Category: Irish Business

Pandemic accelerates rate of digital adoption among Irish businesses according to latest survey from Dell Technologies

A new survey undertaken by the Executive Institute on behalf of Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) reveals that 98 per cent of business leaders in Ireland believe technology has played a key role in helping their organisation to navigate the past year and, as a result of the pandemic, 68 per cent have shortened the target window for digital transformation.

The ‘Digital Adoption Survey 2021’ seeks to understand business leaders’ changing attitudes towards technology in Ireland. It also collected views on how digital adoption will help businesses to embrace new opportunities to grow and succeed in a data-driven era.

The survey of 147 business leaders has shown that 84 per cent believe that supporting a hybrid workforce with employees both working remotely and from the office is the greatest business challenge that technology can help address over the next one to three years. Enhancing organisational resilience emerged second (59 per cent) and reducing costs third (50%).

In light of these findings, 53 per cent of business leaders in Ireland will now invest more in technology to maintain a competitive edge given the experience gained during their experience of the fourteen months.

The Digital Adoption Survey identified several key obstacles in maintaining the current pace of digital transformation. Business leaders highlighted that upfront investment (51 per cent), lack of in-house skills and expertise (32 per cent) and an absence of digital culture (20 per cent) represent the main barriers to adopting new technologies within their organisation.

In looking to the future, the vast majority (67 per cent) of respondents said that 5G technology will be extremely or very important in keeping connected with a remote workforce. Despite this, half (51 per cent) of business leaders are unaware of the benefits that 5G technology will unlock in the next one to three years.  Moreover, 63 per cent of leaders surveyed stated they are aware that Edge Computing and the Internet of Things can provide new insights into future customer behaviour.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies in Ireland, said: “Although faced with challenges of an unprecedented scale over the past year, businesses leaders I speak to have valued the role of technology in keeping connected with their customers and their people. The results of our Digital Adoption Survey demonstrate this very fact.

“By taking the learnings of the past year into account, business leaders can ensure that the advancements made through necessity can be built upon to foster a technology-enabled recovery. With close to seven in ten businesses saying that they have shortened the target window for digital transformation, it is clear that leaders are intent on harnessing the power of technology to drive future growth.

“5G will prove to be game-changer in an increasingly data-driven era. Despite business leaders valuing the benefit it can bring in connecting employees, 5G is more than just enhanced connectivity. It is converging with AI, Edge Computing, Cloud and robotics to accelerate the fourth industrial revolution. With 75% of business data to be processed at the Edge by 2025, organisations need to begin assessing how 5G and Edge Computing can fit into their IT transformation programme and deliver real benefits on the road to recovery.”

Conor Morris, Managing Director, The Executive Institute said: “90% of our members have already committed to a hybrid workplace model post-pandemic. The further acceleration of digital adoption will be one of the key factors that will determine whether hybrid will survive and thrive.”

Additional resources

To access the full results of the survey visit: http://del.ly/6001yTDwl.

co:dublin launches to support local Dublin businesses during Covid-19. #supportlocal #codublin #business

co:dublin has launched it’s directory of local Dublin restaurants, cafes, shops, and other services around the city that have adapted their business offerings to stay operating during the Covid-19 shut down.

co:dublin is a 100% volunteer based project, set up as more and more local businesses struggle to stay operating and keep staff. The directory lists businesses lucky enough to be able to adapt online and service their customers throughout the lockdown by switching to a delivery or takeout service, offering gift vouchers, or streaming online classes.

The site already lists 36 local businesses including cafes like 3fe, who are now re-opening within social distancing parameters as well as restaurants like BuJo Burger and Fallon & Byrnes who are now delivering meals and drinks while everyone stays at home. Health and wellness studios like Flux Lab, and Reformation are featured as they have been able to move classes online.

The site also lists Vouch For, another Irish non-profit launched by Recroot founders, Cian Farrell and Nev Flynn. Vouch For allows customers to purchase digital vouchers for their favorite restaurants around Ireland that can be redeemed at a later date when business returns to usual.

co:dublin was launched by Web Summit VP, Aoileann Ni Chuilleanain, Web Summit alumni, and now early-stage investor at Techstars Investments, Declan Kelly, and product designer Jaqueline Chen both based out of Berlin.

“We got in touch with Jaqueline Chen and set up co:dublin as we know how integral local businesses are to the cultural and social fiber of our community. Small business owners in Dublin have been incredibly creative adapting to social distancing and government guidelines. They’re working endlessly to keep their businesses operating in some capacity and keep their staff employed. – says co:dublin host, Aoileann Ni Chuilleanain.

She adds – “We want co:dublin to drive as much local support online to those who had worked so hard to set up shop in the first place and help them survive. Covid-19 is testing them greatly and hopefully, co:dublin and Vouchfor can play a part in supporting them”. 

Useful links:

co:dublin website: http://www.codublin.co/

co:dublin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codublinco/

Vouch For website: https://www.vouchfor.ie/

Vouch For Twitter: https://twitter.com/vouch_for

Vouch For Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vouch_for/

RICOH – Lacking innovation threatens to put a third of Irish companies out of business by 2020

Irish companies are in danger of falling victim to digital disruption, regulatory requirements and economic shifts that are fundamentally changing their markets. According to new research, commissioned by Ricoh and conducted by Coleman Parkes, 35% of the 150 Irish business leaders surveyed say they will go out of business by 2020 if they fail to innovate in response to these changes.

While 94% recognise the impact of digital disruption in their sector, 61% are not yet in a position to take advantage of its benefits. The top benefits of innovation were cited as competitive advantage, increased productivity, improving growth and winning new customers.

Eighty-eight per cent of business leaders in Ireland said that increasing automation will drive significant change in their organisations. Of these, less than a third said that they are ready for automation now and 29% said they won’t be ready in two years’ time.

In the next two years, almost a quarter predict they will be unable to react swiftly enough to changing government regulations. Moreover, 35% of respondents revealed that more government support is needed to support innovation.

Almost half (43%) of Irish business leaders believe greater access to digital technologies would make their businesses more innovative and some are currently exploring culture changes to improve innovation within their organisations.

For example, 55% are looking at setting up employee innovation workshops in order to teach employees how to come up with new ideas. The other two most popular approaches for consideration are the creation of safe spaces for experimentation to trial new ideas or processes and the encouragement of employees to be involved in projects outside of their day-to-day tasks.

Gary Hopwood, general manager, Ricoh Ireland

Gary Hopwood, Managing Director, Ricoh Ireland, says: “It’s very worrying that the future of so many Irish organisations are at risk because of their failure to innovate. Change is happening and it’s happening now, which is why it’s vital that business leaders take action as soon as possible and formulate a strategy that enables them to embrace digital disruption.

“Organisations can’t afford to stand still if they want to remain competitive and continue to grow. They must think about how they are empowering employees, supporting creativity, helping customers and boosting business performance. While every company is individual in terms of their needs, the need to innovate is crucial for all organisations.”

Find out more at www.ricoh-europe.com/thoughtleadership.