ABF Magazine Spring Issue 1 - 2022

Spring 2022 Issue

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS

FORUM MAGAZINE

CONNECTING BUSINESS ACROSS AUSTRALIA

www.smallbizweek.com.au | www.abf.events | info@abf.events | (+61) 3 8689 9898

10 FEATURE EVENTS including 18-19 May 2022 Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne www.sbexpo.com.au

18 May 2022 Medallion Club, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne www.smallbizweek.com.au/forum

18-19 May 2022 Medallion Club, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne www.fintechshowcase.com.au

18-19 May 2022 Medallion Club, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne www.smallbizweek.com.au/awards

Alyssa Herr SBC’s Comms.

Executive - Editor After working as a financial and business reporter in Asia, Alyssa joined the ABF team as the magazine’s editor.

Editor’s note:

With international borders open alongside an economically active summer season, many businesses across the nation are finally feeling greeted by a strong return of business.

This magazine issue highlights the importance of business revival and industry growth in 2022.

In the fintech section, discover Australia’s growing blockchain interest. See who’s buying crypto in Australia and what kinds of profits investors made last year.

Don’t miss out on the top five digital business trends to watch in 2022; including how the Metaverse will impact mainstream society, growing concern over privacy and user data, the boom of NFTs, reconfiguring the modern workplace and more.

Editor Alyssa Herr Head of Creative & Production Kevin Le Digital Design Rachelle Postregna Advertising and Partnerships Group Sales Director George Moraitis george.moraitis@abfgroup.com.au 03 8698 9892 Event Information info@abfgroup.com.au BDM Asia Jack Wu jack.wu@abfgroup.com.au Financial Controller Aanjalie Gurusingie Video Production Etainment We thank all contributors. If you would like to contribute to ABF Magazine, please contact: info@sbcmedia.com.au

Publisher PO Box 568 South Yarra, VIC, Australia +61 3 8560 6888 info@sbcmedia.com.au www.sbcmedia.com.au

Member of ABF Group

ABF GROUP

Limitation of liability

SBC Media accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or consequences, including any loss or damage, arising from reliance on information in this publication. The views expressed in this publication reflect the options of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by SBC Media. We recommend obtaining professional advice from an accredited advisor before relying on the information in this publication.

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Small Business Connections TV SMALL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS TV Australian Business Forum presents Small Business Connections; a TV program delivering targeted news content and interviews aimed at empowering and informing the smallto-medium business community on the latest trends, technology and solutions available to SMEs.

VIVIENNE RYAN Host of Small Business Connections TV

Vivienne Ryan is an entrepreneur, co-founder and director of media agency Gravia Media

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS & BUSINESS OWNERS Each episode of Small Business Connects TV offers exclusive insights and expert knowledge through a series of interviews with CEOs, business owners, entrepreneurs, startups and stakeholders in the SME sector. Hear directly from SME business leaders, representing all industry sectors, to discover the future of small business in Australia.

CYBERCRIME TARGETING SMALL BUSINESS

ALYSSA HERR

Presenter of Small Business Connections TV Alyssa Herr is the editor of Small Business Connections Media & Magazine

Past Interview Topics Include: MUSIC ARTIST STOCK MARKET (FINTECH)

NEIL ROYLE Cybersecurity & Technology Consultant Kaspersky

SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC OUTLOOK DAVID ROBERTSON Head of Economic & Market Research Bendigo & Adelaide Bank

BOBBY OPARAOCHA CEO & Founder Valyou X

SME NETWORK BUILDING

SONIA ZEIBACK Founder & CEO Pappyon

Watch episodes at: smallbusinessconnections.com.au 4

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

Exhibiting, Sponsorship Partnership Packages Availalble

Showcasing the latest business products, services, trends, technology and solutions available to small business.

Free daily informative seminars on critical topics aimed at scaling small business and fostering future growth.

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A boutique showcase of the latest financial technology and digital currency solutions, products, tools and services

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Over a 2-Day program hear directly from CEOs, founders, thought-leaders, C-levels, industry E AT experts and senior govt. officials of major G blockchain, crypto and fintech companies. ELE D

Contact: George Moraitis | ABF Group Sale Manager | george.moraitis@abfgroup.com.au | 03 8689 9892

Hear from industry experts on critical topics for business as they realign and embrace future business trends in 2022

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Small Biz Week’s premiere event showcases a senior government rep. keynote address and D business leader’s panel discussion during this TE E distinguished corporate function.

CK TI

Acknowledging and celebrating business entrepreneurs under 35 y/o and innovative startups that have started their business journey D TE E and already made their mark.

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Not to miss high-profile networking function designed for establishing new business relationships and engaging with potential business opportunities and suppliers.

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Contact: George Moraitis | ABF Group Sale Manager | george.moraitis@abfgroup.com.au | 03 8689 9892

The biggest expo for small business in Australia 2022

18-19 May 2022 Victory Room, Marvel Stadium Docklands, Melbourne. www.sbexpo.com.au

SMALL BUSINESS EXPO is Australia’s major business-to-business expo. Our mission is to help small and medium businesses to engage, connect, and grow.More than ever SMEs face inscreased competition, the ability to adapt to rapidly changing market demand, technological and business innovation updates, and the ongoing need to review the latest trends, solutions and business opportunities.

Feature Zone

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Australian Made Pavillion

EXHIBIT AT

18-19 2022 23-24 May March 2022 Victory Room, Gate 9, Marvel Stadium Docklands, Melbourne

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MEET THE SPEAKERS Speaker Snapshot 2022 18-19 May 2022, Medallion Club, Marvel Stadium. Docklands, Melb.

Hear from business leaders, industry experts entrepreneurs and senior government representatives providing insights to topics most critical to the small business sector.

SmallBiz-Week presents informative keynote addresses, engaging industry panel discussions and hands-on workshops aimed at empowering and educating the SME sector with a focus on 2022.

Alexi Boyd CEO, COSBOA

Bruce Billson CEO, ASBFEO

Ashely Breeden Managing Director URL Networks

Grant Petty CEO & Founder Black Magic Design

Lawrence Hitches General Manager StudioHawk

Mark Stockwell Assistant Commissioner, ATO

Judy Celmins Director, Engagement & Marketing Thrivable

Vivienne Ryan Co-Founder & Director Gravia Media

Michael Minassian APAC Head of Consumer & SME Business

Daniela Herrara Marketing and Business Development Manager, Luca Plus

Leela Cosgrove Founder & CEO Iron Cage

Carl Woerndle Co-Founder & Director My Empire Group

FREE REGISTRATION

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AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

Grant Shoebridge PhD PhD Special Counsel, Patent Attourney, Councillor IPTA

Kellie Clenton Senior Director Afterpay Jaco Veldsman Co-founder Paytron

Enquire now For more information, please contact: info@abfgroup.com.au +61 8689 9898 www.abf.events www.smallbizweek.com.au

Paul Ambrosini Account Director Indirect Tax Deloitte

Renae Hutton

Hon. Tim Watts MP Shadow Assistant Minster for Cybersecurity

Qin Hang Co-Founder & Director Four & Co

SmallBiz-Week Seminars & Panel Discussions are presented by: • • • • • • •

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES & SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE

CEOs & Founders Small Owners Directors & Managers Senior Government Officials Industry Experts Business Leaders Thought-Leaders

Director, Retail Education & Operations ANZ Afterpay

Smallbiz-Week Business Essential Seminar Series Tickets Available Now FREE TICKETS

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18-19 May 2022 Medallion Club, Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melbourne, AU

Engage with innovative and cutting-edge Fintech products and services to elevate and scale your business ENQUIRE NOW Contact: www.fintech21.com.au | info@abf.events.com.au I +61 3 8689 9898

TWO DAYS OF FINTECH21: Visitors can register to attend the FINTECH21 exhibitor showcase for free over two days and engage with a range of FinTech products and services during Small Biz Week.

WORKSHOPS & KEYNOTE TALKS:

NETWORKING FUNCTIONS:

During Small Biz Week visitors will be able to attend a number of FinTech related workshops, Ted-Talk style presentations and panel discussions led by industry experts from leading FinTech firms and startups.

Visitors and businesses will be invited to participate in numerous networking functions during Small Biz Week to forge meaningful connections within the SMB, tech and finance communities.

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FORUM SESSIONS

EXHIBIT 18-19 May 2022

CRYPTO & BLOCKCHAIN

FORUM TOPICS:

WED 18th MAY 2022

Cryptocurrency investing 101 NFTs? Ownership and trends What is blockchain technology?

Blockchain-Based Metaverse; Crypto, NFTs & fan tokens The future of decentralised finance (DeFi) Blockchain and cybersecurity

FEATURE SESSIONS INCLUDE Key trends shaping the future of retail Renae Hutton

Director, Retail Education & Operations ANZ Afterpay

Grace Wong Co-founder Liven

Web3 IRL: the future of customer loyalty & payments Shahrooz Chowdhury CPO Liven

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AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

FINTECH SOLUTIONS

FORUM TOPICS:

THU 19th MAY 2022

Neo-Banks and challenger finance

Web3 IRL: the future of customer loyalty & payments Human vs. Machine Australia’s booming sector; e-commerce AI & Data-driven innovation Financial crime and RegTech

FEATURE SESSIONS INCLUDE Natalie Hill

Marketing Coordinator CoinJar

Jess Renden COO Cointree

The adoption of cryptocurrency; the role of exchanges and investments in the wider financial market John Basilios

Derek Vladimir Henningsen

Partner Funds Management, Blockchain Hall & Wilcox

Katrina Donaghy CEO & Co-Founder Civic Ledger

Dr Joseph Liu

Director Monash University

Head of Legal & Compliance Monochrome Asset Management

Jins Kadwood CTO AgriDigital

Blockchain technology in the supply chain; emerging solutions across diverse industries

Phil Talbot Founder & CEO Authentium Susan Brown Partner Deloitte Digital

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SPEAKERS

Susan Brown Partner Deloitte Digital

Shahrooz Chowdhury CPO Liven

Jess Renden COO Cointree

Founder The Sound Campaign (TSC) Consulting

Jag Jassel Entrepreneur & Author Jag Jassel

Emilya Colliver CEO & Founder Art Pharmacy

Greg Oakford Senior Manager, Marketing & Digital Golf Australia

Jins Kadwood CTO AgriDigital

18-19 May 2022

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AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

Natalie Hill

Katrina Donaghy

Paul Weingarth CEO & Co-Founder Slyp

Nick Byrne Director TypeHuman

Phil Talbot Founder and CEO Authentium

Ryan Kris Co-Founder & COO Verida

Marketing Coordinator CoinJar

Renae Hutton

Director, Retail Ed & Operations ANZ Afterpay

Cath Whitaker CEO, SelfWealth

CEO & Co-Founder Civic Ledger

Dave Anderson AI Evangelist Data Robot

Dr Joseph Liu

Director Monash University

Ben Pfisterer Co-founder and CEO Zeller

Hon. Tim Watts MP

Bobby Oparaocha CEO & Founder Valyou X

Derek Vladimir Henningsen

Shadow Assistant Minster for Cybersecurity

Head of Legal & Compliance Monochrome Asset Management

18-19 May 2022

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Smartvision Media provides digital signage solutions utilising cutting edge cloud based content management software and a range of purposely manufactured hardware for the demands of digital signage in public environments.

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Contact: www.smartvisionmedia.com.au I 03 9794 6102

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

Here’s what the experts are saying ..................

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE ALEXI BOYD, CEO, COSBOA

...MANUFACTURERS & GROWERS ARE KEY CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COUNTRY’S SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND IN 2022, WILL BE FUNDAMENTAL TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS...

BEN LAZZARO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AUSTRALIAN MADE

Learn more about these critical SME topics at

...LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE BOUNCE BACK ...

BRUCE BILLSON, OMBUDSMAN, ASBFEO

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AUSTRALIA ASIA FORUM

ARE YOU LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS TO ASIA? TOPICS INCLUDE:

+ Understanding Asian markets + Decoding the new Asian consumer in 2022 + Asia business benchmarks + Future business trends in the Asia-Pacific + Regional digital marketing strategies + Asian industries set to thrive this decade + Asia-Pacific’s booming fintech sector

Meet face-to-face with cross-border businesses, government, and industry bodies that offer unique products and services that enhance and streamline operations within the Asia-Pacific.

Discover the latest products, tools and technology creating business growth and opportunities to scale within the region.

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AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM | SUMMER ISSUE

AUSTRALIA ASIA FORUM

PATHWAYS TO ASIA The Australia-Asia Forum is a 3-day series of Asia-trade events including a 2-day AustraliaAsia business and trade conference featuring high-profile networking functions, informative seminars and panel discussions presented by Asia-Pacific experts.

Panel discussions & Keynotes: Hear from credible business leaders, industry experts and government representatives offering case studies, business advice and market research to foster understanding and promote trade within the region.

Register for a complimentary Showcase ticket

For more information, please contact: info@abfgroup.com.au +61 8689 9898 www.abf.events

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The compact television studio that lets you create presentation videos and live streams!

Blackmagic Design is a leader in video for the television industry, and now you can create your own streaming videos with ATEM Mini.

Simply connect HDMI cameras, computers or even microphones.

Then push the buttons on the panel to switch video sources just like a professional broadcaster! You can even add titles, picture in picture overlays and mix audio! Then live stream to Zoom, Skype or YouTube!

Live Stream Training and Conferences

Create Training and Educational Videos

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ATEM Mini’s includes everything you need. All the buttons are positioned on the front panel so it’s very easy to learn. There are 4 HDMI video inputs for connecting cameras and computers, plus a USB output that looks like a webcam so you can connect to Zoom or Skype. ATEM Software Control for Mac and PC is also included, which allows access to more advanced “broadcast” features!

With so many cameras, computers and effects, things can get busy fast! The ATEM Mini Pro model features a “multiview” that lets you see all cameras, titles and program, plus streaming and recording status all on a single TV or monitor.

There are even tally indicators to show when a camera is on air! Only ATEM Mini is a true professional television studio in a small compact design!

The ATEM Mini Pro model has a built in hardware streaming engine for live streaming via its ethernet connection. This means you can live stream to YouTube, Facebook and Teams in much better quality and with perfectly smooth motion.

You can even connect a hard disk or flash storage to the USB connection and record your stream for upload later!

Use Professional Video Effects ATEM Mini is really a professional broadcast switcher used by television stations.

This means it has professional effects such as a DVE for picture in picture effects commonly used for commentating over a computer slide show. There are titles for presenter names, wipe effects for transitioning between sources and a green screen keyer for replacing backgrounds with graphics.

ATEM Mini..........$469 ATEM Mini Pro..........$789 ATEM Mini Pro ISO..........$1,265

Learn more at www.blackmagicdesign.com/au

FINTECH

Quarter of Aussies own crypto and 76% made a profit in the last 12-months (avg. $10k).

Australia now has among the highest levels of cryptocurrency ownership in the developed world, the country’s largest and most authoritative survey on crypto shows.

A quarter (25%) of all Australians have owned crypto, according to YouGov research commissioned by Swyftx. This compares to around 13% of US adults who have bought or traded crypto over the last 12 months, and just 4% of UK adults.

Who is buying crypto in Australia?

Our Annual Australia Cryptocurrency Survey report of 2,768 adults reveals widespread cryptocurrency adoption, especially among younger Australians. More than a third (36%) of under 50s own or have owned digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. In total, around 5m Aussies have purchased cryptocurrency.

According to the survey, the profile of a ‘typical’ Aussie crypto user is now a millennial parent with a child under 18 living at home.

The survey suggests the country is also close to a tipping point in terms of a majority of millennials adopting crypto. Just over two fifths (42%) of Australians born between 1981-96 had owned, or currently owned cryptocurrency when the survey was conducted in July 2021.

Swyftx expects a majority of millennials will own or have owned cryptocurrency, within the next six to eight months.

How much money are Australians making from cryptocurrency?

76% of Aussie cryptocurrency owners reported making a profit from their crypto investments over the last 12 months.

The average profit made

by Australians buying and selling cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum was more than $10,000. Close to two months of the average national salary.

Aussie parents with children under 18 at home were the most likely to make money from their cryptocurrency trading, with 86% reporting a profit.

On average, they made $12,428. At the top end of the performance range, around 12% of cryptocurrency owners reported making over $30,000 in the 12-month period before the survey.

Cryptocurrency sentiment in Australia

Australians remain sharply divided on whether crypto will overtake fiat currency.

A third (33%) of Aussies agreed with the statement that crypto is the future of online financial transactions, while four in ten (43%) disagreed and a quarter (25%) were unsure.

Sydneysiders were the most likely to agree – with just under half (43%) of all adults in the city agreeing with the statement that ‘crypto is the future of online financial transactions.’

Aussies aged 65+ are the most likely (46%) to consider cryptocurrency a form of gambling. They are also the most likely (50%) to say they don’t trust digital assets because they don’t think it is well regulated.

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SMALL BUSINESS - FINANCE

Independent supermarket group saved $190k in first year of least cost routing.

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia is launching a campaign to demonstrate the real savings experienced by businesses that have implemented least cost routing (LCR), a feature on eftpos machines that ensures the business is always charged the lowest cost for accepting debit card payments, whether the customer taps their card, inserts it, pays online, or taps their phone.

“COSBOA can demonstrate the obstacles faced by small business owners who ask their banks to implement LCR and the additional cost savings a business can achieve by implementing LCR through real life examples. Especially in this time of supporting small business, government needs to make least cost routing mandatory.”

The campaign launch is accompanied by the release of an updated position paper summarising COSBOA’s advocacy position on LCR. COSBOA CEO Alexi Boyd said: “Debit card payments are automatically being processed through the more expensive international Visa and Mastercard networks instead of the cheaper domestic network, eftpos. This adds up to more than $800 million annually in unjust fees for Australian businesses.”

Ms Boyd continued “Our campaign will get down to the granular level and show the faces behind this figure of $800 million. It will show what individual businesses – businesses including bespoke supermarkets, shoe shops and newsagencies – have saved thanks to least cost routing.”

“We understand it can sometimes be hard to conceptualise what these figures mean for small businesses operating on extremely tight margins – that’s why our campaign will also highlight what

small businesses could achieve with these savings.”

“While a saving of $25,000 a year may just be a drop in the ocean for a big bank, for a small retailer it can mean employing a part-time staff member – a significant increase for businesses with 2-19 staff.

It could mean upgrading ageing assets or getting a new fit-out. It could mean finally creating an online shopping portal, purchasing a CRM, investing in cyber security – the list is endless.”

Ms Boyd concluded “At a time of great economic uncertainty and huge technological shifts in how we pay for things, there’s no justification for small businesses being forced to pay more than they should when it comes to accepting debit card payments.

“It’s completely unfair. Least Cost Routing needs to be mandated to give small businesses a fair go at growing their way out of COVID-19 and staying competitive in this new, highly-digitised world.”

The first case study of the campaign is the independent Tasmanian supermarket group, Hill Street Grocer.

Tasmania’s Hill Street Grocer has a passion for fresh produce and delicious food. Initially known as Hobart’s best little corner shop, it now consists of 10 stores throughout the state. With the help of Payments Consulting Network, the familyowned business saved $190,000 in the first year of implementing least cost routing. That’s a 33% reduction in merchant fees. CEO Nick Nikitaras said that they could not have achieved such a fee savings outcome on their own.

Hear directly from COSBOA CEO Alexi Boyd

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How a cleaning business is cutting costs & saving substantial time with e-invoicing.

My VIP Cleaning Company was a busy and successful cleaning business. But owner, Ariel, felt she was spending too much time chasing customers for payment and struggled to keep track of the invoices her contractors sent her. Her accountant had helped set up her bookkeeping through QuickBooks, but Ariel needed to further automate her business.

Ariel used mainly contractors as her workforce with a couple of direct employees.

Her contractors emailed PDF or Word document invoices to her after each job, which meant she had to manually enter each transaction into QuickBooks.

Based on the volume of manual invoices she generated, Ariel was constantly chasing late payments due to the lack of visibility of invoice status.

She spent so much time adding transactions into QuickBooks and fixing manual errors that she put her business expansion plans on hold. She didn’t have enough time to nurture customer relationships or even spend time with her family.

Then Ariel discovered LUCA+ With the help of her accountant, My VIP Cleaning Company adopted a digital solution by syncing their existing QuickBooks accounting software with LUCA Plus’ e-invoicing feature. This immediately helped Ariel get on top of some of her most significant business challenges.

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Ariel no longer needed to manually enter invoices received from contractors, resulting in immediate time and cost savings.

Ariel created a digital network with her contractors, which meant quicker payments and faster accounts reconciliation.

Ariel was excited that automation and digitisation of accounts payable and receivable resulted in improved cashflow.

Success with e-invoicing Ariel is delighted with the immediate business improvements enabled by the automation and digitisation of the accounts payable and

receivable process. Not only has syncing LUCA Plus to QuickBooks regained Ariel precious time to work on growing her business, but it has also resulted in significant cost reductions. The benefits include: My VIP Cleaning Company is saving around $1k per month* • Faster bookkeeping and reconciliation • A reduction in errors caused by manual process • Happier contractors as they’re receiving payment more quickly • BAS lodgement is smoother, quicker and more efficient • And as a bonus, Ariel feels much happier and has less stress running her business. Best of all, she has more time to spend with her family.

Visit LUCA+ to see how your small business can save money & time with e-invoicing.

Enjoy these free e-invoicing resources designed for small businesses.

REGISTER FOR A FREE TICKET TO SMALLBIZ WEEK’S E-INVOICING PANEL PRESENTED BY

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FINTECH

Five big digital trends to watch in 2022.

According to recent McKinsey research, 2021 was a year of transformation: people, corporations and society began to look ahead to influencing their futures rather than just surviving the present.

It was the year that premature hopes for herd immunity, an end to pandemic lockdowns, and a return to normality were dashed – at least for now.

But aside from the Great Social Media Resignation, during which burnt-out Gen Z workers quit their jobs on TikTok and Instagram, the rise of non fungible tokens (NFTs), and the introduction of the metaverse, the world’s space-going billionaires were as wealthy and productive in business and technology as ever.

While it’s hard to make accurate predictions in the unpredictable environment we’ve been experiencing over the last two years, the year ahead will bring many surprises. Here are six digital trends that will influence life in 2022.

1

Social media: more privacy, quality & algorithm tweaks

Platforms will concentrate on

ATTEND

privacy and content quality in feeds. Despite recent public criticism, Facebook is likely to grow members as well as revenues.

With an eye on privacy and content quality, all major social media platforms will likely have updated their privacy policies and tweaked their algorithms by the end of 2022. Due to the demand for strong, engaging content, a new tribe of creative influencers will grow rapidly and make a big impact on branding and engagement.

Thanks to the growing popularity of short-form video content, Instagram and TikTok are likely to witness a rise in ad expenditure in 2022 and Instagram will continue to grow beyond its 50% ad revenue share.

Underutilised social media marketing components like customer service and relationship management will soon thrive on these platforms.

2

Enter the metaverse: from 2D to 3D web

Mark Zuckerberg announced a brand name change to “Meta” in October 2021, indicating Facebook’s wish to shape the metaverse transformation. The term

refers to the possibilities of virtual and augmented reality. Some call it a virtual shared space accessible through VR headsets, AR glasses or smartphone apps.

Users may interact, socialise, explore and create content in the virtual environment, and monetise their virtual transactions using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. The metaverse (or 3web) is intrinsically linked to NFTs and cryptocurrencies, which commercialise interactions by creating or selling digital artefacts. In 2022, 3web is expected to be a big commercial issue and is backed by major brands including Nike, Adidas, Gucci, Prada, Puma, Microsoft and others.

3

Acceleration of crypto & NFT growth

The use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) increased in 2021 and will continue to in 2022. A new value exchange mechanism in the global online economy, NFTs have changed the value and function of all digital assets and artworks.

From a temporary fad to a new economy, NFTs have created what the Harvard

notes that some of the most exciting applications of AI in gastronomy will enhance the imagination and creativity of chefs and culinary experts beyond what is possible today. And robots like Flippy are already flipping burgers at McDonalds and other restaurants.

5

Increased connectivity = more digital transformation

Business Review calls “digital deeds”. In the digital realm, NFTs are unique assets that can be bought and sold like any other.

Tokenisation is the process of converting a significant piece of data, such as an account number, into a random string of characters known as a token that, if compromised, has no meaningful value. These digital tokens may be used to buy physical things such as real-life paintings, or virtual assets like digital art, in-app purchases and even virtual properties.

The Frankfurt School Blockchain Centre predicts a US$1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion) market for tokenised assets in Europe over the next three years. Real estate, debt, bonds, shares, copyrights, real art, virtual art and collectibles are all examples of assets that may

be tokenised.

This is undoubtedly a huge step towards achieving one of cryptocurrency’s main promises of financial inclusivity. Investing in alternative or traditional assets is sometimes beyond reach or too expensive.

Crowdfunding and Fintech – financial technology used to deliver automated and improved financial services – will allow investors of all sizes to engage in a wide range of assets.

4

AI growth in food & HR services

AI could well change the way we conceptualise, create and enjoy food or look for a job. Michael Spranger, COO of Sony’s artificial intelligence team, explains that labour shortages have led many organisations to use AI to broaden the way they evaluate and assess job applicants. He also

5G and the new Wi-Fi 6 standard will enable faster connection – crucial if the world is to embrace these new digital trends. Jerry Paradise, VP of product management for Chinese tech company Lenovo, has said 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are about more than just speed: “Future applications will include smart cities, the internet of things, and vehicle-to-vehicle communications – which would ideally improve traffic flow and safety.”

According to Lenovo, working from home will grow more “hybrid” as consumers and organisations continue to think beyond the office.

A large majority of IT executives expect to work outside the office in future, with smaller and smarter devices, as well as cordless and noise-cancelling headphones. Hybrid employees may participate in video meetings and conduct phone calls not just from home, but anywhere.

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stress-free telecommunications

The Future of Your Business

Telephony is in the Cloud

As one of Australia’s leading VoIP communication specialists, we’re experts in business-grade virtual phone systems. URL Networks is a 100% Australian owned and operated. Our flagship product: Cloud Hosted PBX offers affordability, reliability, a fantastic range of features and flexibility that readily allow for a highly customised telecommunications experience.

The recent Covid-19 social distancing experience offers a significant example of just how flexible our hosted phone service really is. Our customers were able to initiate a range of immediate responses to the unfolding health crisis—even before the partial economic shutdown. Most obviously to remain profitable it is imperative that your customer base can keep in touch with you easily. The flexibility of a virtual telephony system means that it can work from anywhere you are— provided you still have access to a reliable internet data connection. This feature allowed our clients to direct their staff, where possible, to immediately commence working from home (WFH) with no downtime and no discernible differences to the customer experience.

This was because the system provides for a seamless transition within the company’s specific phone set-up – inclusive of all the usual bells and whistles. All the relevant staff members undertaking WFH had to do was take home their desk phone or download the software phone client. This flexibility offered a huge relief for many of our clients who needed

to enact the necessary social distancing protocols during this time of crisis.

The economic and social benefits of WFH for staff and employers have made themselves abundantly clear during the partial shutdown–less time and money wasted battling through peak-hour commutes equates to an improved work-life balance and reduced stress—with a significant side benefit being cleaner air for all. Integrating regular WFH days for your team can also significantly boost productivity as it allows staff to focus and avoid the typical office-environment interruptions to their day that can become a distraction. Capitalising on your staff mobility, using hot-desking and a combination of WFH and in-office days can also allow for you to operate out of a smaller office space and thus guarantee operating cost savings that can be redirected into more meaningful bottom-line business growth. This flexibility is viewed as a highly attractive benefit when recruiting and retaining staff—as you will be seen as a progressive employer of choice.

If nothing else, 2020 has taught us all a lesson that we have to be ready to adapt to change fast in order to survive in an increasingly competitive and unpredictable world. That’s why you need a telephony solution that you can trust and rely on to support you through the next challenge thrown your way. So if you haven’t already organised your connection to the Cloud, contact URL Networks to start the ball rolling on your business evolution today.

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OPERATING IN THE “NEW NORMAL”

Why Start a Business With the Future in Mind?

15 Best trending future small business ideas for 2020 - 2030 Do you want to start a new business and profit from innovative upcoming trends?

If YES, here are 25 best small business ideas for the future 2020 to 2030.

The hardest phenomenon to predict is the future, especially if you’re still struggling to figure out what’s happening in today’s economy. But predicting the future is exactly what you need to do if you’re enrolling in college, starting a fresh career, or investing in new skills.

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The attribute of most successful entrepreneurs are those who don’t follow the herd but anticipate the needs of the market earlier than the competition. Of course, such anticipation is not without risk, but the payout can be considerable.

After all, seminal inventions, such as the automobile, the Internet, and the smartphone, were all regarded with high degrees of skepticism when first introduced. Equally important, the impact is not only cultural but economic as well.

The automobile gave rise to a global network of small businesses, such as parts makers, dealerships, and service centers. The Internet has spawned a host of online companies, many of which, such as Amazon.com and eBay.com, have grown from small operations to very large ones indeed. So what are the small businesses of the future, and where will we find them?

The fields of energy and clean tech seem to be among the ripest areas for growth, as do nanotechnology, entertainment, and the growing demands of adapting the planet to accommodate its burgeoning population–even if they might strike some of us now as being a bit far-fetched.

The pace of change in the business world is faster than ever these days, thanks largely to globalization and digital technology.

One way to zero in on fields that will be hot in the future is to stay away from those that are not. Below are some of the business ideas that will be hot in the foreseeable future;

1. Data Crunching The era of big data is just getting started, with many firms eager to tap vast new databases to gather more info on their customers, their competitors, and even themselves. The challenge isn’t just crunching numbers; it’s making sense of them, and gaining useful insights that can be translated into a business edge.

2. 3D Printing Shop

OPERATING IN THE “NEW NORMAL”

The basic idea underlying this business is fabricating items in low cost printers. At this stage in 2016, there is plenty of hype but 3D printers are still extremely expensive. When you need a need a new lens cap? Print it!

That’s the idea behind this.

That’s the way of the future. Instead of the long processes and procedure of fabricating in a factory and shipping the item wherever it’s needed, 3D printers are expected to produce everything from architect models to sinks to spare camera parts. “It’s already happening at service bureaus. It hasn’t happened at a physical shop like Kinko’s, but it’s very possible and soon

3. Computer Engineering A lot of software development is done overseas these days, but the need for highlevel computer experts able to tie systems together is still strong. In finance and investing, for instance, high-speed computing is increasingly a prime competitive advantage.

And most big companies will need networks that are faster, more seamless, and more secure.

4. Asteroid Mining Right now, this idea is slightly beyond scifi. The idea underlying this future business is exploiting and exploring space. Since resources are running out here on Earth, the value of rare metals and minerals may

someday be worth the cost of lunar or asteroid mining, especially when you consider that deep sea drilling requires investments of billions of dollars.

If you realize that everything we hold of value on earth is in nearinfinite quantities in space, you realize there will be vast wealth created on the space frontier. Many entrepreneurs are not concerned with the difficulties inherent in mining an asteroid; as they are already convinced it’s possible and lucrative.

5. Scientific Research New technology will continue to generate breakthroughs in medicine, manufacturing, transportation, and many other fields, which means there will be strong demand for workers schooled in biology, chemistry, math, and engineering. Some areas that show particular promise: biotechnology and biomedicine, nanotechnology, robotics, and 3D printing, which allows the manufacture of physical products from a digital data file.

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6. Body Part Making This has to deal with the use of degrading polymers and stem cells to engineer tissues. This is not about growing a foot or an arm in a lab. It’s about growing skin or tendon or muscle–in other words, single types of tissue. But the possibilities are immense.

For instance, a Connecticut company already has the tech and they are working to heal ACL tears without taking tendon from another part of the body to surgically repair it. The company uses a degrading polymer placed where a tear occurred and lets stem cells in the blood do the healing. Using a device that looks like a hightech shoelace, it’s braided. It looks like about a 5-inch shoelace from your sneaker made from very small fibers, like smaller than a human hair.

Still, oxygen bars went through a mildly popular phase in the ’90s, and seven or eight companies still market oxygen canisters to the action sports set. “It increases the oxygen content in your blood and gives you a boost when you’re tired or fatigued. Thus far there are no plans for pure mountain air in bottles, unless you’re talking pure irony.

9. Car Charging Station It’s common knowledge that electric vehicles is already in the U.S. Auto market and hundreds of charging stations have been built, thousands will have to be built to cater for the increasing consumers. The all-electric Nissan Leaf completely sold out before the car even arrived in U.S. showrooms.

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7. Marriage Counseling and Therapy There’s now widespread recognition that mental health is as important as physical health, which is likely to increase demand for professionals in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the need for marriage and family therapists, as one example, to grow 41 percent by 2020.

8. Bottled Air Company The idea is using this ubiquitous natural resource as product but it is still at the stage of space balls. If water can be bottled and sold, why not air? In 2009, bottled water was a $10.6 billion business that involved packaging 8.1 billion gallons in the U.S. But air is somewhat easier to find than a

With that kind of demand, the charging stations to get those cars running are also going to be in high demand. The idea is to ensure that people don’t hesitate to buy electric because they’re worried about fueling. The key is that they fuel a little differently.” In general, the cars take hours to charge, so stations are needed where cars are parked.

10. Veterinarians Two out of every two people love pets and they are more popular than ever, and some of them get medical care that’s practically fit for a human. The BLS expects the need for vets to rise 36 percent by 2020.Every household owns a pet. But due to the hurry burry life style most of them have find no time to take care of their lovable pets which makes the pet care to be consider as the best business to start in 2014.

According to “American Pet Products Association” this pet care industry grows by 5%each year. Pet care industry includes the services like pet sitting, pet mobile grooming and assisting the people who want to grow farm animals like bees and chickens in their home located in city etc.

11. DNA Design Firms

The long-term possibilities of cheap DNA testing involve a better understanding of aging and endless possibilities for new ways to cure and treat disease. The great dream is that you take a person’s DNA when they are a baby and you profile it in a very thorough way, which can make easy the prediction of the health status of the baby.

12. Greenhouse Gas Auditors The Idea is about private companies auditing polluters, at this stage, it is still dependent on policy making. Doing a greenhouse gas audit is endlessly complicated, because so much of our daily lives, from heating to transportation to food, involve contributing to climate change. As policy shifts to stop impending environmental degradation, the jobs will follow.

There are going to be a more roles related to greenhouse gas management, auditors are one role that a lot of people focused on

13. Holographic Theater Right now, the idea is beyond 3D. The hologram of today is a clever version of an old illusion called Pepper’s Ghost. In the mid-19th century, the trick was done with thick glass between the audience and image that could make a figure appear to be floating in the air.

Current illusionists use highly reflective polymer, invisible to the audience, to create life-size images. A top application for the technology is using holograms for real-time telepresence for meetings. The capacity already exists for numerous people in different cities to appear on stage on another continent, in real time.

Of course, hologram theaters could replace 3D, as well.

14. Jet-Pack Dealership The idea is hinged on personal flight. It is actually commercially available right now but has not been embraced by consumers. An aircraft company is already taking orders for the first commercially available jetpack. It’s recreational, so you’d need to go fly in a field somewhere, rather than to work.

It’s also expensive, stating a price of $100,000. If that price comes down, however, it’s not hard to imagine that folks might want to fly to work instead of drive. That is, until air traffic looks like the freeways of today.

15. Lunar Tour Guide This is a form of pay to play lunar travel and will be available in the next few years. Accessing space used to only be the province of governments or large aerospace giants. That is no longer the case, with numerous companies sending paying customers into the heavens. That may go a step further, with lunar missions, in the next five or 10 years.

Ever since Eugene Cernan stepped off the moon on Dec. 14, 1972, the moon has been devoid of human contact. The next person to return may well pay for the right to do so. Space Adventures has commenced the business, by planning a lunar mission for tourists in the next three to four years.

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If you don’t know, reading DNA gives clues to disease. At this junction in the history of human existence, DNA reveals some diseases, much more to come if we invest in this area. But testing DNA for patterns that correlate with diseases won’t disappear so easily. BioNanomatrix, a Philadelphia company that provides technology solutions for reading DNA, is working on a grant to get DNA sequencing under $100 by 2020.

initially. It has been the most clearly defined role in these early days of carbon markets. But there will be a whole population of carbon specialists. In the end, the objective is to make the information that has been collected useful. And that depends in large part on policy.

WINE MATTERS

Wine Showcase

The best wineries in the Yarra Valley

Visit these cellar doors in the Yarra Valley, and make sure you buy some wine to take home

The Yarra Valley is only an hour from Melbourne, making it the perfect day trip or weekend away. The region specialises in chardonnay and pinot noir grapes, which also happen to make perfect sparkling wine. But if you know where to look, you will also find fewer common varietals, like nebbiolo, savagnin and chenin blanc.

There are 160 wineries to try in the region, from tiny mumand-pop operations to giant foreign-owned behemoths.

The Melba and Maroondah highways are the biggest wine arterial roads, you will find plenty of cellar doors off the beaten path, if you know where to look.

These are our favourite wineries in the Yarra Valley right now, and they provide a good place to start.

Hop in your car, bring a bottle of water, and make a day of it. You will come home with bottles clanking in your boot, ready to be enjoyed at your next dinner party, barbecue or just night at home.

For more mini-break ideas, visit our guide to Victoria’s best getaways. Alternatively, stay close to the city and discover Melbourne’s best wine bars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFH1iXnqAHI

Yarra Valley wineries we love a couple of limestones from a pinot noir vineyard in Burgandy. When they returned to Australia, Mark had the stones analysed and subsequently buried more than 250 tonnes of similar crushed limestone in his own vineyard.

The pinot noir grapes that grow above it produce some of the best pinot the Yarra Valley has to offer. Fruit is picked by hand, and little is done to it to interfere with the natural fermentation process.

WINE MATTERS

Photograph: Cass Knowlton

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elen and Joey Estate

There is a large cellar door and tasting room inside, but if the weather is good the best seats in the house are outside on the terrace, overlooking the vines and gently rolling hills. If the winery isn’t slammed, you might get lucky enough to be able to work your way through the wines on tasting in this spot. If you’d like to nosh as you sip, you can also get snacks and charcuterie, and you can of course buy a bottle or two to enjoy in your primo location – plus a few to take home.

Like many in the Yarra Valley, the winery prides itself on its chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling varietals, and these come in a range of price points.

For those who like things a bit funkier, Helen and Joey Estate offers its Wild Child range – boundarypushing drops that defy categorisation. They are the result of experimentation and the winemaker’s imagination, and they are bang on trend of funky, low-intervention, skin contact and interesting.

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Photograph: Cass Knowlton

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akridge Wines

Oakridge Wines is a family-owned winery in Yarra Valley that is gaining renown for its restaurant. The kitchen, which is headed by chef Matt Stone along with pastry chef Jo Barrett, produces dishes highlighting produce from the kitchen garden and local growers. Guests can enjoy a meal matched with a selection of wines exclusive to the Oakridge restaurant (which was our Restaurant of the Year in 2019), or simply take in the view of the stunning vineyard – tastings overlook a pretty gorgeous vista.

impernel Vineyards

Mark and Fiona Horrigan, who run Pimpernel, take their winemaking seriously, and their drops reflect the characteristics of the grapes. They are also serious about terroir – so serious, in fact, that Mark’s mother pocketed

Photograph: Rick Liston

WINE MATTERS

the chardonnay and late harvest dessert wine are particular standouts at Yering Farm. But this being a former fruit farm, fruit is still a big part of what Yering Farm does. Yering offers what it calls ‘syder’, or pink lady apple cider. It’s crisp, perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, and tastes just like biting into a perfectly ripe pink lady apple.

Photograph: Cass Knowlton

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any Hands Winery

Tasting your way around the Yarra Valley is hungry work, and there will come a time in your day when you need to fill your stomach with something more substantial than wine tastings. When that time comes, you should kindly ask your deso to point car in the direction of Many Hands Winery, a small producer that excels at both wine and Italian food. Tastings cost $5 here, redeemable against a bottle (and you are quite likely to want to buy at least one to bring home). You can also drink a bottle or two while you get amongst wood-fired pizzas, garlic prawns, an antipasto platter or other Italian snacks and meals.

If the weather is nice, you can sit outside, as a small patio abuts the vines.

Photograph: Cass Knowlton

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addens Rise

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shed the serves as the cellar door does not have a fancy restaurant or assembly line of tastings. Instead, you’ll find a simple but beautifully finished shed (it was filled with daffodils when we visited), stunning views and a handwritten A4 sheet of paper detailing the wines on offer and their prices. There is no cost to do a tasting, and you should taste everything here. For an example of the kind of winery this is, look no further than the sparkling rosé. It’s a delicious combination of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes, fermented in French oak barrels and spending another nine months on lees in the bottle, and made using the Méthode Champenoise. It’s no slouch and has a considerable pedigree, but the winemakers here call it simply ‘pink fizz’ and say it’s uncomplicated, delicious, and perfect for anytime drinking. We agree.

Photograph: Cass Knowlton

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ering Farm

This winery doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it is serious about its product. The entry-level Farmyard series is a very approachable range, featuring playful labels of colourful animals. It is fruit forward, easy drinking wine, the kind you can crack at a barbecue and drink way too much of. Tastings here are $5, and

Photograph: Supplied

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arraWarra Estate

TarraWarra Estate has become one of the region’s must-see destinations. Built on a hill, the winery’s stunning contemporary architecture houses a cellar door, art gallery and restaurant that sits among the estate’s vineyard.

Visit the cellar door where, for $5 a person, guests can sample wines with winemaker Clare Halloran. Try the Single Block and Reserve ranges – the best chardonnay and pinot noir produced on the Estate. Chef Troy Spencer heads up the winery’s restaurant, which uses produce from the kitchen garden and local farms. Don’t forget to visit the Tarra Warra Museum of Art before you leave to see art by contemporary Australian artists.

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omaine Chandon

The big daddy of bubbles producers in Victoria, Domaine Chandon has been crafting top-shelf sparkling wine since the days it could be called Champagne.

Tastings are $12 for six, and you can choose between still and sparkling. There is also an onsite bar, so once you have tasted your fill it’s worth getting a full glass (our favourite is the sparkling pinot shiraz) and enjoying the panoramic views over the vines.

You can also do a self-guided tour of the winemaking facilities, with schmick interactive displays to teach you about everything from picking to fermenting, riddling to disgorging sparkling wines. You can also see some of the winery’s real equipment, including huge tanks and presses.

Photograph: Chandon

The former home of Dame Nellie Melba has been turned into an excellent restaurant and cellar door, specialising in Yarra Valley cool-climate wines like chardonnay and pinot noir. Tastings are $5, and the knowledgeable staff will guide you through a personalised tasting geared towards your personal preferences. Love lighter reds like pinot noir but not a chardy fan? Your tasting will have lighter styles and will stay away from heavy chardonnays (though you might be surprised at how zesty and light the Estate Range chardy is).

If you are more of a merlot fan, the staff will give you more full-bodied reds to try. And if you buy a bottle, the tasting fee is waived. You would do well to start your day in the Yarra Valley at Coombe, which offers a high tea-style breakfast from

WINE MATTERS

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oombe Yarra Valley

Photograph: Supplied

9.30am on weekends. For just $35 each you will get a tiered stand filled with quiches, croissants, mini muffins, mini waffles, mini French toasts and brownie bites. It comes with a glass of blanc de blanc sparkling, as well as tea or espresso coffee. It’s the perfect way to start a busy day of wine tasting.

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Photograph: Supplied

iant Steps

Healesville cellar door and restaurant Giant Steps is named after saxophonist John Coltrane’s 1960 album of the same name. Owner Phil Sexton, a massive jazz fan, named his wines in the jazz musician’s honour. The winery is a large space split up into a wine bar and dining area towards the front, and an open kitchen and barrell hall in the back. The barrell hall is where you can taste the single vineyard wines Giant Steps is known for, such as winemaker Steve Flamsteed’s chardonnays, which have set the benchmark for the Yarra Valley region.

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