Tag: Business

Tech Tip : Use Google To See What Documents Others Can Find About Your Business

Posted on by Paul Stradling

This simple Google search can help you discover whether documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other business files are publicly accessible online, allowing you to identify potential information leaks before someone else does. Here’s how to check.

Why It Works

Many businesses focus on protecting their systems but rarely check what information search engines can already see.

Google indexes far more than websites. It can also index PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files that have been made publicly accessible, sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally, and sometimes long after they were thought to have been removed.

How To Check

1. Open Google Search.

2. Search for PDF documents containing your company name:

"Your Company Name" filetype:pdf

3. Search for Excel spreadsheets containing your company name:

"Your Company Name" filetype:xlsx

4. Search for Word documents containing your company name:

"Your Company Name" filetype:docx

5. Search for PowerPoint presentations containing your company name:

"Your Company Name" filetype:pptx

6. Review any files that appear in the results.

Useful Variations

To focus on files hosted on your own website, search:

PDF files:

site:yourcompanywebsite.co.uk filetype:pdf

Excel spreadsheets:

site:yourcompanywebsite.co.uk filetype:xlsx

Word documents:

site:yourcompanywebsite.co.uk filetype:docx

PowerPoint presentations:

site:yourcompanywebsite.co.uk filetype:pptx

This can sometimes uncover files that are no longer linked from your website but are still publicly accessible and indexed by Google.

Why This Is Useful

This quick check can help uncover old proposals, reports, presentations, price lists, spreadsheets, policy documents, or other files that may contain information you would rather not make easily discoverable. It is also a useful way to understand what a potential customer, competitor, journalist, cyber criminal, or AI system might learn about your business simply by searching online.

Tech News : Voice Calling Comes To WhatsApp Business Accounts

Posted on by Paul Stradling

WhatsApp will soon let large businesses make and receive voice calls directly through the platform, as Meta expands its commercial communications offering with AI-driven tools and centralised marketing features.

Live Voice Calls Now Coming to the WhatsApp Business API

Until now, only small businesses on WhatsApp could speak to customers using voice messages or voice calls. Larger businesses, e.g. typically those using the WhatsApp Business Platform API, were limited to text-based messaging. However, Meta (WhatsApp’s owner) says that’s about to change. Meta has confirmed that over the coming weeks, voice calling will roll out for enterprise users, allowing companies to speak directly to customers and receive inbound calls within WhatsApp itself.

Receive Live Customer Voice Calls, and Call Them Back

Meta unveiled the new capability during its annual Conversations conference in Miami on 1 July, describing it as a response to increasing demand for more natural, flexible customer engagement options. The update means businesses using the API will soon be able to receive live voice calls from customers, as well as call them back, which is an option not previously available even in limited pilot tests.

For example, a telecoms provider could use WhatsApp to answer a customer’s technical query via chat, then (seamlessly) escalate to a live voice call when the situation requires real-time dialogue. Similarly, banks, or travel agents could offer consultations and problem resolution through a channel many consumers already use daily.

A Step Towards AI Voice Agents

While Meta has framed this as a way to support human-to-human conversations, the addition of voice to the business platform also appears to be a way to lay the groundwork for AI-driven voice assistants. For example, companies can already integrate with third-party providers like Vapi, ElevenLabs or Phonic to create AI voice agents capable of handling simple customer service tasks. By enabling voice pipelines in WhatsApp, however, Meta is opening the door to broader automation opportunities, thereby potentially reducing call centre overheads and offering round-the-clock support in natural language.

This move aligns with Meta’s wider strategy of embedding AI capabilities across its business tools.

In a blog post published on 1 July, the company said: “There also might be times it’s helpful to provide additional support to customers beyond just a text. Bringing calling and voice updates to the WhatsApp Business Platform will help people communicate in a way that works best for them and paves the way for AI-enabled voice support in the future.”

The Scale of WhatsApp Business

Crucially, WhatsApp Business has quietly become a key revenue generator for Meta. For example, over 200 million monthly users now rely on the platform globally, with Meta monetising the service through click-to-WhatsApp advertising and per-message fees for businesses. Analysts estimate that WhatsApp and Messenger business messaging generated over $10 billion in run-rate revenue for Meta in 2024 alone.

By adding richer tools like voice and AI, Meta appears to be looking to move beyond basic customer service into full-stack sales and support. Voice, therefore, adds a missing layer to the communication stack and helps differentiate WhatsApp from rival platforms such as Apple Business Chat or Google Business Messages, which focus more on text-based interaction.

Video, Voice Messaging and AI Follow-Ups Also Coming

It seems that voice calling isn’t the only new feature. For example, businesses on the WhatsApp API will also be able to send and receive voice messages, while some sectors (e.g. remote healthcare) will gain access to video call functionality. This is expected to enable new use cases, from live consultations to virtual product demos.

Meanwhile, Meta is expanding its AI-powered product recommendation tool. The system, currently being piloted with merchants in Mexico, uses AI to suggest items on a business’s website and then follows up with customers directly in WhatsApp. For example, if a user browses for trainers on a brand’s website, WhatsApp could later prompt them with related offers or updates, using AI to manage the entire conversation.

Although AI features are free for now, Meta has hinted that monetisation may follow once adoption scales. This reflects the model already used with messaging and click-based advertising, where usage thresholds determine costs.

Centralised Marketing Across Meta Platforms

In addition to in-app improvements, Meta is rolling out a centralised campaign management system allowing businesses to run marketing campaigns across WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram from a single place. This integration with Meta’s Ads Manager platform includes tools for uploading contact lists, targeting customers with personalised messages, and letting Meta’s Advantage+ AI automatically optimise ad spend across channels.

For businesses already using multiple Meta services, this consolidation could mean significant efficiency gains. Creative assets, budget controls, and campaign setup flows are unified across all placements, including WhatsApp’s Status (the app’s equivalent of Instagram Stories), which is now open for ad placements for the first time.

Scaling Its Service

These changes aim to make WhatsApp a more versatile platform for doing business, not just chatting. According to Meta, the updates will enable more seamless interactions and give customers greater flexibility in how they engage with brands. From the business side, voice and AI tools help scale service without scaling headcount, while new campaign features streamline cross-platform marketing.

For example, a retailer could run a sale campaign across Facebook and Instagram, then retarget interested users via WhatsApp with AI-powered follow-ups and even offer voice support to complete the purchase.

Also, it seems that customer expectations are shifting. For example, a Salesforce survey (2023) found that 61 per cent of consumers now expect real-time service from the brands they deal with. Meta’s WhatsApp enhancements reflect this demand for immediacy, particularly in regions where WhatsApp is the dominant form of digital communication.

What About Privacy, Cost and Competition?

Despite the benefits, some concerns remain. Privacy is a recurring issue when AI and voice come together, particularly in business contexts. Meta has said little about how voice data will be stored, processed or encrypted, and whether AI agents would have access to customer audio in real time. Critics argue that without clear guardrails, businesses risk unintentionally mishandling sensitive information.

Costs are another open question. For example, while many features are being introduced without additional charges, Meta has a history of monetising its business tools after initial rollouts. Once adoption grows, businesses could find themselves paying for AI features, voice usage or higher-tier access to campaign tools.

Competition is also heating up. Apple, Google and various regional players are investing heavily in conversational commerce and AI-driven service layers. WhatsApp’s popularity in markets like Brazil, India and Indonesia gives Meta a head start, but richer features alone won’t guarantee long-term dominance.

Industry observers also note that Meta’s voice strategy may not appeal to every business. For example, some companies prefer to deflect live voice conversations to lower-cost channels such as chatbots or email. Also, while voice may improve service quality, it also requires staff availability and scheduling, thereby making it less scalable for some use cases.

Where It Goes From Here

Meta’s latest WhatsApp update does appear to reflect a broader push to turn the world’s most popular messaging app into a full-scale business platform. With over 2 billion users and deep integration across Facebook and Instagram, the infrastructure is already in place. The question now is how businesses will adopt (and ultimately pay for) these new capabilities, and how customers will respond to a growing blend of AI, ads, and automation within their daily chat experiences.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

What’s clear is that Meta is steadily transforming WhatsApp from a messaging app into a comprehensive, AI-enhanced business tool, and one that spans marketing, sales, and customer service. For UK businesses, particularly those already embedded in the Meta ecosystem, these updates offer new channels for connecting with customers on their terms, using real-time voice, video, and AI-led engagement. The ability to unify WhatsApp with Facebook and Instagram marketing under a single campaign manager could also simplify workflows and improve return on ad spend.

At the same time, the introduction of live voice support changes the dynamics of customer service, potentially raising expectations among consumers while creating new pressure points for businesses. However, not every organisation will have the staffing or operational models to support on-demand voice calls. For those that do, especially in regulated or service-heavy sectors like finance, healthcare, or utilities, the feature could improve trust and responsiveness, if used with care.

There are also unanswered questions about how data is handled behind the scenes, particularly where AI voice agents are concerned. UK firms will need to watch closely for clarity on data storage, GDPR compliance, and whether Meta’s approach will meet domestic privacy standards. Any missteps here could undermine confidence in the system, especially among privacy-conscious users or sectors bound by tighter regulatory requirements.

For competitors, the race is on to match or outmanoeuvre Meta’s rapid AI integration but, with WhatsApp already installed on millions of UK smartphones, Meta has a head start in terms of user reach and familiarity. The challenge now will be ensuring that the platform remains trusted and accessible, even as it becomes more commercially driven.

Tech News : Tech Firms Leaving London Stock Exchange for the US

Posted on by Paul Stradling

A growing number of major tech companies are turning away from the London Stock Exchange in favour of listings in the US, citing better valuations, deeper capital markets, and greater investor appetite for growth.

Wise and Others Moving Away

Last week, UK fintech firm Wise announced plans to shift its primary listing from London to New York. The move follows similar decisions by chip designer Arm, which chose Nasdaq in 2023, and Just Eat Takeaway, which exited London for Amsterdam. Wise’s CEO Kristo Käärmann said the shift would provide access to “the world’s deepest and most liquid capital market” and the largest potential customer base for its services.

Klarna, Spotify and other European tech players have already listed in the US or confirmed plans to do so. Revolut’s founder recently summed up the sentiment, describing a London listing as “not rational” under current conditions.

Bigger Capital Pools and Bolder Investors

It seems that this trend is being driven primarily (and not surprisingly) by financial factors. For example, the US offers much larger pools of capital, higher valuations, and a more supportive investor culture. The New York Stock Exchange has a market capitalisation of about $27 trillion, compared to £2.8 trillion for the LSE. It’s this sheer scale that’s creating more liquidity and attracts more institutional investment.

For example, UK semiconductor and chip design company Arm achieved a far higher valuation on Nasdaq than analysts expected it could reach in London. Wise is hoping for the same, believing US investors are more likely to back its revenue-first, long-term model.

US markets also tend to favour growth over immediate profit, and this appears to align more closely with the business models of many tech firms. In the UK, by contrast, investors often demand revenue visibility early on and, for high-growth companies, that kind of risk aversion can be limiting.

A Shrinking Share of Global Markets

The decline of the LSE is visible in the numbers. For example, in 2024, 88 companies delisted or moved their primary listing away, which is the highest annual outflow in over a decade. At the turn of the millennium, UK-listed companies made up 11 per cent of the MSCI World Index. Today, that share has dropped to just 4 per cent.

For the wider UK economy, this shift poses long-term risks. For example, as more firms list overseas, the UK loses influence over its most dynamic sectors. There is also a risk of a talent drain, as companies with international ambitions may choose to relocate senior teams and operations.

Deliveroo’s underwhelming 2021 IPO on the LSE is often cited as a turning point. The company’s falling share price and lukewarm investor reception cast doubt over London’s ability to support innovative tech listings. That failure has made other firms wary of following the same route.

Government Reforms Are on the Table

That said, UK policymakers now appear to be trying to respond. For example, the Edinburgh Reforms aimed to improve access to public markets for scale-ups, and Labour’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves has proposed further deregulation. Changes include relaxing rules on sovereign fund investment, reducing tax friction for traders, and streamlining disclosure obligations.

Dual-class share structures, which allow founders to retain control, are also under discussion. Raspberry Pi recently adopted such a structure in its successful LSE debut, suggesting the market can support innovative tech companies when the conditions are right.

AIM’s Decline and the Call for Radical Change

The UK’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM), originally designed to support fast-growing smaller companies, has lost nearly 400 listings in the past nine years. Critics argue it has become too weak to serve its intended purpose, with concerns over liquidity and transparency deterring new listings.

Benedict Macon-Cooney from the Tony Blair Institute has called for a far more radical overhaul. He argues that the UK needs to stop “nibbling” at the problem and instead make high-growth sectors a national economic priority. That means rethinking regulation, investment, skills, and infrastructure to support innovation from the ground up.

New York Isn’t the Only Winner

While US exchanges are drawing the lion’s share of attention, other global markets are also benefiting. Amsterdam, in particular, has positioned itself as a hub for digital and fintech firms. For example, Just Eat Takeaway moved its primary listing there in search of a more aligned investor base.

Some believe the UK could build partnerships with emerging markets such as India, Nigeria, or the Middle East to attract listings from new tech sectors. ReachX CEO Rafael S. Lajeunesse argues that offering structured dual-listing pathways could help London gain exposure to future tech powerhouses outside of the US.

Making the LSE Fit for Growth Companies

Several experts believe the LSE could still thrive if it focused more on attracting £500m to £1bn market cap tech companies, i.e. the kinds that might struggle to gain attention on Nasdaq but are too big for venture capital alone.

For example, Raspberry Pi succeeded in part because its leadership team understood the IPO process and prepared well for the demands of public investors. More tech founders could follow suit with the right education, support, and guidance.

There are also structural changes that could help. Reducing the cost of listing, increasing analyst coverage for growth firms, allowing dual-share structures, and introducing faster listing routes are all on the table.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

What’s now becoming clear is that the London Stock Exchange is no longer the default destination for ambitious UK tech companies. For many founders, the capital, scale and investor mindset offered by the US are proving too attractive to ignore. This is not simply a matter of prestige or visibility. The decision to list in New York or Amsterdam is often about achieving a better valuation and securing the kind of long-term backing needed to grow globally. If London cannot compete on those fundamentals, it risks being left behind.

The concern is not just for the stock exchange itself but for the broader ecosystem around it. When companies go elsewhere to list, there is a knock-on effect across the UK’s professional services, capital markets, and innovation economy. It becomes harder for growth-stage UK investors to plan domestic exits. It also sends the wrong signal to the next generation of entrepreneurs who may begin building with one eye already on an overseas IPO. For UK businesses more broadly, this erosion of the local tech sector could weaken supply chains, reduce local collaboration opportunities, and limit talent retention in key innovation areas.

That said, there is still time to turn things around, but it will require more than minor regulatory tweaks. The UK will need to create a genuinely competitive listing environment that reflects how tech businesses operate and grow. That means improving access to capital, updating market rules to support dual-share structures, and better educating investors on modern business models. It also means giving smaller tech firms a credible path to public funding that isn’t crowded out by legacy sectors.

Recent success stories like Raspberry Pi show what’s possible when those conditions are met. If the LSE can build on that momentum, focus on realistic growth sectors, and reframe its pitch to scale-up companies, it may yet reclaim its place as a serious option for the UK’s most promising tech businesses. Until then, more of them will continue to look west.