Category: Irish Tech News

Equinix project explores re-use of waste data centre heat for vital public and community infrastructure

Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company, today announces the launch of a community project that will see it explore new ways to reuse waste data centre heat for vital public infrastructure in Dublin’s Blanchardstown area. Working with Dublin’s energy agency, Codema, a feasibility study will explore how waste heat from Equinix’s data centres could be used to support important facilities in the local community, which includes a hospital, university and local aquatics centre.

The project is part of Equinix’s commitment to drive greater energy efficiencies in its own operations, as well as for the wider community in which it operates. The company has pledged to become climate neutral globally – and in Ireland – by 2030. This will be achieved, in part, by innovative projects and initiatives – such as district heating – that will support the circular economy.

District heating delivers low-carbon heat to buildings through a network of insulated underground pipelines. It is fuel agnostic, which helps to drive down heating costs and ensures security of supply.

In the last three years alone, Equinix, which has four data centres operating in West Dublin, has reduced its Irish data centre carbon emissions by 16%.

This is one of a number of initiatives deployed by Codema to reduce Dublin’s CO2 emissions. By collaborating with Codema on the sustainability project, Equinix hopes to further its progress towards climate neutrality in Ireland while also benefiting the community in which it operates.

Maurice Mortell, Equinix’s Sustainability Lead in EMEA and Managing Director for Ireland, said: “At Equinix, we are relentlessly exploring innovative ways to achieve our commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030. As sustainability lead in EMEA, I have been involved in a number of groundbreaking projects to ensure we are continuously innovating and striving to achieve this goal. Our partnership with Codema will help us to explore new ways in which we can not only work towards our own decarbonisation, but also benefit the community in which we operate and contribute to the circular economy.

“As the world’s digital infrastructure company, we are committed to driving steady economic growth while reducing our carbon footprint – and the footprints of the organisations we work with.

“Codema has been doing admirable work in its goal to decarbonise Dublin. We are delighted to be working with them and look forward to learning how we can continue to support them on their important carbon zero mission.”

Donna Gartland, CEO, Codema, said: “Codema’s mission is to lead the low-carbon transition in Dublin, and one of the ways we have been successfully doing this is by identifying and implementing new innovative solutions to help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We have enough waste and renewable heat available in Dublin to completely move all buildings away from fossil fuel heating, and working with progressive and ambitious industry stakeholders like Equinix enables us to bring these district heating projects to reality.”

Lion’s Den business pitch event returns on 25th May to celebrate Afro-Irish Entrepreneurs.

Lion’s Den returns to celebrate the entrepreneurial talent of the Afro-Irish community and African diaspora.

Wood Quay Venue in Dublin will host the competition organised by the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI).

The competition sponsors are Dublin City Council, Dogpatch Labs, META and HoaQ.

Six businesses are vying for the 2022 prize. The companies offer services in healthcare, fintech, commercial model management, fashion and food.

The public can vote until 16th May to select three finalists from the six company shortlist. The three finalists will pitch on the 25th May in front of Ireland’s tech and investment communities.

The Lion’s Den is not only a competition but a unique networking opportunity. Representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the Irish VC community will be in attendance. The pitch finale will be one of the largest events celebrating Africa Day in Ireland. Africa Day is a global event which has been running since 1963.

Against the historic background of the viking city wall dating from 1100 AD – the future game changers in Afro-Irish community get a chance to storytell about how they have built thriving businesses in the COVID era.

Lion’s Den is a platform that can contribute to building the first Irish unicorn with an Afro-Irish founder.

The shortlisted companies gain access to sponsor led workshops on brand building and expansion.

Previous winners include Wellahealth and the Jungle Food Company. Wellahealth have received seed investment from AXA Mansard (one of the largest insurers globally). Jungle Food Company are now listed with national retailer SuperValu.

Ayo Olabimtan, investment manager and president of the APNI spoke about the contest:

“It is the only business pitch competition in Ireland focused on entrepreneurs of African descent. It provides the companies access to an invaluable support network and access to capital. It is a unique springboard for growing businesses to connect with investors from the growing start up scene in Ireland.”

The public can vote for their top business until the 16th May. They can also register for their free ticket to attend the grand finale on the 25th May at the link below

https://linktr.ee/apnireland

Lion’s Den is an APNI event. APNI is a non-profit organisation with over 1,700 members connecting African and Afro-Irish professionals and business owners through webinars, workshops, competitions and mentorship schemes.

Full information is on the website

Shortlist

 

Business  Founders Mission Website
Eko Model Management Tessy Ehiguese and Dave Olu Providing diversity in the commercial model space. https://www.ekomodelmanagement.com/
La Ruche Health Rory Assandey Increasing access to essential healthcare in low-income communities. https://laruche.health/
K Pesa Leyla F Karaha Funding for women lead start-ups. https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpesa/
Surejobz App Alex Oshunloye Helping Africans find work across boundaries. https://www.surejobzapp.com
Mama Shee Edizemi Onilenla Bringing West African cuisine to Ireland’s local stores. www.mamashee.com
Umoja Linn China Soribe & Meneliswa McDonald Creating a marketplace for African fashion designers. www.umojalinn.com

 

https://www.apni.ie/

Salesforce Report Shows 86% of Irish Respondents Say Experience Is as Important as Products

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, today released the fifth edition of its State of the Connected Customer report that shares insights from nearly 17,000 consumers and business buyers across 29 countries, including 650 from Ireland on the new digital-first customer engagement landscape.

Key insights of this year’s State of the Connected Customer report include:

A Trust-Based Economy Has Emerged. As customers navigate a rapidly changing world, questions of trust, values and integrity are increasingly impacting their relationships with companies. 91% of Irish respondents believe trust becomes more important in times of change.

Digital Acceleration Is Sparking Demand for Personalisation at Scale. Customer engagement is decidedly digital-first, but brands are under pressure to merge online and offline interactions into a personalised experience as in-person interaction re-emerges. 69% of Ireland respondents have purchased products in new ways since 2020.

New Realities Are Testing Brand Loyalties. As priorities and behaviours shift, established brand loyalties are undergoing tests of strength. 73% of Irish consumers have switched brands at least once last year.

This new digital-first world has changed the norms of commerce, work, and everyday life, prompting customers and brands to re-establish how they connect. As customers continue to shift their preferred experiences with brands to online channels, brands must re-imagine digital-first experiences that engage customers in a way that is flexible, thoughtful, and provides a personal touch.

View a breakdown of key insights from consumers and business buyers, including generation and country filters, in an interactive Tableau dashboard.

“It is more important than ever for companies to understand their customers’ needs and expectations,” said Deirdre Purcell, Country Sales Leader at Salesforce Ireland. “While businesses are navigating a changing landscape, so too are customers, with an increased importance on trust, values and integrity impacting their relationships with brands.

 “The accelerated demand for digital technology is set to continue, but it is not the only challenge leaders have to grapple with, they also need to focus on merging online and offline interactions into more personalised experiences. This new digital-first world means that companies in Ireland must re-establish how they connect with customers and engage them in a flexible, thoughtful manner.”

 

Barnardos announces extension of partnership with Dell Technologies in Ireland

Barnardos has today announced that that Dell Technologies has committed to extending its current five-year partnership with the children’s charity as it works to support the most vulnerable in communities across Ireland.

Since 2017, the Dell teams in Dublin, Cork and Limerick have volunteered their time to support the organisation’s core work including sharing expertise for an organisation-wide digital audit, supporting the shift to virtual and hybrid working and supporting social media monitoring for major campaigns.

The strategic partnership between Barnardos and Dell in Ireland has helped vulnerable children and families with 25,000 hours of family support, 600,000 meals, and 1,800 children gaining a place on Barnardos Early Years services. Through new virtual fundraising initiatives rolled out in the past two years, Dell team members raised an additional €130,000 in vital funds and increased awareness of the work of Barnardos.

Over the next two years, Barnardos and Dell will provide additional training, social media support and the volunteering of time to the children’s charity. Building on the positive impact of the existing network of Code Work Clubs, the two organisations will join forces to create new on-demand coding curriculum so that children accessing Barnardos services across the country can develop their digital skills.

Commenting on the announcement, Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO said: “It’s been an incredible five years of partnership between Barnardos and Dell Technologies with transformational impact that will help make a real difference to the vulnerable children and families we work with, because childhood lasts a lifetime.

“We’re looking forward to another two years of support, working together to create a legacy of change. We cannot thank the Dell Technologies team enough for joining us on this important journey in recent years – and we’re excited to see the impact we can make together in the coming years, as we face the personal, local, national and global challenges and issues that affect so many children and families.”

Denis Lucey, Vice-President of EMEA Infrastructure Support Service and Site Leader, Dell Technologies Dublin said: “We are committed to supporting the communities we serve and our partnership with Barnardos is central to that promise. Since we came together five years ago, we’ve been amazed and inspired by the life changing work undertaken by Barnardos. In extending our partnership, Dell Technologies can enable the children’s charity to have an even greater impact. Over the coming two years, Dell will work to expand the reach of our Code Work Clubs to ensure young people in the community can benefit from new coding skills and that we can play a role in addressing the digital divide that exists in many areas.”

Young offenders of recycling dumping used batteries in bins WEEE Ireland study finds

Young consumers are being urged to stop binning used batteries – as a new survey reveals almost half of 18-34-year-olds are tossing them in the trash.

The WEEE Ireland study found that despite warnings around the environmental and safety hazards of incorrect disposal of end-of-life batteries, behavioural change is urgently needed amongst the younger generation.

“They are often lauded as the most environmentally conscious, yet the survey shows a worrying 43% of adults under the age of 34, actually throw their used batteries in general waste bins instead of recycling them,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

“Binning batteries means that a range of really valuable resources will never be recycled. We need a sea change in behaviour amongst this cohort in order to properly address the problem.” 

The survey of 1,000 people, conducted online by Empathy Research last month, reveals that more than a quarter (28%) of people are unaware that batteries contain valuable resources such as cobalt, zinc, nickel and lithium, which can be used again.

Over 55s are the most eco-conscious, with just 9% binning batteries – the lowest of all age categories – while 81% know they contain valuable materials.

Only 2% of over 55s hoard them, but this rises to 26% for 18-34 year olds.

Data across all age groups shows a total of 16% of the population binning and 6% hoarding batteries, while the vast majority who do recycle them, use retailers (47%), recycling centres (17%), WEEE Ireland collection events (16%) and local schools (11%).

Separate data from WEEE Ireland shows Ireland achieved a 46% battery recycling rate in 2021, reaching its EU Directive obligations.

There was a 16% increase in the amount of batteries recycled by Irish households, in line with increased consumption and greater usage of batteries in everyday products.

The spike in recycling is equivalent to 15 AA batteries saved from landfill per person – an increase of two per person on 2020.

“This small change made a huge difference and we are urging everyone to again recycle at least two more AA batteries in 2022 to reach our target – and to stop and think before throwing them in the bin,” said Mr Donovan.

“Disposing of used batteries properly is as simple as consumers bagging them up on their next shopping or recycling trip. 

“Any retailer or supermarket that sells batteries will take them back for recycling. That’s in addition to the hundreds of recycling centres across the country.

“For the millions of batteries not recycled properly every year, we lose precious elements and important resources that can only be replaced by mining. The environmental and social costs of extracting and processing the materials required for battery manufacturing, can be huge. 

“The world will require much less mining for materials if we can recycle more spent ones.” 

However, Mr Donovan said that as battery sales soar to cater for the growing demand for electric vehicle and e-mobility devices, these targets will become harder to reach if we don’t get into the habit of recycling more.
Every battery recycled by WEEE Ireland goes towards a donation fund to support the vital work provided by LauraLynn, Ireland’s only Children’s Hospice. This year’s €40,000 donation brings its overall total to €520,000 since the partnership first began 11 years ago.

Data Edge seminar: Timing & 5G Connect Forum

Data Edge, Ireland’s leading Network Synchronisation/Timing & 5G Testing specialists, will host a free seminar on Tuesday, 24th May, in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Newlands Cross, Co. Dublin.  The event will look at the latest developments in 5G, particularly in relation to timing and synchronisation, which have become critical functions of 5G’s success.

Data Edge’s seminar will provide attendees with an overview of the strategic outlook for 5G, IoT, service assurance, automation, and managed solutions. Industry experts, including Data Edge’s CEO Paul Phelan, will outline the value of timing, testing and assurance as well as discussing 5G use case scenarios.

The event is being co-hosted by Spirent Communications, a leading global provider of testing, assurance, analytics, and security solutions. Stephen Douglas, head of market strategy at Spirent will address delegates about 5G, Edge and Cloudification.

With over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry, Stephen has been at the cutting edge of next generation technologies and has worked across the industry helping service providers, network equipment manufacturers and start-ups drive innovation and transformation. Stephen leads Spirent’s strategic initiatives for 5G and future networks and is a company representative on several Industry and Government advisory boards.

Stephen’s colleague Dharen Ells will also speak to attendees at the event, covering the topic of ORAN deployment. Dharen will discuss how ORAN bridges the divide between vendor-specific infrastructure and determines how enterprises will deploy future technologies. Live demonstrations will also take place after lunch for any attendees that wish to see how these next-generation technologies perform.

For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://dataedge.ie/spirent-connect-forum-registration/ Coffee and lunch will be provided on the day. Places are limited so early booking is strongly recommended.

Date: Tuesday, 24th of May 2022

Time: 9.15am to 4pm

Venue: The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Dublin

PublicRelay establish media analytics centre in Waterford City, creating 40 new jobs

US communications analytics and advisory firm PublicRelay has announced plans to establish a media analytics centre in Waterford City creating approximately 40 jobs over the next two years.

Founded in 2008 and with operations in Denver, San Diego, and Portland, PublicRelay is headquartered in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia and provides clients with insights based on their media coverage in print, online, broadcast, and social media. The company opened its first European office in Dublin in 2018, followed by its Cavan site in 2019.  PublicRelay’s expansion in Waterford City is now their third site in Ireland.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar said: “I’m really pleased PublicRelay has chosen Waterford City as the location for its new media analytics centre, which will create 40 new jobs over the next couple of years. It’s a real sign of the company’s confidence in Ireland and the wealth of talent we have here. Thank you to the team for their continued commitment and investment and the very best of luck with this latest expansion.”

PublicRelay will operate on a hybrid basis with its South-East Hub located in BoxWorks 2, a co-working space in Waterford City.

“Our experience in Ireland has been outstanding since we opened our first office here in 2018.  We’ve been able to access a hardworking, highly educated, and friendly work force, and our Irish team has been a big factor in our company success over the past four years. I’m delighted that we are now in a position to open our third office in Ireland, and I am looking forward to visiting Waterford very soon” said Eric Koefoot, President & CEO.

“We are excited to be further expanding our operations in Ireland.  We looked at a number of locations around the country, but the proximity of the university combined with a great facility in such a vibrant area of the city won us over.  I was impressed with Boxworks’ flexibility and willingness to adapt to our needs as we built out the team” said Karl Finn, Director of Irish Operations.

PublicRelay is hiring Associate Analysts for its south-east media analytics centre. The company also has a number of open roles at its EU HQ in Dublin. For more information on how to join the team at PublicRelay, visit www.PublicRelay.com

Executive Director of IDA Ireland Mary Buckley said: “PublicRelay’s decision to open a third Irish site in Waterford following the success of their Cavan and Dublin operations, demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to Ireland and confidence in the country’s highly skilled and talented workforce. “This further investment exemplifies IDA Ireland’s continued commitment to winning jobs and investment for the regions.  I’d like to wish PublicRelay every success with this latest expansion.”

Dell Technologies Expands Multi-Cloud Experiences Across Cyber Recovery, Data Analytics and Partner Ecosystem

Dell Technologies is delivering new cloud experiences, an expanded ecosystem, and offerings to help customers manage and protect applications across data centers and multi-cloud environments. These new offerings are designed to help organizations easily store, protect and control their data and applications across an increasing number of platforms and locations.

“Our customers want help reducing complexity and are seeking solutions that use a common approach to managing data wherever it lives – from public clouds, to the data center, to the edge,” said Chuck Whitten, co-chief operating officer, Dell Technologies. “We are building a portfolio of software and services that simplifies on-premises and multi-cloud environments and offers.”

“We are making bold moves to deliver solutions that are connected and increasingly digital to create a superior health care experience for consumers,” said Karen S. Lynch, President and CEO, CVS Health. “Our strategic collaboration with Dell is helping accelerate the value of our technology investments for our colleagues and consumers.”

Dell delivers cloud experiences for cyber recovery on-premises and in public clouds

According to a recent Gartner® report, global information security and risk management end user spending will reach around $168 billion in 2022, up over $13 billion from 2021.1 As cyber protection continues to become a greater priority, Dell is providing new options for managed cyber recovery offerings and public cloud cyber recovery solutions for multi-cloud environments.

Dell is bolstering its APEX portfolio with the introduction of Dell APEX Cyber Recovery Services. The first in a series of new APEX full stack solutions that deliver a cloud experience, APEX Cyber Recovery Services simplifies recovery from cyberattacks. Dell manages the day-to-day cyber recovery vault operations and assists with data recovery. Dell is delivering an as-a-Service experience with standardized configurations, simplified Dell-assisted recovery options and expertise from nearly 2,000 isolated vault solutions deployed globally.

 Dell is extending the reach of its multi-cloud ecosystem and speeding access to its data protection offerings for public clouds with the release of Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for Microsoft Azure. The new service will join a broad portfolio of Dell offerings available through Microsoft Azure Marketplace and will allow organizations to:

  • Deploy an isolated cyber vault in the public cloud to more securely protect and isolate data away from a ransomware attack, improving cyber resiliency and helping reduce the impact of cyberattacks.
  • Provide flexible recovery options in the event of a cyberattack including recovery within the data center, in a new Azure private network, or in an unimpacted Azure environment.

Dell also builds on its collaboration with AWS by announcing CyberSense for Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for AWS. With the offering, organizations will be able to:

  • Use adaptive analytics, scan metadata and complete files, and implement machine learning and forensic tools to detect, diagnose and speed data recovery.
  • Monitor files and databases to determine if a cyberattack has occurred and identify the last known uncorrupted copy of data to speed a more secure and confidential recovery.

Dell demonstrates data storage services in public clouds

Building on January’s introduction of Project Alpine, Dell is demonstrating how its storage software could be used in public clouds such as AWS and Azure. Project Alpine will provide data mobility and consistent operations across on-premises and public cloud environments. Organizations will be able to quickly deploy or easily consume Dell storage software and services that will offer performance in the public cloud efficiency and protection based on industry-leading enterprise storage.2

With Dell storage software in the public cloud, customers will be able to seamlessly move data to the cloud and leverage cloud-based analytics services. Developers can write applications once and deploy them anywhere they are needed to create a consistent, cloud-native experience across multiple public clouds.

 Dell and Snowflake collaborate to extend the multi-cloud experience

 Dell and Snowflake will work together to connect data from Dell enterprise storage with the Snowflake Data Cloud. A first of its kind, this collaboration will give customers greater flexibility operating in multi-cloud environments, meet data sovereignty requirements, and easily turn data into insights wherever it resides.

Dell and Snowflake customers will be able to use on-premises data stored on Dell object storage with the Snowflake Data Cloud while keeping their data local or seamlessly copying it to public clouds. The companies will pursue product integrations and joint go-to-market efforts in the second half of 2022.

Availability

  • Dell APEX Cyber Recovery Services is available today in the United States with broader availability planned for later this year.
  • Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for Microsoft Azure will be globally available in the second half of 2022.
  • CyberSense for Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for AWS will be globally available in the second half of 2022.

Ireland features among global leaders in embracing hyperautomation

Irish businesses feature prominently in a list of nations embracing hyperautomation according to new research by analytics leader SAS.

David Shannon, Head of Hyperautomation, at SAS UK & Ireland, says that as interest in the AI-powered technology surges, Irish firms are amongst the global leaders in embracing new opportunities.

“We know from our own research that companies are already using hyperautomation to drive efficiency, customer service and innovation,” he said.

“This is particularly true of competitive consumer-centric industries like retail, fulfilment, insurance and financial services, where it can give businesses the edge over their rivals.”

His comments come after research by SAS showed that while interest in the technology continues to rise across the bulk of nations featured in the research, Ireland ranked fourth out of 24 countries analysed, with 2.49 people in every 10,000 looking for ‘hyperautomation’ and related keywords between 2020 and 2021.

Leading the way was Finland, with 4.5 out of every 10,000 people searching for the term online, followed by Sweden with just under 3 and Switzerland at 2.74. The UK appeared in 12th position in the rankings.

The term ‘hyperautomation’ was first coined by Gartner in 2019 and refers to the AI-driven technique of processing multiple large datasets from across an organisation in a cloud-based ‘always-on, always-connected’ system.

David Shannon added: “While search data can’t tell us everything, it’s a useful barometer to test the mood of nations. Awareness has grown rapidly in some countries in just three years, indicating where demand could be strongest.

“Automation has enabled businesses of all sizes to transform their operations, and hyperautomation is the next step in the journey. Now is the time for them to build it, and other advanced technological solutions, into their digital strategies.”

For further information and for the full research, visit:

https://blogs.sas.com/content/hiddeninsights/2022/04/08/which-countries-are-leading-the-way-in-the-hyperautomation-revolution/

Top 10 countries for hyperautomation awareness

Country Annual total searches (2021) Potential reach General awareness (% of potential reach)*10,000
Finland 2,120 4,640,000 4.57
Sweden 2,860 9,580,000 2.98
Switzerland 2,170 7,910,000 2.74
Ireland 1,190 4,770,000 2.49
Australia 4,160 20,600,000 2.01
Singapore 3,730 19,900,000 1.87
Austria 1,710 9,140,000 1.87
Netherlands 5,580 31,300,000 1.78
Belgium 1,760 11,000,000 1.6
Germany 10,930 74,500,000 1.46