With millions of Australians now using broadband, high-speed Internet access is transforming the way we learn, play and work. The introduction of ADSL2+ broadband services since 2005 have seen businesses embracing super-fast broadband by deploying a range of services online, from remote access and e-commerce transactions to on-demand applications and private Internet Protocol-based networks. The following case studies outline how businesses are deploying broadband services to achieve measurable business benefits.

With Australia’s building industry continuing to grow strongly, despite repeated interest rate rises, builders are seeking to use technology to provide them with improved productivity, fewer re-works and better profits. One of the stand-out areas of the construction sector is steel-framed buildings which has outperformed the general building sector in terms of growth for most of this decade. The following case studies describe how builders are using technology to realise the productivity improvements promised by steel-frame construction.

As financial activity increasingly migrates to the web, innovative businesses are recognising that the most effective way to ensure 24x7 availability of their online presence is through a strategic sourcing partnership. Second generation outsourcing – also referred to as selective sourcing – provides online businesses with a guarantee of 99+ per cent availability for their critical enterprise application outsourcing. The following case studies describe how Australian businesses selected a strategic outsourcing partner and the lessons they’ve learned.

The outsourcing of Human Resource and Payroll services has gained new momentum with the widespread availability of broadband Internet access. Increasingly, organisations, from small and medium businesses to enterprises and government departments, are replacing their in-house HR/Payroll systems with on-demand services – also referred to as ASP (Application Service Provision) or SaaS (Software as a Service). The following case studies explain how an on-demand HR/Payroll system can deliver all the benefits of an in-house system without the cost or complexity.