Category: Business

Sturdy Support: The Safety Advantages of Renting a Scaffold Tower

Construction sites, maintenance tasks, and DIY projects that require reaching elevated areas require adequate support for working safely. The height aspect of these jobs often makes working on scaffolds or platforms a necessity. In such cases, it is crucial to ensure that the scaffold or platform is stable, sturdy, and secure. Scaffold towers are an indispensable tool for individuals or businesses that have to work at height and need a stable support system.

Renting a scaffold tower is a cost-effective option, particularly if the work is not a regular occurrence or for short-term use. While some may opt to purchase scaffold towers outright, renting them makes sense in many situations. Apart from saving money, it also ensures that the scaffolding is always up-to-date with the latest safety standards. It also eliminates the hassle of storage and maintenance. This blog post will highlight the safety advantages of renting a scaffold tower.

Increased Safety for Workers and Bystanders

Scaffolding is a temporary structure used as a support system in construction, maintenance, and repair work. Renting a scaffold tower rather than purchasing one outright offers many advantages. One of the most significant benefits is increased safety for workers and bystanders. Scaffold towers provide a stable and secure working platform for workers who need to access parts of a building or structure that are high up.

This makes it much safer for workers to do their job, especially with the addition of guardrails, braces, and other safety features. The sturdy support provided by a rented scaffold tower also reduces the chances of accidents causing injury to bystanders below, making the worksite safer for everyone involved.

Increased Visibility of the Working Area

Unlike ladders or other similar equipment, scaffold towers offer a wider platform that allows for a larger area to be worked on, which in turn significantly improves the line of sight. This level of visibility ensures that all employees on the site are able to see where their colleagues are working, plus monitor any potential hazards or issues that may arise during the job. Due to the extra space provided by a scaffold tower, it’s much easier to keep materials, tools, and equipment organized, which means fewer tripping hazards and safer working conditions overall.

Reduced Risk of Slips, Trips, or Falls

A scaffold tower provides a sturdy, stable, and elevated work platform that can help prevent accidents and injuries. With a scaffold tower, workers can easily access hard-to-reach areas without the need for ladders or unstable makeshift platforms. This reduces the risk of slips, trips, or falls, which are common causes of workplace injuries. Additionally, scaffold towers are designed with safety features such as guardrails and non-slip surfaces, making them a safer choice for working at heights.

Higher Accuracy in Completing the Task at Hand

One of the most important advantages is higher accuracy in completing the task at hand. With a scaffold tower, workers have easy access to perform tasks at a comfortable height, which improves their accuracy and productivity. This is especially crucial when performing jobs that require precision and attention to detail, such as painting, plastering, or installing fixtures. The sturdy support provided by a scaffold tower ensures that workers can maintain their balance and work without any unnecessary movement or sway, allowing them to focus solely on the task at hand and achieve the high-quality results expected by both clients and employers.

Reduced Risk of Injury Due to Overextension

One of the significant safety advantages of renting a scaffold tower is the reduced risk of injury due to overextension. When working at a height, overreaching or stretching too far is a common problem faced by workers. It can result in loss of balance or a fall, leading to severe injuries or even fatalities. With the sturdy support and increased stability provided by scaffold towers, workers can perform their tasks safely without the need for overextension.

Ability to Adapt to Different Heights and Angles Easily

One of the benefits of a scaffold tower is its ability to adapt to different heights and angles easily. Scaffolds can be configured to reach various heights, making them a practical solution for working in areas that are too high to access safely with a ladder. Additionally, scaffold towers can be adjusted at different angles to accommodate different tasks, providing a versatile support structure that is suitable for various job requirements. This adaptability allows for the efficient completion of tasks by providing a platform that is secure, reliable, and customized to the specific need of the job.

In Conclusion

Renting a scaffold tower provides a safe and sturdy support solution for a variety of projects and working environments. It offers several advantages over traditional ladders, including increased stability, versatile adjustability, and a wider span. When used correctly, scaffold towers can significantly reduce the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. Renting a scaffold tower can also be a cost-effective alternative to purchasing one, especially for smaller-scale jobs. So, next time you have a project that requires working at heights, consider the safety benefits of renting a scaffold tower.

Ireland maintains strong position in global renewable energy development attractiveness as market expands rapidly

Ireland has maintained its standing in the latest edition of the EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) remaining in 13th position overall at a time when global investment in renewable energy is soaring as Governments eye domestically produced, low-cost, low-carbon energy in a bid to reduce their dependence on imports.

The RECAI is EY’s biannual flagship global renewables report.  Now in its 61st edition, the index ranks the world’s top 40 markets based on the attractiveness of their investment in renewable energy and deployment opportunities.

Ireland’s overall global ranking of 13th remains unchanged since the last index, in November 2022. Notably, Ireland has climbed four places and is now ranked 19th in terms of use of Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPA), an arrangement where a company procures renewable electricity through a direct contractual agreement with a renewable electricity generator. This reflects the significant increase in the use of CPPAs in Ireland over the past 24 months as major corporates advance on their decarbonisation agendas, and it bodes well for achieving the goal set out in the Climate Action Plan to generate 15% renewable energy through such agreements.

The global index also specifically references the success of Ireland’s recent Offshore Wind Auction, which saw some of the most competitive pricing for offshore wind deployment seen anywhere in the world. The pipeline of future projects is also flagged, and the opportunity for Ireland is clear in the context of competitive advantage in offshore wind development attractiveness.

Stephen Prendiville, EY Ireland Head of Sustainability said:

“The global drive for energy security and a recessionary environment means the renewables industry has never had a better opportunity to accelerate. Interdependent legacy market dynamics are no longer seen as sustainable, while domestically produced, low-cost, low-carbon – and in some cases, low-lead time – energy looks more attractive than ever. Globally, we are seeing that developing policies to encourage the buildout of renewables has risen to the top of government agendas right around the world.

“The EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index rankings once again confirm that Ireland is the Goldilocks among nations for renewable energy development, combining the right blend of policy, structures, available finance, talent, resources, and drive to succeed. The rankings and analysis point to significant upside potential across many of the renewable technologies currently being deployed, such as wind (onshore and offshore), solar, biomass and hydro. Our stable economy and geographical positioning in the flow of material supply chains combined with capital investment, educated and skilled workforce, and the Government’s ambitious climate action policy, make Ireland a leading nation in this space.

Notably, the report makes a particular reference to Ireland’s potential in offshore wind.  We also know that there is significant potential for Ireland in area of green hydrogen production and storage. If we can unlock our full potential as part of the planning system reforms currently under investigation, I expect Ireland will climb the rankings quickly – and more importantly – we’ll be leading the way for the energy transition and positive climate action.”

Commenting on the increased use of CPPAs, Anthony Rourke, EY Ireland Government and Infrastructure Advisory Director, said:

“The energy crisis of the past 18 months has accelerated the energy transition plans of many medium to large users. Equally, many more businesses are demonstrating their commitment to delivering on their decarbonisation plans. In many cases CPPAs are a critical component of these strategies. We have seen the commercial imperatives line up strongly with the climate action agenda. This is driving a marked increase in enquiries and transactions in this space as a result.”

US Inflation Reduction Act changes the game

The US maintains its top position in the Index, supported by the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (the Act) in August 2022, which earmarks a combined US$369b for investment in energy security and climate change.

Ten months since its passing, this edition of RECAI seeks to explore how capital reallocation is impacting investment opportunities in markets outside the US. Among European politicians and policymakers, there are concerns that the Act is incentivising developers and manufacturers to locate investments in the US and away from Europe. And similar concerns have emerged elsewhere in the world, with governments examining the impact and formulating their responses at the policy level.

Arnaud de Giovanni, EY Global Renewables Leader, says:

“Legislation has sparked a race to the top among international markets eager to boost the competitiveness of their renewables industry. And with investment in green technologies benefitting from an impressive 19% rise last year, testament to the accelerating pace of the energy transition, a unique opportunity has emerged for the industry, worldwide, to double down on efforts to stimulate renewables supply and demand.”

To view the full RECAI top 40, the normalized RECAI ranking and the corporate power purchase agreement index, as well as an analysis of the latest renewable energy developments across the world, visit ey.com/recai

TCS Cloud Study: Ireland CIOs Prioritise Cloud Investment, Despite Macro Headwinds

Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) latest survey of senior business leaders worldwide, ‘Connected Future: How Cloud Drives Business Innovation’ reveals that cloud remains a long-term investment priority for 74% of major corporations in Ireland, despite current macro headwinds and the recent slowing of growth of global cloud providers.

The global survey of 972 senior executives included 102 respondents from across the UK and Ireland. It reveals that innovation is a major driver of cloud investment, with 70% of Irish respondents reporting that cloud is crucial as a catalyst for innovation for their organisation’s future. This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 59%.

This appears particularly true for artificial intelligence (AI): 79% of Irish respondents invested in AI and machine learning capabilities over the past two years, while 83% plan to do so over the coming 12 – 24 months. Both technologies are highly dependent on access to large amounts of data and scalability through cloud.

68% of the Irish executives surveyed say they have invested appropriately in cloud while 11% recognised that they have under-invested in cloud-based technologies to date.

Over half of respondents from both Ireland and UK (56%) ranked ‘new ways of working to improve employee engagement and productivity (e.g., remote collaboration technology)’ as their most desired outcome for cloud-enabled innovation. Progress is underway, with 32% already realising their desired innovation outcomes in this area.

In addition, the study also finds a clear majority of respondents (75%) in Ireland and the UK are using cloud technologies to achieve their sustainability goals. This is higher than the global average of 67%, however, 48% reported difficulty in understanding the carbon footprints of cloud service providers. This suggests that while most respondents see cloud as an important—and thus far successful—part of their sustainability strategy and increasingly use cloud tools to assess their own carbon impact, they are now demanding the same visibility from their cloud providers.

Overall, despite significant progress in recent years, the study reveals that businesses still have a long way to go to unlock the full power and potential of cloud. Other key findings for Ireland and the UK include:

  • Industry clouds or ‘vertical clouds’ are rapidly emerging as a fast path to acquiring greater business expertise and capabilities, with an overwhelming majority of executives (79%) already assessing, adopting, or using them in business today. This is higher than the global average of 73%, indicating Ireland and the UK are ahead in leveraging the cloud for industrial applications.
  • 84% of respondents want to participate in digital ecosystems, but most are still far from realising their full value: 43% are still in the earliest stages of transition towards mature digital ecosystems.
  • Critical skills shortages continue to affect businesses in the cloud space, around half (up to 55%) of respondents report a lack of full cloud proficiencies in-house.

Gerard Grant, Director of Strategic Initiatives, TCS Ireland, said: “Despite the challenging economic climate, a majority of large enterprises in Ireland are prioritising long-term investment in the cloud to power innovations such as AI and drive new business models. Interestingly, Ireland is already making progress when it comes to industry-specific cloud deployments and achieving their sustainability goals. We expect to see an acceleration of innovation, as more businesses start to leverage cloud technologies for long-term growth and profitability.” 

Krishnan Ramanujam, President, Enterprise Growth Group, TCS, comments: “A desire for greater efficiency, resilience, and flexibility drove early cloud adoption, and these remain critical factors. Businesses now more fully understand how cloud drives business growth and innovation for the long-term, and for most, the journey is only just getting started.”   

“Cloud is a frequent source of short-term ROI anxieties, but growth and transformation is a long game. Reconciling these two realities is a challenge and a necessity, but fully achievable with the right strategy and planning. This is critical because cloud is now the unifying digital fabric of every enterprise, fuelling powerful technologies—from generative AI to edge and quantum computing—and is ushering the next wave of innovations now and into the future,” Ramanujam adds.

The 2023 TCS global cloud study surveyed 972 senior executives at companies exceeding $1 billion in annual revenue from multiple sectors across Asia, Europe and North America. A majority of the companies report annual revenues in excess of $5 billion. Individual markets surveyed include:

  • Continental Europe (Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland​, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg).
  • UK & Ireland
  • North America (USA, Canada, Mexico)​.
  • APAC​ (India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand).

To read the full report and receive further information, please visit https://www.tcs.com/insights/global-studies/tcs-global-cloud-study

Useful Information You Should Know About On-page Optimization

Are you a business owner who wants to make your brand more available to internet users? Do you struggle to find the right way to boost your website’s viewership? There are many ways to optimize your website to make it more appealing to potential customers. 

These useful tips on how to make the most of your online presence can be implemented one by one or simultaneously. Check out each one and decide which tasks will work best for the benefit of your website.  

Optimizing Your Site With SEO

Whether your business is large or small, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is SEO, which stands for search engine optimization. This is the process of maximizing traffic to your site by ensuring that your website appears high up on search engine results pages.

Almost nobody browses page two of search results pages on Google or other popular search engines. So, if you want your business to be discoverable, you need to make sure your site comes up at the top of page one. Employ SEO techniques like keyword use and link building, professional web design, and the creation of relevant, high-quality content across multiple channels to achieve this goal. 

Keywords and Link Building

A couple of classic SEO optimization techniques are the use of keywords and link building. Keywords are words and phrases that are relevant to your business and feature on the sites and blog posts of your competitors. You can use online tools to discover which keywords are most relevant to your business and make sure to use them in natural ways throughout your web pages and in your content.Furthermore, understanding the intricacies of SEO and link building can be challenging, especially for businesses new to the digital landscape.

For those seeking guidance, resources like those offered by Digital Spotlight AU, a specialist in SEO strategies, can be invaluable. Their insights and expertise can help demystify these concepts, ensuring your SEO efforts are both effective and aligned with the latest industry practices.

Meanwhile, link building is the process of generating a lot of backlinks to your site from well-reputed blogs, news sites, and other relevant websites. This improves your search engine ranking as it associates your page with reputable and trusted sites. You can also create internal links to other pages on your site to encourage readers to visit your site and learn more. If you are mentioned in any large publications, make sure to feature this on your site, as it makes your company look more legitimate.

The Power of a Well-Designed Website

If you want to optimize your online site for maximum traffic, you first have to understand the importance of a well-designed website. Experts at Paddle Creative highlight the power of a fully-optimized website that is responsive, boasts relevant compressed visuals, and advanced animations, for generating new leads and making sales. Only when your website is designed by professionals with search engine optimization in mind can you achieve a wider global audience and business growth

Webflow is software used by companies for website building and hosting. Its online visual editor platform allows users to design, build, and launch websites without a lot of previous experience in web design. It is easy to use and produces great results in terms of creating a usable, reliable, and appealing website that ranks well on search engines. 

Create Relevant and High-Quality Content

Another essential technique for improving your on-page optimization is the creation of relevant and high-quality content. You should generate informative blog posts about your products or services and related topics. Then, visitors to your site will see that you are an authority in the field and a great source of useful and up-to-date information.

You can also create engaging videos about hot topics in your field. Just make sure that your videos are concise, informative, and meaningful to your target audience. The idea is to grab the attention of potential leads and turn them into paying customers. Include a call to action in your videos and blogs to subscribe to your newsletter, try out a product, or visit another page on the site so you can retain the viewer’s interest. 

An important thing to remember with this kind of content is consistency. High-quality content is only considered high-quality if every post is of the same caliber. A consistent message will give your brand a good reputation and lead to customer loyalty. 

Use Multiple Social Media Channels 

Once you have generated content like informative articles and entertaining videos, you can upload them onto popular sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Make sure all of your content features your business name and logo clearly and there is a link to your site in the description. This way, you will attract a wider global audience to your well-designed and SEO-optimized site. 

You can even feature some of your TikToks or Instagram reels on your website to hook visitors and encourage them to explore your social media channels in more depth. One of the great things about social media posts is that they are shown to social media users who are most likely to want to engage with your products or services. This is due to the clever algorithms that govern social media “for you” or “discover” pages. 

By using multiple social media platforms to disseminate your engaging, relevant, and high-quality content, you can maximize your reach to various corners of the planet, build a following online, develop a strong online presence, and encourage conversations about your business and its products or services. 

Having a positive online presence and an easily-recognizable brand will be very beneficial for attracting new leads and retaining customers. Highlight your presence on social media on your website so people know that you are a transparent company, easy to get in touch with, and have a large following.

 

The optimization of a web page can be tackled in many different ways, as highlighted by this article. The key to really knowing how to optimize your viewership is to know what works for your brand. 

Any number of these suggestions can be put into place in order to bring more people to your website and usually, the key is a combination of all of them. Keep these tips on hand and see how they can make your business grow its online presence. 

Less than half of business leaders think their company is adequately prepared to respond to a cyber breach

A survey from Irish IT service provider Auxilion has revealed that less than half (44%) of business leaders in Ireland think their organisation is adequately prepared to respond to a cyber breach.

The survey of 100 C-suite executives in larger companies or enterprises (more than 250 employees) across Ireland, carried out by Censuswide, also revealed that more than a third (36%) of businesses fell victim to a cyberattack in 2022 and 44% of business leaders think their company will fall victim to a cybersecurity breach this year.

Moreover, some 42% don’t believe they have enough skills within their organisation to guide it through a cyber-attack and a similar proportion (41%) don’t believe their cybersecurity budget is adequate to protect against all risks.

Furthermore, 34% of respondents don’t believe their leadership team or board is doing everything it can to safeguard the company’s digital assets and data. Despite these concerns, just 20% of business leaders expect to invest in cybersecurity solutions in 2023.

The research also revealed that only 36% of business leaders think their organisation upholds governance adequately and 43% have had to abandon a project due to poor governance. The average cost of failed IT projects during 2022 came in at €840,671.

However, a little over half (51%) undertake an annual self-assessment of performance relating to governance or compliance. To improve governance, 43% said outsourcing to a third party would improve their company’s governance, with 44% already using a managed services provider.

The top benefits of working with managed services providers were found to be 24/7 assistance (21%), increased project delivery (21%), cost savings (20%), plugging the skills gap (20%), and improved productivity (19%). Eighteen per cent said supporting compliance, while enhanced security was cited by 17% of respondents.

Commenting on these results, Philip Maguire, Auxilion CEO and founder, said: “The survey highlights the need for organisations to identify and implement IT strategies which directly support business goals and address concerns – some of which could prove, or are already proving, to be quite costly.

 “Not only are companies facing the possibility of cyber breaches due to inadequate safeguards, but failed IT projects are also impacting the bottom line. That’s not to mention the worries business leaders have around plugging the skills gap and achieving company objectives.

 Organisations really need to look at what digital solutions and services they can deploy today to overcome such obstacles and capitalise on potential opportunities. As well as rectifying the areas of poor governance and inadequate cybersecurity, these technologies can also boost efficiency, support productivity and drive growth.”

Nearly half of businesses in Ireland plan to spend less on sustainability this year

Expleo, a global engineering, technology and consulting service provider, today announces the results of new research, which found that 49% of enterprises on the island of Ireland will spend less on sustainability initiatives in the next 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months, due to concerns about the current economic outlook. This comes despite 84% of business leaders believing that their organisation could do more to make their IT infrastructure and projects more environmentally friendly. The research is published in Expleo’s Business Transformation Index (BTI) 2023 Ireland Spotlight report, which is launched today.

The global study, which included a survey of 141 business leaders in medium to large-sized enterprises on the island of Ireland, suggests a softening of the importance being placed on sustainability by businesses operating in Ireland. Along with reduced investments in sustainability efforts, the proportion of organisations reporting to have clear plans that will help Ireland to meet its decarbonisation targets has gone down from 90% to 80%. Meanwhile, just 22% of business leaders surveyed said that they are focussing on climate action as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, versus a considerably higher 37% globally.

While economic uncertainty is squeezing sustainability budgets, business leaders also expressed concerns that too great a focus on sustainability can hamper innovation. Expleo’s research found that more than a third (35%) believe that focusing too much on sustainability will limit their organisation’s ability to innovate. This is in contrast to a larger proportion (49%), who believe a focus on sustainability is, in fact, a strong catalyst for innovation.

The BTI research found that a failure to act on sustainability is proving costly for businesses in Ireland, as 54% – versus 41% globally – reported having lost customers due to dissatisfaction with their sustainability performance last year. Conversely, 47% of businesses said that they themselves had stopped working with suppliers or customers who were not meeting their sustainability expectations.

In addition to reviewing their customer and supply chains, businesses are also offsetting the environmental impact of their technologies and IT infrastructure. Expleo’s research found that the average business is currently offsetting 43%  of the carbon footprint of their technologies and IT infrastructure. In the next 12 months, the average enterprise in Ireland will spend €1.4M on offsetting their IT and technologies.

Other sustainability initiatives that medium to large-sized businesses are pursuing include: developing more environmentally sustainable products and services (53%); using technology to monitor where resources are being wasted and therefore reduce consumption (45%); using renewable energy sources to power facilities and technologies (45%); and sourcing from environmentally responsible technology suppliers and partners where possible (43%).

Looking to the future, the most common plans of action amongst those surveyed included mapping out a Net Zero future for their company (58%) and shifting to a circular business model (57%).

Phil Codd, Managing Director, Expleo Ireland, said: “Our Business Transformation Index 2023 Ireland Spotlight provides valuable insights and recommendations on the challenges facing organisations today and the transformative business practices that can pave the way to success. Sustainability has become core to this success to the point where it is not just the right thing to do anymore; it is a deal-breaker for doing business. Our research shows that without it, organisations are suffering reputational damage and the lost revenues that come with it – something that we expect will continue and even intensify in tandem with the widespread focus on sustainability.

 “While it is important to keep a watchful eye on the economic outlook, businesses must realise that sustainability is not optional. Becoming a more sustainable enterprise may require upfront investment, but in the long-term, the resulting initiatives promote innovation, efficiency and cost-saving. Reducing sustainability investments is therefore by far the more costly option.”

TEKenable Acquires Salesforce Specialist Tether

Technology and services company, TEKenable has announced its acquisition of specialist Salesforce consulting company, Tether.  As a Gold Salesforce Partner, Tether offers clients a range of services to help deliver strategic and business improvement projects through the use of the Salesforce platform.

The acquisition by TEKenable will strengthen the company’s Salesforce ‘Cloud’ offering, enhance its Salesforce practice, and provide a platform for further growth.

Nick Connors, Group CEO TEKenable said:

“I am delighted to welcome the Tether team to the TEKenable family.  Their proven track record in delivering Salesforce solutions to their clients complements TEKenable’s existing Salesforce practice, and combined will result in one of the largest Salesforce practices both in Ireland and the UK.  With this acquisition, we are continuing to invest in our Salesforce growth plans with the combined practice of TEKenable and Tether strengthening our delivery of a comprehensive suite of ‘Cloud’ services and expertise to support our clients’ ambitions.  With a continued focus on growth in the UK, the experience and the client base that Tether has in the UK is a fantastic fit for TEKenable – both strategically and culturally.”

As a result of the acquisition, a team of highly skilled experts from Tether will join TEKenable in Ireland and the UK, bringing with them extensive experience across diverse sectors such as Telecoms, Manufacturing, Medical, Energy, Retail and Logistics.  Tether, with offices in Dublin, Manchester and London, helps clients get the most from their Salesforce ‘Cloud’ investments.

John Hennessy, Managing Director Tether said:

“With our shared vision and values, I am confident that the Tether team will fit seamlessly into TEKenable.  Being able to offer deep technology skills, coupled with industry-experience at scale is critical to getting ahead in the market.  As a leading Salesforce Partner, we have those skills, and TEKenable has the scale.  We will continue to focus on delivering leading solutions that meet the needs of our clients, and I look forward to further building our joint Salesforce capabilities.”

TEKenable Group CTO Peter Rose said:

“This is an exciting time for TEKenable, Tether, our respective teams, partners and customers.  Together we will work with our forward-thinking clients to transform their businesses in the cloud.  The combined businesses will make us one of the most capable Salesforce specialists in Ireland and the UK.”

Envisage announces €1M investment and 12 new jobs alongside new partnership with Sage

Envisage, a leading Sage partner in Ireland and member of the Noledge Group, today announces that it will create 12 new jobs as part of a three year, €1M investment to support its appointment as the first Sage partner in the country that will resell Sage Intacct.

The partnership with Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) – will support Envisage’s plans to grow its business and drive customer acquisition. The company, which currently has annual revenues of €3M and employs 22 people, expects to increase its annual revenues to €6M and grow to a team of 34 people.

As demand for cloud-based finance systems increases, this partnership will enhance Envisage’s ability to offer the highest level of service to its growing customer base across Ireland and the U.K. Envisage will be offering customers Sage’s award-winning accounting software, Sage Intacct. With this new partnership, Envisage customers will benefit from automation, cost savings, smooth integration, effortless data access across multiple systems, and real-time insights for informed decision-making.

Through Sage Intacct, Envisage can now deliver more automated solutions and controls for billing, accounting, and reporting, enabling finance teams to simplify complex processes and increase data accuracy. To support this growth, Envisage will hire 12 additional people over the next three years. The new roles will be in the areas of sales, marketing, implementation and support.

Sage Intacct provides comprehensive visibility into both operational and financial aspects of a business, leading to improved automation, increased profitability, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Sage Intacct is designed to serve a variety of industries, including, Business Services, Financial Services, Not for Profit, Software and Hospitality.

David Burke, Technical Director, Envisage, said: “We are delighted to make this significant investment in our expansion and grow our team in Ireland. By adding Sage Intacct to our product portfolio, we can bring additional value to our customers and also open up new opportunities in the services sector.

 “As a leading Sage partner in Ireland, we are dedicated to providing the best products, training, and resources to help businesses achieve their growth goals. With the addition of Sage Intacct to our portfolio, we are now able to offer an even wider range of solutions and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We look forward to this next chapter of growth and success.”

Paul O’Riordan, Vice President, Partners & Alliances, Sage UK & Ireland, said: “Envisage has a proven track record in delivering creative, flexible, and long-lasting ERP solutions for some of Ireland’s leading companies. With Sage Intacct, we’re confident that we can help our joint customers drive their businesses forward. We are pleased to partner with an ambitious company that has the resources and capabilities to design and integrate exceptional customer solutions.”

Envisage, which was recently recognised as ‘Sage Partner of the Year for Ireland’, now offers Sage Intacct to customers in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Businesses urged to update analytics before June deadline

Carlow-based design studio, Stratticus, is urging businesses to update their Google Analytics before the looming June 30th deadline.

Google has announced that starting on July 1st 2023, the standard Universal Analytics will stop working. This means that businesses using Google Analytics will have to make the switch to GA4 before June 30th to continue measuring their website traffic accurately.

As the deadline for the transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) approaches, Stratticus reminds businesses of the potential impact on their website data if they fail to implement the change thoroughly. The Bagenalstown digital studio advises businesses to prioritise this update to avoid losing valuable data and insights.

John Foy, Creative Director and former Carlow IT Lecturer in Digital Marketing explains,

“From July 1st onwards users of Google Analytics will no longer have access to critical historical data which will affect certain aspects of their business like bidding for ads, audiences or conversion data in Google Ads or on third-party integrations like Facebook.

This is a great update from Google with some valuable new features. Having said that, it’s not adequate to simply click on the Google reminder email to update your analytics as there is a high potential of missing integration of key third-party apps like Salesforce, Calendly and Hubspot. The fix is relatively simple however we recommend contacting your website developers or hosting company to ensure that the transition is smooth.”

GA4 offers a more comprehensive approach to website analytics, providing businesses with deeper insights into user behaviour and preferences. This change is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve user privacy and data protection.

Stratticus is reminding businesses, particularly eCommerce businesses and those relying on historical data for Pay per Click (PPC) advertising to make the transition to GA4 as soon as possible to avoid any potential disruptions to their analytics data.

By taking action now, Irish businesses can ensure a smooth transition to Google Universal Analytics and capitalise on the benefits of the updated data. For more information on this update and how to ensure your website is ready, contact Stratticus today.