Month: January 2023

Ten Irish SMEs announced as winners of You’re the Business Digital’s Acceleration Initiative

Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are today announcing the ten businesses that secured a truly unique, money-can’t-buy prize as part of the You’re The Business campaign launched last year. ‘You’re the Business’ is a programme that aims to accelerate Irish SME growth through digitalisation.

The successful businesses from across the country and a variety of sectors will receive a customised suite of digital supports from Google, expert sector and industry-specific mentoring across a range of technical areas that will help the ten SMEs to further develop their business. The selected businesses will also receive a €1,000 Google ads package each.

From family businesses to new businesses, from service to retail, the ten innovative and inspiring SMEs using digital to grow their businesses are:

  • Babogue (Kildare) – Certified Child Sleep Consultant, Erica Hargaden’s Babogue offers a suite of online video based sleep courses to help parents to manage the rollercoaster that is child sleep.
  • Camerino Bakery (Dublin) – Caryna Camerino runs the award-winning cafe and bakery and recently developed an online catering and cake ordering service.
  • Cullen Nurseries (Carlow) – Cullen Nurseries is a family owned business in Carlow, supplying top-quality native trees and hedging. Their award-winning site helps them offer an efficient online service with nationwide delivery.
  • DR Dogcare (Clare) – Animal lover Deirdre Ryan offers group or one-to-one training for dogs and their owners as well as a dog grooming service which can be booked through the website.
  • Prints of Ireland (Dublin) – Entrepreneurs, Heather and Peter’s online shop commemorates Irish landmarks with quality prints, totes and greeting cards.
  • Ryan Thomas Jewelers (Tipperary) – A family business selling luxury and hand-crafted jewellery in Clonmel for the last 43 years which can now also be purchased through the store’s website.
  • The Crafty Fox (Louth) – An award-winning fabric, crafts, and haberdashery supplies in Drogheda, supplying a large collection of top-quality products, as well as industry-leading workshops and classes which are available to book online.
  • The Cookie Co-op (Kilkenny) – A family business founded by Brian Walsh in 2020. Shoppers can order hand-crafted artisan cookies, muffins and bars online for next day delivery.
  • Velvet Cloud (Mayo) – Velvet Cloud is a range of handmade natural sheep’s milk yogurt and cheese, made on Flanagan’s family farm, and can be bought directly from their website.
  • Wonky Woolins (Galway) – Chloe Gardiner sells her wonky knitted toys from her well-designed website.

Speaking at the announcement of the winners, Caryna Camerino of Camerino Bakery said: “We launched our online shop in January 2020 just prior to Covid-19. Overnight, the website which had originally been designed to be our virtual shop window became our only shop window. Digitising our business meant that we were prepared for what came next and now the sales we make online are equal to the sales we make through the tills. We even grew the business through Covid. With Google’s help, we are now looking to reach new customers via online marketing, newsletters, and email campaigns”.

Research conducted by Google, developed in partnership with Amárach for the launch of You’re The Business last year found that almost half of SMEs believe they could more than double their turnover (40%) and profitability (45%) with an investment in digital skills. But, the research also showed that more than one in every ten SMEs based in Ireland (11%) are not yet using digital technology in their business – almost half (45%) of SMEs do not have their own website.

Alice Mansergh, Director for Small Business at Google, said: “Ireland is home to more than 250,000 small businesses, providing employment and services right across the country. Small businesses are at the heart of towns and communities across Ireland. With over 90% of Irish consumers now active online, businesses of all shapes and sizes stand to gain by ensuring they have their ‘online shop window’ – their website, their online profile – working well. At Google, we’ve been proud to partner with Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices to bring help and support nationwide through ‘You’re The Business’. The program offers free training for all available on the You’re The Business website. We had a tough time picking 10 lucky winners to receive an even more customised prize package, such was the high standard of entries. My huge congratulations to our lucky winners: we’re excited to support their business vision and next chapter of growth online.”

Richard Murphy, Enterprise Ireland said: The You’re the Business initiative has been a significant boost to SMEs across the country.  To be able to open up Google’s expertise in digital and online promotion to all businesses is a huge step forward in helping these companies to maximise their online presence.  Both Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices have been working closely with clients supporting their journey’s to get online and grow online and this will only help those companies further.  To the winners we wish continued success and we look forward to supporting them as they grow both here in Ireland and hopefully internationally in the years to come.”

Padraic McElwee, Local Enterprise Offices said: “The impact of digital for small businesses has never been so keenly felt than over the recent years.  Many companies have had to become more agile, more digitally adept to survive and thrive.  Having helped thousands to get online with our Trading Online Vouchers during the pandemic, this was an opportune time to help these businesses upskill utilising the expertise of Google alongside our partners Enterprise Ireland.  The response to the You’re The Business campaign has been phenomenal up and down the country and to be able to open up these online resources to our clients has had a huge impact this year and will do in years to come.  I want to congratulate all the winners and no doubt they will go from strength to strength on the back of this partnership.”

Launched last year, You’re the Business – a partnership between Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices – focuses on supporting Irish SMEs to upskill digitally and enhance their online capabilities. It continues to provide Irish SMEs with access to a series of live and on-demand training sessions, geared towards supporting companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey, including those at early stages right through to those more digitally-sophisticated businesses. The training consists of three modules that will help businesses.

For further information on the winners and the You’re The Business initiative, please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

Tech review – Mobfree SuperCharge – Worlds first 3-in-1 dual-sided wireless watch charger for Pixel Watch Apple watch and Samsung

If you are one to own more than one smartwatch and from more than one brand this latest product is what you need in your life right now and is affordable and not only that it is portable and USB-C, there is many offerings around that charge watches as a standalone product but this one does all watches without the pin connectors and having tested it here on several of my own smartwatches it is an ideal piece of kit to have and you should have as you will be aware it is costly to replace the charger that comes with your watch.

This product is launching beside a US based product which is a 9 in 1 SuperDock which you can see in the link below but we are here to talk about this pocket sized little smartwatch charger which is super cool and does more than it says on the tin after our testing.

This can charge most Samsung watches and Apple watches and also the Google Pixel watch and not only that is does also charge my years old moto 360 smartwatch which is pretty old by today’s standards but it still works and I still love it and wear it from time to time but now I wear either my Google Pixel Watch Apple watch or Samsung smartwatch and it works on all of them which is great and as we know battery life on these is not the best in the world but with this little gadget you can plug it in anywhere and even a power brick and charge all your watches and it also charge the Apple Airpods Pro 2 which we do not have here.

Check out the video below for more and of course check out their kickstarter page

Video Review

Impact investor Consortium invests €49 million in Fairphone

An international consortium of impact investors led by new shareholders Invest-NL, the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund and existing shareholder Quadia with its Regenero Impact Fund, joined forces with other existing shareholders DALHAP, DOEN Participaties and PDENH to invest €49 million in Fairphone, the Dutch sustainable smartphone company.
The investment enables Fairphone to accelerate growth and scale impact while pursuing its impact-driven mission towards fairer electronics. Furthermore it is used for the settlement of existing loans and partial exit of current shareholders, including PYMWYMIC and over 1000 crowdfunders.
Eva Gouwens, Fairphone CEO, comments: “Over the past years, Fairphone has been able to transform from a social movement to an impactful mission-driven company. I would like to thank all shareholders who have supported us over the years. With a growing base of mission-aligned investors, we will further raise awareness for fairer electronics and accelerate the growth of our company and impact.”
Funding to accelerate growth, product development and impact Fairphone will use the growth capital to strengthen brand positioning and create further awareness around fairness and sustainability in the electronics industry. The funding will also be used to accelerate integration of fair and recycled materials in Fairphone’s full product portfolio, for example by extending its mining value chain programs in Africa & South America, and fair wage programs in Asia. Moreover, Fairphone will invest in product development and improved customer service to ensure users enjoy keeping their Fairphone in use longer.
“We are excited to support Fairphone’s growth ambitions, as a truly circular lighthouse case within the electronics industry. With its unparalleled approach to creating ethical products with both people and planet in mind, Fairphone sets new standards for the entire industry. Together, we are disrupting a short-term way of thinking that the world can no longer afford, creating a sustainable and fair future for all stakeholders,” said Elisabeth Storm de Grave, Principal at Invest-NL.
Hanna Zwietering from the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund says: “Fairphone is a frontrunner in the sustainable electronics industry. The company has proven it can develop high-quality modular and fair smartphones in most competitive markets. Consumers love the Fairphone for impact and quality alike, in line with a growing trend towards conscious consumer behavior. We are proud to support the company in their mission and accelerate Fairphone’s growth to further increase their impact in the industry.”
Towards a fairer electronics industry.
By establishing a market for ethical electronics, Fairphone inspires the entire electronics industry to act more responsibly. This means taking a holistic approach to fairness for people and planet. With every phone sold, Fairphone shows that there is demand for ethical electronics in combination with a profitable business model. Fairphone gains influence in the industry to motivate suppliers and manufacturers to continue to invest in improving working conditions, worker satisfaction and sustainable business practices, as well as providing better opportunities for the communities linked to its supply chain.
Josep Segarra, Senior Investment Manager from Quadia states: “We are very pleased to further support Fairphone through this significant investment alongside new mission-aligned co-investors. Fairphone perfectly fits in our vision of the sustainable electronics sector, in which we have already supported companies in the refurbished smartphones and home appliances segments. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the uniqueness of the company and aspire to accelerate Fairphone’s growth while creating value for all stakeholders and safeguarding its long-term mission”

Spring controversy, storm names and other Irish weather insights to be explored by Evelyn Cusack at special Imbolc event

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies will host a special talk by Met Éireann forecaster, Evelyn Cusack, to mark the first day of spring or ‘Imbolc’ on Wednesday, 1st February, 7pm – 8pm, at DIAS, Burlington Road.

The talk – ‘Ireland’s Weather and Climate: A Journey Through Time’ – will take attendees on a journey from the time of Snowball Earth (around 600 million years ago) to the birth of scientific weather forecasting.

Ms. Cusack will also explore ‘spring controversy’, which debates whether Saint Brigid’s Day is the start of spring. The ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc is said to mark the seasonal shift from winter to spring. Imbolc is celebrated on 1st February, the same day on which the feast of Saint Brigid is marked.

Commenting today (30.01.23), Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “We’re honored to kick-off this year’s events, and celebrate Imbolc with an iconic speaker like Evelyn Cusack. Marking the shift from winter to spring, Imbolc – or Saint Brigid’s Day as it is also known – is an important festival in the Irish calendar both scientifically and culturally. At DIAS, we have expertise focusing on both on Celtic Studies and Cosmic Physics, amongst others – and a festival like Imbolc is a great opportunity to highlight some synergies in both these fields. This promises to be a fascinating insight into weather forecasting and our climate, and we would encourage people to join us for the talk.”

Evelyn Cusack has over 30 years of experience in forecasting and broadcasting on TV and Radio. She is the current Head of the Forecasting Division in Met Éireann, and is the chair of the EUMETNET Storm Naming Group, a network of 31 European National Meteorological Services based in Brussels, Belgium. She is also the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) Forecasting Lead for Severe Weather Events.

The lecture is free to attend and will take place on Wednesday, 1st February, 7pm – 8pm, at DIAS, Burlington Road. Places are limited and advance registration is required. To register, visit Eventbrite.

 

Creative launches its latest amplifier! The Sound Blaster X5

Creative Technology today launches the Sound Blaster X5, its latest USB DAC and amplifier sound card that ticks all the boxes on a discerning audiophile’s gear wish list. Decked with class-leading components, breakthrough audio technologies, a comprehensive connectivity profile and sporting a premium look and feel in a sleek build, the X5 simply pulls out all the stops as a compelling audio solution like no other.

Sound Blaster X5 means the business in both looks and performance. 

This is It for Pristine Audio

Sound Blaster X5 personifies the best of Creative’s audio engineering and design expertise, equipped with audiophile-grade components to achieve exceptional audio quality. It is the first Sound Blaster to feature a dual-DAC design – 2 Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs deliver high-resolution lossless playback in 32-bit / 384 kHz over PCM with ultra-high dynamic range of up to 130 dB DNR. These DACs can also decode audio formats in DoP128 and DSD256 for high-fidelity audio streaming. Audio distortion is practically non-existent with an oversampled multi-bit modulator for an incredibly low Total Harmonic Distortion rating of 0.00018%.

From studio-grade headphones with impedance of up to 600 ohms, including the most demanding planar-magnetic headphones, to sensitive in-ear monitors with 1 ohm output impedance, Sound Blaster X5 drives them all effortlessly. The award-winning Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplification technology, which is found in the high-end Sound Blaster AE series and Sound BlasterX G6, receives a design upgrade that, coupled with a dual-DAC and dual-Xamp configuration, delivers a fully-balanced headphone output and experience on the X5. A next-level design for audio fidelity makes its debut, using 2 dedicated Xamp circuits that amplify the left and right channels separately in isolation throughout the entire chain of amplification, effectively eliminating in-circuit interference, noise and cross-talk. What makes the X5 stand out even more is the fact that this type of audio design is a rare find in its price category (sub-US$300).

Audiophiles with a lean to customize their own audio signatures can do just that with the Sound Blaster X5. When connected to the Creative app, they can make adjustments with a 10-band equalization frequency graph, add on Acoustic Engine effects like Surround, Crystalizer, Bass or Dialog+, or use CrystalVoice to improve communication quality. When in the mood for gaming, Scout Mode enhances in-game audio cues to highlight details for a competitive edge.

Sound Blaster X5 also supports ASIO 2.2 for low-latency playback and recording, as well as easy access to multiple audio inputs and outputs.

Full Marks for Connectivity

Sound Blaster X5 is a competent audio hub in its own right; its versatility means it is also compatible with various devices, including gaming consoles, DVD players and other living room entertainment systems. There are two-way RCA and TOSLINK Optical connectors, a convenient USB-C audio and power port, as well as a 3.5 mm microphone-in port with an easy-to-access mic gain knob. There is also a 4.4 mm port for studio-grade balanced headphones, and a 3.5 mm port for regular headphones. All 3 ports use premium gold-plated connectors for better performance. It features a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver and a dedicated USB-A host audio port for connection to wireless audio transmitters, as well as external USB speakers, headsets and microphones.

With a set of controls designed for an intuitive user experience, Sound Blaster X5’s front-mounted buttons and switches are easy to access and right at the fingertips for the audiophile’s convenience.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster X5 is priced at US$300, £269.99 and is available at the Creative online store.

For more information on Sound Blaster X5, visit creative.com/SBX5.

A selection of innovative casino game features

We live in a tech-obsessed world these days. The vast majority of society has become heavily reliant on their smartphone devices, for example, alongside wearing health trackers on their wrists and sending emails on their tablets. With the array of different devices we all typically own in 2022, gaming has been explored by a number of people, too. 

In fact, mobile gaming is booming in particular. Given the way in which we’ve discovered a variety of apps that can make a huge difference to our everyday lives, it was always only going to be a matter of time before a wave of people would open themselves up to gaming also. Alongside puzzle games and console-quality titles, people are now discovering the benefits of playing at an online casino. Online casinos have risen to prominence in recent times, with the new and improved games most reputable operators provide enabling people to enjoy a unique gaming experience with obvious benefits. 

In the past, some would argue that online casino games were fairly limited. Now, though, with innovation leading to a much-needed makeover in this, and many other categories of gaming, online casinos are experiencing dramatic growth. With innovative casino features playing a key role in the rise of the online casino gamer, let’s take a look at some of the most impressive introductions below. 

Classic live dealer games 

The aim of most online casinos has been to provide a genuinely attractive alternative compared to a land-based resort that requires well-dressed big spenders. One of the ways internet-based casinos are able to provide an authentic casino gaming package is through the introduction of live dealer tables. With a professionally trained croupier present and dealing cards in poker or spinning the wheel in roulette, it makes for a proper casino gaming experience. From moving camera angles to HD-quality broadcasts with large production teams behind them, these types of games have brought a much-needed human touch to online casino gaming. 

Live game shows 

The live aspect of casino gaming has taken off. Alongside live dealer games, live game shows have particularly stood out in recent times. Extremely similar to the game shows we see on television, live game shows provide an authentic game show gaming experience with a host presenting the show and players around the world getting involved in the action. Another casino gaming product with a whole production crew behind it, these types of offerings are extremely professional, they provide genuine entertainment, and people who might not necessarily want to be on television can experience a game show challenge from home.

 

 

VR technology 

(Image via https://twitter.com/HWdomains)

Providing a simulated real-life experience, virtual reality gaming has risen to prominence in the modern world. All a gamer needs is a VR headset and they’re good to go, with a number of online casinos catering towards a VR gaming adventure. Players can feel like they’re sitting at the table in a land-based resort, VR enables a player’s emotions to flow as they get swept away by what is an immersive experience, and it supplements a casino’s offering beautifully well with a fresh and exciting new casino product. 

More banking choices 

Coupled with the impressive new games that people can typically access has come the emergence of more banking choices for gamers. Offering a more convenient service on the whole, the rise of technology has resulted in online casinos being able to offer a broader choice of financial services to the community of online casino gamers. As well as offering top-end encryption which keeps the hackers at bay, casino gamers can use credit and debit cards, pre-paid cards, e-wallets, and sometimes even cryptocurrency. 

Jabra launches PanaCast 50 Video Bar System to facilitate next-level hybrid meeting experiences

Jabra, a leader in personal sound and office solutions, is unveiling the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System at ISE 2023 as part of Jabra’s PanaCast 50 solution portfolio for small-medium sized meeting rooms. The Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is an integrated solution, that includes an Android based compute unit, as well as state-of-the-art SOCs, speakers, microphones, video camera, with network and display interfaces for easy deployment. The solution comes with a 10.1” touch controller to manage the room experience. The system natively and securely runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android or Zoom Rooms. 

The complete portfolio delivers flexible deployment options to bring the best collaboration experience with either an integrated solution on Android, a modular on Windows through the PanaCast 50 Room Systems with Lenovo and Crestron or a BYOD solution with PanaCast 50.  

The ultimate hybrid workplace meeting experience 

The PanaCast 50 Video Bar System offers the same award-winning user experience as the two other solutions in the portfolio. It features full-room coverage with its unique 180° field of view Panoramic-4K multi-camera array, which uniquely delivers true-to-life representation of the people in the room. It also has eight professional-grade microphones with voice detection and intelligent algorithms that automatically identify and remove residual echoes and static noise, as well as an array of four powerful speakers in a zero-vibration stereo setup. Meanwhile, its Intelligent Meeting Room Experiences, which include the Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom and Dynamic Composition, provide an engaging experience for remote participants.  

The PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is designed to adapt to the evolving UC experiences and hybrid workplace needs with its AI-powered software-defined platform. Above all, it is easy to install, manage and use with everything needed for video meetings embedded in the PanaCast Control for a one-touch start/join without requiring any additional devices, allowing simple, secure, and scalable deployment and management in any small-medium sized rooms. 

Aurangzeb Khan, SVP for Intelligent Vision Systems at Jabra said, “We have an urgent need to improve collaboration in today’s hybrid working era. Our research* found that meeting equity has a strong impact on an employee’s experience, well-being, and productivity levels. The addition of the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System as a room solution to the Jabra PanaCast portfolio – with the already-delivered BYOD and room system solutions – can vastly enhance the hybrid meeting experience. The Jabra PanaCast 50 solution portfolio addresses the spectrum of business needs for small-medium sized meeting rooms. We want to facilitate effortless discussions and encourage innovation amongst meeting attendees no matter their location.”  

 

Key features of the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System:  

  • Integrated video bar that runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android and supports your licensed Zoom Rooms natively without the need for external compute unit. 
  • Full-room coverage with unique 180° field of view in Panoramic-4K with three 13-megapixel cameras that preserve human scale fidelity 
  • 8 beamforming microphones and 4 powerful speakers with echo cancellation, noise suppression, Full Duplex and Super Wideband audio  
  • Cutting-edge intelligent meeting room experiences to support immersive hybrid meeting experiences  
  • Simple Start/Join meeting with just a tap on the touch controller  
  • HDMI-wired content sharing, proximity join and dual display support 
  • Fast and Easy to install with minimal cabling  
  • Environmental sensors to monitor air quality in the room in real time 
  • Ultrasonic motion sensor that detects people in the room, so the system wakes up and is always ready to go 
  • Real-time, anonymous people count data with full room coverage to monitor room usage 

 

PanaCast 50 Video Bar System: Available from June 2023, MSRP: £3229 

Find out more at www.jabra.co.uk/panacast-50-video-bar-system

.IE Domain Profile Report 2022 reveals reputational strength of .ie domains

Launched today, the .IE Domain Profile Report 2022 reveals there were almost 330,000 .ie domain names in the database by the end of last year with 48,168 new .ie domains registered in 2022. Now in its eighth year, the .IE Domain Profile Report is an annual exploration of the .ie database and is published by .IE, the national registry for .ie domain names. The report also outlines key advantages that can be leveraged by Irish enterprise with a .ie domain.

Cyber attacks

.IE  provides an additional layer of security to owners of a .ie domain name, free of charge. This service provides a constant scanning of .ie sites and involves instant notification to an SME’s hosting provider, who can help them take the corrective action once a scam has been detected. The report revealed over 500 cyber-attacks were taken down in 2022. Two in five were phishing scams and one in four were malware attacks.

Despite a significant increase in cyber-attacks, websites featuring a security certificate were down six percentage points resulting in more websites being vulnerable to attack. This level of security is crucial to safeguard customer’s data.

The report indicated that threats to a .ie domain are lower than other top level domain names such as .com. Only individuals and businesses with a provable connection to Ireland can register a .ie domain. Applications from new customers are manually reviewed to ensure that they meet this requirement. This process keeps the .ie domain largely free from scams and other illegal activities. 91% of .ie domain names are registered on the island of Ireland, with the total number of internationally registered .ie domains under 30,000. Top international registrants are from Great Britain (10,983), United States (5,117) and Germany (2,535).

Speaking at the launch of the report David Curtin, Chief Executive of .IE said; “At .IE it is a priority to proactively tackle abuse in the .ie namespace to protect both SMEs and their customers. The findings of our .IE Domain Profile Report highlight some security vulnerabilities of .ie profiles, but also demonstrates where we provide enhanced supports to help Ireland’s digital economy thrive.

Our .IE Tipping Point Report 2022 also revealed that SMEs who invested in their online services since Covid, 30% (1 in 3) were busier than they were before the pandemic and 36% maintained the same level of business. SMEs are facing a new wave of economic challenges post Covid but with over 50% planning a significant digital investment in the next five years, we want to make sure they are investing in that digitalisation smartly and are aware of the necessary security features to implement.”

The trustworthiness of a .ie domain is also internationally recognised by The SpamHaus Project, an international non-profit organisation that tracks spam and related cyber threats. They collate a Badness Index for top level domains in real-time with .ie currently listed with a perfect rating of 0.0% in comparison with .com with a Badness Index of 2.5%.

Regional Growth

  • The report identified the counties experiencing the largest growth in new .ie domain registrations, a positive ‘forward-indicator’ of increased regional economic activity, with Tyrone recording the largest growth for 2022 v 2019 at 73.4%. Tipperary came in second overall, with 26.5% growth
  • Mayo had the largest had the largest growth (+24.1%) for any county in Connaught, followed by Galway at 8.4% adding 2,303 new domains
  • Wexford came out on top in Leinster with an 18.2% increase. Amongst the border counties, Monaghan had the largest percentage growth (+8.4%)

Post Covid Growth

The report also indicates that the Covid surge of digital mobilisation has tapered off, identifying a drop in new .ie registrations year-on-year (-22.6% v 2021). This is much less significant at 4% (2022 v 2019) when compared to more normal pre-pandemic levels and demonstrates that SMEs continue to use websites as a core part of their business with the benefits far outweighing a social media ‘shop front’.

Speaking at the launch, Pat Kane, Founder of Reuzi.ie commented, “When I founded my business in 2018 my objective was to inform and inspire people across Ireland, making sustainability more accessible, affordable, and fun. In the process of selecting a domain name for my website it was crucial that I had access to something that represented my business as truly Irish. I chose a .ie domain name because we are proud of what that means to my customers and community in Ireland and across the rest of the world – that we are an authentic Irish business doing great work.

Along with added security, trust and higher search optimisation, there is also a wider choice of available .ie domain names compared to .com. One of the longest .ie websites is 46 characters long at residentialroofingandlandscapingspecialistcork.ie with one of the shortest just one character at w.ie.

The .IE Domain Profile Report can be viewed here.

How to grow a health insurance business with software?

Without any doubt, digitization has revolutionised every sector of the economy and the insurance sector is no different. While surpassing the difficult time of covid pandemic we have faced several constraints for our overrated health expenses. Therefore encountering such misery, people now are more concerned about their health and monetary expenses. 

People who want to set up and grow their health insurance business has the best time to get a solid kickstart. Using the latest software you can easily grow your health insurance business in a very short period of time. We have compiled all the important points in order to expand your health insurance business with the help of software. Let’s check out them below. 

 

Top ways to grow health insurance with software 

1. Best quotes for larger customer acquisition

Softwares use sophisticated data analysis to cover a large range of customers. Using the huge data customer requirements and demands software provides the best possible quotes for health insurance plans. In other words, quotes are surfaced on the official website to provide attractive benefits for customers as well as business owners. For example software works like a magic wand for entrepreneurs who want to boost their health insurance business. Check the various business benefits and get a glimpse of health insurance quoting software. 

2. Use customization to get an extra edge 

Now people get a number of options while buying a health insurance plan. With more features and customizability you can easily attract and retain customers. There are software that uses precise details of the customers’ offers and accurate plan for them. In this way, customers get more satisfaction from the health insurance provider. As they fulfil their requirements by catering the best benefits in their health insurance policy. 

For example – if a customer wants health insurance but if he gets a customized plan including post-hospitalization expenses, then it will be a profitable deal for him. 

 

3. Health insurance for companies

In the health insurance business, companies have to deal with a huge number of policies and claim settlements. If you have not taken the help of software it would be an arduous task to maintain huge data and claim settlement. Hectic work such as documentation, verification and eligibility can consume a significant amount of time. While using software to do all your documentation, claim settlement, insurance policy verification, customer authentication, etc is possible with few clicks. Modern software uses artificial intelligence to automate most of the work and manages most of the workload very easily. Therefore it is always beneficial to use intelligent software to boost your productivity in the health insurance business. 

4. Use software to take in-depth customer info 

Using advanced data analytics takes the customer information to get an extra edge for your health insurance business rise. In other words, giving attractive such as discounts on medicines, tests, doctor consultation fees, etc compiles deep information from the customers. In other words, customer health history as well as physical details help the health insurance companies to project better plans to them. While adding brokers, medicare professionals, brands, etc help you to generate the maximum revenue in less period of time. 

5. Compliance regulation 

In most nations, health insurance companies and their policies are regulated by government regulatory bodies. Modern software helps insurance companies to meet small to larger requirements by the official regulatory bodies. As we have seen in several cases due to the failure of minor compliances insurance companies had to compensate a huge amount of money. There it is anytime beneficial for the entrepreneurs to buy software for easy compliance with rules set by the regulatory bodies. 

6. Customer support 

To build a long-term health insurance business one has to make a robust customer support system for their customers. In this digital age to keep the customers increasing and retaining a strong customer grievance redressal is required. Software having automated processing with a team of dedicated customer support helps in the rapid disposal of cases. Additionally, using automated chatbots for common queries and dedicated assistants for complicated issues collectively help to grow insurance firms. While digital customer support allows fast redressal of customer grievances in a short period of time. Therefore efficient software magnifies your health insurance business extensively for a longer period of time.