Online data tool for businesses
13 May 2016
A new free online tool for businesses is shining a light on the creative sector with accessible and understandable data.
Written by
The Big Idea Editor
Officially launched in April, Business Figures is a new online data tool to help businesses by providing free and easily accessible and understandable data from a range of sources.
It includes publically available information on people and businesses in the creative industry.
Statistics and Small Business Minister Craig Foss said this type of innovative data reuse and presentation adds extra value to information already collected by government.
“Small businesses are vital to New Zealand’s economy. Business Figures will help small businesses continue to punch above their weight by providing valuable insights into their industries, communities and markets.
“Statistics NZ’s recent Business Operations Survey shows firms are backing themselves to win. Business spending on research and development has grown by more than 15 per cent in one year, from $1.25 billion in 2014 to $1.44 billion in 2015.
It is the result of a public-private partnership between Figure.NZ, ASB Bank and Statistics NZ.
Figure.nz works with government and private sector to make data usable by publishing it in easy to use graphs and maps, and other formats for technical users on figure.nz. Their mission is to enable everyone to make sense of data so they can see NZ clearly, in a way that inspires us forward. The social enterprise was a finalist in three categories of the NZ Hi-tech Awards 2016 and finalist in the World Summit Awards for Innovation and Technology 2015
Founder and CEO Lillian Grace is on the Data Futures Partnership Working Group, as well as on the board of the NZ Innovation Partnership and of NZ Centre of Research Excellence Te Pūnaha Matatini. Previously Lillian was at Academy Award-Winning Massive Software, at think tank The New Zealand Institute.
Lillian Grace speaks at Future Skills: People of Tech on May 17, as part of Tech Week Auckland.