IT Brief New Zealand - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers

About Sean

Sean Mitchell mugshot photo
Sean Mitchell
Publisher
Having started his career at Renaissance. Sean joined Apple in Melbourne for a number of years before working in the media space. This started with Review Publishing and later the tech publisher IDG Communications. In 2006 he was involved in the launch of The Channel magazine. As they say – the rest is history.

Stories by Sean

Ai driven cost savings data management office workers analyzing charts

AI spend to focus on cost, outcomes & data in 2026 shift

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In 2026, firms will shift AI investment towards cost-efficiency, data governance, and measurable outcomes amid rising scrutiny of AI returns, says OpenText.
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Dyson & Raylo boost sustainability with refurbished device plans

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supply chain
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lenovo
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google
Dyson and Raylo launch flexible subscriptions for refurbished devices, boosting affordability and sustainability in the UK electronics market.
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Arista & Palo Alto Networks launch new AI-era data centre security

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private cloud
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devops
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public cloud
Arista and Palo Alto Networks launch integrated AI-era security solution to protect hybrid data centres from advanced cyber threats and ensure unified policy control.
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Premier CX & CommBox launch AI-driven platform for recruiters

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erp
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Premier CX and CommBox have launched JourneyHub, an AI-driven recruitment platform enabling seamless, personalised candidate communication across multiple digital channels.
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ScreenCloud Belfast team wins three major awards for service

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cx
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customer service
ScreenCloud's Belfast team won three top awards at the Contact Centre Northern Ireland Awards, highlighting their excellence in customer service and leadership.
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UK firms fear AI data non-compliance amid new regulatory risks

Yesterday
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data privacy
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ai
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cybersecurity
Over half of UK firms are unsure if their AI-generated data meets regulations, risking heavy fines amid growing data and compliance challenges.
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Instagram posts fuel surge in money mule recruitment schemes

Yesterday
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risk & compliance
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payment technologies
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facebook
Nearly 24% of Instagram posts tagged as ‘quick-money’ offers are linked to money mule recruitment, posing major challenges for law enforcement and platforms.
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UK tech retail grows 5.4% but trails behind European rivals

Yesterday
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it industry
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black friday
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holiday season
UK tech retail sales rose 5.4% in Q3 2025, outpacing national retail growth but lagging behind Europe's 21% surge in the sector.
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Marketers struggle to prepare for AI-driven, click-less journeys

Yesterday
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cx
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genai
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marketing
Most marketers feel unprepared for AI-driven, click-less customer journeys despite 62% expecting them to be common within a year, reveals new research.
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UK retailers & tech firms seek clarity on tax as Budget nears

Yesterday
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smb
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investment
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black friday
UK retailers and tech firms urge clear tax policies ahead of the Chancellor's Budget, fearing uncertainty could impact investment and Black Friday sales.
Small business owners considering ai icons on computer screen in shops and offices

Xero research shows small firms lag on AI

Yesterday
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digital transformation
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erp
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data privacy
Research reveals many small businesses in Australia, the UK and US are cautious about AI, despite growing confidence and benefits like time savings.
University students using laptops tablets digital icons accessibility online education

Fix Your Content Day urges universities to boost accessibility

Yesterday
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edutech
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higher education
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universities
Anthology’s Fix Your Content Day challenges universities worldwide to improve digital course accessibility in preparation for new US regulations on inclusive education.
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Bloomberg hackathon in Singapore spotlights quant & AI talent

Yesterday
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data science
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ai
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ml
The Bloomberg Code Crunch Hackathon in Singapore showcased top quant and AI talent, with NTU students and financial firms developing innovative investment tools.
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Manhattan Associates named top five Singapore workplace for 2025

Yesterday
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dei
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collaboration
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workplace
Manhattan Associates has been ranked among Singapore's top five workplaces for 2025, with all employees reporting a positive and inclusive work environment.
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SOTI upgrades platform to boost retail device security & speed

Yesterday
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data protection
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ai
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customer service
SOTI upgrades its ONE Platform to enhance device security, speed, and operational visibility, helping retailers boost efficiency and meet rising consumer expectations.
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OpenAI launches GPT-5.1 Instant & Thinking upgrades for ChatGPT

Yesterday
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personalisation
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ai
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ai models
OpenAI launches GPT-5.1 Instant and Thinking models in ChatGPT, enhancing accuracy, personalisation and adaptive reasoning for users.
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Gallagher Security doubles goal, raising $7,000 for cancer research

Yesterday
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marketing
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security industry
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public relations
Gallagher Security raised over USD $7,000 for breast cancer research, more than doubling its initial goal during the Security Meets Solidarity campaign.
Interconnected data centers servers glowing neural network cloud ai edge infrastructure

Broadcom expands VMware Cloud Foundation with AI edge focus

Yesterday
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private cloud
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devops
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edge computing
Broadcom boosts VMware Cloud Foundation with AI-ready hardware and edge focus, expanding partnerships to enhance private cloud flexibility and performance.
Acs digital pulse 2025 launched by the hon steve minnikin

Queensland tech workforce set to double, adding 200,000 jobs by 2035

Yesterday
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data analytics
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digital transformation
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iam
Queensland's tech workforce is set to double by 2035, adding 200,000 jobs and boosting its AUD $15 billion contribution to the economy.
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AI-fuelled data centre spend to hit USD $1 trillion by 2030

Yesterday
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hyperscale
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dc
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ai
AI-driven investments will push annual data centre IT and facility spending to USD $1 trillion by 2030, up from USD $290 billion in 2024.