The shift to conversational CX – Interview with Sinch’s Angus Mansfied

The traditional “omnichannel” approach is being replaced by something far more dynamic: a living ecosystem of intelligent, two-way dialogues. As brands move away from simple automation toward sophisticated “digital labour,” the focus has shifted from mere efficiency to deep, trust-based customer connections. To explore how these trends are manifesting in the Australian market, Mark Atterby …

Why AI Transparency will build brand trust and loyalty in 2026 – Interview with Nicholas Kontopoulos

Failing to disclose an AI interaction, particularly one that results in a poor service experience, leads to negative sentiments and may  push customers toward more transparent competitors. I recently interviewed Nicholas Kontopoulos, Vice President of Marketing, Asia Pacific & Japan for Twilio about the indispensable role of transparency and trust when implementing AI. If organisations …

The future of CX is proactive and predictive – Interview with Swyftx’s Siân Howatson

In a recent interview with CXFocus’s Michael Gwilliam, at Ashton Media’s CX Retreat, Siân Howatson, Head of Customer Insights & Automation at Swyftx, discussed the evolving trends in CX, emphasising proactive and predictive customer experiences enabled by AI. She stressed the need for a balanced approach to AI implementation, ensuring it complements employee experience and …

Signature moments that generate value – Interview with Lachlan Davidson from Bupa

AI’s true potential lies in disrupting the Australian market by enabling unique customer experiences, according to Lachlan Davidson, GM of Customer Strategy & Performance at Bupa. Davidson also emphasises that AI must be leveraged to enhance ‘signature moments’, not just basic services. Michael Gwilliam from CXFocus recently caught up with Lachlan at Ashton Media’s CX …

Why Zendesk predicts contextual intelligence to be the new CX Standard – Interview with Kellie Hackney

Kellie Hackney, ANZ Regional Vice President for Zendesk, identifies ‘contextual Intelligence’ as the dominant trend poised to disrupt both Australian and international markets, projecting that it will set a new CX standard by 2026. This paradigm moves beyond static systems, focusing instead on the real-time infusion of AI, data, and human insight to create experiences …

AI needs empathy and strategy, not just ROI

Dannielle Pearson, Head of Customer Strategy & Insights at Concentrix, recently shared her perspective on the shifting landscape of customer experience (CX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Ashton Media’s CX Retreat. She spoke to CXFocus’s Michael Gwillian about the enduring need for human skills like emotional intelligence and critical thinking. She also stressed that CX …

For Kapitol Group human connection & trust wins the business

In the first installment of our CX Predictions 2026 series, I sat down with Laurence Fox from Kapitol Group to discuss how a high-growth, Tier 1 construction firm navigates the tension between maintaining efficiency and the essential human relationship needed to build trust on multi-million dollar projects. Mark Atterby (MA): Hi Laurence, thank you for …