers.”

Alon sheds light on some of the money pitfalls that business owners and senior decision-makers are overlooking when attempting to curb business spend:

1. Not looking beyond the big four banks for loans. Research also reveals that two-thirds (64 per cent) Australian SMEs are unwilling to look elsewhere if they cannot obtain a favourable loan rate from one of the big banks, potentially inhibiting their business growth. A whopping 70 per cent of micro businesses and 46 per cent of small businesses ignore better rates offered at alternative lenders. More than half (59 per cent) of large businesses would continue to obtain bank loans with an interest rate of up to 10 per cent. As interest rates continue to increase at a rapid rate, SMEs should be using a comparison service to shop around for the best rate rather than abstain from borrowing altogether. (The full study can be found here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/sme-big-bank/). 

2. Unnecessary overspending in their business. A study found that a third (32 per cent) of businesses could save at least $100,000 a year if they reviewed their spending and reduced unnecessary expenses. Even more alarmingly, one fifth (21 per cent) could save over $200,000 a year if they simply avoided unnecessary spending. Businesses are overspending in a wide range of areas, including payroll, IT, marketing, insurance, travel, loans, vehicles, utilities, equipment, rent, and more. More than a quarter (28 per cent) admitted they were paying too much for insurance, as well as utilities (26 per cent). One in five (20 per cent) believe they’re paying too much for rent or commercial property loans. Measures such as downsizing workplaces if offering a hybrid working arrangement, switching insurers and utility providers, and refinancing business loans for a better deal could help make significant changes to SMEs’ yearly spending. (The full study can be found here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/areas-of-overspending/)

3. Not having a plan in place to resolve late customer payments. Late customer payments can have a crippling effect on small businesses. This could hamstring a business’s ability to pay supplier invoices, staff salaries and loans. Research has found that 64 per cent of Australian SMEs were impacted negatively by late payments in 2022. Almost a quarter (22 per cent) struggle to pay themselves as a result, and 15 per cent struggle to pay employees. (See full results of the study here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/late-customer-payments/ ). The situation is only expected to worsen in the next financial year, due to rising costs of business expenses such as goods, utilities, rent and fuel. Australian SMEs owners can avoid – or at least better manage – overdue payments through debt-collecting apps, early payment incentive systems, or by offering alternative methods of payment. 

4. Focussing on new customers, rather than retaining existing customers. Figures released in May show that retail volumes had fallen for a second straight quarter.[1] Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing one.[2] This is a particularly sobering comparison at a time when Australians are beginning to cut spending. As nurturing relationships is a key to a business success, SMEs will need to focus more on retaining existing customers to reduce the cost burden of new customer acquisition. Ignoring customer feedback, poor customer service or simply failing to reward customers for their loyalty can motivate customers to end their relationship with businesses. 

5. Failing to retain employees. With Australia’s unemployment rate of 3.5 per cent and little or no immigration in the last three years, Australia has been serving up more jobs than there are job seekers to fill them. Businesses need to focus on employee retention because of the lack of talent and because the advertising, recruitment and training costs involved in replacing employees is significant. It can cost 1.5 times an employee’s annual salary to replace them.[3] Retaining employees means engaging, rewarding and motivating them, providing development opportunities, and offering competitive salaries and benefits packages.

6. Poor technology and digitisation. Research has found that 59 per cent of SMEs are running processes manually, that could be digitised. [4] Businesses that don’t utilise labour-saving technology and digitisation are, instead, paying much higher costs by having people deliver their services and operations. Technology and digital platforms can streamline workflow, improve efficiency,[5] deliver valuable data insights to help businesses make better-informed decisions on the most profitable aspects of their business, enhance their customer experience, and stay ahead of their competition.  

7. Failing to check rates and fees on overseas payments. With wire fees of up to $40 on international money transfers through the banks, it’s surprising that research shows over a third of businesses (36 per cent) don’t even bother checking the exchange rate and other associated fees prior to making overseas payments. Small and micro businesses are the worst offenders, with 44 per cent of small-business owners and 35 per cent of micro-business owners admitting that they never compare providers. (The full study can be found here: https://moneytransfercomparison.com/australian-business-exchange-rates/). By doing their due diligence, SMEs can save hundreds on higher-than-anticipated exchange rate fees.  

It’s not only businesses that are guilty of failing to shop around. The habit is also widespread among consumers, with 44 per cent of Australians admitting that they frequently forget to check for the best available deal when making money transfers or purchasing foreign currency. (The full study can be found here: https://moneytransfercomparison.com/research-prior-to-transfer/).

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced its 3 key focus areas for this Tax Time:

• rental property deductions
• work-related expenses
• capital gains tax.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said the ATO is continuing to prioritise areas where we often see mistakes being made.

‘Within these areas, we have identified common mistakes, and are particularly focused on addressing these and supporting taxpayers and registered tax agents to get their claims right this year.’

Rental property deductions: landlords – listen up!

The ATO’s review of income tax returns show 9 in 10 rental property owners are getting their return wrong, and often sees rental income being left out, or mistakes being made with property related deductions – like overclaiming expenses or claiming for improvements to private properties.

Around 87% of individual rental owners use a registered tax agent to prepare their income tax returns.

‘We encourage rental property owners and their registered tax agents to take extra care this tax time and review their records before lodging their return,’ Mr Loh said.

The ATO is particularly focused on interest expenses and ensuring rental property owners understand how to correctly apportion loan interest expenses where part of the loan was used for private purposes (or the loan was re-financed with some private purpose).

‘You can only claim interest on a loan used to purchase a rental property to earn rental income – don’t forget, if your loan also includes a private expense, such as for a new car or a trip to Bali, you can only claim an interest deduction for the portion relating to producing your rental income,’ Mr Loh said.

The ATO has sophisticated data matching capabilities which include rental property-related data and has recently implemented a new residential investment property loans data matching program.

‘This is just one example of the work we are doing to help you get your return right and make sure people are claiming expenses correctly,’ Mr Loh said.

For more information visit ato.gov.au/rental

Work-related expenses: avoid the ‘copy-paste’

‘We continue to see shifts in the way Aussies are working, and it’s important to consider whether your claims reflect your working arrangements this year.’

‘There have also been some changes in how you calculate things like working from home deductions, so don’t be tempted to just copy and paste your prior year’s claims. We know a lot of people are working back in the office more compared to last year,’ Mr Loh said.

This year, the ATO is particularly focused on ensuring taxpayers understand the changes to the working from home methods and are able to back up their claims.

To claim your working from home expenses as a deduction, you can use the actual cost, or the revised fixed rate method, so long as you meet the eligibility and record-keeping requirements.

‘Keeping good records will give you flexibility to choose the right method that suits your circumstances and gives you the best deduction this tax time,’ Mr Loh said.

For more information visit ato.gov.au/home

Capital gains tax: have you considered all assets?

Capital gains tax (CGT) comes into effect when you dispose of assets such as shares, crypto, managed investments or properties. To ensure you are meeting your obligations and paying the right amount of tax, you need to calculate a capital gain or capital loss for each asset you dispose of unless an exemption applies.

‘Generally, your main residence is exempt from CGT, however if you have used your home to produce income, such as renting out all or part of it through the sharing economy, for example Airbnb or Stayz, or running a business from home, then CGT may apply,’ Mr Loh said.

The ATO is reminding taxpayers of the importance of keeping records of the income-producing period and the portion of the property used to produce income to calculate your capital gain. If you used your property to earn income, and qualify for an exemption, make the election in your tax return.

‘Don’t fall into the trap of thinking we won’t notice if you sell an asset for a gain and don’t declare it,’ Mr Loh said.

For more information visit ato.gov.au/CGT

Help and support is here

‘We know many people are doing it tough this year. We expect fewer people will receive a refund or may receive smaller refunds than they were expecting, and more may have tax debts to manage,’ Mr Loh said.

The ATO is committed to supporting taxpayers to meet their obligations and has a range of resources available to help.

‘If you’re feeling overwhelmed or getting behind with your tax, let us know as early as possible or have a chat with your registered tax agent so we can work with you to find a solution. Don’t bury your head in the sand,’ Mr Loh said.

The number of companies using the Australian Made logo on their products has strengthened in the past three years, reflecting an increasing recognition by businesses that consumers are wanting to spend more money locally on items bearing trustworthy country-of-origin certification.

Not only has the sum of Australian Made licensees rocketed, but the breadth of products and categories leveraging the logo has also expanded – covering everything from handmade jewellery to electricity producers, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals to agricultural machinery and construction products.

According to recent Roy Morgan research: 94% of people surveyed believe Australian consumers and businesses trust the green-and-gold kangaroo certification logo; and 96% of respondents felt the logo reassures customers that the product is genuinely Australian.

In the countdown to Australian Made Week (15–21 May), Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro, it was encouraging to see the uplift in licensees and support of the program.

“The brand has become iconic over the past three years and businesses recognise that consumers rely on it to do their ‘heavy lifting’ in terms of knowing that if a product carries the logo, they can buy with confidence – seeing it as a symbol for authenticity, quality, sustainability and ethical labour,” he said.

“Australian Made Week is an ideal time to draw attention to the exceptional manufacturing quality standards of Australian Made-certified products and the flow-on benefits of buying local.

“When you buy Australian Made, you have a direct economic impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Australians throughout the supply chain.

“Even a small change to people’s shopping habits can make a huge difference, with Roy Morgan research showing that if every household spent an additional $10 a week on Australian Made products, it would inject an extra $4.8 billion into the economy each year and create up to 9,500 new jobs.”

The research also found that Aussies are willing to put their money with their mouth is, with nearly a third (31.1%)  saying they would be willing to pay up to 10% more for Australian Made products.

The latest Australian Made Week campaign includes advertisements featuring tennis champion, previous Young Australian of the Year, author and Australian Made Ambassador Ash Barty calling on everyone to get involved in Australian Made Week by celebrating and supporting local makers and growers.

“I’m proud to be part of the campaign as it supports the livelihood of local manufacturing, local businesses, local families and local communities,” Barty said.

“There are so many benefits to buying Australian Made, including creating and supporting local jobs and boosting the economies of the cities, towns and regions where the goods are produced.

“We’re absolutely spoilt for choice in Australia as we have some of the best products in the world, manufactured and grown to the highest standards right here in our own backyard.

Now in its third year, Australian Made Week follows on from the huge success of the inaugural and 2022 campaign that prompted approximately 70% (71.2% and 68.8% respectively) of Aussies to increase their efforts to prioritise local product purchases.

Queensland-based MJ Playgrounds, which designs and manufactures high-quality play equipment at its Coolum factory, is one of the 4,400 businesses that consider their Australian Made certification as a badge of honour.

“The Australian Made logo enables buyers here and around the globe to instantly identify authentic Aussie brands such as ours,” MJ Playgrounds’ General Manager Danielle Perry said.

“Through our cutting-edge manufacturing, we are not only creating play equipment – and of course boundless fun for those who enjoy it – we are creating jobs in regional areas and helping grow the local economy.”

The Australian Made Week advertisements can be viewed here. Australian Made Week runs from 15–21 May 2023. Consumers can discover more and find genuine Aussie products at australianmadeweek.com.au

Click Frenzy specials in an opportunity for small businesses also to benefit. If you are looking to upgrade your business security, Swann Security has some great limited-time deals.

For a limited time only, customers will be able to enjoy exclusive discounts on a wide range of Swann Security’s top-selling security products. From state-of-the-art security cameras to cutting-edge smart home systems, our Click Frenzy sale has something for everyone looking to secure their home or business.

The sale will be running from the 12th of May – 24th of May offering sales between 20-50% off.

Please see the list below of the latest / top curated products from this year’s sale:

Global leader in the technology industry, Samsung Electronics, has announced the launch of its Galaxy A Series Enterprise Edition which includes the Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A14 4G in Australia, offering enhanced security, tools, applications, and support needed for businesses at an affordable price range. Boasting up to two full days of battery life¹, these innovative smartphones enable users to stay connected without worry.

Following the recent news that Samsung was awarded Canstar Blue’s 2023 Most Satisfied Customers in the Smartphone Category, the Galaxy A series Enterprise Edition announcement speaks to the brand’s delivery of the latest Galaxy advancements at a great value.

The Galaxy A54 5G, A34 5G and A14 4G offer enterprise-focused features, such as fast file sharing with enhanced security, easy management of multiple SIMs with secured authentication, and 25W fast charging (15W fast charging on the Galaxy A14 4G) which allows users to be more productive in any environment.

Featuring immersive Super AMOLED displays, the 6.4-inch² Galaxy A54 5G and 6.6-inch³ Galaxy A34 5G were upgraded for astounding outdoor visibility, even under bright sunlight. Between the enhanced Vision Booster and a 120Hz refresh rate, the displays complement users who are working on the go as they move between different lighting conditions. The hero device of the Galaxy A Series Enterprise Edition range, the A54 5G, features a premium look and feel as well as increased camera pixel size⁴, allowing for easy image capture in both bright and low light conditions. With a 32MP front camera, 50MP rear camera, and video digital image stabilisation (VDIS) to combat shakiness and blur, users can connect through super-smooth video calls.

In a world of ongoing cybersecurity threats, businesses need to invest in mobile experiences with high quality security. The Galaxy A series Enterprise Edition come equipped with a one-year subscription to Samsung’s Knox Suite, its built-in security platform that is designed to provide multi-layered protection against malware, hacking, and other cyber threats. Offering end-to-end mobile management tools, the latest A series iterations streamline device management for added convenience. Timely software updates and support helps users receive critical OS updates and patches for up to five years, with options for remote support. A two-year availability assurance post-launch allows businesses’ IT teams to test, use and maintain consistency across teams.

“At Samsung, we understand the unique needs of different businesses, and the Enterprise Editions of the Galaxy A series range demonstrate our commitment to providing them with the tools they need to succeed,” said Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Experience Division, Samsung Electronics Australia.  

“These devices are designed to deliver a user-friendly experience, enabling businesses to enhance workplace productivity through powerful performance, advanced Knox security solutions, two year product life-cycle assurances, and world class system support at an accessible price point.”

The Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G are also compatible with the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem to provide seamless connectivity between devices. Users can get 100GB of cloud storage and easily back up photos to OneDrive with a six-month trial of Microsoft 365 Basic⁵, accessible on the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G.

The Enterprise Editions of the Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A14 4G devices can be purchased via Telstra, Optus, and IT distributors Dicker Data, Synnex, Ingram Micro and World’s Best Technology who have a network of IT Resellers which include CompNow, JB Hi Fi Commercial and RTV Computers. Varying by model, prices range from $329 – $699 RRP. For more information, click here.