Optus has launched a new online platform, designed to help the owners of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) connect and grow.

Lead by Matthew Ball, head of SMB at Optus, the Yes Business platform is the result of the telco’s research, which found SMBs feel like they don’t have enough access to information, ideas and tools to solve problems.

The site, categorised under “better team,” “better life,” and “better business”, includes articles and advice penned by industry experts, including academics and business owners.

It currently offers tips and information for business owners, but Ball said he sees it as an “ongoing community portal” for sharing ideas and advice.

“The world didn’t need another website,” Ball said at the launch of the hub today. “So what we did was build an entire end-to-end community, a digital ecosystem where small businesses can come talk to each other, hear from professionals… they can crowd rate the article, share it, [and] use that information.”

The platform follows the launch of Optus Loop, a cloud-based system that provides a hybrid mobile and fixed line telephony service for small business.

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