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Convergence - Latest News [Page 1]
Retailers Cautioned: Poor Customer Experiences Bigger Threat Than Tech
Wednesday, 24 April 2024, 8:58 am | Convergence
New Zealand e-commerce retailers bewildered and anxious about the speed of technological change should not be frightened of what the future may hold for them because it is the correct application of technology that is critical to the customer experience--not ... More >>
Small Retailers Poised For Growth Despite Retail Squeeze, Says E-commerce Expert
Thursday, 14 March 2024, 9:41 am | Convergence
Contrary to predictions that the days of small retailers are numbered, emerging new technology and shopper values suggests small retailers are well-positioned to thrive in the coming years—unlike the retail middle which will do it tough. Mark ... More >>
Death Of SaaS As AI Redefines The Shopping Experience?
Thursday, 8 February 2024, 10:51 am | Convergence
The demand by New Zealand consumers for speed, convenience and experiential shopping in 2024 may mean that most software as a service (SaaS) solutions – particularly in retail – have passed their 'use by date' even before reaching maturity as AI ... More >>
Digital Darwinism: B2B sector urged to adapt or die in 2024
Thursday, 28 December 2023, 5:15 pm | Convergence
Business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce companies are urged to look to business-to-consumer (B2C) for digital strategies to help them survive the tightening and evolving New Zealand economy in 2024. Mark Presnell, Managing Director of Convergence , an ... More >>
A Shift In Data Privacy And Trust: Can We Trust The Cloud?
Tuesday, 5 December 2023, 10:07 am | Convergence
In an unexpected development in the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), many companies may reconsider using cloud-based AI systems in favour of on-premises servers. This shift, spurred by increasing concerns over AI's capacity to safeguard data confidentiality ... More >>
Kiwi Businesses Warned To Beware Of Losing Secrets To ChatGPT
Monday, 6 November 2023, 8:49 am | Convergence
The recent unintended leak of Samsung's confidential source code, when a staff member decided to use ChatGPT, should warn all New Zealand companies that their intellectual property is at risk when staff are allowed to use artificial intelligence unchecked. ... More >>
Retail Business Owners Falling Short On Educating Themselves About Technology
Tuesday, 19 September 2023, 8:54 am | Convergence
In this new digital driven world New Zealand retailers continue to lose money and opportunity because of not only their reluctance to invest in technology but more so by their failure to upskill and learn more about the tech driving their businesses—it's ... More >>
Kiwi Retailers Urged: Forget Convenience, Keep Your Promise Instead
Thursday, 10 August 2023, 10:32 am | Convergence
A concerning trend by New Zealand's retailers is to take the easy route and opt for well-known, "convenient” technology stacks—usually American—like WooCommerce, Wix and Shopify; they are generic and frequently don’t allow retailers to fully ... More >>
Hybrid Shopping The Future But Human Element At Risk
Wednesday, 28 June 2023, 9:23 am | Convergence
The future of retailing is unfolding, and it’s hybrid—a combination of online shopping and in-person—and Kiwi retailers need to adapt fast and implement a multi-channel buying experience to remain relevant in the marketplace. Mark Presnell, the CEO of ... More >>
Times For Retailers May Be Tough, But That’s No Excuse For Cutting Staff
Tuesday, 30 May 2023, 9:17 am | Convergence
There’s no question that Kiwi retailers are struggling with reports that almost half did not achieve their sales targets in the first quarter of 2023, and while some may be pondering cutting staff—if they haven’t already—but that would ... More >>
Threat Of Downturn Must Shift Attention To Loyalty
Tuesday, 28 March 2023, 4:31 pm | Convergence
Rising interest rates, a recession on the horizon and high levels of inflation combined, make for a perfect storm that will put huge pressure on retailers already under strain after the pandemic, unless they get better at retaining customers through loyalty ... More >>
Kiwi Retailers Returns Processes Frustrating Customers And Losing Money
Friday, 10 February 2023, 10:13 am | Convergence
With 30 per cent of all products purchased online likely to be 'comebacks', the returns process continues to be an underestimated cost to retailers--many do not know the number of returns or resulting losses--and a source of frustration for Kiwi ... More >>
New Zealand’s eCommerce Sector Failing The Customer Experience
Wednesday, 4 January 2023, 12:44 pm | Convergence
A New Zealand eCommerce expert is worried that the art of retail may be become lost to the cookie cutter approach currently dominating local online shopping sites. Mark Presnell, managing director of eCommerce Integration Specialists Convergence—a ... More >>
Online Retailers Urged: Don’t Make Gift Returns A Nightmare This Christmas
Thursday, 8 December 2022, 10:44 am | Convergence
One of the most important ways an online retailer can make themselves more attractive to shoppers looking online for Christmas gifts this year is to provide a strong returns process to build trust and confidence with consumers. Mark Presnell, managing director ... More >>
Kiwi Online Shopping Companies Failing People With Disabilities?
Thursday, 20 October 2022, 9:35 am | Convergence
Too few of New Zealand’s e-commerce sites meet even the basic accessibility standards for internet users with disabilities and it’s vital the local online shopping outlets move quickly to rectify this or risk getting left behind. Managing director of eCommerce ... More >>
NZ Audiology Expert Supports Publication On Treating Adult Hearing Loss With Cochlear Implant
Saturday, 29 August 2020, 7:27 am | Convergence
The first ever global consensus on the use of cochlear implants for the management of adults living with hearing loss was published today in Jama Otolaryngology.1 The paper was authored by a new panel, including 31 hearing experts from surgical and ... More >>
New Zealand's First Fully Online High School Provides Support To Ministry Of Education
Friday, 3 April 2020, 8:46 am | Convergence
The nature of traditional schooling in New Zealand has drastically shifted, as schools and teachers scramble to navigate their new reality amid Covid-19. With the benefit of close to $10 million of investment and two years planning and testing, Crimson More >>
Merger will see Christchurch company expand its global range
Friday, 4 October 2019, 8:44 am | Convergence
Christchurch-based exporter Garra International will merge with global trading company KIT International creating a joint venture, with a combined turnover in excess of NZ$350 million taking New Zealand and international primary produce to the world. More >>
Council support for water scheme
Tuesday, 27 February 2018, 10:43 am | Convergence
The management team and farmer-shareholders behind a regional irrigation scheme centred on the Hawarden and Waikari communities have renewed confidence in the future of the scheme with the announcement of early support from Hurunui District Council ... More >>
'High Priestess of Health & Beauty' Dies in Canterbury Home
Monday, 28 November 2016, 1:04 pm | Convergence
Award-winning writer, broadcaster and teacher Leslie Kenton wrote more than 40 books on health, beauty and personal development – many of them bestsellers. She conceived the original Origins skincare product range for Estée Lauder, was a consultant to ... More >>
