CeBIT awards finalists show what makes great Aussie tech tick

18 April 2015
Better Business Technology

THE CeBIT.AU Business Awards have announced 20 global and Australian companies as finalists, showcasing amazing diversity in solving problems and enhancing businesses through technology.

Finalist companies range from digital solutions to empower the elderly to remain social and independent, to technology to help companies that tap into the power of the cloud without resorting to costly expert help, to an online resource offering energy saving reports for multi-tenant residential buildings.

One company already making waves globally is finalist in the Top Business Solution, WalkMe, a cloud-based platform that guides users through a website or software step by step, accelerating onboarding and speeding up processes. The technology, originally developed in Tel Aviv but now based in Silicon Valley in the US, has been proven to reduce costs of support via call centres, improving customer service outcomes and overall user-performance.

Wattblock, a finalist in the category of Community Support, offers online energy saving reports for multi-tenant residential buildings reducing the need to hire expensive energy auditors. The technology has been designed to mobilise 300,000 residential buildings in Australia to reduce energy waste and carbon emissions.

Its creators, Brent Clarke and Ross McIntyre, propose that if all multi-tenant buildings proactively improved their energy efficiency, Wattblock could effectively ‘crowdsource’ the achievement of the national carbon emission reduction target.

CeBIT Australia owner Hannover Fairs Australia managing director, Harvey Stockbridge, said these finalists are not just pioneers in their sectors, but true innovators whose ideas were making waves in Australia and on a global scale.

“There’s certainly stiff competition in these awards; our finalists obviously started with bright ideas, but have since transformed them into major business operations and some are already servicing multi-national clients like BHP Billiton, eBay and Xerox, whilst others are providing vital solutions to support local services like the NSW Police,” Mr Stockbridge said.

“We are honoured to recognise this calibre of technology entrepreneurs at our event, all who are leading the way for our industry.”

The CeBIT.AU Business Awards are a highlight of Asia-Pacific’s largest business technology event, CeBIT Australia, being staged on May 5-7 at Sydney Olympic Park. The 20 finalists will go head-to-head to win their chosen category at the CeBIT Gala Dinner and Awards Night on May 6.

Winners of each of the four categories – Top Business Solution, Community Support, Service Distinction and Innovation – all qualify for the major award, the CeBIT Excellence Award, which will be announced on the evening.

AirWatch by VMware was awarded the 2014 CeBIT Excellence Award.

CeBIT Australia is supported by the NSW Government and the City of Sydney.

CeBIT.AU Business Awards Finalists:

Top Business Solution

Pronto Sofware

Rapid Global

Solisma Service Improvement Manager

WalkMe Inc.

Service Distinction

iBoss

Icom Australia

Rackspace