Zendesk unveils the future of agentic AI at Future of Service event

An audience of over 600 professionals across CX, IT, and operations attended Zendesk’s Future of Service event in Sydney last week. The event focused heavily on how AI has become a core component of high-value customer and employee experiences. As well as showcasing a range of local success stories from brands such as Petstock, MYOB, …

How Uniting NSW.ACT is ensuring the voice of the people it serves shapes its future

Transforming customer experience in a large-scale not-for-profit takes both empathy and operational precision, especially when services support people at moments of vulnerability. At Uniting NSW.ACT, that transformation is being accelerated by embedding service design capability and three practical shifts: Uniting NSW.ACT is one of Australia’s largest and most prominent not-for-profit community service organisations. With a …

From invisible risk to total clarity – quality assurance in the AI era

Organisations today are unknowingly carrying a potential burden of invisible risk. Most chats, calls, emails and social media interactions are not monitored or evaluated. Erik van Eekelen, Founder and CEO of Icana.AI, advises, “Traditional Quality Assurance (QA) processes typically analyse only a very small fraction of customer interactions, often less than 2%, which means the …

Amplifying empathy with AI – Interview with Michelle Francis, General Manager of Customer Success at Australia Post

For an organisation that connects millions of Australians every day, the shift toward artificial intelligence is about amplifying the human element. At the centre of this transformation is Michelle Francis, General Manager of Customer Success at Australia Post. Managing an ecosystem that serves millions of senders and receivers, Michelle’s mission is clear – modernise the …

The 2026 Customer 360 Symposium – Discussing CX leaders’ priorities

Last week, the vineyards of the Hunter Valley served as the backdrop for the 13th annual Customer 360 Symposium. Bringing together over 150 of the region’s most influential CX and customer insights leaders. If you missed the morning mists and the deep-dive sessions, here is the essential roundup of what shaped the conversations this year. …

Mastering the digital customer journey in an AI orchestrated world

The digital customer journey, traditionally viewed as a linear progression from awareness to purchase, has evolved into a dynamic, ‘always-on’ ecosystem. Every digital touchpoint—from a social media scroll to a voice-activated search—serves as a data signal that informs a brand’s understanding of a consumer. On their journey, customers often jump between discovery and deep research …

2026 – The year to prioritise contact centre efficiency and quality

It’s a tough time to be in business. Geo-political tensions continue to disrupt supply chains, damage business confidence and throw forecasts and forward plans into abject disarray. Customers, meanwhile, have never been more demanding – or disgruntled. Almost two-thirds of Australians have a moderate to high sense of grievance and believe governments and private enterprise …

How Kennards Hire is navigating the digital frontier – Interview with Nathan Borg, Head of Digital and Customer Experience

In an industry traditionally seen as a laggard in digital adoption, Kennards Hire is proving that a ‘bricks-and-mortar’ foundation is no barrier to cutting-edge customer experience. Leading this charge is Nathan Borg, Head of Digital and Customer Experience. With a career spanning 15 years within the business, Nathan brings a unique perspective on how to …

Retail CX – Anticipate, don’t just react

Today, a single bad experience can undo a hard-won customer relationship. Customers move quickly, compare constantly, and switch brands with less hesitation than ever. Yet many customer experience strategies are still built around delayed reactions. Friction is identified only after it has already cost conversion or trust, whether through abandoned carts, negative reviews, or spikes …