The Pulse

A passion for creating great new technology products is something that still sits at the very heart of our business. Representing months of investment – of time and energy from our team, and generous support from our many partners – releasing a product to market always comes with a sense of accomplishment shared right across the organisation.

Any product launch is an exciting day, but this week, MYOB marked a very special day for the New Zealand business community.

On Tuesday, we launched the Getonline.co.nz initiative alongside Westpac. Powered by our new website builder MYOB Atlas, the initiative is designed to get more New Zealand businesses online. And make it possible for them to do so for free, for the first 12 months.

The launch was unique because it represented much more than just announcing an exciting new product; our aim with Getonline.co.nz is to create a movement. We want as many businesses as possible to benefit from the advantages of the digital economy, and in doing so, continue to make their own significant contribution to New Zealand.

We know that businesses that have a website do better. They have more customers, make more sales, enjoy better communication with the market, and experience greater revenue growth.

And we believe that by freeing the internet for more businesses, we can extend the advantages of the digital economy over a much greater part of the business community. In an uncertain economic environment, we know that every advantage we can offer business is vital.

To do so, we’re really focused on breaking down barriers. Businesses have told us that the time, cost and complexity of getting online has kept them from starting their own website. With Getonline.co.nz we can make it incredibly easy for them to get up and running, and be found online – and for the first year, we’re doing it for free.

We’re also in the fantastic position of having great support. By partnering with Westpac, we are able to reach more businesses throughout the country with the message of how simple it can be to claim their own digital domain and be found by their customers. In Westpac, we’ve also found a wonderful group of people who are as passionate about making life easier for New Zealand business owners as we are. As Westpac CEO Peter Clare said in launching the initiative, this is about supporting growth for all businesses – whether or not they are MYOB or Westpac customers.

We’ve set ourselves an ambitious target for the initiative. By the end of this year, we plan to have 10,000 businesses online. But already we are off to a flying start, with over 625 businesses newly online using MYOB Atlas.

We’ve taken the first few steps of what we see as an incredibly important journey to get more Kiwi businesses online – and do better because of it. It’s been an exciting few days, but the real satisfaction will come – as it always does – in hearing the stories of New Zealand businesses as they make a success out of getting online.

You can start building your free website right here (go on, it’s just 15 minutes away)

Julian Smith | General Manager – MYOB