And a six-step reality check you should complete before being seduced by shiny enterprise app extensions and sexy gadgets… read more...

Jonathan Cotton unravels the seemingly far-fetched but very real story of Dotcom, and asks if he has killed the cloud…[View as PDF] read more...

How a Kiwi start-up is revolutionising the retail payment industry with a clever cloud-based POS alternative that’s rapidly going global… read more...

A year ago it was the development no employer wanted to know about; now, it’s the movement every employer has to deal with. Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) computing is the trend du jour, but is it really the Holy Grail of increased productivity, customer engagement and happy employees? Or are we just nearing the peak of inflated expectations before the inevitable trough of disillusionment?…[View as PDF] read more...

If point-of-sale systems are crucial to keeping shopkeepers’ tills ringing, integration with the back office is the answer to tracking retail’s new currency, information.  iStart explores some opinions from Kiwi retail sector experts…[View as PDF] read more...

Transitioning Shell from global outpost to fresh local upstart has presented some major marketing conundrums, and some tough technology challenges along the way… read more...

Business forums, professional networking sites and the internet in general is awash with stories detailing just how difficult dealing with an IT recruiter can be. But is all this online odium justified? Are they really the new ‘used-car salesman’? Or are recruiters just the fall guys for frustrated job-seekers in a down-turned economy?… read more...

While New Zealand may be a small country at the bottom of the world, it is nevertheless a hothouse for entrepreneurship and innovation, boasting some of the savviest and most creative risk-takers in the world. Why then are we labouring in obscurity? iStart sat down with some of the country’s best and brightest to find out… read more...

The cutting-edge tech required for modern-day V8 racing means that you’re just as likely to find computer engineers and grease-monkeys in the pit… read more...

When it comes to engaging with your customers, there’s plenty to know in the realm of card technology. So if you don’t know your ICC from your NFC, read on to find out just how smart cards can serve your businesss… read more...

Thinking about buying a smartphone? Before you take the plunge check out the iStart Smartphone Roundup – it will help you navigate the pros and cons of six of the most popular units on the market, as well as important specs before you buy… read more...

You may shudder at the thought, but modern enterprise architecture is slowly but surely returning to the mainframe fold, at least conceptually, and never more so than with the idea of virtual desktops – hosted in ‘the cloud’… read more...

Every digital transaction you do generates data, and chances are that data is being stored. Mobile apps, web transactions, loyalty schemes & more provide a wealth of potential information resources. But with so much data being collected, how do you stop it becoming a rogue elephant and actually apply it to inform your business?… read more...

What factors should businesses consider, and what questions should they ask prospective providers, to ensure their operations and their business critical data stay safe in the cloud?… read more...

Can lessons from the UK government shared services experience be applied to New Zealand’s public sector? A UK expert in implementing shared desktop services in govtt recently visited these shores to meet with key customers and industry leaders… read more...

Massey University’s Facebook page isn’t set up to allow ‘friends’, but according to Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey, creating partnerships is actually going to be the big secret for University success for the foreseeable future. read more...

The move from the desktop internet computing of the 90s to the new era of mobile internet is happening with unprecedented velocity – eight times as fast as the PC web was adopted… read more...

In a world spoiled for choice, customer service sorts the good from the great and has become the differentiator that matters most and these days, there’s no hiding behind the fob off… read more...

In the absence of a crystal ball, the next best thing to tighten your supply chain is robust S&O planning, but is your environment right?… read more...

A business isn’t getting the best out of their work staff if workers aren’t using the technological tools given to them to the best advantage. An expert explains what needs to be done and how best to approach it….[View as PDF] read more...