Rising Costs stories

Sydney skincare founder says chargeback scams have stripped tens of thousands from her AUD $500,000-a-year brand as fraud pressure builds.

Outdoor living boom drives homeowners to shield pricey tables and seating from sun, rain and dust, curbing repairs and replacements.

CFOs rank AI skills and market shocks as top threats, as talent shortages, rising costs and geopolitical turmoil squeeze finance teams.

Late payments leave Australian small firms fearing missed Payday Super, as Xero finds cash flow gaps and AUD $15,257 losses on average.

Late payments are pushing more Australian small firms into debt, draining weeks on chasing invoices and fuelling rising financial stress.

Australian SMEs are upbeat on 2026 growth but say they are “flying blind”, lacking strategic advisers and facing a sharp regional advice gap.

Fleet operators cautiously trial AI to tame rising costs as ageing vehicles and maintenance bottlenecks drive up downtime and service spend.

Trans-Tasman small firms are upbeat and boosting tech and marketing, yet consumers report patchy service and missing digital basics.

Australian supply chain chiefs look beyond cost cuts to growth and automation, while frontline managers remain fixated on immediate savings.

Australian businesses are turning cost optimisation into a permanent strategic mandate, reshaping technology, talent and operations for efficiency.

Rising costs and tighter conditions are exposing six avoidable mistakes that could sink Australia's newest start-ups within their first year.

Australia's retail and FMCG sectors face uneven growth as rising costs, retail crime, and shifting consumer habits reshape the AUD $175 billion market.

ReveNet warns APAC's USD $55bn A2P SMS revenue faces steep decline without urgent operator action to tackle rising costs, fraud, and fragmented regulation.

Australian firms report 84% ROI growth from AI, yet face challenges in data quality, governance, and skills amid slower adoption than global peers.

AI integration and data quality issues are hindering progress in transportation management, with 48% of organisations losing over 10% of budgets to errors and disruptions.

Most organisations expect to adopt autonomous AI in transport management by 2030, but face barriers including integration, skills shortages, and sustainability pressures.

James Zipeure appointed Group CEO of Mortar AI to spearhead global growth and launch new Marketing Mix Modelling tool across US, UK and Asia.

Legacy IT systems hamper security and performance, forcing firms to choose between protection and agility amid rising hybrid work and regulatory demands.

SMBs across Asia Pacific embrace AI and cloud to boost growth, yet face rising cybersecurity challenges needing smarter, integrated security strategies.

Australian retailers are cutting free returns and delivery incentives due to rising costs, shifting to local fulfilment and tech solutions to meet growing consumer demands.