Small Business (SMB) stories - Page 16

Australian employers now take an average of five weeks to hire staff, with delays driving heavier workloads, project setbacks and lower morale.

Firewalla Orange debuts as a pocket-sized Wi-Fi 7 router and firewall, bringing Zero Trust-style protection to homes, offices and travellers.

Leaseweb appoints Ronald Richardson as Chief Revenue Officer to drive global growth and its sovereign-by-design hybrid cloud push.

The global digital economy is forecast to surge 9.5% in 2026 to USD $28 trillion, triple the pace of overall worldwide economic growth.

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

SEEK and Employment Hero end court battle, restore API access and scrap competition claims, avoiding a ruling on digital market power.

Freshworks names AI-focused marketer Kady Srinivasan as CMO to sharpen its global brand and go-to-market engine in crowded SaaS markets.

Pax8 appoints Avery Moon as Chief Technology Officer to spearhead its global AI-led marketplace and 'operating system' for SMBs.

Google has invested in Emergent, giving the AI start-up early access to Gemini 3 to help millions of non-coders build production software.

CCL forecasts resilient global trade growth in 2026 as firms bolster supply chains and adapt logistics despite tariffs and geopolitical risks.

SafePay ransomware is quietly crippling small firms, with leaked data showing over 90% of victims are SMBs and many attacks never disclosed.

AI interview agents are reshaping hiring in Australia, promising faster decisions, fewer delays and substantial cost savings for employers.

Reolink debuts on-device AI hub and 24MP triple-lens OMVI cameras at CES 2026, promising smarter, more private home and business security.

FedEx says its Asia Pacific operations delivered USD $5.7 billion in economic impact in 2025 as it ramps up routes, tech and green investments.

Coro 3.7 refreshes its SMB security platform with a revamped Actionboard, AI analytics and health scoring to streamline incident response.

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

Airwallex has named James Teodorini Head of ANZ to spearhead growth in Australia and New Zealand after hitting USD $235 billion in volume.

Technology leaders warn 2026 will be a make-or-break year as businesses demand tangible AI value, workflow redesign and tighter security.

Autonomous AI and tougher rules are set to transform tech in Australia and New Zealand in 2026, reshaping security and digital sovereignty.

Jamf has been named a leader in three IDC MarketScape unified endpoint management reports, reinforcing its Apple-first device strategy.