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True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.3 with Microphone for Working Out Noise Canceling Blue Tooth Ear Buds Deep Bass TWS Wireless Earphones with Charging Case in Ear Headphone for iPhone Android Black
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Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano, True Wireless Earbuds, 85dB Limit for Ear Protection, Online Learning, IPX5 Sweat and Water Resistant, 24 Hours Play Time for iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel and More, Blue (PAC003btBL)
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Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Smart Earbuds with Bluetooth 5.4, Crystal-Clear Sound, Comfortable Design, 30-Hour Battery Life, Adaptive ANC, LE Audio and Auracast – Black Copper
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In November 2023, Optus faced a major 12-hour outage, leaving countless consumers and businesses without their mobile and internet services. The disruptions caused substantial frustration, especially among those who depend on Optus for their work and daily tasks.
Following a wave of complaints and a senate inquiry, Optus has disbursed $1.2 million in compensation. This amount comprises both cash payouts and service credits given to customers claiming income loss due to the outage.
A total of 1154 customers successfully secured compensation, averaging $474 per individual. Yet, much of this compensation was issued as service credits instead of cash. Only a minor part of the compensation was in cash, primarily benefiting 75 individual and SMB customers.
While the majority of the funds went to individual consumers, enterprise customers also obtained some compensation. Fifteen enterprise accounts successfully claimed nearly $282,000 in service credits. This underscores the significant effects the outage had on businesses relying on stable connectivity.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) played an essential part in aiding customers to obtain compensation. The TIO reported assisting clients in securing about $53,000 worth of compensation, credits, or debt adjustments. However, the TIO noted its inability to track results for most complaints it managed, indicating that numerous claimants could have experienced uncertainty regarding their case resolutions.
In addition to compensation, Optus provided most affected customers with additional data. Nonetheless, financial compensation was limited, with the former CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin mentioning that the average customer would receive “between $1 and $2” in financial reparations.
This led to dissatisfaction among customers who believed that the compensation didn’t adequately represent the inconvenience and financial hardships they faced during the outage. The pressure from consumer advocacy groups and the senate inquiry ultimately led to the establishment of a more structured compensation process, resulting in the $1.2 million payout.
With the compensation process wrapped up, uncertainty lingers regarding how Optus intends to mitigate future outages and if the company will enhance support for customers affected by service disruptions. The inquiry into the outage raised significant concerns about the resilience of Australia’s telecommunications network and the necessity for improved safeguards to shield consumers and enterprises against similar issues in the future.
Optus has allocated $1.2 million in compensation following a 12-hour network disruption in November 2023, which left numerous customers without service. The compensation was predominantly in service credits, with a small amount awarded in cash to specific consumers and small businesses. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman assisted some customers in acquiring compensation, though many complaints were not fully resolved. The incident has sparked conversations about the strength of Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure and the need for enhanced customer support during outages.
The precise cause of the outage has not been publicly disclosed, but it was reported as a significant technical failure that disrupted Optus’s mobile and internet services for approximately 12 hours, affecting both consumer and enterprise clients throughout Australia.
Customers who encountered financial losses directly attributed to the outage could submit claims to Optus. The compensation process required proof of lost income, which Optus then reviewed. Compensation was available either as cash or service credits.
While Optus has compensated customers for this specific incident, it is uncertain if future outages will trigger similar reparations. The senate inquiry into the 2023 outage may advocate for stronger compensation policies, but no updates have been implemented yet.
In total figures, enterprise customers claimed $282,000 in service credits, but the majority of the compensation was directed to individual consumers. Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) received a greater share of the cash compensation, yet both demographics faced considerable impacts from the outage.
The TIO assisted in facilitating compensation claims and helped consumers negotiate compensation with Optus. The TIO disclosed that it aided customers in accessing approximately $53,000 in credits, compensation, or debt adjustments. However, it could not track the outcomes of many of the complaints it processed.
Optus has not publicly articulated specific strategies aimed at preventing future outages. Nonetheless, the senate inquiry into the incident may inspire telecommunications providers, including Optus, to invest in more resilient infrastructure and enhanced customer support systems to prevent and manage outages more effectively.
This article summarizes and assesses Optus’s compensation efforts following the 2023 outage, providing context and addressing essential inquiries readers may have. The utilization of headings and subheadings optimizes the article for search engines and enhances readability. The “Quick Read” segment presents the main points for readers who may not have time to engage with the complete article.
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soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 NC Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, 98.5% Noise Reduction, Adaptive Noise Cancelling to Ears and Environment, Hi-Res Sound, 50H Battery, Bluetooth 5.3 (Navy Blue)
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Yamaha TW-E3C True Wireless Earbuds with Multipoint Connectivity, Long Battery Life and Listening Care, Beige
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Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds – Small, Light, Bluetooth in Ear Headphones with Multipoint Connection, Ambient Sound, IPX4 Rating, Spotify Tap, Quick Charge, 22 HR Battery, iOS & Android – Black
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Jabra Elite 3 in Ear Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds – Noise Isolating True Wireless Buds with 4 Built-in Microphones for Clear Calls, Rich Bass, Customizable Sound, and Mono Mode – Lilac
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Jabra Elite 4 Active in-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds – True Wireless Ear Buds with Secure Active Fit, 4 Built-in Microphones, Active Noise Cancellation and Adjustable HearThrough Technology – Mint
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Endeavour Energy, a prominent utility provider in Australia, has launched an extensive revamp of its procurement operations under the banner “Zodiac”. This shift is intended to enhance visibility and efficiency across the company’s spending at all levels. The core element of this advancement is the implementation of SAP Ariba, a cloud-based procurement solution that will support contract management, sourcing, and supplier lifecycle management.
Endeavour Energy aims to modernise its procurement operations. The Zodiac initiative, spearheaded by procurement and supply chain manager Nicole Croak, seeks to refine contract management, sourcing, and supplier lifecycle management through SAP Ariba. Croak emphasized this crucial transition during the recent SAP NOW conference, highlighting how the utility company’s revamped procurement strategy is vital for ongoing growth and operational efficiency.
The primary service region for Endeavour Energy encompasses Western Sydney, which is witnessing rapid growth due to significant infrastructure ventures, such as the new Western Sydney International Airport. To accommodate this expansion, the company must effectively manage the supply of essential infrastructure components, such as poles and wires.
The swift growth of Western Sydney is a focal concern for Endeavour Energy’s future planning. Croak detailed how the utility has already seen considerable efficiency improvements in demand planning over the past three years, although further progress is still needed. Currently, the company relies on data from its works management systems to back major projects, but the new Zodiac initiative will enhance these methods further within SAP’s framework.
“We need to understand what we’re purchasing, when it’s required, and from whom we’re sourcing it,” Croak stated, stressing the significance of refining procurement procedures to address the needs of its rapidly expanding service territories, including regions of southern Sydney and the south coast.
Endeavour Energy has already made substantial progress in digital transformation by deploying SAP S/4HANA between 2018 and 2021. This enterprise resource planning (ERP) system consolidates asset management, works management, finance, HR, payroll, procurement, warehousing, and distribution. The introduction of SAP Ariba will work to complement this by further simplifying procurement.
In addition, the company has embraced SAP’s Business Technology Platform (BTP), which provides data and analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), application development, automation, and integration capabilities. These technologies aim to establish a more unified system that connects Endeavour Energy’s diverse business functions.
Endeavour Energy is also delving into the potential of AI to boost procurement efficiency. Croak mentioned that the firm recently conducted an internal workshop focused on AI applications in procurement and spend management. The workshop generated several promising use cases that could revolutionize procurement decision-making.
One noteworthy advancement is the development of Endeavour Energy’s own internal AI chatbot, inspired by ChatGPT. This tool has been trained on company policies, procedures, and operational guidelines to assist both office and field employees with their inquiries. Croak is optimistic about the future potential of AI in procurement, envisioning a system capable of performing preliminary risk assessments and assessing supplier performance.
Endeavour Energy is embracing a digital transformation in procurement through the Zodiac initiative, aiming to modernise the management of spending, suppliers, and contracts. By leveraging SAP Ariba and the SAP Business Technology Platform, the utility plans to enhance its demand planning and procurement processes, particularly in rapidly growing areas like Western Sydney. The company’s investigation into AI, including an in-house chatbot, holds potential to further improve procurement efficiency and decision-making.
Alt Image Tag: Endeavour Energy to deploy SAP Ariba, kicks off procurement transformation
