Kerry County Council became the first local authority in Ireland to trial a zero carbon Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) powered by compressed renewable gas. The truck was supplied by Scania dealers, T. Nolan and Sons in Castleisland, and fuelled using carbon neutral renewable gas from the national gas network supplied by Gas Networks Ireland.
During the two-week trial, Kerry County Council used this clean transport solution to move road salt from Co. Tipperary.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen said:
“Meeting Ireland’s climate target is a big challenge and transport is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. We are delighted to do our bit in Kerry and trial trucks powered by renewable gas as a viable option to reduce our fleet emissions.”
While only 4% of vehicles on Ireland’s roads are classified as HGVs and buses, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector. Compressed natural gas (CNG) can reduce HGV well-to-wheel emissions by up to 23% (Cenex 2019) compared to diesel and deliver cost savings for operators of up to 35% (Cadent 2016).
However, as the volume of carbon neutral renewable gas on the national network increases into the future, hauliers and fleet operators who have made the switch to gas will increasingly reduce their carbon footprint without changing a thing.
Renewable gas is structurally identical to natural gas and compatible with the existing infrastructure, technology and vehicles. With locally supplied renewable gas now on the Irish network, gas is the affordable, proven and sustainable long-term solution for Ireland’s fleet managers and hauliers.
Gas Networks Ireland’s CNG Program Delivery Manager, Declan O’Sullivan, said:
“We are delighted that Kerry County Council has joined companies around Ireland in experiencing the emissions and cost savings associated with using both natural and renewable gas in HGVs.
“Gas Networks Ireland is on a journey to decarbonise the transport sector. Renewable gas, which is entering the gas network today, enables carbon neutral transport, as CNG vehicles operating on natural gas today are future proofed for renewable gas.
“By delivering a network of CNG filling stations and enabling the introduction of renewable gas to the network, we are supporting hauliers and fleet operators to make a sustainable switch to a carbon neutral fuel.”
On March 1 Gas Networks Ireland announced a €2.9m CNG Vehicle Grant scheme to support the purchase of up to 400 gas-powered trucks, buses and vans and help drive a more sustainable transport sector.
The Grant will cover 20% of the difference between CNG and diesel-powered vehicles, capped at €5,000, with a maximum €60,000 available to any one applicant. Grants can be used towards the costs of vehicles registered from 2020.
The CNG Vehicle Fund is co-financed by the European Union’s TEN-T Programme under the Connecting Europe Facility as part of the Green Connect Project. Applications are now being accepted at www.gasnetworks.ie/cngvehiclegrant.
Edge computing is quickly emerging as the next “big thing” in technology. From mobile devices and cell towers to refrigerators and industrial control systems, the data being generated at the edge by these platforms has enormous value for businesses across Ireland.
Telecommunications carriers, to take one example, are building innovative “micro towers” to drive a broad range of innovative 5G networking services. Similar to small data centres, these micro towers house hyperconverged computing platforms that can deliver experiences such as augmented and virtual reality to every end user accessing a 5G network.
Another example is SK Telecom, which has partnered with Dell Technologies to accelerate its 5G wireless network rollout using a multi-access edge computing (MEC) architecture. This partnership has enabled SK Telecom to decrease application latency on its network services to under 10 milliseconds.
Edge computing technology concept. Blue integrated circuit with icons. Futuristic tech of data processing.
In fact, edge computing platforms will be employed to further automate every business process imaginable using machine and deep learning algorithms deployed at the very edge of the network. Instead of waiting for data to be analysed by an application residing in the cloud or local data centre, algorithms will optimise business processes in real time based on events as they occur.
The shift towards edge computing is also driving a sea change in application development. The emergence of Edge Native Applications allows for applications to be built and deployed on edge devices for processing data at low latency.
Everything from connected cars to augmented and virtual reality applications will depend on the ability to process and analyse data in real time at the network edge. In fact, just about every instance of digital business transformation, both in Ireland and farther afield, will soon be driven by edge computing platforms capable of processing data in real time. Gartner estimates that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside the traditional, centralized data center or cloud.
This will result in significant change for firms of all sizes in Ireland who have adopted new technologies at pace over the past year. However, business leaders who fail to recognise the opportunities in edge computing are at risk of finding themselves lagging behind their more innovative rivals as digital transformation accelerates even further. As a means of establishing a competitive advantage, edge computing can increase efficiency, generate new revenue streams, improve customer experiences, and build businesses and organisations to rebuild and recover.
The technology is not without its challenges. The total cost of ownership for all these platforms is staggering. Furthermore, finding the IT expertise required to manage edge computing platforms at scale requires access to IT automation frameworks that most businesses in Ireland are not in a position to build and support on their own. The level of expertise required first to define and maintain edge computing platform standards and then to make those platforms part of the extended enterprise requires a strategic partner dedicated not only to achieving a specific business outcome but also to minimising possible risks.
At Dell Technologies, we’ve already invested in edge computing platforms with a number of long-time global partners ranging from AT&T to SAP. It has been our privilege to provide IT platforms that millions of businesses across the world rely on every day.
As edge computing evolves, Dell Technologies will continue to be there every step of the way. Some examples of the innovative business outcomes we’re already enabling include:
McLaren Racing, a division of McLaren Group, is taking advantage of edge computing platforms from Dell Technologies to analyse nearly 100GB of data in real time that is captured by more than 200 sensors embedded in its race cars. More than 100,000 data points per second are streaming from each McLaren car per second to determine when to make a tire change, evaluate track safety, and even when to make gear changes during the race.
Manufacturing giant Emerson uses Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to help its customers gather data insights from sensors embedded in their digital valve controllers. Emerson and Dell Technologies have developed a wireless valve monitoring solution that collects information from digital valve controllers and sends it through a Dell Edge Gateway to the cloud. The Dell Edge Gateway aggregates, analyses, secures, processes and shares sensor data at the edge and also sends it to a Microsoft Azure-based cloud platform.
Olivetti provides small and medium-sized manufacturers with an IoT-based plug-and-play solution to make their machines and plants smarter, and their operations more efficient. Together, Olivetti, Dell Technologies and Alleantia have developed a turnkey solution that enables the digital transformation of production processes into Industry 4.0 logic. The solution takes data from the production line or machines and makes it immediately available through multiple interfaces. The processor performs near real-time data and event processing before distributing information to the customer’s applications either directly or via a secure Olivetti cloud-based infrastructure.
Edge computing isn’t simply the latest example of an overly hyped IT trend, but rather represents a profound transformation of how companies do business in Ireland that may soon eclipse the cloud in terms of strategic importance.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is helping NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) reach an inaugural and innovative milestone in deep space exploration. On Thursday, February 18, NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover landed on Mars, after its 7-month, 300-million-mile journey from Earth. This is the first planetary NASA mission, with mission-critical communication and transfer of telemetry data in the cloud. During Perseverance’s mission on Mars, the science and engineering data will be processed and hosted in AWS, enabling the Mars 2020 mission to benefit from the scalability, agility, and reliability of the cloud.
Now on the surface and after completing initial checkouts, the Mars Rover team is receiving hundreds of images from Mars each day from a record number of cameras, resulting in thousands of images over Perseverance’s time on the planet. The cloud helps NASA JPL efficiently store, process, and distribute this high volume of data.
By using AWS, NASA JPL is able to process data from Mars, on Earth, faster than ever before. The increased processing speed will help NASA JPL make faster decisions on the health and safety of the rover. This information is critical for scientists and engineers to plan the rover’s next day activities. The rover requires visibility to drive, so it is important for the team to be able to send the next batch of instructions back to the rover within a specific timeframe. The increased efficiency will allow Mars 2020 to accomplish its ambitious goal of collecting more samples and driving longer distances during the prime mission, compared to previous rovers.
AWS also powers the Mars mission website. The website will be able to scale up to meet demand at any given time, with millions of visitors anticipated at peak times.
“AWS is proud to support NASA JPL’s Perseverance mission,” said Teresa Carlson, vice president, worldwide public sector and industries at AWS. “From the outset, AWS cloud services have enabled NASA JPL in its mission to capture and share mission-critical images, and help to answer key questions about the potential for life on Mars.”
Exploring with NASA JPL
To help send data back to Earth, the Mars Rover is equipped with sensors, cameras, and microphones. The sensors will gather scientific data like atmospheric information, wind speeds, and weather. The microphones will collect the sounds of the planet. This data will be processed by JPL and made publicly available so viewers can explore Mars alongside NASA JPL.
The public will also be able to track the Mars Rover location on a map and in a 3D experience that puts them in the middle of Mars and seeing the planet from the view of Perseverance. Viewers will also be able to see the raw images from the planet through several cameras whose images will be made available to the public.
AWS first started working with the NASA JPL Mars 2020 Rover team more than five years ago in preparation for this mission. Before Perseverance left Earth, the public also participated in the “Name the Rover” essay contest and signed up to send their own names to Mars in the “Send Your Name to Mars” campaign. Both the contest and the campaign websites were powered by AWS. A middle school student from Virginia won the competition to name the Mars Rover, and almost 11 million names are stenciled on a chip that is flying onboard Perseverance. Already more than four million people have signed up to send their names aboard the next mission, taking off in 2026.
Participate and learn more
Explore as Perseverance begins sending back data. Vote for your favorite image of the week, receive daily weather reports, and more. Check out more about AWS’s work with NASA JPL, and the Mars Rover. Read more about how the AWS Aerospace and Satellites team is enabling successful space missions.
Conferencing and collaboration specialist Konftel has launched a business webcam for desktop users who demand professional quality personal video meetings, at home or in the office. Be sure to see our thoughts soon on techbuzzireland..
The Konftel Cam10 combines big performance with compact styling and has been designed for today’s hybrid working trends – where more and more business critical meetings take place online.
The stylish device features a wide 90° field of view, two built-in microphones, 1080p (30fps) full HD picture quality and a 4 x digital zoom. It’s a perfect home and traditional office companion, or for wherever people are working.
Award-winning Konftel has a trading pedigree stretching back more than three decades spanning all four corners of the globe. It was the very first company to manufacture and sell a commercial conference phone and has grown into one of the biggest players in the world for collaboration endpoint solutions, bringing people closer together. The introduction of the Cam10 is yet another iteration of Konftel’s innovative work and its mission to create powerful conferencing solutions.
“The Konftel Cam10 is a business class webcam that reflects the massive demand from desktop users seeking professional quality personal video meetings, based on an enhanced visual and audio experience,” says Regional Sales Director, Jeff May. “There’s been tremendous early interest for our latest high performance innovation, and the Konftel Cam10 will further accelerate more flexible ways of working.”
Based on simple plug-and-play USB connectivity, the portable Konftel Cam10 features easy set-up and operation, innovative picture noise reduction technology, low light capabilities and swift autofocus. The generous and natural looking field of view also helps capture content, such as from a whiteboard, in striking clarity.
“Whatever the preferred app or cloud service, the Konftel Cam10 fits all personal collaboration needs perfectly. Just connect the USB cable to a laptop or stationary PC and users are good to go,” Product Manager Torbjörn Karlsson explains.
He also highlights how when placed in an optimal position on top of the main screen, the Konftel Cam10 enables users to make eye contact instead of just showing their head profile – improving the quality of interaction. “The Konftel Cam10 promotes a natural viewing experience and is ideal for users with single or multiple external displays. It makes webcam communication natural and easy.”
The Konftel Cam10 uses a standard damping bracket for easy and stable installation, whilst there’s the option of tripod mounting for alternative camera placement. The webcam’s two built-in microphones deliver impressive audio pick-up, supported by noise suppression technology. In a common scenario the screen speakers often perform as audio output but an improved option is to complement the Konftel Cam10 with the professional speakerphone Konftel Ego, creating an enhanced experience through Konftel’s renowned OmniSound audio technology.
In addition, a mechanical shutter functions as a built-in lens cap, to ensure complete privacy, integrity and security.
Jeff May emphasises: “You only get one chance to create a good first impression which makes high quality video and audio even more critical especially in an age where ever more business meetings take place online. It used to be a suit or a handbag or a watch that impressed in a physical meeting room, now it’s the sharpness and clarity of a video feed. And if you’re sharp and clear, presentations or negotiations and interactions are going to be 100 per cent more impactful.”
He concludes: “The Konftel Cam10 is personal, productive and performance-driven. Don’t settle for second best and an inferior impression!”
Konftel is certified in line with the Climate Neutral standard. This means when users choose a Konftel product, there is an instant climate benefit from the very first distance meeting that replaces a business trip. Konftel offset all greenhouse gas emissions and is taking action to further reduce those emissions. The Climate Neutral Certified label, indicates its products are climate neutral.
Advancements in technology have transformed many aspects of society, helping people to live their lives far more efficiently.
Online digitalisation brings information to our fingertips, allowing us to perform a multitude of tasks wherever we are in the world.
The convenience offered by digital tech is undoubtedly one of its strong points, giving people more time to focus on the fun things in life.
Read on as we look at some of the areas where online digitalisation has had a massive impact over the past few years.
Streaming Platforms
Streaming services have become part of daily life, with outlets such as Netflix and Spotify revolutionising the way that people consume entertainment content.
YouTube is another platform that has driven innovation in this area, providing users with the opportunity to stay connected, learn new skills and find accurate information.
CEO Susan Wojcicki is proud of the progress YouTube has made, particularly regarding how the platform has helped power economic growth in media.
“Creators are building next-generation media companies that impact the economy’s overall success,” she said.
“According to an Oxford Economics report, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed approximately $16bn to the US GDP in 2019, supporting the equivalent of 345,000 full-time jobs.
“We’re also seeing real impact in other countries around the globe. The UK in 2019 saw approximately £1.4bn contributed to the British GDP and the equivalent of 30,000 full-time jobs.
“And in France, there was an estimated €515 million contributed to the French GDP and the equivalent of 15,000 full-time jobs.
Online Gambling
Enjoy an online bingo night
The gambling industry has been completely changed by digital tech, and online platforms are certainly where the best action can now be found.
Whether you like to play bingo games online or wager on sports, the internet provides you with a plethora of websites you can visit.
Bingo in particular has enjoyed a huge resurgence in popularity over the past few years, with operators expertly leveraging digital innovations to their advantage.
The best bingo sites offer players a diverse range of games, providing a much greater choice than can be found in land-based venues.
Improvements in mobile tech have also been hugely beneficial to bingo, providing people with the ability to play their favourite games on a 24/7/365 basis.
With people now spending an increasing amount of time at home and on their devices, the entire online gambling industry looks well placed to cash in over the next few years.
Online Shopping
Another sector where digitalisation has sparked massive changes is retail, with millions of people now preferring to shop online rather than visit physical stores.
The switch in consumer habits in recent times is perfectly highlighted by the $861bn that was spent online with US merchants in 2020.
That figure represents a year-on-year increase of 44 percent, and significant further growth has been predicted for 2021.
Greg Sterling, VP of Insights at Uberall, has forecast that digital innovations will allow the retail sector to improve its offering even further in the future.
“E-commerce and traditional retail have been largely separate channels,” he said. “Going forward, the hallmark of successful merchants will be deeper integration between online and offline assets.
“This includes distribution of real-time product inventory online. Roughly 40 percent of online purchases will be picked up at local stores.
“The ability to search for a product, buy it online and pick it up the same day or next day locally will become a permanent feature of the customer experience for major retailers and a key success factor.”
Food Delivery
Specialist food outlets are cashing in on digitalisation
Digitalisation has also changed how people buy groceries, with most supermarkets now offering online shopping and home delivery services.
This has had a knock-on effect for suppliers of fresh produce, as health-conscious consumers have sought to find outlets for meat and vegetables.
Ben White-Hamilton is the founder of Harvest Bundle – a digital marketplace that supplies produce from farms and fisheries across the United Kingdom.
He says that online digitalisation not only benefits consumers, but also presents opportunities for specialised grocery outlets to cash in.
“People don’t live near farms anymore, they live in cities,” he said. “Farmers’ markets have worked well for centuries, but with people leading lives that are incredibly busy it’s often hard to make time to visit them.
“What e-Commerce allows is modern technology applied to an almost forgotten historic tradition of buying direct.
“This has formed a potent mix and sped up the whole process of people shopping for food directly from the businesses who they want to support.”
Remote Working
Working practices have also changed massively over the past few years, with digital tech allowing businesses to adopt more flexible operational modes.
Many people now work from home, while others choose to use the freedom offered by digital to adopt a nomadic approach to their employment.
Stewart Butterfield is the CEO and co-founder of Slack – an online platform that has made it much easier for employers and employees to stay connected remotely.
He believes that the way people work in the future will never be the same, and predicts that digital will continue to make processes more efficient.
“We all know that work will never be the same, even if we don’t yet know all the ways in which it will be different,” he said.
“What we can say with certainty is that the sudden shift to distributed work has provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine everything about how we do our jobs and how we run our companies.
“If we can move past decades of orthodoxy about 9-to-5, office-centric work, there’s an opportunity to retain the best parts of office culture while freeing ourselves from bad habits and inefficient processes, from ineffective meetings to unnecessary bureaucracy.
“Every leader believes they can do better, and things can move faster – this is their chance.
“From the employee perspective, the shift is massive and very consequential – people are making new choices about where they want to live and creating new expectations about flexibility, working conditions and life balance that can’t be undone.”
The UK and Ireland is has experienced a particularly cold spell with the return of the Beast from the East type weather with temperatures dropping as low as -17 degrees in some parts. With the fall in temperature, the combination of the cold weather and central heating also causes low humidity, creating dry air conditions in our homes. Chris Michael, MD at leading UK air treatment manufacturer Meaco, outlines the main signs of low humidity to look out for, and what to do about it.
Most people do not realise, but the development of a dry cough, sore throat, cracked lips, and itchy eyes are all signs of dry air in a home. Moisturisers will not stop dry air pulling moisture from your skin causing dryness and irritation. As well as being uncomfortable, this can lead to more complicated health problems particularly for those with respiratory conditions and allergies.
It’s not only the health of people that can be adversely affected from dry air. The fabric of a home can be damaged. Dry air can cause the sudden appearance of cracks in wooden furniture, which can also apply to valuable possessions such as antiques and musical instruments.
If you start to experience static shocks in the home, it is a sign that humidity is below 30%, a level which will start to feel uncomfortable. Wilting plants may also be a sign that there is not enough moisture in the air.
One solution is to introduce a humidifier to your home. A humidifier works by adding moisture to the air to help prevent these problems. A humidifier allows more moisture into a person’s airways so relieving a dry cough, and eases some of the symptoms caused by ‘flu or the common cold. It has been suggested that humidity levels above 40 percent* rapidly deactivate virus particles, making them much less likely to be infectious.
A humidifier can be used to complement your healthy skin and beauty regime, curbing some of the dryness and irritation that comes with cold weather. Many celebrities* around the word are turning to them to improve their complexions, and voices.
Some of the less well-known benefits of using a humidifier are that it can help with snoring. If the air is dry, a person’s airways are less likely to be sufficiently lubricated, leading to snoring. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve some symptoms.
Meaco has been dealing with regulating the level of moisture in the air since 1991, first in museums and art galleries and then in people’s homes, and recently launched the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier. It works by using ultrasonic micro-vibrations splitting the water into very small droplets that are fanned into the air, creating a pleasant, warm or cooled visible mist. It is this gentle mist that helps remedy the problems caused by dry air.
A HEPA filter removes physical allergens from the air and a charcoal filter removes odours. An inbuilt aroma diffuser allows a person to add a favourite essence to the air, while an ioniser keeps the air fresh. The water is cleaned by an ultraviolet lamp prior to humidification so ensuring the humidified air that is breathed in has been sterilised first. This unique combination of sterilisation of the water before humidification and the HEPA and charcoal cleaning the air, makes the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier well placed for providing a clean air solution for a wide range of users. Finally, having cleaned the air and softened and cleaned the water the mist spray can be ionised to help clean the air further.
Built to very high standards with a pleasing, simple digital display, the Meaco Deluxe 202 Humidifier has a hard water filter to remove limescale and two directional nozzles to reduce the chances of condensation from forming in front of the humidifier. Low noise levels and a night mode helps you fall asleep peacefully, particularly useful for young children suffering from colds.
The acclaimed Konftel 800 hybrid conference phone has been officially certified to work seamlessly across key Atos Unify communication platforms – broadening its appeal to an even wider audience.
The flagship device has been fully tested to be compatible with the latest Atos Unify OpenScape 4000 V10 hybrid UC platform, Atos Unify OpenScape Voice V10 and Atos Unify OpenScape Business V3 solutions.
“The Atos Unify portfolio is one of the world’s leading names in unified communications and collaboration. We are proud and delighted the Konftel 800 meets Atos Unify’s exacting standards following rigorous testing,” says Torbjörn Karlsson, Product Manager at Konftel.
“Our strategy is to optimise and certify our products to ensure complete compatibility so users can connect and collaborate seamlessly. As an Atos Unify Advanced Technology Partner, Konftel has access to tools, documentation and test environments we use to exceed the highest demands of Atos customers for convenient meeting room solutions.”
The Konftel 800 offers ‘best in class’ performance and design. The hybrid device acts as a flexible and powerful device for communication and collaboration services, whether in the cloud, on premise or in hybrid environments. It connects via SIP, USB and Bluetooth.
Leading analysts Frost & Sullivan have recognized the Konftel 800 with a Product Leadership Award, highlighting how effortlessly the conference phone delivers outstanding sound in video solutions for medium to realty large meeting rooms. In addition the Konftel 800 has earned a Red Dot design award.
“Meeting room communications technologies like the Konftel 800 will become essential to bringing together hybrid workforces that have built up over the course of the early 2020’s. The Konftel 800 is an ideal solution to support the Atos range of Digital Workplace Collaboration and Communications technologies in meeting rooms,” said Mark Smith, Head of Marketing and Communications, Atos Unify. “We’re excited to see vendors like Konftel bring their technology leadership together with Atos’s leading design and delivery skills in the meeting rooms space.”
Poly (NYSE: PLT), today announced the new Poly Rove DECT IP phone is the first and only phone solution to exclusively feature built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection. Microban is a global leader in antimicrobial technology, and when combined with Poly’s new wireless phone system, gives you the confidence you need to collaborate in high-touch work settings and in the most critical of conversations.
The Poly Rove Family, including Poly Rove 30 and Poly Rove 40 phones, are designed to stay cleaner longer and come with Microban’s antimicrobial technologybuilt-infor a 99% cleaner phone surface. As warehouses and shift floors around the world continue to open, this technology not only actively helps fight the growth of product damaging bacteria, it also offers antimicrobial protection without affecting the appearance, functions or durability of Poly’s devices. The antimicrobial technology is integrated during manufacturing, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and germs for the lifespan of the device. This means complete defence against bacteria on Poly Rove phones integrated with Microban in high-touch workplaces.
“Microban is incredibly proud to partner with Poly to bring to market phones and conferencing devices that feature our patented antimicrobial protection,” said Michael Ruby, vice president of global built-in business at Microban. “With Microban’s ‘always on’ technology now incorporated into Poly’s most popular pro-grade solutions; we’re delivering product protection that empowers Poly customers all around the world.”
Poly Rove Family
Poly Rove devices are designed to outfit critical and essential workplaces for the ultimate confidence in collaboration and communication. Poly Rove devices can be taken on the move, even in the largest facilities, and can be scaled to support up to 1,000 handsets. In addition to exclusively featuring Microban technology, Poly Rove phones are ruggedized with an IP65 rating to be dust-proof and water-resistant, making them tough enough for industries like healthcare, manufacturing and retail where employees often share phone handsets throughout the day. With the Poly Rove R8 DECT repeater, you’ll maintain DECT encryption without sacrificing security when you need to move about and talk at a greater range.
Poly Rove phone systems come with Poly’s pro-grade audio with HD voice and enhanced background noise suppression for premium call clarity. Programmable line keys and a large display screen provide easy navigation so no one misses a critical call, whether from a warehouse floor or an emergency room.
“According to our research, businesses across industries are looking for ways to improve their workplace and employees rated antimicrobial treatment as the most necessary feature among a list of safe-office solutions,” said Irwin Lazar, president and principal analyst, Metrigy. “We expect to see demand for these types of features will only increase.”
“Our partnership with Microban is a prime example of our commitment to prioritising the well-being of our customers and employees in every workplace, including our own,” said John Lamarque, vice president and general manager of voice collaboration and professional headset business unit, Poly. “By combining Microban’s product protection with Poly’s expertise in wireless DECT security and audio, our customers and employees can feel confident while using our devices as they get back to work in warehouses, retail centre’s, and hospitals around the world.”
For seamless management of devices for IT, Poly’s cloud-based device management software, provides a central, secure portal for IT professionals to stage, deploy and manage devices from anywhere. This cloud management software is available through select service providers (some services sold separately).
For more information on Poly Rove device pricing, availability and for additional details on the exclusive partnership with Microban, please visit: Poly Rove and Poly Performance + Microban Protection.
Bank of Ireland debit card spending analysis for January has revealed a steep decline in consumer spending activity, as the spike witnessed before and during the Christmas period declined significantly. Some issues I have noted is the lack of transparency with stores here online and from contacting around ten Irish retail stores here asking about where their products shipped from they did not respond be it on social media or email which does not bode well with any customer when now is the time for them to be up front and honest and try capitalise on their web shops here. I am one to support the shop local initiative however this is dwindling by the day and I will make my purchase elsewhere online outside Ireland.
Whilst charitable donations rose steeply in the final month of 2020, these levels suffered at the beginning of 2021, with a 53% month on month drop. Purchases of sporting apparel in January fell by 66% even though the first month of a new year is often seen as the best time to kick-start a fitness programme.
January spending trends also revealed that the fizz has gone out of spending on beer, wine and liquor as shoppers bought less of these items at the beginning of 2021, with a 57% drop recorded. This was in stark contrast to December as people stocked up for the Christmas festivities, with spending on beer, wine and liquors rising sharply.
Elsewhere the tightening of belts remained constant across the wider retail sector in January, with spending on clothes dropping a massive 70%, spending in hardware stores falling over a third month on month (-37%), while consumers appeared to be satisfied with their December purchases of electronic and software items as spending levels in this area dropped by 24%.
Commenting on these debit card spending patterns, Ger Thompson, Head of Current Account Banking at Bank of Ireland said: “January saw the majority of people ease back on their spending, which was to be expected after the series of spending spikes we witnessed across various retail sectors in the run up to Christmas. Notably in January we saw a drop of 41% in retail spending, including falls in purchases of sporting equipment and electrical equipment.
In addition and perhaps not surprisingly, we also saw “social” spending half in the month of January – with fast food outlets witnessing a spending decrease of 34%, restaurant spend down over 60% and pubs suffering a massive fall off in purchases (88%) as the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions really hit home.
The hope amongst consumers must be that the current restrictions will be eased in the coming months and that some sense of normality can resume. Spending on memberships only dipped by 17% in January, which is a low figure relative to the drops we’ve seen elsewhere. So it is clear that plenty of people still retain hope in this early stage of 2021 that they will resume the sports or social activities they enjoy sooner rather than later.”
Bank of Ireland debit card transactions – January 2021 versus December 2020
