Building the business case for AI starts with people, leadership and technology

AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday workplace reality. Across Ireland, employees are already using it to summarise documents, analyse data and automate routine tasks. Yet for many leaders and organisations, the real challenge is not access to the technology but turning AI into meaningful business value. Mark Hopkins, General Manager, Dell Technologies Ireland tells us more.

The organisations seeing the greatest impact from AI are those bringing three things together: strategic leadership, the right technology foundation, and a workforce empowered to identify where AI can genuinely improve how work gets done.

Ireland’s recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which sees AI technologies as a driver of growth, reflects this approach. It highlights the need to invest not only in digital infrastructure but also in the skills and capabilities that will allow employees to harness AI responsibly and productively.

For business leaders, the opportunity is significant, but so is the responsibility to build a clear and practical business case for AI.

Increased focus on the business case for AI

The conversation around AI is evolving at speed. What began as experimentation is now focused on a much more practical question: how can AI deliver measurable outcomes?

Across Ireland, organisations are operating in a cost-conscious environment where every technology investment must demonstrate value. The strongest AI strategies therefore focus on specific business outcomes such as productivity gains, improved decision-making or enhanced customer experiences.

A common misconception is that AI adoption requires large scale investment and disruption. In reality, many successful initiatives begin with targeted use cases, such as automating routine processes, analysing data more effectively or improving customer interactions, that demonstrate value quickly and allow organisations to scale over time.

Workforce central to unlocking AI advantage

While technology provides the capability, it is employees who ultimately determine whether AI delivers real value.

Many of the most effective AI applications are discovered by employees who understand the day-to-day challenges within their roles. Teams in operations, finance or customer service are sometimes best placed to identify repetitive tasks that could be automated or improved through better data insights.

Equally important is ensuring employees feel confident using AI responsibly. Our latest Dell Innovation Catalysts Study shows the scale of this challenge. In fact, 98% of Irish organisations say their employees will need new skills to unlock the full potential of AI.

As these tools become embedded in everyday workflows, organisations will need to move beyond occasional training and adopt more continuous approaches to learning. The Government’s commitment to roll out AI training across the public sector is welcome and will help drive responsible AI adoption and ensure 100% of key public services are digitalised by 2030.

Leadership sets the tone for AI adoption

Leadership plays a crucial role in helping organisations move from AI experimentation to real business impact.

For many organisations, the challenge is not recognising AI’s potential, but unlocking value from the vast amounts of data they already hold. Leaders therefore have an important role in ensuring AI initiatives are tied to clear priorities and focused on turning data into insights that support better decisions.

From our perspective at Dell Technologies, organisations that treat AI as a business transformation rather than simply a technology deployment are the ones unlocking its real strategic advantage.

We are also beginning to see more advanced capabilities such as agentic AI, where intelligent systems can help coordinate workflows and support decision-making. As these technologies evolve, leadership will play an increasingly important role in ensuring organisations have the right strategy and governance in place to deploy AI responsibly and deliver value at scale.

The technology foundation still matters

While people and leadership are essential, the role of technology should not be underestimated.

AI workloads place new demands on infrastructure, including high-performance computing, secure data management and the ability to scale as projects grow. Many organisations are discovering that their existing IT environments were not designed to support these requirements.

At Dell Technologies, we work with organisations across Ireland and Europe to help them build AI-ready foundations that allow businesses to move from experimentation to real-world deployment.

Through our Customer Solutions Centre Innovation Lab in Limerick, businesses and organisations can explore how emerging technologies, including AI, can be applied to real business challenges. We are also seeing how these capabilities are transforming industries. For example, Dell Technologies is working with Studio Ulster to support one of Europe’s most advanced virtual production studios, enabling creative teams to generate complex digital environments in real time and transform how film and television content is produced.

Equally important is understanding the economics of AI. A practical cost model should consider factors such as computing power, energy consumption and data management to ensure AI investments align with real workloads and business needs.

A moment of opportunity for Ireland

Ireland’s unique digital ecosystem and skilled workforce position the country well to benefit from the next wave of AI innovation.

The Government’s Digital and AI Strategy provides an important national framework. But realising the strategy’s goal of becoming a location of choice for AI startups and scale-ups, and a global hub for applied AI innovation will depend on how organisations translate that ambition into practical adoption.

That means leaders creating the right environment for experimentation, employees identifying where AI can improve how work gets done, and organisations investing in the infrastructure needed to scale innovation responsibly.

The organisations that succeed will be those that bring people, leadership and technology together to turn AI potential into real progress.

Surviving the Age of Cyberattacks: What Businesses Can Do

Organizations faced an average of 1,876 cyberattacks per quarter in 2024, a 75% increase year over year. The pressure on businesses and their IT teams keeps growing. And small businesses are not exempt. Over 60% rank cyber threats among their top concerns, and nearly 67% of small businesses that experienced a cyber attack reported financial difficulties within six months.

Cyber threats are constant and they are getting worse. This guide covers the most common threats businesses face today and the concrete steps you should take to protect your data, systems, and operations.

Common Cyberthreats Faced by Businesses

Businesses have always been targets for cybercriminals. The integration of artificial intelligence into attack methods has made those attacks faster, more targeted, and harder to detect. Understanding what you are up against is the first step toward building a defense that holds.

Ransomware

Ransomware encrypts your files and locks you out of your own systems. Attackers demand payment to restore access. The average ransomware attack costs businesses over $1.85 million when you account for downtime, recovery, and lost revenue, according to Sophos research. Even businesses that recover their data without paying face weeks of disruption. Ransomware groups target organizations of all sizes because smaller businesses tend to have weaker defenses and fewer resources to respond.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing is one of the most common entry points attackers use. Criminals send fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick your employees into handing over passwords, credentials, or financial details. One successful phishing email gives an attacker access to your entire network.

Generative AI has made this threat significantly worse. Criminals now produce convincing phishing emails, deepfake audio, and synthetic video at scale. The quality of fake messages has improved to the point where trained employees still get fooled. IBM reports that phishing is involved in over 40% of all data breaches.

Bad Bots

Bad bots are automated programs built to attack websites, mobile apps, and APIs. A common tactic is credential stuffing, where bots use stolen username-and-password pairs to break into accounts automatically. Because people reuse passwords across services, one leaked credential list gives attackers access to thousands of accounts.

Criminals also use bots to launch Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, flooding your network or website with traffic until it goes down. For any business that depends on its online presence, even a few hours of downtime causes real financial and reputational damage.

Insider Threats

Threats do not always come from outside. Employees and contractors cause harm too, both intentionally and by accident. An employee who clicks a malicious link, misconfigures a server, or improperly shares data creates the same damage as an external attacker. The Ponemon Institute estimates that insider-related incidents cost businesses an average of $15.4 million per year. These threats are difficult to detect because the activity looks like normal business behavior.

Supply Chain Attacks

Criminals compromise a trusted vendor or software provider to gain indirect access to their actual targets. Your own security posture does not matter if one of your suppliers is the weak point. The 2020 SolarWinds attack demonstrated the scale of this risk: a single compromised software update affected over 18,000 organizations, including multiple US government agencies. A single compromised vendor has the potential to affect hundreds of downstream businesses simultaneously.

Best Practices to Protect Sensitive Data and Information

You do not need an unlimited budget to defend your business. You need consistency, layered defenses, and a workforce that knows what to look for. The following practices address the most common vulnerabilities attackers exploit.

Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication

Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for every user account and company application. A stolen password alone will not give an attacker access. Options include fingerprint or facial recognition, authenticator apps, and hardware security keys. Microsoft reports that MFA blocks over 99% of automated account attacks. Given how often credentials appear in data breaches, MFA is one of the highest-return controls available to you.

Follow Bot Detection Protocols

Use bot detection tools to stop automated threats before they reach your customers and systems. Reliable bot mitigation tools block credential stuffing, scraping, and denial-of-service attacks. Look for solutions with device fingerprinting, behavioral analysis, real-time detection, and AI integration. Without bot protection in place, your login pages, checkout flows, and APIs are open to automated attacks around the clock.

Regularly Update and Patch Software

Attackers actively scan for systems running unpatched vulnerabilities. The time between a vulnerability being disclosed and it being exploited is often days, not months. The 2017 Equifax breach, which exposed the personal data of 147 million people, traced back to an unpatched software vulnerability. Update and patch all software, applications, and operating systems promptly. Automate the process wherever you are able to eliminate delays.

Limit Access to Sensitive Information

Give employees only the access they need to do their job. This principle, known as least privilege, limits the damage from both compromised accounts and insider threats. Review permissions regularly. Revoke access immediately when employees change roles or leave the organization. A former employee with active credentials is an open door.

Back Up Data Regularly

Regular, tested backups give you an option other than paying a ransom when an attack hits. Store backups in a secure, offsite or cloud-based location isolated from your main network. A backup stored on the same network as your primary systems will likely be encrypted alongside them during a ransomware attack. Test your backups on a scheduled basis. A backup you have never tested is a backup you cannot rely on.

Build an Incident Response Plan

No defense stops every attack. You need a documented plan for what happens when one gets through. Your plan should specify who handles what, how to contain the attack, how to communicate with customers and regulators, and how to restore operations. According to IBM, organizations with a tested incident response plan save an average of $2.66 million per breach compared to those without one. Test and update the plan at least once per year.

Secure Your Network

Your network is the pathway attackers use to move through your systems once they get in. Segment your network so a breach in one area does not automatically give access to everything else. Require employees to use a VPN when working remotely, especially on public Wi-Fi. Use firewalls to filter traffic at the perimeter. Disable unused ports and services. These steps reduce how far an attacker gets even when your other defenses fail.

Train Your Employees

Human error contributes to the vast majority of successful cyberattacks. Run regular security awareness training that covers phishing recognition, password hygiene, safe browsing habits, and how to report suspicious activity. Use simulated phishing exercises to test what employees have learned and identify who needs more support. Make reporting easy and free of blame. Early reports stop attacks that would otherwise go unnoticed for weeks.

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Your defenses need testing, not just setup. Schedule periodic security audits to identify gaps in your controls, outdated configurations, and access permissions that have accumulated over time. Penetration testing, where a security professional attempts to breach your systems the way an attacker would, gives you a realistic view of your exposure. Treat audit findings as a prioritized action list, not a report to file away.

Consider Cyber Insurance

Cyber insurance does not prevent attacks, but it reduces the financial impact when one succeeds. A good policy covers costs related to data recovery, legal fees, regulatory fines, customer notification, and business interruption. Review policies carefully. Many exclude coverage for attacks linked to unpatched vulnerabilities or inadequate security controls, so the practices described in this guide are prerequisites for getting the most out of coverage.

Invest in the Right Security Tools

Endpoint antivirus is a starting point, not a complete solution. Firewalls, email filtering, network monitoring, and threat detection systems add the layers you need. Many modern tools use machine learning to identify behavior that traditional detection would miss. Match your toolset to your actual risk profile and budget, then build from there as your needs grow.

Cyberattacks will happen. The businesses that recover are the ones that prepare before an attack occurs, not after. Enforce MFA, deploy bot mitigation, keep software patched, restrict access, back up your data, secure your network, train your team, audit your defenses, and document your response plan. Do those things consistently and you give your business a real defense against the threats most likely to cause serious damage.

The Bottom Line

Cyber threats are inevitable. What matters is how businesses protect themselves. By enabling MFA, using bot mitigation tools, and regularly updating software, you can keep sensitive data and information secure.

Prestige Awards Best Tech Platform Ireland 25/26 winner

Just a small announcemnt to thank the guys at Prestige Awards to say thanks for awarding us best tech platform winner of 2025/2026 which came as a surprise to us.

At techbuzzireland we strive to bring real hands on reviews with context real images and videos and the best tech news suited to us and over the years it has been hard work from starting out till where we are now today getting your news and reviews seen all around the world and we hope to keep going for several more years yet and brining more exciting products which of course we have some in right now, March is a huge tech month for new products and we cant wait to show you.

Stay tuned and also check out our YouTube for more and a big thanks from the team past and present.

Gray Hair App: Quick Solutions for Photo Editing and Style Testing

Changing your hair color is exciting but can also be intimidating. Many people hesitate to experiment with new shades, especially gray tones, because it’s hard to imagine the final result. Thanks to modern technology, however, you can now preview hairstyles digitally before making any permanent decisions.

A gray hair app allows users to instantly visualize gray tones on their own hair. RetouchMe, for instance, offers professional-level editing through a simple mobile app, delivering realistic results in just a few minutes. This makes it easy to experiment with shades, test different looks, and confidently plan your next salon visit.

What These Apps Do

Gray hair apps are designed to simulate hair color changes realistically. They analyze your hair texture, lighting, and natural color to apply the chosen shade in a seamless and photorealistic way. Professional apps like RetouchMe go a step further by:

  • Adjusting highlights and shadows for natural depth.
  • Blending colors with existing hair for subtle transitions.
  • Providing instant previews that look authentic, even in selfies or close-up shots.

These features make it possible to see exactly how gray, silver, or smoky shades will appear on your hair without any risk.

When to Use

These apps are ideal for a variety of scenarios:

  • Planning a salon visit: Test different gray tones before committing.
  • Seasonal color changes: Preview soft silver highlights or bold smoky grays.
  • Digital content creation: Experiment with new styles for social media or personal branding.
  • Gradual transformations: Try subtle transitions before deciding on a full color change.

By testing styles virtually, you can save time, avoid costly mistakes, and gain confidence in your choice.

Tips for Better Output

To ensure your digital hairstyle looks realistic:

  • Use a high-quality, well-lit photo that clearly shows your hair.
  • Avoid heavy filters that distort colors.
  • Try multiple shades and angles to find the best match.
  • Adjust brightness and contrast to mimic natural lighting conditions.

Gray hair apps like RetouchMe combine convenience with professional results, making them practical tools for anyone considering a color change. They provide a safe, stress-free way to experiment, helping you envision your perfect hairstyle before making a real-life commitment. With these tools, embracing gray tones can be a fun, creative experience rather than a gamble.

How Technology Is Changing Rugby in 2026

From the data vest worn under a player’s jersey to the bunker review that can overturn a referee’s call, technology is reshaping how rugby is coached, officiated, and how players are kept safe, with the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year adding urgency to every decision.

Smart Mouthguards: A Turning Point for Player Welfare

World Rugby mandated the Prevent Biometrics instrumented mouthguard across all elite competition from January 2024, backing the rollout with €2 million. 

Transmitting impact data via Bluetooth to a pitchside doctor, the device triggers a Head Injury Assessment when a collision exceeds a set g-force threshold. 

A newer version with LED lights debuted at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and is confirmed for the men’s Rugby Championship ahead of RWC27, representing a significant step forward in real-time concussion identification.

GPS Tracking: The Data Behind Every Metre

The GPS vest has become standard kit at elite level, with devices from providers like STATSports and Catapult tracking distance, speed zones, and collision counts in real time. 

The data is position-specific, meaning backs and forwards are managed on different conditioning programmes, with AI now used to refine individual training loads further. 

Platforms like Vodafone’s PLAYER.Connect pull GPS, heart rate, and biometric data into a single coaching dashboard, and by the time squads assemble for Australia, performance staff will have years of granular player data to draw on.

Referee Technology: Progress With Caveats

The Foul Play Review Officer process and TMO system give referees access to multiple camera angles and a dedicated bunker team, allowing decisions on foul play, try awards, and card upgrades to be reviewed with a level of scrutiny impossible in real time. 

The 2026 Six Nations largely demonstrated the system working as intended, though the closing stages of France’s title-winning 48-46 victory over England drew criticism after the TMO was accused of intervening outside its permitted scope. 

World Rugby has since appointed an independent panel with a July deadline to resolve questions about protocol consistency and referee authority during reviews before Australia.

The Stakes

Rugby in 2026 finds itself better equipped than ever to protect players and improve decision-making, but the sport is still resolving where the boundaries of technological intervention should lie. With the World Cup less than a year away, the pressure to get that balance right has never been greater.

Roborock Saros 10 robotic vacuum cleaner review

The Roborock Saros 10 robotic vacuum cleaner is the premium product from the company that just launched in Ireland recently however there is cheaper models avaiable which is great for the consumer giving them choice and a product for their needs which is something I like.

If you want to keep your floors clean this includes those who have pets this is the machine you need full stop and it worked perfeclty during my testing and there was lots to test on this.

The unit itself is an average size compared to other vacuums we have tested here and fits nicely in any spot in your room once set up as you will see in the full hands-on demo below it is simpe to use. It also looks like a premium device and that it is with what it can do.

The Roborock app is excellent one of the best I have used for such a product in along time and once set up the vacuum leaves its docks scans the rooms and comes back and is ready to rock. There is some buttons on the vacuum itself but I think you will find there is no need to only for setting up.

The navigation process is fun to watch this can go onto multiple levels like carpets or door dividers for example and it avoid obsticles with great accuarcy in the video below you will see it put to the test and watch it not touch a press door or anything it is super precise in what it does.

There is also a built in camera that can be used at home or remotley with the ability to speak through it and this is excellent and could also be used to keep an eye on things should you wish the speaker is crystal clear and the video feedback very clear with little buffering, this may depend on your internet connection and time of day.

There is also a remote control on board which is fun to you so if you are bored you can clean the entire house yourself with your mobile phone which defeats the purpose but it is great to have and I love it and we need to see more of this, recently I done a garden mower with the same feature.

There is two brushes underneath a cloth base and arm and of course a big brush all these work well in tandem and give good results after putting dirt on the floor, with some vacuums the main sweeper brush tended to push dirt away but not with the Saros 10 it picked up and cleaned everything.

Check out the video below for a proper look and what the Roborock Saros 10 can do you will be impressed and to date the best robotic vacuum I have tried, it might seem expensive for some but this is worthy of the expense and the company taking things to a new level.

The Roborock App

 

Features

Designed to redefine what a premium robot vacuum can be, Saros 10 combines ultra-slim engineering, powerful suction, intelligent navigation, and advanced dock automation. With industry-leading obstacle handling, precision mopping, and one of the quietest cleaning performances Roborock has ever achieved, Saros 10 delivers a truly next-level, hands-free cleaning experience.

Ultra-Thin 7.98cm Design with RetractSense™ Navigation

The RetractSense™ Navigation System lowers the LDS sensor to pass through low-clearance spaces and raises it again in open areas, enabling the slimmest Roborock design yet at just 7.98cm. Built for durability, this system is rated for tens of thousands of cycles and thousands of testing hours.

Advanced LiDAR Vision & Smart Height Detection

A wide-angle vision module ensures the LDS sensor maintains a broad field of view even when retracted, preventing mapping loss in tight spaces. The upward range finder and top contact sensor intelligently measure clearance height in real time, helping Saros 10 avoid forced entry and reduce the risk of surface scratches.

AdaptiLift™ Chassis for Barrier Crossing

Featuring the industry-first AdaptiLift™ Chassis, Saros 10 can overcome thresholds up to 4cm high. By lifting its omni wheels and drive wheels, the robot automatically adapts its crossing strategy, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted cleaning across doorways and uneven surfaces.

Chassis Lifting for High-Pile Carpets

When cleaning high-pile carpets, Saros 10 elevates its chassis by up to 10mm to reduce suction port blockages caused by long fibres. This feature can be enabled via the Roborock App for optimal performance.

DuoDivide® Dual Anti-Tangle Brush System

The DuoDivide® main brush transports collected hair to the centre inlet, where a differential brush speed strips and separates bundled hair before powerful suction removes it. Paired with the FlexiArm Riser side brush, the system achieves a 0% hair tangling rate, even in pet-heavy environments.

FlexiArm Riser Side Brush for Complete Edge Cleaning

The asymmetrical spiral side brush uses centrifugal force to direct debris toward the suction inlet, while a soft rubber baffle prevents hair from wrapping. Longer bristles increase coverage, and the brush automatically retracts after lifting to avoid furniture collisions.

22,000Pa HyperForce® Suction

Delivering up to 22,000Pa of HyperForce® suction power, Saros 10 provides exceptional debris pickup and achieves a 100% hair removal rate on carpets under test conditions.

VibraRise® 4.0 Mopping System

The VibraRise® 4.0 mopping system features a denser, more absorbent mop with dual sonic vibration zones operating up to 4,000 vibrations per minute. With up to 8N downward pressure and a 26% larger vibration area, it delivers superior stain removal on hard floors.

Automatic Mop Detaching & Independent Side Mop Lifting

In modes where mopping is not needed, such as Vacuum Only or Vacuum Carpets First, the vibrating mop automatically detaches to keep carpets dry. The edge mop can also lift independently, lowering only when detected near edges to deliver precise edge-cleaning performance.

Reactive AI 3.0 Obstacle Recognition

Saros 10 combines triple structured light, an RGB camera, and VertiBeam™ lateral structured light to recognise obstacles with minimal blind spots. Millisecond-level response and precise side-distance measurement allow the robot to clean close to objects while maintaining excellent obstacle avoidance.

RockDock® Ultra 2.0 – Fully Automated Maintenance

The RockDock® Ultra 2.0 handles automatic mop washing with dynamic water temperatures up to 80°C, auto mop detaching, heated air drying up to 60°C, auto dust emptying, detergent dispensing, tank refilling, and dock self-cleaning. The dock also charges a 6,400mAh battery in as little as 150 minutes.

SmartPlan® 2.0 & Quiet Cleaning

SmartPlan® 2.0 adapts cleaning strategies based on room type and usage history. During Do-Not-Disturb periods, Saros 10 lowers power and noise to deliver one of the quietest Roborock cleaning experiences, with performance as low as 52 dB(A) in Quiet Mopping Mode.

Advanced App, Smart Home & Pet-Friendly Features

Control everything through the Roborock App with support for Matter, Apple Home (via OTA), Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. Pet-friendly features include automatic pet recognition, quiet cleaning, real-time video calls, pet snapshots, and intelligent pet search functionality.

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Harvey Opens Dublin Office, Announces Plans for 40+ Roles

Harvey, the legal infrastructure for law firms and in-house teams, today officially opened its Dublin office at Riverside 2, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The company plans to grow its Dublin team to more than 40 employees over the next two years, marking a significant long-term investment in Ireland’s AI and business talent ecosystem.

Harvey first announced its intention to establish a Dublin presence in January, with plans to create 20 roles in its first year. The company has since made its first two hires across its people and finance teams, with additional roles currently open on its legal and sales teams.

The Dublin office will serve as Harvey’s EMEA G&A hub, supporting a rapidly expanding customer base across the region. Approximately 30% of Harvey’s 1,000+ global customers are based in EMEA, including leading global and Irish law firms and enterprises such as A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Maples Group, Mason Hayes & Curran, McCann FitzGerald, Beauchamps LLP, Philip Lee LLP, and Kingspan Group.

The new location places Harvey in close proximity to many of these customers and at the heart of Dublin’s established technology and professional services community.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: “Harvey’s expansion highlights Ireland’s growing influence in the global AI landscape. This investment reflects the momentum within Ireland’s AI ecosystem and the significant opportunity it presents for high-value job creation and innovation. Harvey’s decision to establish its EMEA G&A hub here reinforces Ireland’s reputation as a competitive location for companies developing and deploying advanced AI technologies with global impact.”

“Today marks an important milestone in our European growth,” said Winston Weinberg, CEO and co-founder of Harvey. “We’re proud to partner with many of Ireland’s leading firms and enterprises, and establishing a permanent presence in Dublin allows us to deepen those relationships while continuing to scale across EMEA. Ireland’s strong technology ecosystem and access to exceptional talent make it the right place for us to invest for the long term.”

Katie Burke, Chief Operating Officer at Harvey, added: “Dublin has a deep pool of experienced, internationally minded professionals, across key operational functions.  Having previously built teams here, I’ve seen the quality of talent firsthand. As we expand our operational footprint in EMEA, Ireland provides the expertise and infrastructure to help us scale effectively and sustainably.”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: ‘I am delighted that Harvey is strengthening their footprint in Ireland with this new office and their plans to expand their workforce to 40 employees in Dublin. AI is a key focus area for IDA Ireland and this decision by Harvey highlights Ireland’s strengths as a location for investment in innovative technology.’

Harvey leaders are hosting customers and partners at its Dublin office this week to mark the official opening and to further strengthen collaboration across the region.

DLX Pay & Air Transat in Action

Since going live with DLX Pay, Air Transat has rapidly transformed its payment operations – capturing 6.6% of failed transactions through intelligent, dynamic retry capabilities, successfully onboarded a new payment service provider (PSP) in time for go-live to demonstrate the platform’s agility, and proving DLX Pay’s scalability by processing over $400 million in transactions within the first three months of deployment.
Following the launch of DLX Pay in 2025, Air Transat became the first airline to sign up and go-live with it just months later. A modular, next-generation payment platform designed to improve payment performance and agility, it strengthens operational resilience and delivers greater control to airlines to ultimately enhance the end-to-end customer experience while increasing conversion and revenue opportunities.
The Challenge:
Like many airlines across the globe, Air Transat faced the complexity of managing payments across multiple markets, currencies, and payment methods. Combined with the need to integrate with numerous PSPs, typically at high costs, created a significant challenge. Legacy technology tends to lack the flexibility to quickly onboard new providers, leading to lengthy delivery cycles driving up costs. Additionally, Air Transat experienced limited retry capabilities for failed transactions, restricted visibility of controls and analytics, and a need to support local payment preferences while simultaneously maintaining robust fraud controls.
Solution & Results:
To tackle these challenges, Air Transat implemented DLX Pay for greater control over its payment processes which improved conversion rates, reduced costs, system stability and provided valuable insights through advanced reporting. DLX Pay proved its scalability from the outset, processing over US$400 million in the first 3 months.
  • Dynamic Retries Capturing Lost Revenue
DLX Pay introduced intelligent retry capabilities that were previously unavailable to Air Transat. Over the last three months, this functionality has automatically recovered 6.6% of declined sales by intelligently retrying soft declines from one PSP to be retried with an alternative. This capability works to prevent Air Transat from losing revenue due to failed transactions.
  • No Code Configuration
 With DLX Pay’s configurator and insights dashboard, Air Transat can identify suspected fraudulent activity and optimise fraud prevention and authentication through rule-based flows that trigger appropriate countermeasures. Air Transat can make changes in production via the self-service configuration portal without code changes.
  • Rapid Onboarding new PSPs for Faster Time to Market
With 50+ PSPs already available, DLX Pay drastically accelerates the onboarding of new payment methods and integrations. What previously took months now takes a matter of weeks, meaning reduced complexity and cost and the ability to confidently engage with new and innovative payment methods.
The rapid onboarding of new PSPs was proven at launch when DLX Pay was activated and, at the same time, the platform seamlessly added a new PSP in the background, which went live alongside DLX Pay.
  • More Actionable Insights, More Readily Available
Access to real-time insights in the DLX Pay Configurator, DLX Pay’s dedicated no-code dashboard, offers a consolidated view of payment performance across providers and markets. This enhanced visibility has shifted Air Transat’s approach to managing payments from a reactive function to a proactive, data-driven strategy leading to continuous optimisation and informed decision-making.
Additionally, Air Transat can use the DLX Pay Configurator to implement new payment routing rules or adjust existing ones without any development resources. Through the insight portal, Air Transat can easily identify fraudulent transactions and associated amounts. Likewise, the dashboard delivers data and analytics that are not available from PSPs alone, enabling deeper analysis and more effective troubleshooting.
Future Capabilities & Roadmap:
Building on the initial success, Air Transat and Datalex have a strong roadmap in place for the coming 12 months. Key areas of focus which can be achieved with minimal investment:
  • Adding further Forms of Payments and exploring new Payment Connectors
  • Evolving the usage of Dynamic Routing to further optimise costs
  • Driving down fraud levels using Dynamic Routing driven by insights
  • Exploring Network Tokens to improve authorisation rates
Conclusion
Activating DLX Pay has transformed Air Transat’s payment operations, driven improved performance and restored control of its payment ecosystem, all while reducing complexities and operational costs. With enhanced visibility, intelligent retry and routing capabilities, and the ability to rapidly onboard new PSPs, Air Transat is positioned to flexibly and continuously respond to evolving customer and market demands. The scalability and future-focus of DLX Pay means Air Transat can continue to deliver a seamless and secure customer experience while being at the forefront of payment innovations.
“DLX Pay has improved significantly the way we manage payments on Air Transat.com, giving us much greater control, flexibility, and visibility. Intelligent retry capabilities are helping us recover revenue that was previously lost, while the ability to rapidly onboard new PSPs enables us to optimise costs, increase conversion, and ultimately deliver a seamless booking experience for our passengers.” said Bamba Sissoko, CIO at Air Transat.
“We developed DLX Pay to address the challenges that airlines face on a day-to-day basis when it comes to payments. Seeing the immediate results achieved by Air Transat after go-live – from revenue recovered from successful retries to rapid scalability – demonstrates the power of an airline-specific payment orchestration platform to drive growth. DLX Pay empowers Air Transat with the control, agility, and insights required to elevate the customer experience and adapt quickly to market changes” said Jonathan Rockett, CEO of Datalex.

Vodafone Ireland – Ireland’s first mobile video phone call via satellite

Vodafone Ireland has marked a major milestone for connectivity on the island of Ireland, successfully completing Ireland’s first mobile phone video call via AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellite using a standard smartphone. This achievement highlights the potential of satellite technology to help close coverage gaps, strengthen network resilience and ensure people can stay connected wherever they are, benefitting people living or working in remote areas, farmers, sailors, hikers and mountaineers for example.
The announcement was made during a visit to Ireland by Vodafone Group Chief Executive, Margherita Della Valle, to mark 25 years of Vodafone in Ireland and to meet with the Taoiseach. She briefed him on Ireland’s first satellite enabled mobile broadband call delivered by the company and discussed the future of connectivity, innovation and continued investment. She was joined by Vodafone Group CEO of European Markets, Ahmed Essam.
The video call was made, in partnership with Satellite Connect Europe connecting to AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation, by Vodafone Ireland engineer Robert Ivers from Clare Island, Co. Mayo to Vodafone Ireland CEO Sabrina Casalta in Dublin. The call is the first satellite broadband video call to a standard smartphone in the EU. It follows Vodafone’s world‑first mobile video call via satellite in the UK last year.
The successful satellite video call demonstrates Vodafone Ireland’s ambition and success in delivering the next frontier in connectivity for its customers, integrating satellite technology with existing mobile networks. Critically, satellite connectivity can provide a vital safety net for those living in remote or hard‑to‑reach areas and help keep emergency services and communities connected during severe weather events or major outages, when mobile networks can be impacted by disruption to their power supply.
Vodafone Ireland secured Ireland’s first test and trial licence from ComReg, enabling this satellite call to be made using terrestrial spectrum. Building on this milestone, Vodafone is now progressing further technical development and regulatory engagement, with the ambition of bringing satellite broadband connectivity to customers as soon as possible.
25 Years of Vodafone in Ireland
This landmark achievement comes as Vodafone Ireland marks 25 years of serving customers, businesses and communities across Ireland. Over that period, Vodafone has invested more than €20 billion in Ireland, in today’s terms, including €5.8 billion in capital investment and €6.3 billion contributed to the national exchequer through spectrum licence fees and taxation.
Vodafone Foundation has invested €24 million in support of community and digital inclusion initiatives, having been the first company to establish a corporate foundation in Ireland. More than 2,000 people currently work with Vodafone across its Dublin headquarters and 80 retail stores nationwide.
 Looking ahead, Vodafone Ireland said the next 25 years will be defined by innovation, continued investment and the deployment of advanced technologies that enable the competitiveness of Ireland’s digital economy, public services and communities. Vodafone Ireland continues to invest heavily in its mobile and fixed networks nationwide, ensuring customers benefit from the best services available.
COMMENT 
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, said: “Our new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland reflects the Government’s ambition to strengthen our position as a digital leader and a global hub for AI innovation. This includes ensuring Ireland remains one of Europe’s best-connected nations, and Vodafone’s innovations in this space are particularly exciting. Ireland’s first satellite mobile call demonstrates how innovation can strengthen resilience, extend connectivity to remote communities and support emergency services. As Vodafone marks 25 years in Ireland, today’s announcement highlights the significant contribution the company has made to our digital economy, connectivity and employment, and how Vodafone continues to build on that legacy through transformative innovation.”
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive said: “Ireland’s first satellite-enabled call reflects Vodafone’s ambition to push the boundaries of connectivity and to invest in technologies that deliver real impact for customers and society. Ireland has been a key part of Vodafone’s success for 25 years connecting people, businesses and communities across the country. To sustain innovation and continued investment in advanced networks, it is essential that this ambition is matched by a stable, forward looking regulatory and legislative environment that supports long term infrastructure investment.”
Ahmed Essam, CEO, Vodafone European Markets said: “Investment in telecommunications is far from over. As technology evolves, our networks must evolve too, and the sector must continue to invest to ensure customers remain connected. Innovations such as 5G Standalone and satellite are opening up the next frontier of connectivity, enabling new services and capabilities that were not possible before.”
Sabrina Casalta, CEO, Vodafone Ireland said: “This milestone is a powerful demonstration of how technology can make a real difference for people. By integrating satellite and mobile networks, we are extending connectivity beyond traditional limits — helping to keep customers, communities, businesses and emergency services connected, particularly in remote areas and during times of disruption, using their everyday smartphone.
For 25 years, Vodafone Ireland has consistently raised the bar for connectivity, underpinned by sustained investment and the dedication of our people. We were the first to roll out 3G, 4G and 5G nationally, alongside delivering a series of other Irish firsts — from fibre connectivity and the establishment with the ESB of SIRO to Real Time Text — helping to shape Ireland’s digital landscape.
As we mark 25 years in Ireland, this satellite call represents a significant next step, reflecting our commitment to ensuring no one is left without access to vital communications, wherever they live. Our focus now is on progressing towards commercial satellite services, working closely with partners to advance the regulatory frameworks and technologies needed to make this next phase a reality.”
Meredith Sharples, Managing Director of Satellite Connect Europe, said: “This video call, completed from a part of Ireland with no mobile connectivity using a standard smartphone, is yet another step forward as we continue to demonstrate the performance of space-based cellular connectivity while expanding the constellation and advancing deployment with mobile network operators across Europe. Our focus is on delivering a seamless extension of existing networks, providing reliable coverage in areas where traditional infrastructure alone cannot reach.”