As an emerging technology, artificial intelligence (AI) offers a lot of potential – as well as risks – for Australia’s agricultural sector. This article details three ways to harness AI that could transform your farming operations. How demands on farmers are changing According to the United Nations (UN), the global population will reach 9.8 billion […]
Closing your business over the summer can make a lot of sense. Maybe your employees are on leave, you’re struggling with a staff shortage, it’s a quiet time of year, or you’re hankering for a break. Check these six tips to help prepare and you’ll be able to hit the ground running on your return […]
The CEO of Master Builders Australia (MBA) has likened the sector to the canary in the economic coal mine as volatility remains high in the construction industry. This is despite a slowdown in building cost increases. CoreLogic reports home-building costs eased to 0.5% in the September quarter, making it the slowest quarterly growth for eight years. That’s good news […]
Each year, almost 800 Australians die due to using items that were unsafe due to their production or the way they were sold. The ACCC’s analysis shows fatalities due to faulty products were predominantly a result of: Those fatalities and people hospitalised due to defective products cost the Australian economy about $5 billion annually, according to figures […]
While supply chains have always been prone to disruption, they have become even less predictable in the wake of the pandemic. These findings are according to a global Shopify report. Sanctions, aftershocks, and political instability continue. Fuelling the ongoing volatility includes shortages of: This has led to weak links in how businesses source, produce, transport, and […]
Australia’s skills shortage and high manufacturing costs mean importing products and parts from overseas can make good business sense. This article is your risk management update on sourcing from foreign manufacturers. Risks of imported products/components Using overseas manufacturers to source parts and products raises these issues: If there’s any issue with the overseas-made product, you […]
The recent PwC scandal doesn’t only affect the top end of town. There are also plenty of lessons for SMEs about how not to do business. At the crux are the issues of contract breaches, conflicts of interest and professional indemnity. Let’s take a closer look. An overview of the financial saga PwC, short for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, is […]
The transport and logistics sector is the lifeblood of Australia. According to the Federal Government’s Australian aggregate freight forecasts, the nation’s ‘freight task’ grew over four-fold in the five decades to 2020. However, it forecasts a continuing slowdown in freight activity in the medium to longer term. That’s due to slower domestic income growth and less […]
Australia is suffering from a shortage of arborists, with an extra 20,000 needed by 2027, according to industry sources. Whether staffing is an issue for your arborist business, it’s vital to keep the spotlight on safety. This article covers a range of tips to help revisit and refresh your risk management approach. Assessing the tree Check […]
Supply chain fraud is in the spotlight. A report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) showed a 1,174% increase in false invoices led to $8.6 million in losses last year. By taking control of a legitimate business’ online accounts or email, scammers send fake invoices to divert payment to their own bank accounts. […]
