As New Zealand businesses face mounting productivity pressure, new research from 2degrees shows AI is already delivering measurable gains for SMEs. From streamlining operations to unlocking new growth opportunities, the challenge now is turning early experimentation into lasting business impact.
Acron Plastics, a New Zealand thermoforming manufacturer, had been running as a fully paper-based business before adopting MRPeasy. We sat down with Business & Sales Manager Mark Wong to see how the company uses the system to structure orders, manage purchasing and inventory, and reduce the risk of missed jobs.
New research reveals how Kiwi small business owners and operators are feeling about the use of artificial intelligence in their workplaces, and the impact it’s having on their operations. Despite New Zealand being a country of fast tech-adopters, responses from Kiwi businesses indicate that we may be on the backfoot with incorporating AI into the workplace, with 65% of SMEs stating that they do not yet use it. The survey of 79,000 businesses across five countries – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK – was conducted by Peninsula Group to look at the opportunities and concerns employers have around the use of AI in the workplace. Thirty percent of employers globally cite security risk as their biggest concern
An investment in new chatbot technology has allowed PBT to streamline its communication, improve efficiency and ultimately provide a better customer experience. PBT is a large express courier and freight services business which has operated for more than 50 years in New Zealand, and has 21 branches and 700 employees across the country. Gary Boxall-Hunt, PBT’s National Manager – Customer Experience, says they’re always searching for excellence in customer satisfaction and constantly looking at how the business can make clients even happier by delivering a great customer experience. As a key part of his role, Gary is heavily involved in call monitoring and has listened to hours of calls to identify how the business could improve its customer interactions. Noticing
Mark Gorrie shares 10 steps for business owners looking to significantly boost their defences against the ongoing threat of cyber attacks. As the digital landscape expands, so does the threat of cybercrime, and small and medium businesses (SMBs) are not immune to these risks. Recent statistics reveal a concerning trend – nearly a quarter of SMBs in New Zealand have fallen victim to cyber attacks1, and four in 10 business owners worry they might be the next target within the next year2. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that only 14 percent of small business owners are adequately prepared for a cyber attack3. This lack of preparedness is a costly mistake for many, as SMBs that experience a catastrophic cyber
Grant Thornton New Zealand’s bi-annual business survey has revealed only 41 percent of business owners, leaders and decision makers undertake specific planning for fraud risk. This number should be a lot higher according to business advisory services and tax partner, Greg Thompson (pictured). “A lot of online scams are pretty obvious. Your bank isn’t going to send you emails about your balance expiring soon. And you know the IRD isn’t going to send you a text to transfer your tax rebate. “However, the types of scams most likely to affect New Zealand businesses are considerably more sophisticated. They’re also increasing in frequency and surprisingly convincing; so it’s concerning to see that less than half of survey respondents in our research
A recent survey released by payments provider Pin Payments, has revealed the state of play for New Zealand business owners and artificial intelligence. July 16th marked the global day of recognition for Artificial Intelligence to celebrate its positive impact on society and technology, whilst also shining a light on the ethical concerns surrounding AI. The results of the New Zealand survey provided an interesting insight into small business sentiments surrounding AI, with just 7.3 percent of business owners seeing AI as a threat, and most viewing it as a revolutionary tool that will change business for the better. Pin Payments’ Co-CEO Chris Dahl said the results gave the business a greater understanding of NZ small business attitudes towards AI. “In
Upcoming event
Thursday 28 May 2026 | 7:00am – 9:30am
📍 New Zealand International Convention Centre, 101 Hobson Street, Auckland
Join us for a practical, insight-led morning exploring how Kiwi businesses are navigating today’s conditions and unlocking new growth opportunities in 2026.
Latest issue
Read the March issue of NZBusiness, focused on intentional growth — with practical insights, expert perspectives, and real-world stories.
Latest articles
Get practical insights, expert advice, and the latest from New Zealand’s SME community — delivered straight to your inbox in our fortnightly newsletter. Plus, access our latest digital issues anytime.
