Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

Strengthening Brand Connection with Personalized Merchandise

As it has been mentioned, in the current market environment, it is highly important to address the clients personally. Consumers are not just being offered products, but they are being offered stories from lives, feelings, and tribes. This link can be obtained through the use of personalised merchandise as one of the most influential methods. Whether it is a t-shirt that has been ordered to be designed or a mug or office products that have been branded for an organisation, customers are likely to become ambassadors for that brand. It gives something physical which can represent not only the company’s brand but also the personality of the consumer.

The Power of Personalization in Brand Marketing

Personalised merchandise is especially useful in print on demand business strategies. These businesses enable brands to sell customised products while not having to hold stock. This flexibility helps brands to easily adapt to trends, customer demands or occasions, giving customers a feeling that they are using something rare. Also, because the products are manufactured on-demand there is little waste and overproduction which is in line with the current trend of sustainable production.

Hence, for organisations, which seek to improve the brand association, it makes sense to invest in the branded products. People don’t just care about the objects but the history behind them and the connection they make. The targeted consumers will feel like they are valued and will always be associated with the brand hence promoting word of mouth.

Benefits of Personalized Merchandise for Businesses

Personalised merchandise has numerous advantages for companies, from customer loyalty to the interaction with the clients.Here’s why you should consider adding personalised products to your marketing strategy:

  • Enhanced Brand Recognition: People engage with products with your branding and when they put them on or use them it becomes visible. Each time a person employs that item, your brand gets a little publicity. It’s an unobtrusive and repeated reinforcement of your brand in the customer’s daily routine.
  • Customer Loyalty and Engagement: Having personalised merchandise is a good sign to the customers as it shows that you care for them. It makes them feel special and this makes it easier for them to come back to the brand in the future. For instance, a t-shirt designed for a customer with his or her name or a t-shirt that is designed and meant to capture the customer’s interest will evoke emotion.
  • Cost-Effective Marketing: Personalised merchandise is not the same as traditional advertising techniques where the advertisement lasts for a short time only. An item, if designed properly, can remain with a customer for several years thus giving repeated visibility. Also, using print on demand platforms, companies are free from the necessity to buy large amounts of stocks and can produce merchandise only if there is demand, thus, reducing the costs and risks involved.

Integrating Personalised Merchandise into Your Brand Strategy

To ensure that you incorporate the personalised merchandise into your brand, you need to ensure that the merchandise highlights your brand’s values and messages. First, define what your audience is most interested in: sustainability, creativity or exclusivity. From there, design products that not only embody these values but also provide the consumers with something that is unique to them. Use information from the customers’ preferences and buying habits to design products that belong to them.

Furthermore, incorporate tools that make the print on demand business easy, ensuring that you can sell many products on demand without having to store them. Incorporating such customised products into your advertising messages will therefore help you to promote brand recall, engagement and loyalty among your target consumers.

Steps to Launch a Successful Personalized Merchandise Campaign

Launching a successful personalised merchandise campaign involves several key steps:

  1. Understand Your Audience: Investigate your customers and their needs and wants. What kind of products do they apply in their everyday life? Adapt the products to their life and preferences.
  2. Choose the Right Products: Choose items that are relevant to your brand and will be appreciated by the target audience. When it comes to clothing and accessories or stationery and office needs, the products should be of good quality and useful.
  3. Leverage Print on Demand Platforms: Use platforms to sell numerous products that can be customised while not having to stock anything. This cuts down the initial cost and gives more freedom in designing.
  4. Promote Effectively: Advertising one’s customised product should be done through social media, emails, and collaborations with key opinion leaders.

 

Conclusion: Building Lasting Connections Through Personalization

Custom products are not just a promotional product; they are a tool for creating relationships with your audience. In this way, it is possible to provide the products that would correspond to the values of the brand and the needs and wants of the specific customer, which will help to develop the positive associations and, therefore, the loyalty of the client. Print on demand services can be easily integrated into the overall branding plan because it is flexible and cost effective when it comes to offering customised products. When properly implemented, these custom products will create brand loyalists out of customers leading to lasting business success.

 

An Garda Síochána and Coimisiún na Meán launch Information Pack with online safety advice for all general election candidates

Coimisiún na Meán and An Garda Síochána have today (08 November) published an Information Pack for all election candidates running in the upcoming General Election. The aim of this pack is to provide information on the roles of An Garda Síochána and Coimisiún na Meán, and to offer guidance for candidates on what to do when they are faced with harmful and/or illegal content or behaviour online.

The Pack has information on different types of scenarios that might arise during the campaign and what steps candidates can take. It provides includes further information on the rights of users under as part of Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Framework and the reporting channels to use for various different platforms when people suspect illegal content online.

Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations at An Garda Síochána, Shawna Coxon said “it is important everyone feels free to participate in the electoral process, whether they are engaging in real life or online. That is why An Garda Síochána and Coimisiun na Meán are working together to support our democracy by keeping people safe online during this election.”

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said “it is important that people are empowered to run as candidates in any election without being discouraged by illegal abuse or behaviour online. We want our media landscape to support democracy and electoral integrity, and we hope that this information pack will help candidates understand their rights online and where to turn to for help, if needed. We’re also engaging with online platforms on their preparations for the election and we expect them to play their part in ensuring that people can make free, fair and informed choices about where to cast their vote”.

Yanmar Unveils “YANMAR PRODUCT VISION” for Future Product Platform

Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. has introduced the YANMAR PRODUCT VISION (YPV), outlining the future of its next-generation design. Rooted in the philosophy of “Intrinsic Design,” which focuses on the core functional value and purpose of products, YPV presents Yanmar’s design goals for the future. The company plans to combine the design elements developed through YPV with its established design expertise to create a platform that will be implemented across its product range, including agricultural machinery, construction equipment, boats, and services.

Yanmar HD has been working to cultivate its brand image through designs that resonate with stakeholders, including customers, employees, and the general public, under the concept of “inclusive branding.” This effort has been achieved through co-creation with internal and external partners.

The new initiative, based on the concept of Intrinsic Design, aims to platformize the design elements included in YPV. This approach will not only standardize components and designs but also enhance intuitive operability and comfort with new interfaces designed for future tasks. Additionally, it will contribute to increased development efficiency and cost reductions.

These concepts will be applied to each product within Yanmar’s core business areas of land, sea, and city to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

About YANMAR PRODUCT VISION (YPV)

YPV represents Yanmar’s vision for the future, setting out the ideal direction for its business domains in 2035. Rooted in the philosophy of Intrinsic Design, which prioritizes functional value over form, Yanmar describes its design approach as “Gentleness and Toughness,” reflecting its tradition of producing machines that are both user-friendly and durable in demanding environments. By standardizing elements like new design aesthetics, cabin structures, and Human-Machine Interfaces as defined through YPV, Yanmar aims to streamline product development while enhancing functionality from a customer-centric perspective.

YPV in the Land Domain

One example of platformization is a redesign of the cabin structure to standardize components between agricultural and construction machinery. The life-sized concept agricultural machine YPV-L (Land), unveiled at the YANMAR DESIGN EXHIBITION held at YANMAR TOKYO from November 8 to 15, 2024, features a large monitor in the cockpit that functions as a command center, controlling other autonomous machines. The cabinless version, designed with full automation in mind, allows for customization based on work location and operator needs.

Unified cabin design and expansion to other business areas (YPV-C)

YPV in the City Domain

YPV-C focuses on the electrification of construction equipment to meet the anticipated increase in indoor work and renovation projects. The concept uses wheels (tires) instead of crawlers to enable swift movement to disaster sites. To address battery life and charging challenges, an autonomous battery vehicle will supply power when needed.

Image of a self-propelled battery vehicle automatically supplying power to electric construction equipment.

YPV in the Sea Domain

YPV-S (Sea) introduces a foiling sailboat that proposes a new marine lifestyle. Drawing on Yanmar’s extensive marine technology and expertise, the design leverages natural forces through foiling, which lifts the boat above the water, and sailing, maximizing the use of wind power to shape both propulsion and onboard experience.

Concept foiling sailboat YPV-S (Sea)

Cybersecurity’s First Line of Defence: The Role of People and AI in Safeguarding & Strengthening Ireland’s Cyber Leadership

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept—it’s here, reshaping Ireland’s business landscape at an unprecedented pace.

From healthcare to finance, transportation to manufacturing, Generative AI (GenAI) is solving complex challenges and informing better decision-making. The shift towards accelerated computing is also revolutionising productivity levels, much like the industrial revolution, with potential gains of 20-40%.

Through the growing use of AI in computers and other devices, AI is also modernising the workplace, enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

According to the Dell Technologies Generative AI Pulse Survey, 76% of IT leaders believe that GenAI will have a significant, if not transformative, impact on their organisations.

But, as GenAI continues to evolve and develop, so does its impact – for both cybersecurity and cybercrime.

GenAI has emerged as a double-edged sword in the cybersecurity landscape. It holds immense promise as a powerful tool to enhance data protection and threat detection, yet it also opens new avenues for cybercriminals.

Evolving cyber threats 

Over recent months, we have seen several high-profile cyber incidents both here in Ireland and globally that reinforce the need for organisations in both the public and private sectors to enhance their cyber resilience in our AI era.

SMEs are particularly vulnerable to attack. According to the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, the number of ransomware attacks targeted at SMEs continued to grow last year.

Infected emails and email links, fraudulent websites, and fake invoice payment requests from suppliers are some of the ways in which SMEs are being targeted. With the growing volume of data which need to be kept secured, many SMEs feel overwhelmed.

The Cyber Security Review Grant unveiled by Enterprise Ireland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) last month is a positive first step in enhancing the cyber resilience of the Irish business community.

AI strengthening cyber resilience

At Dell Technologies Ireland, we’re seeing businesses increasingly turn to advanced technology to double down on their resilience. The days of relying solely on traditional firewalls and antivirus software are over.

GenAI is increasingly being used to detect threats faster, predict potential cyber-attacks and automate security processes. Our latest Innovation Catalysts Study revealed that 3 in 4 organisations in Ireland now use automated tools to detect and respond to cyber threats.[1]

This powerful technology is also helping organisations to adopt a Zero Trust model. Instead of assuming that anyone working inside your network is trustworthy, this model ensures that access to data and systems is continually verified and detecting unusual behaviour.

When AI identifies suspicious activity, it can initiate recovery protocols automatically, such as securing critical data in a Cyber Recovery Vault—a highly secure and isolated repository for critical information.

This level of automation significantly reduces downtime, allowing businesses to recover more quickly from cyberattacks and resume normal operations with minimal disruption.

Employees as the first line of defence

Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology; it’s fundamentally about the people who use and safeguard it.

While AI and advances system provide defence against cyber threats, they are only as effective as the individuals who implement, manage, and interact with them.

Human error remains one of the leading causes of data breaches, making it essential to empower employees to be the first line of defence.

This is where robust cybersecurity training comes into play. It can help change user behaviour by fostering a culture of vigilance and responsibility. By educating employees on best practices and the threats they are likely to face during their working day, organisations can significantly reduce the likelihood of breaches.

AI can also play a helping hand. The technology can be used to tailor and personalise cybersecurity training programmes depending on an employee’s role, access level, and previous interactions. This ensures that high-risk users receive the training that they need, when they need it.

Protecting & enhancing Ireland’s AI leadership

As we mark the end of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it is vital that leaders in every organisation understand the cyber threats they face and place a greater emphasis on building cyber resilience in the AI era.

Cyber Ireland estimates that 10,000 additional jobs could be created within the cybersecurity sector by the end of the decade, offering a significant opportunity for Ireland to take the lead in this critical area.

By enhancing their cyber resilience, Irish firms can not only safeguard their operations but also position the country as a global leader in cybersecurity, particularly as AI becomes more integrated across industries.

The Government’s National AI Strategy points out that a strong approach to security is key to maximising trust in AI and a key ingredient to strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in AI-driven innovation. Furthermore, as businesses face new obligations under the EU’s Network and Information Security Directive, the need to prioritise cyber defences has never been more urgent. At Dell Technologies Ireland, our team of experts are building the next generation cybersecurity solutions and essential infrastructure for organisations to protect their most important information assets.

But, as cyber threats become more sophisticated and costly, employees must be empowered to become the front line of their cyber defence.

By continually fostering a culture of cyber resilience that leverages the power of AI and other emerging technologies while equipping people with the necessary cybersecurity skills, businesses—small, medium, and large—can stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.

Google to provide 500 Scholarships to local community to increase AI skills

Minister Eamon Ryan TD will today officially unveil a new community led Digital Training Academy for the Docklands area to support ongoing digital skills training for the community with a particular focus on promoting AI skills. 

The new academy has been  funded by a Google.org grant and  has been developed by This City Works, a partnership between Dublin city-based community employment services and Google Ireland, helping job seekers in Dublin find the right employment opportunities. As part of the Digital Academy, Google will also provide funding to support 500 AI Essentials Certificates for the community.  

The AI Essentials Certificate is an online self-paced course designed to help people across roles and industries learn AI skills to boost their productivity. The Digital Academy will also offer people the opportunity to achieve QQI level awards across various disciplines. As the first community-based centre of its kind, the Digital Training Academy represents a significant step in delivering certified training programmes to the local community. 

Speaking about the launch Minister Eamon Ryan TD said:

“The launch of this Digital Training Academy will give people the essential digital and AI skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving society and work environment. Together Google.org and This City Works are opening doors for people to gain practical knowledge that can boost their confidence, their skills as well as their career and employment prospects. It’s an academy for today that equips people for their futures and reflects the ongoing commitment of This City Works to the docklands and to supporting jobseekers and employers operating in an increasingly digital world.”

Ryan Meade, Public Policy Lead at Google Ireland, said:

 

“Since 2022, This City Works has helped over 4,000 people access skills development and employment opportunities. Google Ireland is proud to support these important initiatives and the Digital Academy will be a powerful resource for ongoing skills training in the community. AI has the potential to address society’s biggest challenges, and Google is committed to ensuring people from all backgrounds have access to the skills needed to navigate and harness this technology responsibly. By working together, we’re preparing our community to thrive in the digital age and ensuring AI training is accessible to everyone.”

Joe Donnelly, This City Works, said:

“At This City Works, we believe in the transformative power of education and community collaboration. The launch of the Digital Training Academy and the provision of 500 AI Essentials Certificates represent a significant step towards empowering local residents. By offering essential skills training and support, we aim to create sustainable employment opportunities for those who need it most. Together with our partners, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to succeed and thrive in today’s digital economy.”

To find out more about the Digital Academy, contact info@fairplaycafe.ie 

Data Breach Prevention Tips For Your Business

A data breach can significantly damage a business. It can result in the loss of proprietary information, damage to the company’s reputation, and costly remediation. The average data breach costs a business millions of dollars, but the impact extends beyond finances. How can a business prevent these attacks?

Data and Sensitive Information

To protect its data, a company must know where this data is located and what it contains. All data sets must be inventoried, and all locations must be determined. In addition, the company needs to regularly update its inventory and locations to ensure it is always aware of where data is. Furthermore, businesses that need a cloud fax provider or another third-party service must ensure the service selected conducts this inventory and knows the location of its sensitive client information.

Limit Access 

Business owners must limit access to sensitive data. Only those employees and contractors who must view this information should be granted access. Sadly, many business owners offer privileged access to those who don’t truly need it and put their data at unnecessary risk when doing so. By establishing and enforcing policies regarding privileged access, the business owner can reduce the risk of a data breach. They must ensure regular oversight of this data and use access management tools to facilitate and enforce the policies. 

Infrastructure Patches

IT security teams must monitor their networks and systems. When a security patch is offered, it needs to be used immediately. Zero-day exploits remain a problem today, so IT security teams must be aware of this and immediately take action when a manufacturer issues a software patch. Doing so will reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Network Perimeter

Network perimeter security serves as the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Many companies use firewalls, and they may also benefit from intrusion prevention and detection systems. Access control lists are popular among business owners, and they often turn to other tools to ensure business data can flow internally while identifying and stopping outside threats.

Endpoint Security Controls

Every business needs endpoint security controls in place. For example, malware detection software is essential today. As the distribution of users and workloads expands, traditional perimeter security tools become less useful. Endpoint security, when properly implemented and managed, offers the highest level of security against internet-based threats.

Lateral Movement

When a cybercriminal successfully overcomes the company’s perimeter security, they immediately look for other systems they can access and infiltrate. Limiting unsanctioned lateral movement can stop them in their tracks. Microsegmentation is helpful because it establishes isolated network zones.

Data Encryption

Companies often focus on encrypting data during transmission. Sensitive data should also be encrypted at rest to prevent unauthorized parties from accessing it. Never assume a corporate network is secure. Always encrypt the data even as it moves internally.

Password Policies

Countless data breaches occurred because employees did not have robust passwords. Business owners must require passwords for all applications and services running on their network. These requirements might include a minimum password length, multi-factor authentication, or mandatory monthly or quarterly password changes.

Training

Any person with access to sensitive data must undergo comprehensive cybersecurity training. Employees and contractors are two groups that need this training. Whether intentional or unintentional, mistakes on the part of staff, contractors, and partners continue to be a significant threat to data security. This area is also the hardest to protect against. Regular training can reduce the risk.

Data breach prevention is essential. However, companies must also focus on other areas. Business owners must find the right mix of cybersecurity policies for their organizational risk appetite. When the right mix is found, business productivity increases while the risk of a security incident goes down. Every business wants this. 

More than a third of Irish consumers would put off saving to buy a house in favour of more immediate satisfaction

Research in conjunction with Revolut, the global financial app with more than 45 million customers worldwide, and over 2.8 million in Ireland, has found that more than a third (36%) of consumers in Ireland would put off saving to buy a house in favour of medium to short-term satisfaction.

Asked what big spending projects they would consider putting off in favour of instant gratification, consumers across Ireland also claimed that both their own wedding (17%) and having children (14%) could also fall by the wayside in favour of more immediate satisfaction.

The survey, conducted by market research company Dynata, asked a random sample of 1,000 consumers across Ireland, with the findings representative of people from every county.

These revelations come as 11% of Irish savers also pointed to low interest rates as the main challenge facing them when trying to put aside money. Meanwhile, just short of one in five Irish consumers (19%) claim inflation is stifling their savings.

12% of respondents believe they will never be able to consistently save enough to fund these kinds of big life projects, and therefore prefer to enjoy medium to short-term satisfaction.

Revolut launched its Instant Access Savings accounts in Ireland at the end of May, offering customers competitive interest rates across all its different plans, with interest paid out daily.

Maurice Murphy, General Manager at Revolut Bank UAB – Ireland Branch, said: “Every bank’s mission should be to give its customers the opportunity to build their own financial wealth. With Revolut, consumers all across Ireland can get a good return on their deposits to ensure that they don’t need to miss out on or put off those big life moments such as buying a home, having children, or getting married. Revolut savers on all of our plans benefit from really competitive interest paid out to them daily, as well as immediate access to their money.”

Revolut Bank UAB (Irish Branch) was recently recognised by financial comparison site Bonkers.ie as ‘Ireland’s Best Consumer Business’ and ‘provider of the Best Current Account’, while the company ranked 9th as part of the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study earlier this year.

For more information, visit: www.revolut.com/en-IE

Edifier W260NC ANC Hi-Res audio earbuds review

The Edifier W260NC ANC Hi-Res audio earbuds have been in my ears some time now and it is time to tell you all about them with a super clean look and fit these have all the features expected and come with a cool finish on the case and earbuds.

As above the case is where we will start with that has a super finish to it and looks really well and above par in my opinion to the standard of cases we see today and it offers some grip too with the textured finish.

The earbuds are a standard affair and look familiar however these also have some of that textured finish that matches the case which is a nice touch they do look well and sit well in the ears and be sure to get the right tips for you for the optimum sound experience.

These are best used with Android devices and have all the features that you would expect from Edifier and that include Hi-Res audio and LDAC.

You have several noise cancelling controls which are High,Low Wind reduction and Ambient sound or just off making these perfect for indoors and outdoors and the ANC is good on these and so is the wind reduction on calls after testing it is Ireland we are not short of wind or bad weather.

The audio is great and of course expected from Edifier highs lows and mids all good no lag latency or tinny sound and several EQs to picks from such as Pop, Rockm Classical and Classic and even more if you choose to go the LDAC route you have different frequencies/ sampling rates and so on. On these earbuds you get a 10 mm woofer and a 6 mm tweeter in each earbud which pack a punch overall with good volume and clarity.

All your controls are present as expected and you can decide how they operate you can see more of that in the video below.

Overall again Edifier have delivered a feature packed pair of earbuds that look well and affordable and if you are in the market for something new you should put them on your list.

 The App

 

 

 

  • [Powerful Bass, Hi-Res Sound] Featuring LDAC codec and Hi-Res Audio wireless certification, the W260NC earbuds enhance sound reproduction and minimize signal degradation during wireless transmission, preserving sound quality.
  • [-45dB Deep Hybrid ANC] W260NC earbuds offer a noise reduction of 45 dB and also feature wind noise reduction and ambient sound modes, allowing you to select different music modes based on the environment.
  • [Dual-Dynamic Drivers] With a 10 mm woofer and a 6 mm tweeter in each earbud, they deliver the highest level of sound resolution, offering a wider frequency response and enhancing both the clarity of the vocal performance and dynamic bass.
Edifier W260NC – techbuzzireland
  • [Superior Call Quality] Equipped with 6 mics and an AI algorithm, they ensure clear communication, no matter where you are. Your voice will be transmitted with clarity and strength.
  • [Multipoint Connection & Bluetooth 5.3] Enjoy a stable connection with Bluetooth 5.3, which supports multipoint connection to facilitate the seamless switching between your laptop and your phone.
  • [Stylish Design] The leather texture and metal plating provide a grip and texture that is different from most glossy charging cases. Additionally, the ergonomic design ensures a comfortable fit. It comes with three pairs of earplugs to help you select the perfect fit.

Other Edifier reviews

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Big Red Cloud partners with GoCardless to streamline payments for accountants and SMEs

Big Red Cloud, the Dublin headquartered online accounting software business and UK’s GoCardless, the bank payment company, have expanded their relationship. Through Big Red Cloud’s integration of GoCardless’ payment capabilities into its platform, its customers can now, for the first time, use Direct Debit to automatically collect and reconcile recurring payments from their own clients directly.

In addition to helping accountants and SMEs reduce late payments and bad debt, the integration project will also free up time so they can focus on client-facing activities.

In a further initiative, before the end of 2024,  Big Red Cloud will also add GoCardless’ open banking-powered payment feature, Instant Bank Pay. This will provide accountants an alternative for instant, one-off payments without the high fees associated with traditional card transactions.

Marc O’Dwyer, CEO at Big Red Cloud said: “We are really pleased to be expanding our relationship with GoCardless. As a customer already using GoCardless for our own business, it was a natural step for us to look at how we might bring these benefits to our customers.

“Our goal is to simplify financial management for accountants, and a large part of that is making sure they have access to the latest payment technology. By partnering with innovators such as GoCardless, we are able to deliver – and we know first-hand how it revolutionises the payment experience for the better.”

Jolawn Victor, Chief Growth Officer at GoCardless, said: “We believe accountants should be successful because of the valuable advice and services they provide to clients. Building on our relationship with Big Red Cloud enables us to bring faster, cheaper and more secure payments to our joint merchants and their customers, freeing up time for accountants who can take payments off their list and get back to serving their clients.”

The partnership strengthens GoCardless’ position in the accounting sector, building on existing integrations with a number of major players in the space.

Big Red Cloud is based in Dun Laoghaire in South Dublin and has 75,000 online customers for its accounting software products.