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‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’: Microsoft & RTÉjr launch exciting new digital skills competition for primary schools.

Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr today announced they are joining forces to launch an exciting new national digital skills competition which will challenge primary school students across the island of Ireland to use Minecraft: Education Edition to help shape Ireland’s sustainable future.

This week, every primary school in the Republic of Ireland will receive a unique code in the post so they can register for a Minecraft: Education Edition account to take part in this exciting initiative. Primary Schools in Northern Ireland will also be invited to participate and will be able to use their existing Minecraft: Education Edition accounts to compete in this first-of-its-kind competition.

Primary Schools are invited to tune into rte.ie/learn from 30^th September where they will be able to watch Dream Space TV which features amazing Minecraft: Education Edition Lessons that will run for six weeks. Delivered by the teachers of Microsoft’s Dream Space, the lessons are designed to support teachers to deliver digital learning experiences in the classroom.

Throughout the six weekly online episodes, students will be learning how to use Minecraft: Education Edition through the medium of fun challenges! These challenges will be aligned to both the Republic and Northern Irish curriculums covering subjects from English, Maths, Science, Geography, SPHE and more. Microsoft’s Dream Space team will also provide each school with comprehensive teaching guides to ensure that participating schools are supported throughout the episodes and for their competition submission.

Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr today announced they are joining forces to launch an exciting new national digital skills competition which will challenge primary school students across the island of Ireland to use Minecraft Education Edition to help shape Ireland’s sustainable future.
Pictured participating in a special Minecraft session in DCU were Amy Byrne and Conor Gannon from 5th class in Glenasmole National School participated in a special Minecraft session in DCU St. Patrick’s Campus. Full details can be found at http://www.rte.ie/learn. Pic:Naoise Culhane

With the necessary skills to participate in the competition developed during the first five episodes in the sixth and final episode details of the nationwide competition will be revealed. It is during this episode on November 11^th that full details of the competition will be revealed, and students will be challenged to shape Ireland’s sustainable future through the medium of Minecraft. Schools will go head-to-head with the finals expected to take place in April 2022.

Speaking about the launch of the competition, James O’Connor, Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “At Microsoft, we believe in the power of technology to inspire young people, ignite their imaginations and help them to see the world in a variety of new ways. Our Dream Space experience is one of the ways in which we make this possible. We’ve been delighted to work with the team at RTÉ to make Dream Space available to more students over the past year as the country navigated different stages of the Covid-19 emergency from home schooling and hybrid learning models. We’ve since reached over 40,000 students via our virtual offerings and at Microsoft we’ve been excited to see the impact that the experience has had on students and teachers right across the country.

“We’re now growing this collaboration with RTÉjr through the launch of this nationwide competition for primary schools today. This inclusive competition will help ensure that young people across the country can experience how technology can shape their world and how the skills they develop can reshape Ireland’s future. I know the Dream Space team have an exciting series coming up which will introduce students to the amazing world of Minecraft: Education Edition and guide teachers on how to introduce this educational tool into the classroom. We hope all primary schools will avail of this opportunity and we look forward to supporting you all on this learning journey over the coming months.”

Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s and Young Peoples’ Content said: “Today’s kids are Digital natives and its vital that their experience of the global online community is a positive one. When the opportunity arose for RTÉ to connect with every kid in Ireland and show them how to code through gaming, we jumped on it. Everyone in the school yard knows what Minecraft is and now thanks to Dream Space TV & Minecraft: Education Edition, we’re bringing it directly to every school in Ireland. It’s coding, innovation, creativity, and teamwork, all wrapped up in one incredibly exciting experience. There’s something for everyone here.

“This competition will really challenge our school kids and give them a platform to amaze us. It’s very exciting and it’s never been done before here in Ireland. We’re very proud to be able to play an equal part in this with our colleagues in Microsoft Dream Space.”

To participate in the competition schools will need a Minecraft: Education Edition account. Primary schools in Northern Ireland already have access to a Minecraft: Education Edition account but Microsoft will be making accounts freely available to participating primary schools in the Republic of Ireland for a nine-month period to allow pupils to take part. Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that allows teachers to deliver a variety of curriculum lessons to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. The learning platform offers teachers an alternative teaching and learning tool to engage pupils and ignite their passion for learning.

Using the code provided in the post, primary schools in the Republic of Ireland can register for their Minecraft: Education Edition accounts at www.irelandsfutureismine.com. The Microsoft Dream Space TV episodes and a full range of accompanying teacher guides containing direct links to specific curriculum areas, worksheets and extension tasks will be available at www.rte.ie/learn.

Creative launches Live! Mic M3

Creative Live! Mic M3 offers users greater versatility across different use cases as it is designed with two 14mm condenser capsules for dual polar pattern types, Cardioid and Omni, which can be easily switched via the control knob. With the Cardioid pattern, it is most suitable for single-person recordings, like streaming a gameplay, as it is a front-focused mode and is best used to capture sounds made directly in front of the mic. On the other hand, the Omni pattern is an all-angle mode that works better to capture sounds equally from all directions and is great for use with groups, like a podcast recording with two or three hosts.

With up to 24-bit / 96 kHz high-resolution recording, Creative Live! Mic M3 offers clearer recordings to add that dash of audio oomph to the user’s livestreams, podcasts, conference calls, or even just everyday conversations. Adding to that, the microphone also comes with a dedicated mute button and real-time mic monitoring, which allows users to easily make adjustments on the fly.

Equipped with a built-in headphones port, detachable pop filter, and an adjustable table stand, Creative Live! Mic M3 serves as the perfect microphone for budding content creators and even those working from home as it offers crystal clear and studio-quality audio without the hefty price tag.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Live! Mic M3 is attractively priced at £54.99 UK and US$59.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit www.creative.com/LiveMicM3.

The Top 5 Threats to Cyber Security

Regardless of whether you love, hate, or have mixed feelings about technology; you cannot doubt its impact on your daily life. The current digital world continues to expand as more people, businesses, and companies adopt remote working. However, as digital activity surges, the criminal desire to take advantage of modern technologies also increases, evidenced by advanced cyber security threats and a rise in digital crime.

In recent years, several major companies have fallen victim to various cybercrimes, ranging from phishing attacks to data breaches. Below are the five major common cyber threats to watch out for.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are the most common and damaging cyber security threat facing small businesses. These attacks account for an estimated 90% of data breaches facing organizations and cost businesses up to $12 billion in losses. A phishing attack occurs when cyber criminals pretend to be trusted contacts and entice users to click malicious links or download malicious files that give them access to your computer or sensitive information.

Current phishing attacks are more sophisticated, as attackers devise new convincing ways of pretending to be your real business contacts. Phishing attacks are very damaging since they are difficult to combat. Unlike other threats that leverage technological weaknesses, these attacks target humans in a business through social engineering.

However, businesses can take some measures to mitigate these attacks. Using a reliable email security gateway, installing post-delivery protection, and training your employees on identifying phishing emails can reduce the risks of falling prey to phishing emails.

2. Malware Attacks

Malware threats are the second serious cyber security threat facing both small and large businesses. Malware attacks include various cyber threats, such as viruses and Trojans, used by hackers to gain access to business networks, destroy or steal sensitive data. Malware attacks often stem from malicious downloads, connecting to insecure devices or networks, and spam emails.

Malware attacks have significant damaging effects on small businesses since they can cripple computers and other devices that require expensive repairs and replacements. Hackers also access sensitive customer data, putting your company at risk for legal issues. Fortunately, businesses can mitigate malware threats by installing strong and reliable technological defenses, such as Endpoint Protection, which protects devices from malicious downloads.

Taking advantage of the correct threat intelligence tools allows businesses to stay ahead of emerging threats, providing real-time insights into potential risks. These tools help identify vulnerabilities, enabling businesses to act quickly and prevent attacks before they cause major disruptions

3. Ransomware

Ransomware is another common cyber threat affecting thousands of businesses every year. Unfortunately, they have grown to become one of the most lucrative executable attacks. Ransomware attacks have some similarities with malware attacks. With these threats, cybercriminals encrypt company data and demand a ransom or give conditions that should be met for the data to be unlocked.

Like other cyber security threats, small businesses are specifically targeted due to their average cyber security framework. Hackers also target small businesses because most of them haven’t backed up their data. So to say, 71% of Ransomware attacks in 2018 were directed to small businesses with ransom demands averaging at $116,000.

That said, businesses should adopt strong cyber security measures, such as Endpoint Protection, to mitigate these attacks. You should also back up company data in the cloud to avoid data loss.

4. Insider Threats

Insider threats are a serious yet mostly overlooked cyber security threat by most companies. A Verizon analysis found that insider threats accounted for 25% of cyber threats in 2017. As the name suggests, these are risks caused by the actions of your employees, bitter former employees, or your business associates. Since these persons can access company information, greed or malice can steer them into causing disastrous actions.

These threats are a significant problem that can put your employees and customers at risk. It can also expose your company to hefty financial damage. While this cannot be prevented, you can reduce insider threats by developing a strong company culture within your business. You should also increase cyber security awareness since some insider threats are caused by employee ignorance or carelessness.

5. Cloud Jacking

Cloud computing is a fast-rising trend that most companies have adopted for collaboration, communication, and storage. Unfortunately, while the cloud is deemed safe, this is not always the case. Cloud jacking occurs when cybercriminals infiltrate your cloud computing system. Once they access your business cloud, hackers can reconfigure your cloud code, eavesdrop on company communications, and conduct other damaging actions.

Most cybercriminals use information gained from cloud jacking to run other cyber threats, specifically phishing schemes. With the information gained from eavesdropping, they can create fake memos or instructions that appear to have been approved by the management, tricking employees into clicking or downloading malicious files. To stay safe, businesses should look into staying CMMC compliant, as the goal of your CMMC SSP is to provide a readable overview of your security requirements and the controls you have in place to meet those requirements to anyone looking into your cybersecurity posture.

Conclusion

While these five cyber threats aren’t everything that businesses face, they are arguably the most threatening. As cybercriminals increasingly become smarter and strategic, businesses should advance their cyber security measures. You should ensure that your organization has updated cyber security measures to protect your network and sensitive company data from vulnerabilities.

Husband and wife renovation team announce PC house building game Hometopia

Real-life home renovator and longtime game developer couple at The Isn’t Company today announced their upcoming house building PC game, Hometopia, with an official trailer.

Build, design, and renovate beautiful homes across five unique neighborhoods, or freely build dream houses and neighborhoods from scratch alone or with friends online. Hometopia is participating in the Steam Next Fest from October 1st – October 7th with a free playable demo of the game’s Sandbox building mode available on Steam.

Features:

Build entire homes from scratch – foundation to rooftops
Create homes and neighborhoods with others in online multiplayer
Play in First Person or Overview camera modes
Design furniture and change materials for everything for full customization
Grid-less designing and 360 degree item rotation
Lay out the floorplan and designate where every room goes
Create plots of any size
Build entire neighborhoods with roads, street lights, trees and more
Steam Workshop support – share your creations and upload custom items and textures
Renovate, buy and sell homes across 5 unique neighborhoods (Trailer Park, Suburb, City, Beach, Mansions) in Career mode
Free-build in creative Sandbox mode
Multiple biomes (Forest, Lakes, Desert, Beach) to select from
Thousands of items to design and build with at launch with more available through modding
Adjust time of day and sun direction to take the perfect shareable photos
Take before/after photos automatically in-game
Advanced lighting system
Build elaborate gardens and exteriors
Paint color wheel to use any color

Hometopia can be played in First Person or in an Overhead perspective and offers two different modes: Career and Sandbox.

Sandbox:

In Sandbox, build your dream home without the pressure of market conditions or the limit of resources. Create a cozy bungalow in the forest, a modern marble and glass mansion on the beach, or a massive over-the-top palace overlooking estate grounds and share your creation with the world on Steam Workshop. Need even more items to design with? Hometopia offers full modding support for limitless additions. In multiplayer, create entire neighborhoods with other players – from planning the plots and laying down roads to creating parks and designing homes – there’s no limit to the worlds you can build.

Career:

In Career mode, players renovate 30 different homes across five distinct neighborhoods that range from a run-down mobile home park to a posh beachside community with lakefront gated mansions. Buy rundown properties and fix them up to earn top dollar…after cleaning the space, start by improving the layout and flow. Think buyers in this neighborhood would prefer three bedrooms with a garage and nursery instead of a large master closet and sunroom? Use the Floorplanner tool to designate what every space in the home is intended for, then get down to renovating!

Paint the walls, install new flooring and premium appliances, put in new doors and windows, add high end fixtures, or create a beautiful outdoor space for good curb appeal. Feeling ambitious? Build out a fancy multi-car garage, expand the footprint of the home, create a third level, or even demolish the entire property and rebuild it from scratch – foundation all the way up to the roof! Stage the property from a massive collection of over 2,000 unique pieces of furniture, lighting, decor and accent pieces (or make your own unique pieces using hundreds of materials available to customize each item) before putting it on the market. Fulfill all the needs of an ever-changing market and you could have a bidding war on your hands!

“We’re a small, independent team of five, but we’ve been developing games for the past two decades,” said Alex Ahlund, founder of The Isn’t Company. “We had a lot of success with our mobile games; Design This Home and Design This Castle, attracting over 20M players and igniting our love of home design.”

He continued, “After my wife and I fully renovated our 120-year-old former fraternity house by ourselves, we knew we wanted to bring that same experience to others in a more accessible but less exhausting format. There aren’t really any games out there that let you build and renovate realistic homes from scratch with other players online, either, so we knew that was an important feature we wanted to incorporate.”

Builder. Designer. Renovator. What’s your Hometopia?

Hometopia launches in January 2022 and will be available in English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Polish.

Design your own dream home by grabbing the free demo of Hometopia on their Steam page from October 1st to October 7th and wishlist the game to be the first to hear when it launches, and don’t forget to join their active Discord community of passionate home designers, builders and renovators.

Casetic have created a large number of mobile phone cases that contain elements of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas.

The mobile phone case designers from Casetic have created a large number of mobile phone case works that contain elements of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas. In the pattern of the phone case, you can see the outline of the mountain, the shadow of the tree, the etherealness of the lake, and the magnificence of the sea. We hope that these mobile phone cases can bring you the most natural relaxation, allowing you to live a relaxed, thorough and comfortable life. More importantly, it reminds you that during the busy journey of life, you should always stop to see the beautiful scenery.

Although these familiar natural scenery are common, we rarely stop to really feel their breath. When people blend into nature, you will feel a great relaxation of body and mind, not only the magnificent scenery of fresh air, but also the unfettered sense of freedom.The beauty created by nature is incomparable to man-made. The magnificent mountains and rivers are both shocking and moving. The boundless sea, vast forests, undulating mountains, quiet lakes.

With colorful elements, the mountains, rivers and sea elements on the phone case are more vibrant. The combination of snow-capped mountains, grassland, sunshine, and woods is so harmonious, natural and ethereal.

If you are a person who likes simplicity and nature, then these mobile phone cases are your best choice. You will fall in love with the natural world behind them. It allows you to have a peaceful heart while the world is disturbed.

Konftel Launches Interactive Room Type Guide To Reinforce ‘Total Video Solutions’ Blueprint

Pioneering conferencing and collaboration manufacturer Konftel has developed a special interactive room type guide, to help users pinpoint the optimum set-up and understand the different dynamics of any video meeting scenario.

Designed for resellers and their customers, the powerful new tool – available here – showcases Konftel’s expanded product portfolio based on collaboration solutions for any room type – highlighting how video is everywhere and everywhere is video!

The innovative 3D guide identifies the most appropriate products and connectivity set-up, from personal workspaces, focus and huddle rooms to large multipurpose rooms – based on an overall objective to optimize video enabled meetings, whatever the environment.

Chief Marketing Officer, Stefan Eriksson, explained: “With the hybrid workplace emerging as the new norm, video meetings have become the central resource for collaboration and efficient decision making. This means every meeting space, whether at home or in the corporate office, needs to be equipped for instant, easy-to use and high quality video conferencing.

“There are many complexities to achieve successful and consistent video meetings – from room lay out and connectivity to choosing the right technology that is simple and easy to use. Our innovative room guide makes it easy to identify and chose the right equipment for the right rooms. One size definitely doesn’t fit all.”

Eriksson says the Konftel Room Type Guide illustrates the quality, dynamic design and overall exceptional performance of Konftel’s acclaimed video conferencing range.

Konftel’s latest product developments include:

Konftel 70 video kits

The new Konftel 70 is a versatile high performance speakerphone that blends exceptional audio quality with a stylish accolade-winning design. It’s an ideal video meeting companion or can be used as a standalone or even portable solution, for huddle rooms and small/medium locations.

It forms the audio centrepiece of two new video kits – the C2070 and C5070 – which are part of Konftel’s entire Climate Neutral certified portfolio.

Konftel Personal Video Kit

The Konftel Personal Video Kit creates conferencing convenience – and is ideally suited to today’s growing hybrid working trends, spanning both the home and traditional office.

The complete conferencing package consists of the new Konftel Cam10 webcam and popular Konftel Ego speakerphone – delivering business class performance with high levels of usability as part of a compact and portable overall design.

Konftel C50800 Hybrid

The Konftel C50800 Hybrid is a premium video collaboration solution for medium to really large meeting rooms. Delivering outstanding image and audio quality, the package combines the Konftel Cam50 PTZ conference camera and the Konftel 800 conference phone with the Konftel OCC Hub for One Cable Connection.

Eriksson highlighted: “Identifying the requirements for each environment and use case is the key to finding the right solution and set-up. The end-goal – video enabled meetings, always and everywhere. Our room type guide is a simple way to navigate the work environment and find the optimal video solutions.”

Quality Counts

He concluded: “Meeting environments are now hugely varied and continue to diversify in today’s evolving world of hybrid working, spanning both homes and offices. Many companies recognise the need to maintain a workforce that may be much more remote in the future, where conferencing is the new norm. This means they will need to either redesign or re-equip office locations. Large conference rooms with vast glass tables, for example, make for really poor acoustics. Social distancing will need to be assessed too.

“To achieve this, the type of video conferencing equipment needs to match each individual room. The type of connectivity, lighting, field of view, audio distance and overall room design and size need to be considered. Ease of use, reliability and flexibility all have to combine together. And quality really matters. Audio clarity, picture sharpness and reduction of background noise – these are all factors which greatly influence the overall impact of any meeting.”

Biomethane: a sustainable solution for Irish farmers and energy security

More than 270 interested parties, including farmers, developers and industry bodies, heard how agriculturally produced biomethane can be delivered sustainably and at scale to decarbonise Ireland’s energy system, during Gas Networks Ireland’s biomethane industry webinar on Monday.

Attendees received an update on the national and European biomethane policy landscape and learned of the importance of the ongoing consultation on the proposed Renewable Heat Obligation, which, if enacted, will support biomethane production at scale and help Ireland achieve its climate ambitions.

Speakers also discussed the process for producing and injecting biomethane into the national network, the proposed Mitchelstown Central Grid Injection (CGI) facility and how certification is attained and recorded in the national registry.

The line-up of experts included Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Engineer, Niamh Gillen, who last year represented Ireland at the international finals of Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers’ (IGEM) Young Professionals Competition.

Ms Gillen was joined by Gas Networks Ireland colleagues Declan O’Sullivan, Ian Kilgallon, Yvette Jones and Brendan O’Riordan, as well as KPMG’s Russell Smyth and Devenish Nutrition’s David Hagan.

“Ireland has the highest potential for biomethane production per capita in the EU according to the European Commission, providing a strong opportunity to develop a thriving indigenous biomethane industry, support energy security and, importantly for Irish farmers, reduce agricultural emissions,” Renewable Gas Project Manager, Yvette Jones, who is leading on the Mitchelstown CGI project, said.

A carbon-neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion (AD), biomethane has already begun to seamlessly replace natural gas in the national network.

Gas Networks Ireland’s Innovation and Business Development Manager, Ian Kilgallon, said that across Europe, biomethane is seen as a vital solution for decarbonising energy systems while also providing a more sustainable solution for farmers to reduce their waste and emissions.

“In countries around Europe, including the UK, Italy, France and Germany, biomethane is playing an important role in decarbonising sectors such as heat and transport,” Mr Kilgallon said.

“Within both the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and Irish agri-food industry, the development of biomethane and the production of a nutrient rich bio-fertiliser digestate, which is a by-product of anaerobic digestion, is seen as a key element in decarbonising agriculture.”

By replacing natural gas with renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen, Ireland can sustainably deliver a net-zero carbon gas network to complement intermittent renewable electricity generation, meet its climate action targets and support a cleaner energy future while ensuring a secure energy supply.

Gas Networks Ireland introduced domestically produced biomethane into the national network in 2019, via the country’s first dedicated renewable gas injection point in Cush, Co. Kildare. A second renewable gas injection facility in Mitchelstown was approved by Cork County Council and An Bord Pleanála in 2020.

Together they have the capacity to heat 75,000 homes, while also supporting the decarbonisation of local agriculture.

A domestic biomethane industry would also provide significant opportunities for local communities from the sale of biomethane, feedstock used to produce the renewable gas, and a bio-fertiliser that is a by-product of the process, and facilitate sustainable circular economies, with businesses powering their operations via renewable gas made from their own waste.

To support the development of an indigenous biomethane industry in Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland has established a Renewable Gas Registry that records the volume of biomethane injected into the network each month and issues certificates to producers.

The Registry facilitates producers in monetising the renewable value of their gas and enables title tracking of the renewable value of biomethane in the network, guaranteeing that the equivalent amount of renewable gas has been injected into the gas network.

For more information, visit: https://www.gasnetworks.ie/business/renewable-gas/registry/.

100 days until Christmas – new consumer trends report from Sitecore to help brands sleigh this season

Sitecore, the global leader in digital experience management software, today released its Holiday Shopping Trends 2021 report exploring how consumers worldwide intend to celebrate, indulge and recuperate this holiday season. Irish consumers are eager to resume their normal lives and make up for last year’s COVID-controlled holiday, with 75% of those age 25-34 saying they are ready to embrace pre-pandemic shopping, travel and holiday experiences. More than half (54%) of consumers surveyed plan to make bigger and more mindful holiday purchases this year, fuelled in part by the fact that 50% of consumers say they have more savings set aside for the holidays this year compared to last year.

Sitecore’s Holiday Shopping Trends 2021 report surfaces insights from consumers around holiday shopping, gift giving, spending, and sentiment. The data arms marketers in categories like retail, travel, automotive, and others with the intelligence they need to deliver winning experiences that satisfy the evolving tastes and demands of consumers.

Shift in Perspective:

o 68% of consumers would prefer experience gifts to “more stuff”

o 53% of consumers are now planning “the trip of a lifetime”

o 55% of consumers under the age of 44 said they are now more spontaneous, more social, and enjoying life more

Young consumers bringing spending back:

o 72% of Gen Z and 66% of Millennials are more willing to make big life enhancements post-pandemic

o 60% of Gen Z will spend more this year; with 64% of 55 – 65 year olds and 65% of those over the age of 65 spending about the same as last year

o 79% of those under the age of 44 stated that following their experiences during the pandemic they now “value travel and appreciate other cultures more”

Retailers failing Black and minority-owned businesses:

o 65% of consumers believe it is essential that retailers offer more products from Black/minority-owned businesses, but only 17% report seeing more Black/minority-owned products when shopping

Buying local and being mindful with purchases is a priority for most:

o 67% of consumers are willing to pay more for locally made gifts

o 66% of consumers are annoyed when they find a purchase was made in China, when they thought it was a local purchase

o 78% of consumers stated that the pandemic has made them think more carefully about how they spend their money

Self-care now includes self-gifting:

o 51% of those buying a gift for themselves cite “therapy” as the main reason

o 16% of consumers plan to emerge from the pandemic with a new wardrobe

o 22% of consumers will gift themselves travel this year

“Consumers in Ireland are very clearly ready to move on from the pandemic and are looking at Holiday 2021 as the beginning of the rest of their lives,” said Sitecore CMO Paige O’Neill. “Our research shows pent-up demand and more savings than usual will result in younger consumers splurging on self-care and big-ticket items at the register, which is great news for those in retail, travel and hospitality. It’s also heartening to see that all types of consumers want to support their local community, including Black and minority-owned businesses. The industry will need to respond with more offerings from these businesses.”

NUMARICS: Artificial Intelligence Does Accounting Now

Swiss fin-tech startup Numarics offers an integrated business solution that allows Swiss entrepreneurs to navigate their bookkeeping from their mobile phones. Artificial intelligence replaces an accountant. Why is this necessary? Or rather – why hasn’t this come to market much sooner?

“We don’t need another accounting software. We need a solution,” said digital expert Kristian Kabashi when he was approached by certified public auditor, accounting expert and financial market specialist Dominique Rey with a request to work together on the digitization of accounting services.

Rey: “I have examined companies where an independent audit of the balance sheet and income statement was required. In practice, this means that I had a lot to do with internal and external accountants to verify whether there were any material misstatements in the annual financial statements. In this activity, I quickly detect if the accounting is managed properly. I am always surprised at how much administrative work steps the accountants had to perform and that very few work steps were automated – that leaves much room for mistakes.”

Rey reports strong quality differences in the work of accountants, an unprotected title in Switzerland. Poorly or untimely fiduciary work carries financial risks and can be costly for entrepreneurs. Accountants, on the other hand, are tired of running after and sorting missing paperwork – a job that has not changed since the dawn of accounting.

Fun Fact: Bookkeeping has existed since 3000 BC in ancient Egypt – with debits and credits on papyrus scrolls.

Kabashi: “Since then, only the quality of the paper seems to have changed. Now, physical paperwork is also transferred to Excel spreadsheets or accounting software in a highly time-consuming process. Receipts are glued on paper to keep them sorted and together. This discipline never made it to the Olympics, so it’s time to challenge that.”

Kabashi transforms business processes with a strong philosophy where people are exclusively creative thinkers and strategists. Repetitive work is performed through advanced technologies.

Kabashi: “Who likes filling out forms or taking care of all the paperwork? How many people would have already made their dream of self-employment reality if they didn’t have such great respect for bureaucracy?”

Fintech startup Numarics is designed to take that fear away. The app sends push notifications when a receipt has not been scanned. Algorithms detect whether it is a receipt, a contract or an invoice. Numarics handles communication with government agencies and enables invoices to be sent to clients. It becomes virtually impossible to lose track of anything.

Volker Doberanzke became involved in the development and set-up of Numarics. The professor of finance can demonstrate an international management career and today trains students at an international university. The co-founder describes Numarics as follows: “It is a system that integrates all business processes and generates data at the end. These serve as the basis for day-to day management and are used to make important decisions. In addition, the data forms the basis for required financial reports for both government agencies and stakeholders.

“The flying blind is over,” says Kabashi, who as an entrepreneur himself has no clear overview of the annual profit taxes that will be coming up for his business – a good tax consultancy is rare. Numarics does the math in its on-target forecasts, and users have a clear forecast in their pocket.

The entire Numarics team works on the “ease of mind” – no paperwork, no worries with the authorities or the accountant, and even procrastination hurdles of numerous startups are at the forefront for the solution. Says Rey, “It’s an integrated process, and we sell peace of mind by ensuring the entrepreneur has complete oversight of what the Numarics engine is doing for them.”

Numarics as a business solution for Switzerland comes with great future visions for interfaces that can be connected for entrepreneurs. For example, Numarics can already settle cryptocurrencies today.

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