Expleo, the technology partner for innovative companies, today announces that it is investing €100K in helping businesses to get back on track following the disruption caused by COVID-19. The company’s specially-designed COVID-19 recovery package includes free consultancy services in areas that will be critical to business stimulation, including business strategy, digital transformation, change management and business agility.
Expleo’s investment will cover initial assessment of businesses’ needs, referral to a leading consultant and in-depth business analysis to establish a clear plan of action. Services will be offered to businesses of any size operating in all sectors including financial services, retail, manufacturing, travel, insurance and IT.
Irish firms continue to suffer from the fallout of COVID-19 and the disruption it has caused to day-to-day functions, supply chains and their ability to operate to full capacity. Business group Ibec anticipates that investment will fall by as much as 40% this year and the economy will continue to be impacted by the pandemic ‘well into 2021’.
With Government restrictions easing, organisations are now looking to the future and the key areas they need to address in order to limit the pandemic’s impact on their business. And with digital transformation expected to play a central role in economic recovery, Expleo believes its services can give Irish businesses a vital boost.
Phil Codd,pictured above, Managing Director for Ireland, Expleo, said: “At Expleo, we feel very strongly that the business community needs to work together to overcome the challenges set by COVID-19. We wanted to make sure that we played our part and believe that our experience in helping enterprises across all sectors to digitally transform and manage change will be of great assistance to businesses as they look ahead and prepare for a drastically more digitised world.
“Economic hardship can inspire great innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. We want to embark on that journey with Irish businesses to help them thrive in the years ahead and make our economy stronger as a result.”
Businesses who wish to avail of the COVID-19 recovery package and speak to one of Expleo’s leading digital transformation experts can register their interest here.
Blink earned its place as 1 of just 10 InsurTechs selected following a competitive ‘virtual pitch’ process that had 140 of the world’s insurance industry trailblazers vying for a place on the prestigious Lloyd’s Lab innovation accelerator programme.
Lloyd’s, the world’s leading specialist insurance and reinsurance market announced Blink’s selection to join its fifth cohort which will be focussed on 3 themes including data & models, new insurance products & markets and response to COVID-19. The 10-week programme will commence on 7th September. The 10 successful companies can be viewed here.
Speaking of today’s announcement, Blink’s co-founder and CEO Paul Prendergast said: “This has already been a tremendous experience for us and we’re just getting started. The pitch process allowed us to really refine our platform’s potential with an exciting range of commercial solutions and Lloyd’s Lab is going to work with us to accelerate the development and realisation phases by providing us not only with Lloyd’s market access, but with rich historical data, analysis, modelling and testing forums. Our parametric platform’s effectiveness in supporting increasingly Covid-19 prone, high frequency, low severity claims environments was a major success factor in this process so we’re ready to showcase its full potential with this golden opportunity. We also get to collaborate with some of the world’s best minds in insurance innovation, so we are hugely honoured and thrilled to have been selected.”
PICTURE Darragh Kane
Blink, founded in 2016 and bought by AIM listed CPP Group just 6 months after it was set up is now a world leader in parametric insurance product innovation, transforming its clients’ complex offerings into superior service experiences with simple, intuitive, online products. It was recognised in 2019 as one of the world’s fastest growing Travel Insurance InsurTechs making it onto The INSURTECH100 – an annual list of the world’s most innovative company in theInsurTech ecosystem solving significant industry problems, generating cost saving or efficiency improvements within insurance. The company partners globally with insurance and financial services companies, driving innovation in Asia, Europe and North America.
Trevor Maynard, Head of Innovation at Lloyd’s, said: “This cohort of InsurTechs will play an important role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to help us develop the new models and insurance products of the future. We will undoubtedly need new products and services for insurers to deliver confidence and security against future waves of this pandemic and other systemic risks of the scale we have seen in 2020. I’m thrilled to have the best InsurTech’s across the globe join the Lloyd’s Lab and look forward to seeing the progress they make. Lloyd’s has thrived on its purpose of sharing risk and its as important now as it has ever been to combine minds and build a braver world.”
John O’Donoghue, Solution Consultant for the Data Centre Computer Group, Dell Technologies Ireland.
Cybersecurity is more important than ever, as hacks and attacks surge following the mass migration to remote working. Irish businesses are coming to terms with their ‘new normal’ and as many within the workforce adapts to remote working over the longer-term, organisations will become ever more vulnerable to attack.
At a time when many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland are planning for an uncertain future while seeking to protect their employees, one area that businesses will need to focus on is security. Moreover, cybersecurity strategies need to be adapted at speed to the new ways of working to protect businesses. For smaller and medium businesses struggling with cash flow issues, a cyber-attack could be disastrous.
Covid-19 Cyber Realities
Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, the volume of cyber-crime and cyber-attacks became significantly more prevalent in Ireland, while the rate of phishing attacks skyrocketed by over 600% in Europe compared to previous figures. Attackers have been exploiting the fear and uncertainty generated by the pandemic by luring users to click on a variety of links or handover personal details – or unknowingly download malware.
The increased level of risk is being acknowledged across industries – with healthcare businesses being particularly affected. The World Health Organisation reported a five-fold increase in cyber-attacks, targeting its employees as well as the general public, with scammers impersonating the organisation. It took to the media to urge extra vigilance as a result.
Meanwhile here in Ireland, An Garda Síochána has warned that the number of cyber-attacks is likely to increase further, as cybercriminals are using Covid-19 themed phishing scams and emails in an attempt to exploit vulnerabilities and fear.
SMEs are right to be concerned. Not only are they disproportionately being targeted, but they are particularly at risk from phishing attacks due to a comparative lack of cyber training and awareness. Larger businesses tend to have several in-house cybersecurity experts, enabling swift and effective responses. Speed is key when it comes to containing a breach.
Apart from a lack of awareness putting smaller businesses in Ireland at risk, the larger businesses that may rely on their goods and services also risk being exposed – creating both reputational as well as financial consequences. Cybersecurity is a collaborative effort, requiring all stakeholders to be aligned, alert and prepared to take the appropriate action in the event of an attack.
Protecting medium businesses
With high risks and high stakes, Irish SMEs will need to review and update security strategies – engaging with expert consultancy where possible for support. In order to protect businesses, data must be protected from the endpoint to the data centre, assessing each step of the chain and reviewing when the business landscape evolves. Being able to pivot in order to protect is key. Their first line of defence is their employees.
John O’Donoghue
Ensuring the workforce has a good understanding of cybersecurity essentials is a key part of any strategy – along with an instant response plan. This can be achieved through regular training, workshops and testing to help businesses spot security threats. With the surge in phishing attacks, it is important that they understand the risk, the levels of deception and the consequences. Practice really does help erase complacency and keep staff on their toes.
While some SMEs may ponder why they would be targeted over a larger business, overall they seem to accept that the threat is not only real but impending, according to a recent study. However, far from being complacent, with the volume of risk being exponentially high, there is a tendency for IT decision-makers to panic – and they need to know who to turn to for clarity.
Trusted advisors with deep digital expertise should be able to share a clear security roadmap, that is surprisingly simple. Security experts at Dell Technologies Ireland help to tailor cyber strategies to businesses, providing a threat intelligence network using AI technologies, while ensuring the ecosystem of partners is covered. SMEs are not alone – but they do need to act.
As the Irish economy continues to digitise operations, supply chains, business transactions, and employee and customer services, cyberattacks are expected to continue to pose as one of the major threats. Shoring up security for medium businesses provides a critical lifeline in otherwise uncertain times.
Market expansions, increased content and technical innovations have resulted in huge growth for the Christian online streaming service New Faith Network, which launched in 2017. The service has grown on average by 110% year-on-year in the last three years and in the last six months by 150%.
Bringing the word of Christ to millions Founded by broadcasting veteran Henk Bout, the service launched in the Netherlands with the mission to inspire Christians globally by bringing faith and family-friendly entertainment in a new, modern way. Since then, the service has rolled out in a further five European markets, with the UK and Ireland being the most recent in December 2019, where there is already a strong local presence.
The largest, growing selection of Christian content New Faith Network’s content catalogue has the largest collection of Christian films, series and original productions – all faith and family-friendly. Whereas, other mainstream platforms only have a handful of Christian titles. In the Netherlands, the catalogue has grown to just under one thousand titles (doubling since launch) and in the UK and Ireland the number has also doubled since launch.
A continually improved experience More supported viewing methods, mobile apps, as well as the increase in content has meant consistent growth in viewing time; and viewing patterns and lengths are similar on New Faith Network to other subscription video platforms. Smart apps will be available in the UK and Ireland at the end of 2020 and they will be second, to the Netherlands, to offer original content.
Connecting communities, safely New Faith Network is the better alternative to other more mainstream streaming services for Christian viewers because it has been tailored to fit their requirements – selected, created and curated with Christian values in mind and connected to their beliefs. The content gives parents a sense of security and reassurance and unites world religions, regardless of differing viewpoints.
Henk Bout, Founder, New Faith Network said: “Our subscriber numbers have increased every year because there is a growing demand by the Christian community for this type of content. We listen and respond to their needs by offering more titles, being more innovative and continually improving our service. Our opportunity to grow has been supported by our strong bonds with local and international partners.”
What’s next for New Faith Network? Currently active in five markets there is a strong drive to further expand across Europe (and beyond) reaching Christians in as many countries as possible. New Faith Network will continually look to improve the service and find additional ways to watch. The aim is to build the catalogue of titles across all markets with the addition of more original content and more self-produced material (particularly from UK and Irish viewers) offering a multi-faceted platform with local support.
Chrome OS has accelerated its expansion within businesses amid the shift to work from anywhere. The new Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, a 14-inch premium business laptop or 2-in-1 from Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL), boosts productivity with on-the-go power, sophisticated security and fast connectivity features employees need.
With the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, Dell expands its Latitude Chromebook lineup – now offering a mainstream and premium option – to give companies more choice in devices without sacrificing enterprise-class scale, manageability and security.
“This is not just another Chromebook,” said Rahul Tikoo, senior vice president, Commercial Product Group, Dell Technologies. “Our latest Latitude Chromebook Enterprise is designed equal parts for employees and IT managers adopting Chrome OS in the enterprise. Employees will appreciate its sleek design and collaboration features that help them navigate new work dynamics, while IT managers have the management and security features they expect when deploying devices in a corporate environment.”
“We are constantly evaluating the tools and technology that help our teams better serve our customers, while also staying true to our mission by using sustainable products whenever we can,” said Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO and co-founder of Blueland. “Our deployment of the Latitude Chromebook Enterprise devices, which are packed with sustainability features, created new opportunities for my team to collaborate, stay flexible and continue to be productive as we shifted to working remotely.”
Work Anywhere: Designed for executives, mobile professionals and remote workers, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise includes innovative security and productivity features, allowing employees to power up quickly with no time wasted on setting up the device. Co-engineered with Intel as part of the Project Athena innovation program,[i] the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise offers LTE mobile broadband[ii], Intel WiFi 6 and up to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors to boost productivity and performance for bandwidth-intensive activities, such as working up to 8.6 times faster in Google Sheets[iii].
Additional key features include:
First-ever 4K panel with Low Blue Light display available on a Chromebook Enterprise[iv]: The Latitude 7410 provides better readability and eye comfort with built-in 4K low blue light display technology. An expansive, four-sided narrow border display also provides more screen to connect with colleagues, and acoustic noise reduction features that enhance video calls.
World’s longest battery life of any premium Chromebook: With up to 21 hours of battery life, mobile professionals can complete tasks throughout the day. If they do need a charge, the device can charge quickly from 0% up to 35% in as little as 20 minutes with ExpressCharge Boost[vii] or get up to 80% charge in as fast as an hour with ExpressCharge
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Ease of use: Employees and executives pressed for time can rely on one-hand assist to power the Latitude Chromebook in less than three seconds simply by opening the lid. For extra flexibility, the device comes with the one of the broadest array of ports available in a premium Chromebook Enterprise[ix]. Simple app access is available locally or online through the Chrome Browser or the managed Google Play Store. Employees get peace of mind with an optional built-in privacy panel and camera privacy shutter.
Premium design: Professionals can choose between machined aluminum or carbon fiber on the world’s lightest 14-inch Chromebook Enterprise laptop[x]. A new silver color is available on the Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise to give more employees a modern look and feel.
Management and Security: As organizations prepare for long-term remote work, Dell Technologies Unified Workspace reduces IT complexity and allows IT leaders to secure, manage and support the Latitude Chromebook Enterprise. Available in more than 50 countries and with 14 localized language keyboards, companies can select and purchase various configurations to meet employee needs. IT can manage the devices with the same level of support, security and reliability they expect in a corporate environment, and have confidence in platform stability with the Intel® Stable IT Platform. They can service and upgrade storage and batteries and operate the same support model across their entire organization.
“Now, more than ever before, IT administrators need innovative technology solutions to support their modern cloud-first businesses,” said John Solomon, Vice President of Chrome OS at Google. “That’s why we’re thrilled to expand our premium Chromebook options for enterprise customers with the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise. Powered by Chrome OS, Dell Latitude Chromebook Enterprise allows IT managers to deploy rapidly and securely while enabling employees to get work done effectively, no matter where they are.”
The Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise is available now starting at €1,199 ex. VAT and delivery.
In the past two decades, the car market has declined twice: first due to the 2008 economic crisis, and then due to falling sales in China. Most recently, the lockdowns implemented to combat the coronavirus pandemic, causing auto-production plants to close globally and a loss of consumer spending will lead to an unprecedented 23% decline in 2020 (IDTechEx prediction).
In the following decade (2030 – 2040), things will not improve: the global car market will be blindsided by the rise of autonomous vehicles, which greatly reduces the need for private car ownership. Within this scenario, it is electric cars which will remain a beacon of growth, satisfying both the governmental drive to clean air in cities whilst also working more readily with autonomous vehicle technology.
Source: IDTechEx with historic data from industry associations. For more information, please see the IDTechEx report, “Advanced Electric Cars 2020-2040”.
In their simplest form, an electric car consists of an energy storage device powering one electric traction motor, which spins wheels via a transmission. First invented in the 19th century, electric cars ultimately lost the battle to the internal combustion engine, unable to compete with the energy density of gasoline. Over one hundred years later, the Li-ion battery is enabling their meteoric rise as a solution for reducing local emissions and green-house gases.
Once derided as toys, today electric cars with barely 15 years of development offer cutting-edge automotive technology and performance, from sub 2.5 second 0 – 60 mph acceleration, to autonomous driving functionality and solar bodywork. Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) are the endgame: zero emissions at point of use and the focus of automotive start-ups (and China). On the other hand, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) provide a short/mid-term solution, soothing initial fears of range anxiety.
The brand new IDTechEx report, “Advanced Electric Cars 2020-2040”, provides a long-term outlook for the car market and enabling technologies in the wake of COVID-19. The key sections are summarized.
Forecasts and COVID-19 Impact
In the report, IDTechEx provide long-term forecasts to 2040 for electric passenger cars by region (China, US, UK, France, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, RoW) and by powertrain (battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, fuel-cell). Forecasts are presented in number of vehicles, battery demand (GWh) and market size ($ billion), with historic data back to 2015.
All forecasts are adjusted to reflect the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic: amid economic uncertainty and unemployment, the auto industry has been one of the hardest hit as car purchases, typically the second largest consumer purchase (the first is a house), are now more difficult to justify for millions of consumers worldwide.
Li-ion Batteries
The IDTechEx report identifies and explains trends in Li-ion batteries for electric cars. For example, nickel content is increasing while cobalt content is decreasing: why is this important for automakers and the overall sustainability of the industry? It also provides historic market data on the Li-ion technology mix based on our database of electric cars in top auto markets: China has phased-out LFP from over half its car market to less than 2% today; why will Tesla contradict this and adopt LFP for Model 3 sales in China?
Electric Traction Motors
All electric motors have the same purpose of converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, but there are many types of motors that derive their names from their construction, principles of operation, or even from the control technique employed on them. The IDTechEx report explores why automakers are converging on permanent magnet motors, multiple motors, provide a benchmarking analysis of the different motor types, and finally, an outlook for how IDTechEx expects the motor market to evolve over the next ten years.
Autonomous Vehicle Technology
IDTechEx predicts that the rise of autonomous vehicles will have a profound impact on the global car market as it enables mobility-as-a-service to become cheaper than private-car ownership. The report shows forecasts of autonomous passenger car miles, revealing how this will lead to a fundamental peak-car scenario. IDTechEx appraises the key underlying technologies such as LiDAR and camera-based systems: is the camera-only approach a high-risk gamble or a winning strategy that will be copied?
Trying to find somebody online can be a hassle if you don’t know their full name. Perhaps you only have a first name or last name to go by, a photograph, or contact details like an email address or telephone number. It may seem surprising, but nowadays, we can find anything we want from the comfort of our own homes, from assignment help online for all sorts of information about anyone we want. Either way, searching through thousands of Google search results for one person when you’re not even sure if you’ve got their name right can be a pain. Thankfully, there are several options out there that you can use to find out more about a person if you have part of their name or don’t even know their name at all.
Nuwber is an online people search service that allows you to find out more about a person using just their telephone number. If you have somebody’s telephone number but don’t know their name, all you need to do is search for it on the site and it will bring up the details associated with the owner of that particular number. This can be very handy if somebody keeps calling you and you don’t know who they are, or if you suspect that your spouse is talking to somebody behind your back but only have a phone number to go by. You can also use services like Information.com to find other details if required.
Social Media:
Social media can be easier to use if you have somebody’s full name, but there are ways to find someone without knowing all their details. For example, if you have somebody’s email address or telephone number and it is associated with their social media profile, you can type it into the search bar on Facebook or Twitter and it will bring the profile up, and you’ve found who you are looking for. Another option, although a little more tedious, is looking through the friend lists of people who you know are mutual friends with the person you are looking for to try and find them.
LinkedIn:
If you know where somebody works but don’t know their full name, LinkedIn might be able to help. Simply search for their employer and if they have a LinkedIn profile and have stated that they work there, you may be able to connect to their profile through their employers’ profile.
Google What You Do Know:
If you have a lot of information on somebody but simply don’t have their name, you might be able to use the information that you already have in order to find them with a Google search. Put everything that you know about them, such as part of their name, their hometown, employer, associates’ names into Google and see what comes up. Don’t hesitate to include details that seem insignificant at first sight. Does the person like birdwatching? Or maybe they are a keen gambler and a known frequenter of Solitaire Golden Prairies and similar platforms? Chances are, if they have a combination of these things listed on a social media profile, it may well come up as a result and you will be able to find who you are looking for
Try Known Usernames:
Remember that people don’t tend to be very creative when it comes to thinking up usernames, and chances are that if they have one username for Twitter, their Instagram is probably going to be the same or very similar. If you have access to somebody’s social profile or email address but don’t know their name, try searching for that same username, or a username similar to their email address on other social networks to see if you can find any more profiles associated with them.
Sony today announced the WH-1000XM4, the 4th generation over-ear wireless noise cancelling headphones in Sony’s award-winning 1000X family. The latest headphones offer all the much-loved technology from the hugely popular WH-1000XM3, with additional intelligent features that allow you to personalise and control your music, improve noise cancellation and adjust ambient sound automatically based on your preferences for a superior sound experience.
Superior silence, superior sound
Whether you’re flying long haul or relaxing in a café, the WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver Sony’s best ever noise cancelling performance, reducing high and mid frequency sounds. With two microphones on each earcup, being used for noise cancelling, our Dual Noise Sensor technology captures ambient noise and passes the data to the trusted HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. Then a new BLUETOOTH® Audio SoC (System on Chip) senses and adjusts to music and noise at over 700 times per second. Using a new algorithm, the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 applies noise cancelling processing in real time. This allows the user to focus more on the music they love and blur out the chaos of the outside world.
Using Edge-AI, DSEE Extreme more accurately rebuilds audio lost during digital compression for a full fidelity experience. Edge-AI analyses music in real time and recognises instruments, music genres and individual elements of each song to restore the high range sounds lost in compression for a richer, more complete listening experience. To build this AI system, Sony has worked with Sony Music Studios Tokyo to gather data on music to garner true insight into how specific music signals are composed.
360 Reality Audio, a new immersive audio experience, can be enjoyed on the WH-1000XM4 headphones when combined with an Android™ smartphone/iPhone that has a participating streaming services app installed. The 360 Reality Audio listening experience immerses you in the music as if you are right in front of your favourite artist. Listeners can enjoy a custom immersive musical field that is perfectly optimized for each individual user when using the WH-1000XM4 headphones and the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.
Smarter listening experience like no other
Adaptive Sound Control on the WH-1000XM4 is a smart function that senses where you are and what you’re doing then adjusts ambient sound settings for the ideal listening experience. Over time, Adaptive Sound Control learns to recognise locations that you frequently visit such as your workplace, gym or favourite café, and tailors sound to suit the situation. So, if you’re travelling you can lose yourself in your journey with no background noise to interrupt your favourite tracks. Or if you’re walking you can be aware of everything around you while still enjoying your music. You can set up your frequently visited locations and your preferred settings via the “Sony | Headphones Connect App” and ambient sound settings will automatically update as you move between different environments.
Everyday convenience
New to the WH-1000XM4 is ‘Speak-to-Chat’, an innovative feature that lets you have short conversations without taking your headphones off, making ordering a coffee whilst listening to music even easier. Just simply say something and the headphones will recognise your voice, automatically stop your music and let in ambient sound so you can conduct a conversion without removing your headphones. The music automatically starts playing again 30 seconds after you’ve last spoken. ‘Quick Attention’ mode is available on the WH-1000XM4 so if you want to listen to an announcement or say something briefly, you simply place your right hand over the earcup to decrease the volume instantly and let ambient sound in.
The WH-1000XM4 now comes with wearing detection. The headphones detect whether they are being worn and adapts playback accordingly to help save battery power. Using the headphone’s proximity sensor and two acceleration sensors, the headphones automatically stop the music when you remove them and resumes playing when you put them on again, providing an effortless listening experience.
The WH-1000XM4 features new Precise Voice Pickup technology. This controls five of the microphones in the headphones optimally and performs advanced audio signal processing to pick up voices clearly and precisely for hands-free calls and Speak-to-Chat.
Pursuit of ultimate design
WH-1000XM4 blends sophisticated styling with an exceptional comfort and light-weight design, you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them. Designed for those who travel frequently, the super-soft, pressure relieving earpads evenly distribute pressure and increase ear/pad contact for a stable fit.
For total convenience, the WH-1000XM4 can be paired with two BLUETOOTH® devices at the same time[6]. When a call comes in, your headphones know which device is ringing and connect to the right one automatically. You’ll also be able to quickly and smoothly switch your headphones to either of the two devices at a single tap.
The WH-1000XM4 are NFC and BLUETOOTH® enabled and have a battery life of up to 30 hours and quick charging function giving you up to 5 hours of wireless playback from 10 minutes of charging.
The WH-1000XM4 also supports Google’s helpful new Fast Pair feature that lets you easily locate where you left your headphones by ringing them.
The latest model includes the same touch panel controls as its predecessor and are optimised for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa so you can manage your day by asking your favourite voice assistant.
The industry-leading Noise Cancelling wireless headphones WH-1000XM4 will be priced at approximately £350 / €389 Ireland and available later this summer in black and silver.
Granite Digital, Ireland’s leading full-service digital transformation agency, today announces that it has acquired Dublin-based digital and creative marketing agency, Connector. Granite Digital is forecasting additional revenues of €1 million over the next 12 months following the acquisition.
Connector is a multi-award winning creative agency which has developed innovative digital campaigns for leading Irish and multinational brands, such as Volkswagen, Dr. Oetker, Huawei, FreeNow, RTÉ, KBC Bank and Littlewoods Ireland. The agency offers digital strategy, content creation and influencer marketing services.
The acquisition of Connector opens a global market opportunity for Granite Digital, contributing to its increased forecasted revenues. Connector is already involved in the development of several projects with multinational clients in global markets, creating the opportunity for Granite Digital to offer these clients a range of additional digital services both in Ireland and overseas.
Granite Digital will retain the Connector brand and all of its existing employees, making it the largest independent digital agency in Ireland. The Granite Digital senior management team saw the opportunity to greatly enhance its creative offering and can now provide clients with a full suite of digital marketing services, as well as web and application development and design from the one entity.
Connector will continue to provide innovative campaigns and projects to its existing clients, now with additional digital and development services available, Conor Lynch, founder and former CEO exits the business to launch his new venture SelfMakers.com, a platform offering personalised career plans to enable employees, entrepreneurs, freelancers and others to achieve self-made success.
Announcing the axquisition of Connector by Granite Digital are (L-R) Ivan Adriel, CEO, Connector, and Seamus White, co-founder and Partner Granite Digital
Granite Digital, which has offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway, remains on track to achieve its €10 million annual revenue target by 2023. In combination with strong organic growth, Connector is the latest company to be acquired as part of Granite Digital’s wider acquisition strategy to ensure it achieves its growth targets. The company also recently acquired application developer, Apps Made Easy, and is open to further opportunities.
Ivan Adriel, is Connector’s current CEO. He will assume a wider role as Granite’s Creative Strategy Director. He commented: “Both during and following restrictions imposed by COVID-19, it is more important than ever for businesses to leverage creative and digital opportunities to remain competitive in a changing world. For example, with less people on the high street, we are helping brands to divert out of home advertising spending into innovative areas, such as our influencer platform, to ensure that brands and their campaigns can still reach their target audience no matter where they are located.
“The coming together of Connector and Granite Digital means clients can get the best of creativity and the best of digital in a one-stop shop. With us, companies can now enjoy a seamless integration of all digital and creative channels, activities and strategies – ensuring brand consistency and significant cost savings.”
Seamus White, Co-Founder and Partner, Granite Digital, said: “This acquisition is fantastic news for everyone within Granite Digital and Connector and especially our existing and prospective clients. With our combined skills and knowledge, we can now truly provide companies both in Ireland and overseas with market-leading digital and creative services. Connector’s involvement on global projects with huge blue-chip organisations is opening entirely new doors for us, enabling Granite to offer a full suite of digital services to some of the world’s most recognised brands.
“It was evident from the outset that this partnership was the perfect fit not only from a business perspective, but also culturally. We share the same vision of enabling brands to thrive through rich engagement, excellent user-experience and highly-coordinated messaging, with the Connector team bringing real creative flair to this ambition. We are excited to bring our combined skills and knowledge to bear to provide brands with the creative edge needed to stand out from the pack and succeed today”.
