Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Forget Karen, Davids are set to be the biggest complainers of 2022

What started out as an innocent name, ‘Karen’ is now a pejorative term used to describe ‘an uptight, middle-aged woman that wants to speak to the manager’*, according to definitions online. But is this really accurate? Are Karens the worst of us all when it comes to online complaints?

MrQ has analysed almost 80,000 negative reviews on Trustpilot and TripAdvisor for some of the most popular brands, dining venues, tourist attractions, and supermarkets, to reveal the people most likely to submit a complaint.

The top 10 names most likely to leave a negative review online

Over the last few years ‘being a Karen’ has turned into an online meme, with people posting videos on social media of people lashing out at others for no good reason. But when it comes to leaving negative reviews on the Internet, which names top the list?

Davids rank as the biggest complainers on the Internet

Male names dominate the top 10 list when it comes to complaining online, with David taking the lead with a total of 1,028 reviews. This is followed by Paul and John, with 969 and 967 reviews respectively. Sarah rounds off the top 10 and is also the top female name most likely to leave a scolding review, with 0.6% of all reviews analysed coming from a ‘Sarah’.

Results show Karen’s really do complain one of the most online, coming in as the second-highest female name to leave a bad review

Overall, men are 131% more likely to complain online than women, but which female names leave the most negative reviews?

Rank	Name	Gender	No. of one-star reviews left
1	Sarah	Female	508
2	Karen	Female	373
3	Emma	Female	335
4	Julie	Female	320
5	Lisa	Female	297
6	Susan	Female	287
7	Laura	Female	260
8	Claire	Female	259
9	Michelle	Female	249
10	Jane	Female	242

While there are people that object to being called a ‘Karen’, the trend does in fact live up to its name as it comes in second place for most likely to complain online (with 373 negative reviews). Interestingly, more old-fashioned names such as Julie, Susan, and Karen rank as the biggest complainers, compared to more millennial names such as Daisy.

Lakeland, Home Bargains and Oak Furnitureland rank as the most loved brands according to reviews data

Rank	Brands with the LEAST negative reviews	% of one-star reviews	Brands with the MOST negative reviews	% of one-star reviews
1	Lakeland	1%	Hamleys	89%
2	Home Bargains	3%	Early Learning Centre	84%
3	Oak Furnitureland	4%	Disney Store	80%
4	Toolstation	4%	Peacocks	78%
5	Vision Express	4%	Build-A-Bear Workshop	69%

Lakeland is crowned the UK’s most loved brand on the internet, with just 1% of over 77,000 reviews receiving one star, closely followed by the discount store Home Bargains (3%). On the other end of the scale, toy retailer Hamleys has the least satisfied customers, with an astounding 89% of all reviews being negative with just 1 star.

The supermarkets with the biggest complaints online, with Asda receiving the most scolding reviews

Rank	Brand	Total reviews	% of one-star reviews
1	Waitrose	3,262	52%
2	Morrisons	6,427	57%
3	Tesco	10,580	60%
4	Aldi	4,372	62%
5	Iceland	3,921	62%
6	Lidl	2,802	67%
7	Sainsbury’s	7,661	71%
8	M&S	314	73%
9	Asda	9,870	75%

Asda takes the lead as the UK’s supermarket with the most negative reviews, with an astonishing 75% of reviews (out of almost 10,000) receiving just one star. Meanwhile, Waitrose revealed to be the least complained about supermarket, however 52% of all reviews were still negative.

Once again, men are more likely to leave one-star reviews for supermarket brands, with people named John leaving the highest number of complaints.

Fast food chains lead the way as the worst-reviewed dining venues

Rank	Brand	Total reviews	% of one-star reviews
1	KFC	2,492	79%
2	Burger King	857	74%
3	Papa John’s	1,582	73%
4	McDonald’s	3,750	72%
5	Harry Ramsden’s	73	70%

A large percentage of customers visiting some of the world’s most famous establishments were clearly very unhappy with their visit with KFC topping the list with almost 80% of all reviews being negative. Burger King followed closely at 74%, and the pizza chain Papa John’s at 73%. On the other hand, Krispy Kreme and Frankie & Benny’s had the lowest ratio of one-star reviews, with 30% and 32% respectively.

Big Ben is the most complained about tourist attraction

Compared to supermarkets and fast food chains, tourist attractions were found to have a fairly small amount of negative reviews. Big Ben has the most one-star reviews (31% of all reviews), whereas the likes of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Edinburgh Castle saw just 1% of negative reviews:

Rank	Brand	Total reviews	No. of one-star reviews left	% of one-star reviews
1	Big Ben	2,423	761	31%
2	Eiffel Tower	140,568	1,255	1%
6	Colosseum	147,358	795	1%
3	Edinburgh Castle	51,627	420	1%
7	British Museum	72,845	370	1%
5	Tower of London	65,987	357	1%
4	Natural History Museum	37,068	266	1%
9	Niagara Falls	31,538

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Twelve South releases new version of BackPack shelf for M1 iMac stand

Twelve South, a leading designer of innovative and stylish Apple accessories, has today launched a new version of its popular BackPack storage shelf for the 24-inch M1 iMac.

BackPack is a ventilated shelf that attaches to the rear of the iMac stand, providing a neat display or storage solution for hard drives and other peripherals, allowing users to declutter their workspaces.

Previously only available for 27-inch iMac models, users of Apple’s latest desktop computer can now add the handy shelf to their setup as Twelve South has now launched an updated version of BackPack, with some neat new features.

Like its predecessor, it features a compact design and is made from matte white aluminium that seamlessly compliments the iMac M1 stand. It’s ideal for decluttering cables and other desktop essentials, or, if the rear of the desk faces colleagues or customers, BackPack can display sales and marketing materials, desk figurines, collectibles, small photos, awards or even miniature plants.

It also has ventilation holes so that it can safely house gadgets and hard drives and USB-C hubs without running the risk of overheating. Included twist ties can also be used to tidy up cables.

The new BackPack now also includes a handy strap for utilising the space underneath the shelf, as well as on top, doubling the amount of storage or personalisation space.

BackPack for iMac M1 is available now from Amazon UK, RRP: £39.99.

The original BackPack, is also still available to buy so Apple users with 27-inch iMac models can purchase the innovative shelf for their iMac.

Safecility’s ‘Safeblock’ Project to Use Satellite Technology To Transform Building Safety and Monitoring

Dublin-based Safecility, an Internet of Things (IoT) specialist startup that focuses on smart and safer buildings, has been chosen by the European Space Agency’s Space Solutions Programme to demonstrate a new blockchain-based database for building safety. Currently, building safety is managed on paper or spreadsheets and has yet to adopt the transformative change that digital technology can bring. The project, Safeblock, starting in Q1 2022 will address this challenge through sensors, geolocation and distributed ledger technology (blockchain), providing timely, accurate and transparent information for a range of stakeholders.

Safecility will demonstrate a database capable of verifying legally-required safety data collected from smart sensors in buildings and publishing it to a secure database that cannot be manipulated. The data will make use of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) derived positioning data to authenticate the data entries.

Safeblock supports trust by offering a standard for transparent and immutable data from devices in buildings and making a database directly available to key stakeholders, such as owners, tenants and regulators. Safeblock addresses key issues internationally around building safety, trust and compliance and the Safeblock standard will support more trusted sharing of information, better safety enforcement and support moves to introduce a Golden Thread for building safety.

Safecility already develop and sell their smart building sensors for emergency lighting and fire safety across the UK and Ireland. The company offers a platform to manage compliance testing and reporting to customers. With ESA support, the company will offer Safeblock so building safety data can be shared among all parties in a trusted way. The startup has already been shortlisted for five awards including the UK’s Housing Digital Innovation award for its technology and ambition.

The two year project is rolling out in Q1 2022 and supports Safecility’s vision to support safer communities through technology. It also underlines the importance of research, development and innovation to the startup’s success and represents another vote of confidence in the IoT sector in Ireland.

Speaking about the announcement of the contract, Safecility CEO Cian O’Flaherty said “We are delighted to continue our work with the ESA’s Space Solutions programme on Safeblock. They have supported this project since its inception and are a fantastic resource for companies with innovative ideas for services using space data and technology. Safeblock will fundamentally change how building safety is managed and improve transparency, trust and safety in buildings. Technology has a crucial role to play in ensuring ongoing safety of buildings to the standards we all want. We see Safeblock as a key tool in the regulator’s toolbox to keep owners, tenants and occupants informed and safe. It can address global challenges with a simple, truthful record of building safety built on sensors that report in real time. In the same way we have come to expect a BER (building energy rating) for any property, a BSR (building safety rating) is now becoming possible.”

“Since 2018 Safecility has been awarded more than €550,000 in Research, Development and Innovation contracts”, he continued, “this has enabled the company to increase staff and contribute to the development of a vibrant Irish Internet of Things startup community. With the support of the ESA, Safeblock will now recruit additional roles in development and engineering. This project cements Safecility’s reputation as leading global innovators in the field of smart, safe buildings.”

Rita Rinaldo, Head of Projects and Studies Implementation Division at ESA added “Through the Business Applications and Space Solutions programme we support start-ups and new-entrants to the space sector such as Safecility to develop, test, and scale-up their business proposition. Safeblock is an excellent demonstration of the innovative utilization of GNSS, IoT and digital technologies applied to the housing sector. It will contribute to solve the urgent issued around building safety faced by tenants, occupants and regulators, delivering a standard to be used internationally.”

Welcoming the announcement, Gearoid Mooney, from Enterprise Ireland said:

“Safecility is an ambitious, innovative company that is changing how we monitor and report on the critical issue of building safety. The European Space Agency contract will support Safecility to combine the most advanced satellite positioning technology into its building safety management platform leading to safer living environments for building occupants and tenants.

“Safecility is one of a number of Irish start-up companies use space-based solutions to develop commercial market opportunities. This access to transformative technology is supported by the Government’s investment in the European Space Agency.

Seven of the World’s Ten Most Successful E-Vehicles’ Manufacturers Rely on Continental Tyres Ex Works

As sales of EVs continue to grow across Europe, premium tyre manufacturer, Continental Tyres is highlighting that its tyres are now relied upon by seven of the ten highest-volume manufacturers of electric vehicles. In Ireland, we have seen a 132 percent growth in the sale of electric vehicles year to date 2022 versus the same period last year.

Brands using Continental tyres as original equipment for their electric vehicles include Tesla, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Kia and US manufacturer Ford.

Co. Meath native David O’Donnell, who leads the original equipment business at Continental Tyres, commented: “We develop tyres for different electric vehicles and their fields of application – whether they are small cars for city traffic or off-road SUVs.

“As the only vehicle-to-road connection, the tyre makes a very important contribution to underlining the required driving characteristics of the vehicle model.

“We are proud that so many manufacturers around the world are equipping their vehicles with our premium tyres – this is proof of our development expertise and the premium quality of our products.”

Continental’s research has shown that tyres are responsible for up to 20 percent of a vehicle’s total resistance and therefore have a significant impact on energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is important to vehicle manufacturers – and therefore for Continental’s original equipment tyre business – as they work hard to reduce the CO₂ emissions of their fleets.

Low rolling resistance is also in high demand for the owners of electric cars, for whom efficient driving is understandably a priority. Reduced rolling resistance has a clearly measurable positive effect on the environment, as well as ensuring maximum mileage per charge.

Dr. Holger Lange, who heads up tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business, added: “With our specific rolling resistance-optimised tyres, we are contributing to more climate-friendly and sustainable mobility. We combine our decades of experience in tyre development with findings from various practical tests and development co-operations with well-known manufacturers.

“Recently, we introduced a special tyre for vehicles of the Stellantis brands Peugeot, DS and Opel/Vauxhall which exceeds the requirements of the EU tyre label rating A for energy efficiency by around 17 percent. This tyre is particularly low in rolling resistance but has also received the top EU tyre label rating A in wet grip – an outstanding achievement by our engineers and material experts.”

Continental has developed a series of special technologies that meet other tyre requirements specific to electric vehicles, which are available in original equipment and replacement products.

These include ContiSilent technology, which reduces rolling noise levels in the cabin by as much as nine decibels – something that’s especially important to EV drivers, because the absence of noise from the engine makes road noise significantly more noticeable.

ContiSilent is a special foam layer applied to the inside of the tyre tread to absorb vibrations from the road. It’s compatible with all commercially-available rims and does not affect a vehicle’s performance, fuel consumption, load capacity or top speed.

Another innovation designed to put drivers’ minds at ease and support road safety is ContiSeal, whereby a highly elastic protective layer on the inside of the tyre encloses penetrating foreign bodies in fractions of a second and seals the damaged area when the foreign body is removed from the tread – which can be achieved simply by the tyre’s ongoing rotational movement.

Around 80 percent of punctures can be remedied immediately in this way, ensuring safe continuation of driving and eliminating the need for added load in the form of a spare tyre.

EVs are already heavier than vehicles with internal combustion engines because of the battery units they carry. In fact, the increased weight of vehicles on the road has partly influenced the requirement for a new HL (high load) designation for tyres.

Continental has been producing passenger tyres with the new HL load index designation since 2021. When inflated to the same pressure, the new ‘HL’ marked tyres have a higher load capacity than those built to the familiar XL standard.

The load capacity of the HL tyre with load index 101 is 825 kg, which is a ten percent increase over the XL standard

An Overview of Business Communication Channels You Should Be Using

The medium through which a message reaches an audience is a communication channel. The audience can be your internal or external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders are people within your organization, such as your workforce and managerial team. On the other hand, your key customers, prospective buyers, investors, and vendors constitute external customers.

A few examples of such communication are as follows.

Internal Stakeholders: You might send an update to your company’s employees about a new organizational change.

External Stakeholders: You are about to launch a new product. And, you send a few prospects in your sales funnel some marketing messages. It could also be as simple as sending your existing customers a greeting.

There are a variety of ways that you can send these communications. The traditional face-to-face and written communication channels are great for certain activities. Then there are the more new-age channels like mobile and digital.

Even newer channels like video messages combine the benefits of old and new channels. Bigvu has an engaging guide on how you can use such cutting-edge channels. For example, video emails allow you to share your body language, tone of voice, and sincerity in your communication.

Oral Communication

An oral channel is considered the richest way for you to get your message across. These include things like face-to-face, telephonic conversations, customer presentations. They also include video meetings, conferences, and lectures. The messages delivered through this medium have a low level of distortion. That is because the audience also perceives your body language and the intonation of your voice. Apart from the message itself, these provide a separate layer of meaning.

Additionally, this medium also has the advantage of instant feedback. This medium, however, is the most labor-intensive. The number of individuals involved in this channel is the highest in number. They are highly effective in delivering sensitive messages.

For example, when there is a likelihood of layoffs in a company, you, as the leader, should use an oral channel. It will create a sense of assurance in your employees, avoid anxiety, and be used externally. If, for instance, you are about to discontinue a product that is crucial for a small set of customers.

Written Communication

Emails, text messages, reports, spreadsheets, memos are all a part of this channel. These types of communication are sparser. Thus, you must give appropriate context to what you are writing. Without this, the words in the messages might get interpreted incorrectly. You must also ensure that you remind the reader to inquire and clarify anything ambiguous. With this form of communication, you cannot guarantee that your message has been seen. Since these types of communication are received in large numbers, yours might just get lost in the crowd.

However, they have their uses. When you write something to your customer, they have the liberty to absorb it over a long period. It also allows you to send a large amount of information to your customer at one time. When you need to send complex materials that need to be studied, this is the best form. Contracts, proposals, and price quotations are some good examples of this type of communication.

Electronic Communication

Traditional modes of electronic communication are television and radio broadcasts. In comparison, newer modes are social media, web pages, and blogs. This channel has the broadest reach and is the quickest medium. This channel also allows for segmented marketing and will enable you to deliver targeted marketing messages.

This channel is highly efficient, yet it does carry some inherent risks. Hacking has become a serious threat to this type of communication. The technology that enables electronic communication is vulnerable, especially when a company stores unencrypted data. Cybercriminals can steal sensitive customer files and private communications.

So which channel do you choose? A rule that you can follow is this. The more the emotional component of the message, the richer the medium needs to be. When you need to send a very quick standard message, like scheduling an urgent meeting, an email will work best.

What if you need to cancel a lunch meeting? Then a personal phone call works much better. In reality, though, channels work best in combination. After a face-to-face customer meeting, the best idea would be to give them written notes of the meeting. It ensures that both parties have the same understanding of the terms and provides scope for future reference.

Is Zero Trust Security Necessary For You?

Once Google adopted Zero Trust Security into its network, it began to gain interest from the tech community. Zero trust is recognized as a reliable network security method to prevent data breaches. The model implements a policy that treats each user as a potential threat until authentication.

An effective cyber security model limits the risk of exposure and implements potent contingencies. All of these factors are taken into account with Zero Trust network access. Assuming a constant threat keeps the system vigilant in identifying potential threats and securing the network.

How Does Zero Trust Work?

The Zero Trust principle has become a standard practice in tech. It works to offer network and cloud security; it is based on two safety principles that dictate its structure. This model does not take security for granted at any stage. It varies from traditional security models in two ways:

Constant Vigilance

Newer models have always taken a more trustworthy approach in maintaining security. Devices already in the network do not come under scrutiny. Instead, they have access to any data contained within the network with verification. Without endpoint security, a network would be left vulnerable to internal attacks.

Zero Trust does not assume a device or user is safe simply based on its user history or network access. Instead, it automatically assumes any device seeking access is a potential threat and treats it as such. Access is also always limited to what is needed, limiting exposure.

Data Collection

User access, unlike traditional models, is not based on one-off verification. Zero Trust security continuously monitors every access request. It analyzes risk exposure for every device to minimize the impact of data breaches. This entire process requires collecting and updating device data.

Before authenticating a device, the process involves monitoring endpoints, perimeter networks, and enterprise zones. It also collects and continuously assesses user identity, credentials, authentication protocols, and risk assessment data. A supportive IT infrastructure maintains network security by analyzing this data.

How is Zero Trust Necessary For You

With Zero Trust security, your network is protected at every step. Security is never taken for granted, which reduces the risk of a breach. As it becomes a standard for data security, it has highlighted the internal risks posed by traditional security models. Without Zero Trust, increasing security threats leave your network vulnerable. Here’s why Zero Trust is no longer optional:

Internal threats

Having internal access used to be the basis of trusting a user or device on the network. While some of the greatest threats come from outside sources, they should not automatically overlook potential internal threats. Zero Trust uses a “trust no one” policy that takes this factor into account.

Risks of Cloud

Cloud-based networks are becoming more commonplace with WFH policies starting with the pandemic. Cloud security has become imperative as employees are spread out over more expansive geographical areas rather than working from a single location.

Traditional models based on perimeter security cannot cater to this aspect. Moving from the private data center to the public cloud requires a shared responsibility model. Zero Trust considers the involvement of other parties when implementing security.

Need for Limiting Access

Not everyone involved with the organization needs access to its entire network. Traditional models cannot limit data or segregate users based on their access authentication. Corporations deal with many external parties, such as contractors, who need access to only a tiny data segment.

Trust dimensions in Zero Trust security limit access to data based on the user’s needs. Instead of allowing total access that increases risk, this approach protects the company from unnecessary network access.

Increasing External Attacks

The world of cybersecurity has been undergoing rapid expansion in recent years. At the same time, cyberattacks have been on the rise. Especially with the move to e-commerce during the pandemic, businesses have become victims of increasing attacks and are open to greater risk of an attack.

New threats call for a new and aggressive approach to cybersecurity. This is provided by Zero Trust security that does not automatically trust any device and stays more vigilant in network protection.

Conclusion

With expanding online networks and databases, and company operations moving to cloud-based networks, cybersecurity has become an increasing concern. With this in mind, Zero Trust has now come to define the standard of security to protect organizations from malicious attacks.

Without Zero Trust, organizations leave themselves vulnerable to internal and external threats. A robust and vigilant approach is the best practice in limiting exposure and preparing contingencies. Zero Trust is not only necessary but vital for network security.

First Look – ASUS ROG Phone 5s Unboxing and Walkthrough

This is one is for the gamers but not only just gamers with the specs on offer here and what the company claims it offers pretty much more than your average smartphone and with a triple camera aray, stereo speakers. The device is not light but it is certainly robust and feels good in the hand and it is a case that you know you have a phone in your hand or pocket for that matter.

The ROG Phone 5 series is powered to win by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform featuring advanced 5G communications and premium Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming features. The upgraded GameCool 5 cooling system along with the all-new performance manager in Armoury Crate ensure maximum performance is available for any gaming scenario.

For ultra-smooth and ultra-responsive gaming visuals, the ROG Phone 5 series is equipped with a Samsung-built 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED HDR10+ certified display with an industry-leading 300 Hz touch sampling rate and ultra-low 24.3 ms touch latency.

Gamers can play longer with the ROG Phone 5 series thanks to the monster 6000 mAh battery, and the phones come with a 65-watt HyperCharge adapter that tops up the battery in the shortest possible time.

Today is the usual unboxing and first look but if you have any questions fire them below or on our YouTube channel and we will have a full review soon with image and video samples and more, there is lots going on there in the camera department aside being targeting gamers.

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One in three would switch provider after 5 minute wait for good answer

One third of UK & Ireland customers say they would switch to another provider if they don’t get a satisfactory response in five minutes or less, according to new research from analytics leader SAS. The research also highlights that 75% of customers would change provider if a competitor offered a faster service.

SAS’ Hyperautomation report reveals new customer-centric demands and a raft of fast evolving expectations, accelerated by the pandemic. Customers are increasingly demanding experiences that excel beyond attractive prices. While two-thirds (64%) of consumers say that competitive prices are very important when choosing a business or service provider, they are now rivalled by other factors such as convenience (59%) and speed of service (51%).

The consequences for businesses that can’t offer a fast, high-quality service, as well as cost savings, are dire. To keep pace with fast-evolving new customer expectations and to win the customer retention battle, businesses must be able to deliver a fast, frictionless, online service whenever the customer wants it.

While customers are placing a high value on speed and convenience, they are not prepared to sacrifice quality of service. More than half (56%) only want experiences to be faster if this also guarantees no mistakes are made or a better service is delivered. Achieving speed and quality requires hyper-efficiency from organisations – a quality only achievable through technology capable of intelligent decision-making.

Efficiencies must translate into great customer experiences

As the cost of living soars, organisations nevertheless have the ability to foster trust from consumers by providing rapid, high-quality services made possible through technology.

Business leaders and decision-makers agreed improvements in workforce productivity (38%), employee satisfaction (34%), and costs (34%), were seen during the pandemic due to hyperautomation (the simultaneous use of digital operating systems, workflow, robotic process automation, and artificial intelligence – typically via the cloud – to deliver high value autonomous processes through intelligent decisions). This enables a faster, quality service where it’s also possible to pass cost savings on to customers.

The need for hyperautomation is clear considering the current impact of simple, linear automation on customers. Many express little trust in using automated services, regardless of sector. Government fared worst, with just 34% expressing any significant level of trust in automated government technologies.

Customers shared that they are not yet comfortable with today’s digital-only experiences; just 13% of respondents would want to use digital-only to interact with customer services. Automated tech which lacks intelligence can’t rival human interaction, respondents indicated, with three-quarters (74%) expressing they are frustrated when they realise they are communicating with a robot. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) said that speaking to a human is an essential part of the customer service experience, with 64% of these mentioning this is because they feel more understood when speaking to a human.

The results show that businesses need to make consumers feel like they are being understood by delivering quality experiences and outcomes quickly and efficiently. The current views reflect the fact than online services primarily consist of basic robotic process automation and unintelligent chatbots, rather than the fast, intelligent online experience that is possible with hyperautomation. In fact, less than a quarter (24%) of organisations have currently implemented hyperautomation.

Customers are willing to accept automation, but have high standards

Automation is recognised as key to setting a new standard in customer experience. It is valued by 91% of the C-suite, who are looking to technologies that can automate repetitive processes. They want this for employees, for customers, and for regulators. Fortunately, the vast majority (82%) of senior decision makers in businesses across the UK and Ireland believe that hyperautomation will be important in the next 12 months, and two-thirds (67%) have either implemented it already or plan to in the future.

Customers are willing to accept hyperautomated services – and even have positive expectations. Half (49%) of consumers expect an automated service to provide speed and convenience, while a third (32%) expect it to show understanding of the issues and specific services relating to their circumstances. Half (50%) of respondents say that they would use a fully automated customer service if they were satisfied that their enquiry could be adequately resolved.

“Now is the chance for organisations to meet multiple business goals at once, improving efficiencies and mitigating costs, while still offering a superior experience to customers. It’s possible to have the best of both worlds thanks to hyperautomation solutions which can be easy to use on low code / no code platforms delivered via the Cloud”, said David Shannon, Head of Hyperautomation, SAS UK & Ireland.

“As we face the prospect of rising cost inflation, it’s imperative that businesses take steps to deliver what customers now demand, which is a fast, frictionless, and effective online service at a competitive price. Without this, organisations will be overtaken by the competition and fail to foster long-term loyalty to the brand.”

To see the results of the survey and learn more about hyperautomation, read the report by SAS entitled Hyperautomation: Using AI to transform your business.

Square Loyalty And Square Marketing Launch For Irish Businesses

Square has announced two new products in Ireland to help businesses grow their sales and engage their customers with just a few clicks. The two pieces of software, Square Marketing and Square Loyalty, are now available as separate subscriptions for Irish businesses of all types and sizes.

Square Marketing helps businesses reach customers at the right time and all in one place. The tool allows businesses to create, send, and track email marketing campaigns in minutes – from one-time email campaigns to personalised automations – expanding customer reach and helping sellers gain key business insights with analytics.

Businesses can now also build a loyalty program in minutes with the launch of Square Loyalty. This new to market tool can help turn one-time visitors into regulars and increase repeat visits. It’s easy to set up a customised loyalty program that rewards customers both in-store and online.

“Square Loyalty has allowed us to introduce a new way of turning one-time-visits into repeat customers,” said Jonathan Hughes, Founder of Shoe Lane Coffee – one of the first businesses to use Square Loyalty in Ireland. “As the tool works both in-store and online, our customers have the flexibility to redeem their points any way that suits them, with the process being straight-forward and streamlined for us at the same time. We’re now looking to roll out Square Loyalty across all three of our coffee shops, meaning our customers have the choice of where they want to spend and collect their points.”

This double-product launch aims to further level the playing field for businesses, as it provides all sellers with easy-to-use, powerful marketing tools that have typically only been accessible to big businesses. Along with Square products already available to Irish sellers like Square Point of Sale, Square Online, and Digital Gift Cards, Square provides a whole suite of customer capability products that enable sellers to manage the entire consumer lifecycle in one place.

“Square is helping its sellers bring more value to their customers by expanding the ecosystem of products and services in Ireland,” said Saumil Mehta, General Manager of Customers and Square Point of Sale. “Sellers are increasingly turning to Square as the one-stop-shop to run every part of their business, from payments and online commerce to inventory, team management, loyalty programs and more. We’re excited to help sellers run and grow their business with the addition of these new tools that enable them to retain and re-engage their customers.”

Data from Square’s email marketing platform shows a 25% average increase in spend by customers who redeem email coupons. Square Marketing key features include:

Drive buyer engagement & ROI – Square Marketing offers businesses a powerful tool to help grow their customer base, drive repeat visits, and increase buyer spend.
Plan ahead, automate, and send – Businesses can schedule or immediately send emails to customers by leveraging Square Marketing’s automation capabilities, saving them time and effort.
Measure campaign results – Real-time tracking is available in the Square Marketing Dashboard around active campaigns, open and click through rates, as well as attributable sales.

Square’s global data shows that customers who enroll in a Square Loyalty rewards programme are twice as likely to be repeat customers. Key features include:

Drive visits and sales – Businesses can encourage repeat customers through the implementation of a loyalty program.
Omnichannel integration – Square Loyalty is built into businesses point-of-sale and website meaning businesses can reward customers wherever they choose to purchase, whether that’s in-store or online.

“It’s been a challenging couple of years for businesses and it’s more important than ever for sellers to stand out from competitors and see the impact on their business,” said Stephen Smythe, Head of EU Marketing at Square. “We’re coming up to one year since launching in Ireland and have seen great demand for products like Square Loyalty and Square Marketing from our sellers – we’re delighted to be launching them into such an innovative and entrepreneurial market.”

To find out more about Square Marketing businesses can visit: https://squareup.com/ie/en/software/marketing and for Square Loyalty: https://squareup.com/ie/en/software/loyalty

The top 10 names most likely to leave a negative review online

Davids rank as the biggest complainers on the Internet

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Oral Communication

Written Communication

Electronic Communication

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How Does Zero Trust Work?

Constant Vigilance

Data Collection

How is Zero Trust Necessary For You

Internal threats

Risks of Cloud

Need for Limiting Access

Increasing External Attacks

Conclusion

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