Michael Carden

“Gatekeeper has exceeded what we were hoping for.” Explore Clayton Utz's collaboration with Gatekeeper. From leveraging data analytics for actionable insights to standardising contract templates for consistency, every aspect of their strategy fosters a robust supplier ecosystem and gives the business more control. Find out more in our joint case study: #LegalInsights #SupplierTransformation #GatekeeperPartnership https://lnkd.in/e-sMPsfv

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In case you missed it: NZ is raising* the tax exempt 💰 thresholds for share scheme benefits companies offer employees. The maximum value of shares provided to employees will rise from NZ$5,000 to $7,500 annually, and the maximum discount on shares will increase from $2,000 to $3,000. This change to the tax exempt scheme will be good news especially for large (& particularly listed) businesses that want to implement a company-wide share scheme on top of existing remuneration and perks. Offering shares is a great way of aligning the incentives of teams and the business. It can give employees more understanding, a sense of belonging and responsibility for what is going on in the company. With that said, I don’t personally subscribe to the opening statement that “technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds…”. I'll follow-up with a blog soon unpacking why this tax exemption is largely redundant in this sector, and specifically what could be addressed to support early-stage ventures. *These changes are set to take effect on April 1, 2025, as part of the 2024-25 Taxation Bill.

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AI guardrails are important. However. For any that are unsure about this - please read Superintelligence by Nick Bostram. But at the same time, we, a very hardworking nation, need to be at the forefront of AI; focused on building more jobs in the space and protecting Australians from even further uncertainty. The safe and responsible development and deployment of AI is good to see, but the government appears to still largely be focused almost exclusively on building guardrails rather than also enabling innovation.

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Thanks so much for the opportunity, I am excited to focus on how AI can help businesses deliver greater impact and most importantly what are the first steps to get started.

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The recently released ACCI Small Business Conditions Survey 2024 paints a stark picture for small businesses across Australia. With 45% of small businesses contemplating closure within the past year and 82% reporting significant impacts from regulatory red tape, the challenges are clear and pressing. For the hospitality industry, these findings are particularly concerning. Known for its dynamic and flexible workforce, our sector faces unique challenges in complying with increasing regulatory demands. The cost of compliance, both in time and money, is diverting essential resources away from growth and innovation. As we look to the future, it's imperative that we advocate for meaningful regulatory reform. Without it, the hospitality industry risks increased closures, reduced investment, and ongoing operational strain. Clipboard Hospitality #hospitality #cafe #hotels #restaurants

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This is a natural fit partnership between two great products with two quite odd exceptions… First one being that Xero has an existing competitor to Deputy in Planday, which they acquired for up to $284 million in 2021. They are cannablising a market of their own product revenue by bringing in an external minority owned product. The second quite odd thing is they will be marketing two products to Xero customers. Xero Deputy in Australia/New Zealand (possibly more in the future) while offering Planday to all other countries. Australia requirements are very different to most other countries and Deputy is the leader in that space, so that will be a better offering. Planday have as of September 2023 released functionality specifically for the Australian market but that will be now canned. I’m sure there is logic to the partnership, (above my head) but it seems like something else might be in store here, perhaps a precursor to an acquisition of Deputy or a write down of the Planday investment. As a small competitor in the space with TimeKeeper, I find it fascinating and curious to see how it plays out. #xero #deputy #saas #partnerships

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Another busy period of industry forums is upon us in Australia, and it's increasingly obvious that businesses can't keep kicking the RFID can down the road. With company restructures, administration, layoffs, and reassessment of market viability hitting the headlines with increasing frequency, it's time that retailers and brands realise that inventory accuracy data enabled by RFID empowers them to be faster, smarter, and more profitable. Any CEO looking at the global landscape of high performing companies should draw the same conclusion and mobilise their teams to engage in discovery on how to implement RFID for their unique requirements. Let's stop the talking and start the action. Connect with me, and let's make it happen. #onlyrfid #futureofretail #amazingthingswithrfid

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“Don’t lead by allocating tasks, lead by asking what's possible” Steve Vamos   Wonderful to catch up with long term friend, International CEO Forum alumni, and former #CEO at Xero, Microsoft Australia, and Apple APAC Steve Vamos.   As you can imagine, with Steve having had such an extraordinary career, Dani and I had the time of our lives chatting with him and learning about his new book, 20 years in the making, called…   📘 "Through Shifts and Shocks: Lessons from the Front Line of Technology and Change."   We are excited to have Steve join the Abundium multinational leadership community in 2025 to share insights from his career about being better at change and leading people and teams through it. Steve's book will help people leaders be more effective and their teams be more productive.   "Through Shifts and Shocks" is available via preorder now on Amazon here: https://lnkd.in/gUcp9xqW Shifts and Shocks: Lessons from the Front Line of Technology and Change. Abundium - making #multinational growth easier

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Fantastic article by Nicola Kinsella which highlights the inventory accuracy dilemma that I know Australian retailers are facing. According to a recent survey of 1,003 retailers and direct-to-consumer brands, 58% reported having less than 80% inventory accuracy. That means every time a consumer orders a product, there’s a 20% chance the product they want isn’t even available. Retailers have a massive amount of stock and data to track it from warehouses to stores. With all that inventory moving around, it needs to be updated as close as possible to real-time, to know what’s actually in stock and where it is. Retailers with modern inventory-control and order-management systems can use a data-driven approach to update their inventory at unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. They are significantly reducing the chances of accidental over- or underselling of products. A data-driven approach can mean synchronizing sales channels with the latest inventory levels. These systems enable retailers to quickly spot trends and manage their stock accordingly. During high-demand periods such as back-to-school or holiday periods, this method becomes even more beneficial. Retailers are better able to align their aggressive marketing campaigns with fluctuating inventory. Connect with me to help you move to real time inventory capture and 98%+ inventory accuracy via RFID. #onlyrfid #futureofretail #runtothedata #amazingthingswithrfid

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An exciting announcement about our new partnership with Crystal Knows, a leading AI-powered personality data platform. This partnership marks a transformational leap 🚀 for Kiwi sales teams to gain a PHENOMENAL EDGE  in understanding customer communication preferences and decision-making styles. With Crystal Knows, you can: ✅ Intelligently adapt your sales approach ✅ Shorten sales cycles ✅ Achieve this without the significant investment typically required for DISC personality profiles   Having successfully used #CrystalKnows internally for six months, we’ve seen firsthand how this platform boosts sales efficiency and customer understanding—so much so that we’ve taken on becoming a reseller! Together, we’re paving the way for smarter, more human sales powered by AI. Brandon Kim Ursula Riemer John Che #AIforthecompetitiveedge #salessuccess #Kiwiautomation   https://lnkd.in/g6wjBHWU

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EOFY got you stressed, tradies? Check out our ultimate checklist to breeze through tax time without the headache! Get organized, meet deadlines, and start the new financial year right. #EOFYChecklist #Tradies #FinancialYearEnd

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Why GenAI is a Game Changer for Aussie Businesses? A recent Forbes article highlights that 81% of Australian C-suite executives view generative AI as critical, with 38% making it their top business focus. Frank Fillmann points out that AI is reshaping the future, but challenges like data quality persist. The launch of Salesforce’s Agentforce is helping companies unlock trapped value through smarter AI integration. ➡️ AI integration is accelerating ➡️ Data remains a key obstacle ➡️ Salesforce tools like #Agentforce are transforming workflows Read the full Forbes Australia article here: https://lnkd.in/g36Mq-UB #AI #Innovation #Leadership #Salesforce #GenAI

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Look no further if you're a #B2B ... truly ... solve a problem #better for anyone in the #top100 here at home, in #Oz and your business will be #bigger and #global before you know it. #BetterBeforeBigger #NumbersGame #Processes #Choices #Change #Progess #Resolution #Business #KYC #KYP #KnowYourProblem #StartUps Amazon Web Services (AWS) #ProductMarketFit #ProductMarketPlaceFit #ProductMarketPlaceFitOrDie

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Interesting pannel discussion at the Digital Trust Hui. The question asked was "How does the pannel see the Framework playing-out?" A key response was that the Act will never work in isolation. Industry by industry use-cases are providing the specific experiences that can be used to drive the roll-out of the new standards.

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Navigating the aged care sector can be a complex exercise. The margins are slim. Precision is key. You need a system that ensures funding claims are spot on, and all your data is in harmony. Clear communication is paramount. Achieving all this within a single system is no small feat. But with Epicor, we do just that. #PreciseBiz #Epicor #AgedCare

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Sharing my slides from today's keynote at the Innovate QLD Event hosted by the Public Sector Network. I covered: - how we are thinking about innovation all wrong - how to become a better innovator - Examples where Queensland Government is leading in digital innovation #digitalinnovation #digitalinclusion #digitaleconomy

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Hello Australia, How did your business fare in FY24? Do you ever think that by the time your numbers hit your accounting system it's too late to react? With Abtrac's real-time project reporting, you can make faster decisions and be more flexible in the market. Keep on top of your growth this financial year with Abtrac. https://hubs.ly/Q02x1twp0 #EOFY #abtrac #projectmanagementsoftware

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Classic bait-and-switch wrapped in shiny new tech toys! Recent investments in #NDIS tech upgrades, including DART, ICT PACE Salesforce, could be viewed as strategic moves by NDIA to centralize control & cut costs, at the expense of participant autonomy. Bit like giving a kid a shiny new bicycle with one hand while tightening the training wheels with the other. Sure, they're upgrading the systems, but at what cost? Evidence suggests procurement process for these systems, particularly Salesforce, was marred by ethical concerns & cost blowouts, a contract value ballooning from $27 million to $135 million due to scope changes. Additionally, there were instances of undisclosed gifts & hospitality received by NDIA officials from Salesforce, raising questions about the integrity of the procurement process. Did the extra cash come with a side of accountability, or just an expensive lunch for a few NDIA officials? The sweet aroma of undisclosed gifts, where transparency goes to die. Ethical Concerns? More like ethical nightmares. A little gift here, a hospitality event there & suddenly, what was supposed to be a transparent process looks more like a backroom deal. Who needs a fair procurement process when you can have a cozy relationship with your vendor? Centralized Control or should we say, centralized surveillance? By tightening the reins on financial management, NDIA might save a few bucks, but what happens to participant choice? It's like they’re handing out free collars to the participants – complete with a shiny tag that says, "Property of NDIA." Big question here is NDIA really trying to empower participants, or are they just trying to tighten their grip under the guise of efficiency? Line between progress & control is a thin one & it seems like they’re walking it with a pair of blinders on. Maybe it's time someone held magnifying glass up to see who’s really benefiting from these “upgrades.” Cost-Cutting Agenda: NDIA is playing Monopoly with people’s lives, and the utilities and railroads are all marked "NDIA-owned." They’re streamlining operations alright – straight down the highway of control, where autonomy is just a pit stop that no one’s allowed to visit. Reduces participant choice & increase surveillance, aligning with a broader cost-cutting agenda. Shifting towards these systems may reflect an underlying strategy to enforce stricter controls over spending while limiting participant autonomy in managing their plans. Tech Upgrades or Trojan Horses? If these new systems are so great, why does it feel like they’re more about watching participants than helping them? It’s the classic government move – sell it as empowerment, but the fine print reads “You’re now under stricter surveillance.” These upgrades might enable NDIA to take direct control over transactions too, reducing the role of intermediaries like plan managers, centralizing financial management. Time we ask how these technological changes align with the original goals of NDIS.

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