Latest news with #2degrees'
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
AI Month: How 2degrees will put AI tools in the hands of every employee
You may be polishing your office memos with ChatGPT and drafting emails with Microsoft Copilot. But is AI actually making you more effective at your job? The only way to find out is to spend hands-on time with AI tools – and for more than finding a few productivity hacks for admin tasks. The Government's newly released Strategy for Artificial Intelligence suggests our economy can be boosted to the tune of $76 billion by 2038 through the effective use of AI. But the strategy also flagged the need to raise awareness and build confidence to address a 'lack of perceived value' in AI. Many Kiwi organisations are dabbling with AI, but haven't yet progressed to applying the technology to unlock true productivity gains based on high-quality company data. Many business leaders surveyed in the 2025 2degrees Shaping Business Study reported a lack of digital skills as a major obstacle to adopting AI and other advanced technologies. The challenge is twofold: not only is there a shortage of skilled technology professionals, but businesses also struggle to find the time and resources to upskill their existing workforce. Taking AI use to the next level 2degrees was an early adopter of AI and has put it to work to achieve dramatic results in areas like customer service and marketing. But in August, the country's third-largest telecommunications provider will conduct a company-wide experiment with AI, taking its use to the next level. 'People need to start thinking deeply about AI and not be fearful of it,' says Mark Callander, 2degrees' Chief Executive Officer. 'Using AI isn't about eliminating jobs. We're trying to flip it on its head and ask: how can you use AI in your area of work to make your job easier, more productive, and more impactful? That's how we get the real productivity gains.' For four weeks, each of 2degrees' 1600 employees, from network engineers to marketing staff, legal teams to customer service representatives, will participate in a series of AI training sessions, workshops, and hands-on experiments. The initiative is not just about learning new tools. It's about creating a cultural shift where AI becomes an integral part of daily work. A month-long prompt-a-thon With that in mind, even 2degrees' management and board of directors will go deep on AI, using the tech to draft board reports, analyse financial performance and forecast future trends. The aim is to compare AI-driven analysis with traditional human-led insights, highlighting new opportunities and potential blind spots. 2degrees' AI Month is structured around four themed weeks and is supported by the telco's technology partners, including AWS, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and TechMahindra, who all now offer extensive AI tools. The programme, run nationally, will see employees receive training tailored to their roles, from prompt engineering to understanding unconscious bias in AI. Technical teams will deepen their use of tools like GitHub Copilot, while non-technical staff will learn how to integrate AI into their workflows. Build-Your-Own-AI workshops will enable staff to put no-code AI agents to work on the real tasks they most want to automate. For example, a marketing team member recently used an AI tool to analyse mobile sign-up processes across competitors' websites, uncovering actionable insights in just 15 minutes, a task that would previously have taken hours. 2degrees employees are invited to share their discoveries and successes in internal forums, fostering a culture of curiosity and collaboration. Callander says the central theme of AI Month is transparency and openness to change. 'You can't write a three-year AI strategy at the moment because everything is moving so quickly,' he says. 'You can set your culture right, so you can embrace opportunities as they arise with AI.' The shift every business needs to make This cultural shift, says Callander, is essential for the long-term success of 2degrees. As AI evolves rapidly, organisations must be agile and ready to adapt. By empowering employees to explore AI and embed it into the fabric of the organisation, 2degrees hopes to unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and customer value. As Callander puts it, 'Whatever it is, we'll hopefully do it smarter, faster, and cheaper. We might make mistakes and go down some dead ends, but we'll learn together and build our confidence in using AI across 2degrees.' In September, 2degrees will report back on the outcomes of AI Month, sharing key lessons, successes, and areas for growth with staff, partners, and the wider business community.
Techday NZ
03-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
2degrees accelerates MVNO growth with Totogi SaaS platform switch
New Zealand operator 2degrees has completed the migration from its legacy systems to Totogi's Charging-as-a-Service platform, aiming to support the evolution of its wholesale telecommunications business. Following the adoption of Totogi's cloud-native SaaS platform, 2degrees reports having accelerated its wholesale mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) revenue growth beyond what was possible with its previous systems. The company states it has on-boarded new MVNO partners and delivered over 300 new features without experiencing service disruptions. This development underscores the capabilities of SaaS-based operations in addressing the demands of the current telecoms environment. Wholesale growth Legacy monetisation systems have long been regarded as an obstacle to wholesale expansion for mobile network operators (MNOs), often requiring prolonged and expensive upgrade cycles. According to Totogi, its platform allows operators to on-board MVNOs more rapidly, deliver new functionalities swiftly, and avoid the need for disruptive and costly system upgrades. Chris Bradley, Head of Digital Architecture at 2degrees, said, "Totogi's SaaS-based charging platform has transformed how we operate our wholesale business. Wholesale success is about partnerships, agility and demonstrating quick time to value, and with Totogi, we continue to challenge the status quo, scaling and growing our wholesale business." Totogi's solution was introduced at 2degrees in 2024, with the aim of providing real-time monetisation of network services. Since then, 2degrees has been able to streamline its wholesale operations and increase efficiency in its commercial processes through the use of public cloud and automation. Platform capabilities The enhanced abilities provided by Totogi's platform include predictive churn scoring, giving operators insights to anticipate and address subscriber churn before it impacts revenue. Additionally, the platform offers automated customer journey mapping that leverages behavioural insights to improve engagement and increase average revenue per user (ARPU). "2degrees is proving that MNOs can support MVNOs at the speed the market demands—not at the pace of legacy systems," said Danielle Rios, Acting CEO of Totogi. "The telecom industry has reached a clear inflection point: operators stuck in legacy systems will lose ground, while those embracing public cloud, SaaS, and AI will dominate the market. With Totogi's multi-tenant platform, operators can run their wholesale business like a software company—rolling out features continuously, scaling dynamically, and turning their network into a competitive advantage rather than a limitation." The multi-tenant infrastructure of the platform is designed to allow continuous rollout of features whilst maintaining operational stability, which 2degrees cites as a key driver behind its enhanced agility and ability to scale. Market outlook 2degrees' migration to the new charging system comes as more telecommunications providers seek to modernise operations, especially in wholesale segments that serve MVNOs. The capacity to quickly on-board new partners and introduce service enhancements is considered crucial for growth as competition intensifies and as operators look to diversify revenues. Totogi reports that its SaaS approach frees up resources previously committed to managing upgrades and ongoing maintenance, thereby allowing operators to focus on commercial growth and innovation in service offerings. The partnership demonstrates the trend of mobile operators moving away from traditional monetisation systems in favour of public cloud-native platforms that promise operational flexibility, streamlined processes and, potentially, improved financial performance in wholesale telecommunications markets. By reducing deployment timelines and removing technical barriers, 2degrees' example is noted as an operational framework for other MNOs aiming to expand their MVNO activities and adapt to evolving requirements in the sector.
Scoop
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Zealand Business Optimism Highest Since 2021, Bosses Expect Revenue Growth
2degrees' 2025 Shaping Business Study has found New Zealand's business sector is the most optimistic it has been since the survey began in 2021, with leaders significantly more optimistic than in 2024. 2degrees today unveiled the results of a survey conducted by insights and research agency Matter, which engaged more than 500 employing business decision-makers around Aotearoa between mid-April to early May 2025. The research, which is now in its sixth edition, aims to understand the key issues, trends, concerns and opportunities on the minds of business owners, CEOs, directors, general managers and C-suite leaders, which are impacting the business landscape. The research found that NZ business leaders are positive about the year ahead, with 45% of those surveyed saying they feel more optimistic about the outlook and prospects for their business compared to the previous year. This was a very significant (12 point) increase from 2024, where 34% said they felt optimistic about the coming year. When asked what factors have led to greater optimism, the top reasons business leaders responded with were: business growth (45%), growth in customers or demand (40%), and improving products, services or sites (38%). Andrew Fairgray, Chief Business Officer of 2degrees, said the results show that New Zealand business owners feel like they're moving in the right direction. 'We haven't seen optimism this high in years, with business owners seeing opportunities to grow and introduce new products and services according to the latest 2degrees Shaping Business report,' Fairgray said. 'Productivity is also on the rise. More Kiwi businesses are coming to terms with what recent technological advances like AI can and can't do, and they're starting to employ these tools to improve their businesses. This is saving time and money, which allows these businesses to reinvest in other areas. 'At 2degrees we've always been big believers in how technology can be used to improve businesses by freeing up time and giving business owners the opportunity to improve what they offer their customers.' The proportion of businesses that identify as 'Thriving' has also grown to 19%, indicative again of the upswing in optimism after a tough period. A large number of leaders anticipate their revenue will grow in the year ahead. More than two thirds of businesses surveyed in Shaping Business said they agree that growth is a key business goal for the year ahead and the focus is on growing profit or revenue. This sentiment is significantly stronger among larger businesses (in terms of both size and turnover), and reflects a shift from a cautious 'maintenance' stance to a more bullish growth agenda. Productivity growth Productivity is trending upward, with 46% of Kiwi businesses reporting they are more productive now than they were in 2024. A significant contributor to this improvement appears to be the adoption of AI, with one in four businesses attributing their productivity gains to these technologies. This suggests a growing recognition of the value digital tools can bring to operations. Interestingly, when asked what businesses think will help them achieve higher levels of productivity fewer say: hiring more highly skilled staff. That figure has dropped from 33% last year to 26% in 2025, indicating a shift in how employers view the key drivers of productivity - moving from talent acquisition toward leveraging technology. Andrew Fairgray says: 'These findings should be seen as a positive signal - it's not about reducing headcount, but about empowering the talented people we already have. By embracing the latest technology, New Zealand businesses are unlocking new levels of productivity and enabling their teams to do their best work. This is an encouraging shift to see.' Challenges Despite the positive trends in productivity, businesses continue to face ongoing challenges - most notably, reduced customer spending and increased input costs. Nearly 80% of businesses surveyed have seen their operating costs increase in the past 12 months, and for those in this situation, costs are generally increasing at higher rates than they were in 2024. To help balance rising costs and the changing customer landscape, around one in two businesses are planning to increase prices in the next 12 months, and as seen with running costs, the rate of these increases is also trending higher vs 2024. Encouragingly, businesses are twice as likely to describe current market competition as 'healthy' rather than 'poor,' with larger businesses (51+ employees) more likely to hold this view. Helping Businesses Businesses have identified a range of ways they could use support in the coming year. Cashflow remains a key growth driver, while better technology and digital skills are becoming more prominent in 2025. When asked how the government could best support the business sector, tax incentives and breaks were the most frequently cited options. Many also highlighted the need to address inflation and the rising cost of living as key priorities for economic support. For more information on the Shaping Business Study, and to download the report for free, visit the 2degrees website here: About 2degrees 2degrees is a full-service telecommunications provider, committed to fighting for fair for Kiwis and businesses. 2degrees provides broadband, mobile, and electricity services across New Zealand. Since its launch, 2degrees has been on a mission to disrupt the market, standing up for fairness and flexibility in an industry that needed change. 2degrees is backed by award-winning customer service, and delivers innovative solutions, allowing customers to choose the connectivity options that suit them best. Through custom-built technology platforms and a commitment to doing things differently, 2degrees empowers Kiwis to stay connected on their own terms.
Scoop
21-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Stop The Pings: Half Of Kiwis Overwhelmed By Notifications
Every day, New Zealanders are bombarded by a relentless flood of notifications. Social media, emails, and app alerts disrupt focus, invade downtime, and fragment attention. Research commissioned by 2degrees now reveals that 50% of Kiwis feel overrun by notifications. For Gen Z, the first generation to grow up entirely online, the impact is even greater, with 38% regularly feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious due to the sheer number of notifications they receive. Research from Common Sense Media in the US revealed that teenagers receive an average of 237 notifications per day. The mental load is mounting, and it's taking a toll on productivity, relationships, and wellbeing. NO-tifications is the latest initiative from 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project, as part of its ongoing commitment to support healthier relationships with phones. The telco is calling on Kiwis to take action. 'Phones are powerful tools for connection, but when notifications dictate our attention, we're not using them on our terms,' says Mark Callander, Chief Executive of 2degrees. 'We're calling on Kiwis to take control of their notifications before notifications take control of them.' According to Kathryn Berkett, neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert, notifications trigger dopamine, making them addictive. 'We think we're good at multitasking, but in reality, we're task-switching, which drains our energy and reduces focus. It also disrupts our real-world interactions - our attention is physically pulled away the moment we hear or see a ping,' says Berkett. Berkett highlights the impact of excessive notifications: They distract us - making it harder to focus and complete tasks efficiently They affect our relationships - pulling attention away from real-life interactions They disrupt our sleep - keeping us up at night and impacting wellbeing They physically alter brain development - cells that fire together, wire together The Impact of Notification Overload A 2degrees-commissioned survey uncovered that for Gen Z: 46% say they receive far too many or too many notifications 38% regularly feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious by the number of notifications received 40% find it difficult to concentrate due to the number of notifications they receive, leading to constant phone checking Biggest culprits: Social media (65%) and email (60%) Across all age groups (16+): 50% received too many notifications 37% feel overwhelmed, panicked or anxious 30% struggle to concentrate due to the number of notifications Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe, New Zealand's online safety organisation, backs the initiative. "At Netsafe, we're seeing growing concern about how constant connectivity and screen time affect young people's focus and their overall wellbeing. 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project initiative taps into an important conversation - how we can all be more intentional in our digital lives. Encouraging people to pause and reflect on their phone habits is a valuable step toward building healthier, more balanced relationships with technology." To regain control, 2degrees suggests: Say No - When apps ask to send notifications, be selective. Only allow the ones that genuinely require your attention. Tidy Up - Regularly review your notification settings and mute unnecessary alerts. Plan Ahead - Set specific times to check notifications rather than reacting to them all day.
