FSB editor Dannielle Furness spoke with Steffi Harbert, Field Force Automation Manager from Ergon Energy. [ + ]

According to a new report commissioned by nbn (formerly known as NBN Co), the next generation of Australians may never put in an uninterrupted eight-hour working day, watch a preprogrammed TV show or aspire to live in a capital city. [ + ]

Microfractures, also known as microcracks, represent a form of solar cell degradation. This article details the causes, consequences and detection of microfractures in solar modules. [ + ]

Fibre optics has long been touted as the next big thing. After 30 years of expectation, is that reality finally here? [ + ]

For over 30 years, Pestrid has been providing pest control management to an extensive client base across the Sydney metropolitan area. As this small family business expands, owner and director Gary Eastwood is proud of the Pestrid team delivering on the foundational values of Pestrid - providing customers with professional, safe and effective pest control, as well as excellent customer service. [ + ]

Queenslanders are returning to work at an average rate of 90% after a workplace injury, according to WorkCover Queensland, but continuing to strive for a higher average 'stay at work' rate (around 50% in 2013-2014) may have more positive outcomes for both workers and employers. [ + ]

As machines continue to displace humans in a variety of roles, international academic, business and technology leaders are claiming that workers will need to become 'more human' in order to compete in the future. [ + ]

It won't come as a surprise that customers are annoyed by technicians that don't turn up at the appointed time, but the effect that tardiness has on consumer behaviour might. A recent study conducted by Software Advice, a comparison resource for potential software purchasers, indicates that 67% of customers will not rehire a company if a technician is just one hour late. [ + ]

While all Category 6A products must meet the same base set of specifications, they are surprisingly different in their physical properties and how well they deliver at the extremes of performance. [ + ]

Living in the age of mobility was supposed to make our lives easier and more flexible, but even with technology advances, running a mobile workforce creates a specific set of challenges for field service managers. [ + ]

There's no doubt that an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package is a powerful tool for business and, according to research conducted by Telsyte and released by Epicor Software Corporation, more than 90% of Australian organisations have such a system. Why, then, did the study show that 66% of CIOs believe that less than half of the functionality provided by ERP is being used? [ + ]

Even professional users of rugged laptops, tablets and smartphones are sometimes unsure of what defines a 'rugged computer' and how the various tests to validate ruggedness are carried out. A truly rugged computer is so much more than just a normal computer wrapped in a tough outer case. [ + ]

This year's National Salary Survey has been released by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), and it shows that Australian organisations are losing employees to their competitors due to slower than normal wage growth. [ + ]

As any contractor will tell you, 'time is money'. Persisting with tired old tools and outdated work methods hinders workers' productivity, either because they are tiring to use and slowing them down or because they are not benefiting from faster, smarter technologies that help them get more work done in less time. Either way, doing things the old way is eroding your bottom line. [ + ]

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a draft decision relating to price regulation for mobile network operators. The decision is the result of a public enquiry which commenced in May 2014. [ + ]