60% of adults under 35 would like a job as an influencer

A new survey from Pure Telecom, Ireland’s high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has revealed that 60% of adults in Ireland aged under 35 would like a job as a social media influencer as a source of income. In total, 48% of the adult population would consider a job as a social media influencer.

The research, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom as part of its Connected Lives survey, examined how people in Ireland use social media and their attitude towards influencers.

The research found that of those who expressed an interest in pursuing a job as an influencer – and who have full-time jobs – 56% believe they would earn more money than they do now. This means that 27% of full-time employees in Ireland believe that they could earn more money as a social media influencer than they do in their current job.

The top reasons given for wanting to be a social media influencer are having an interest in it (49%) and getting free products and services (32%). On the other hand, the top reasons given by those who would steer clear of an influencing career were a lack of interest (38%), followed by a belief that they would not be good at it (37%), as well as privacy concerns and the pressure of public scrutiny (30%).

The survey showed insights into the effect of social media influencers on our shopping habits. Over two in five (44%) of social media users said that influencers have an impact their purchasing decisions and choices.

This impact was most noticeable among Generation Z (those aged 26 and younger), with nearly just over half (54%) reporting that influencers impact such decisions. As the age profile increased, the impact waned – still, more than a third (34%) of Baby Boomers (aged 59-77) said their choices had been swayed by influencers.

While not everyone can be an influencer, Pure Telecom’s research found that we are a nation of frequent social media posters. Nearly half (45%) of the population said that they post at least once a week on their chosen social media platforms.

More than one-in-10 (12%) post on social media every day or more, rising to 16% for Baby Boomers, who are the most likely generation to post daily.

The potential consequences of posting too much were also laid bare, with nearly half (47%) of social media users revealing that they mute people if their posts become irritating.

It appears nobody is safe in this regard, with nearly one in three (32%) social media users admitting to muting a friend and one in five (21%) having done the same to a family member. In more extreme cases, one-in-10 have actually ended a friendship due to someone’s social media posts, and 5% had ended a romantic relationship.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “These figures show that online influencing has become a mainstream career consideration for many as we see an entire generation of digital natives becoming hard-working adults. Increased connectivity means that we can consume media wherever we are. With that ease of access, people are now turning to influencers for tips and inspiration on the things that are important to them – be that feeling good about themselves, cooking nutritious family meals or simply having a laugh. So, is it any wonder that so many of us want to use our talents, knowledge or interests and make a career out of them while making people happy at the same time?

 “Whether people want to be in front of the camera influencing or behind the screen watching, we at Pure Telecom are committed to providing the connectivity to make it happen.”

Danish Car Subscription Service :Dribe Sees Growing Interest for Franchising in Europe

The car subscription service :Dribe offers car distributors franchising opportunities, which includes a digital end-to-end platform and concept designed to foster growth through flexible subscriptions. The platform integrates with the franchisees’ existing resources and operations, and the concept is attracting car distributors from all over Europe.

:Dribe has big plans for expansion throughout Europe. The Danish car subscription service offers car distributors in the UK, Benelux, France, and Germany a unique opportunity to seamlessly integrate subscriptions into their operations.

:Dribe has developed a scalable subscription concept and a plug-and-play model designed to strengthen the franchisee’s market position by meeting the need for a flexible mobility solution with short commitments and flexibility regarding car model, size, and energy source.

:Dribe, which is owned by Denmark’s largest automotive player Semler Group, is seeing a growing interest from car distributors across Europe, which pleases :Dribe CEO Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard.

– We are incredibly happy with the numerous inquiries from car distributors in Europe. We find that many car distributors want to incorporate subscriptions into their product line but lack the necessary resources to independently develop a new business area. Our plug-and-play model is designed to simplify that process, says Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard, adding:

– The high level of interest only confirms an international market need for flexible car access. This is also supported by research, such as a study from McKinsey & Company, which shows that one in three European car customers is open to trying a vehicle subscription in the future.

:Dribe’s concept is developed for franchisees to seamlessly integrate subscriptions into the company’s existing operations. Automated processes for everything from billing to car inspections reduce manual work.

Additionally, the concept includes advanced data collection and Business Intelligence tools for targeted customer communication, as well as comprehensive brand assets, an integrated website, and statistical modules for optimized operations.

 Successful Franchising in Greece

The renowned Greek car distributor Kosmocar, employing over 180 staff members, was :Dribe’s first international franchisee. Kosmocar’s implementation of the subscription model has since led to a steadily growing customer base and nearly 10,000 downloads of the app.

Additionally, Kosmocar has achieved massive media coverage following a launch event attended by 60 journalists, resulting in over 100 media mentions within a few days, according to CEO Yiannis Emirzas.

– We chose :Dribe’s plug-and-play solution to automate processes and simplify operations, and we are very pleased with the partnership. It has elevated our brand’s positioning in the market as technologically strong, innovative, and focused on the modern end user’s needs. We have swiftly attracted a new and broader customer base, which was a key focus for us, says Yiannis Emirzas, adding:

– Everything from damage registration to invoicing has become more efficient with the digital backend system. It reduces resource requirements and increases operational efficiency. The innovative approach has helped us adapt to the changing market and stand out in a dynamic industry.

Tech Review – iClever BTH22 Kids Bluetooth Headphones

The iClever BTH22 Kids Bluetooth Headphones are one of several pairs of headphones aimed at kids from the brand keeping your kids ears safe and sound.

The headphones are robust and do not creak when bent which gives you peace of mind when it comes to being tough especially the way kids can thrown them about they will be also easy to keep clean and wipe with a damp cloth, there is a durable comfortable leather headband and the cups are the same giving a nice soft feeling on the ears and head, they also block out some elements of the outside world which is good. There is adjustable extensions either side and the cups twist and turn to ensure a secure fit without having that clamp effect on head.

There is no app with these so it is simple to connect to your phone or tablet and job is done, there is several control at hand here and the buttons are raised perfectly for kids to do what needs doing, there is also your 3.5 mm cable included should you run out of battery and the battery life is decent too.

The controls are simple to use and a safety features built in which changes the max volume from 74db to 85 to do this you press both the volume keys once and you will hear a voice prompt.

To skip or reverse tracks you press and hold either volume key and to higher and lower the volume you tap either key once, the buttons are nice and clicky and work perfectly every time.

The sound is not cheap or shabby here either with a nice bassy side to it there is no lag latency or tinny sound when maxed out and overall they deliver a better than expected audio experience which I was surprised with so your child will be listening to music in style and getting a decent audio experince overall.

There are several variants and style on offer in the link below and check out the video review for more.

Features

  • [Safe Volume Protection]: These kids wireless headphones adopt iClever Sound Refiner technology, effectively limiting the sound below 85 dBA and lowering the volume of high frequencies (2-4 KHz) that are prone to cause hearing damage. Plus, you can choose the 74 dBA volume by pressing the “+” and “-” together for added protection.
  • [Enhanced Durability]: Crafted from improved ABS materials without BPA and PVC, these kids headphones wireless are 50% stronger than regular ones, making them incredibly resistant to rough drops and bends. Plus, the enhanced button structure impressively doubles the times of button presses – feel free to operate as want.
  • [Extended Battery Life]: Thanks to the excellent chip architecture of Bluetooth 5.4, these kids Bluetooth headphones feature a 60-hour battery life – way enough to last half a month if used 4 hours a day! Out of juice? No problem! Just plug in the 3.5mm audio cable to keep the music on, banishing battery anxiety during trips.
  • [Comfortable & User-friendly]: 0.33lb in weight, rotating ear cups and 10-level headband adjustment mean these Bluetooth headphones for kids ensure a perfect fit for the contour of children’s heads aged 3 and above. With the soft protein leather, your kids won’t feel any pressure on their ears, even during long airplane or road trips.
  • [Clear & Balanced Sound]: Our seasoned acoustic engineers pack the headphones with a 40mm speaker unit, low-frequency compensation and high-frequency enhancement for a clearer and more balanced audio experience. Better yet, the Bluetooth connectivity offers seamless pairing with a variety of devices, like smartphones and tablets.

BUY

Video Review

Sovos and PwC Ireland Join Forces to Transform Business-to-Business E-Invoicing and E-Reporting Implementation

Sovos, the always-on compliance company, today announced a joint business relationship (JBR) with PwC Ireland, leveraging both organisations’ complementary tax compliance expertise and technology solutions to accelerate e-invoicing and e-reporting implementation at a time of increasing government mandates across the EU and the world.

Through this collaboration, PwC Ireland aims to enhances its Tax Technology offering by providing value-added services and further strengthen client relationships. The JBR expands the firms’ collaboration, following the earlier agreement between Sovos and PwC Belgium.

Through this partnership, Sovos and PwC clients will access comprehensive solutions to adeptly tackle ever-evolving regulatory challenges.

The need for skilled compliance guidance increases as more countries introduce e-invoicing and e-reporting requirements. In Ireland, VAT reporting modernisation is imminent, expected to mandate real-time reporting and e-invoicing across business-to-business and business-to-government transactions.

Organisations can automatically identify and document client e-invoicing and e-reporting regulatory requirements across multiple markets, creating a holistic data system of record for global compliance within the Sovos Compliance Cloud.

“By leveraging Sovos’ advanced e-invoicing technology solutions alongside our implementation and technical expertise, we are poised to transform the way our clients manage their e-invoicing processes,” said Johnny Wickham, Tax Technology Partner, PwC Ireland. “Our seamless implementation services will facilitate a smooth transition, allowing clients to fully embrace the benefits of automated e-invoicing and e-reporting.

“Tax authorities are accelerating the global shift toward e-invoicing and e-reporting because digitisation provides accurate, objective data, and even the smallest improvement in tracking businesses’ operations can save a country billions of dollars in lost tax revenue,” said Kevin Akeroyd, CEO, Sovos. “Compliance-related digital transformation also benefits business. A singular data view into their global compliance posture allows the thousands of multinational companies headquartered in Ireland – and those beyond – to unlock tremendous value from these insights; insights that can fuel business growth.”

OBSBOT Unveils the Tiny 2 Lite: Redefining Video Excellence at an Affordable Price

OBSBOT, the pioneer in AI smart imaging technology, proudly introduces the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite, setting a new standard for affordable excellence in AI smart webcams.

Building on the groundbreaking legacy of the Tiny series, OBSBOT continues to push boundaries with innovative features tailored to meet the demands of remote workers and gaming enthusiasts.

The Tiny 2 Lite delivers uncompromising quality with advanced 4K imaging, Auto tracking with Auto Zoom, dual-omnidirectional microphones, Gesture Control 2.0, multiple shooting modes and a suite of other innovative features including beauty mode and privacy protections—creating the perfect blend of professional performance and user convenience.

The OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite is a feature-packed and affordable AI smart webcam, offering exceptional performance in a compact design.

Elevate Your Video Experience with Unmatched Clarity and Crystal-Clear Audio

Combining advanced technology with crystal-clear audio capabilities, the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite boasts a large 1/2” CMOS sensor for breathtaking 4K video quality that captures every detail with precision, regardless of lighting conditions.

This elevated visual experience redefines virtual communication, making every interaction engaging and dynamic. Paired with dual-omnidirectional microphones featuring adjustable noise cancellation and human voice augmentation technology, the Tiny 2 Lite ensures crystal-clear sound in any environment—from gaming streams to video calls and beyond.

Intelligent Auto Tracking with Auto Zoom and Customizable Control

Equipped with enhanced Auto Tracking with Auto Zoom, the Tiny 2 Lite’s 2-axis gimbal and Deep Learning Neural Network Algorithm guarantee fluid, precise tracking that keeps subjects in focus effortlessly.

Thanks to a refined algorithm, this compact camera now supports hand tracking and bodypart tracking functions, elevating the filming experience to a new level of humanized control and flexibility. Users can seamlessly switch between Standard Mode and Motion Mode tracking options, adapting to different filming needs on the fly. 

Cutting-Edge Control at Your Fingertips

Gesture Control 2.0 empowers users with intuitive operation, allowing seamless zooming and focusing with simple hand gestures. Advanced PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) technology ensures swift and precise focusing, capturing moments effortlessly.

Versatile and User-Friendly

Designed for versatility, the Tiny 2 Lite offers multiple shooting modes—including landscape, portrait, and even upside-down—accommodating diverse filming scenarios. Its compact, space-saving design incorporates an integrated stand for easy setup and stability.

Enhanced Features for a Complete Experience

In addition to its powerful imaging capabilities, the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite comes equipped with a Beauty Mode that instantly smooths skin and brightens eyes, ensuring a radiant appearance with just one click. Privacy protection features, including Device Auto Sleep and customizable background uploads, safeguard user privacy during use.

Furthermore, the Tiny 2 Lite supports the OSC protocol, Stream Deck, and SDK, providing enhanced control and increased flexibility for users in broadcast, education, medical industries, and beyond.

Notably, a custom plugin makes Tiny 2 Lite compatible with Stream Deck+, allowing direct control through dials and seamless integration with other live streaming setups. This versatility makes the Tiny 2 Lite a top choice not only for professionals but also for any user seeking optimal customization and efficiency in their video setup.

Availability and Pricing

The OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite will be available globally in June 2024 on obsbot.com and major retailers worldwide. Pricing starts at $179 USD in the US, with regional variations. Visit the official website for more information on availability in your region.

Check out the Tiny 2 review

Elevate your video experiences with the future of intelligent imaging technology. Discover the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite today.

For regional availability, please visit the product website and the  OBSBOT official store.

Can Taylor Swift fans trigger seismic activity at her Dublin shows?

Are Irish swifties ‘ready for it’? A researcher at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is investigating the potential for seismic activity at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Dublin this weekend.

Seismic activity is a vibration generated by an earthquake, explosion, or similar energetic source that travels within the Earth or along its surface. Seismometers will be placed outside the Aviva Stadium to measure seismic activity generated by Swifties during the Eras Tour concerts. The seismic data measured will be used to work out what songs are fan favourites and what is happening inside the stadium.

A seismometer is a very sensitive instrument which measures ground vibrations and can be used to detect earthquakes. When a seismometer detects seismic activity, it records this information digitally so that it can be analysed later.

Thanks to local residents and businesses allowing the seismometers to be placed on their property in recent weeks, lead researcher, Eleanor Dunn, has installed three different types of seismometers around the Aviva: Raspberry Shakes, ‘SmartSolos’ and ‘le-3Dlites’. The variety of seismometers will be used to measure different strengths of ground vibrations.

Speaking about her research, Eleanor Dunn, PhD candidate at DIAS, said “Through my research I hope to make more people aware of seismicity, that it’s more than just an earthquake and that seismicity is being created every day in Ireland through activities like transport, construction and concerts. Irish earthquakes are usually such a small magnitude that we don’t tend to feel them, but they do occur here. However, it is important to note the seismic activity generated at the concert will not lead to any kind of earthquake or danger to fans in or around the stadium!

“I would love for fans to get involved by sharing their videos of the concert with us on social media by using #swiftquakeDUBLIN. This will allow us to compare the seismic activity with moments in the concert and will hopefully inform us on what songs are fan favourites and which night had the most active fans. I’m also hoping that this will bring science to a new audience and encourage young people to be curious about the world around them.”

Further information about Swift Quake is available on social media at:

During Covid, researchers at DIAS conducted a similar type of study and measured a noticeable decrease in the noise generated by human activity in Ireland as a result of pandemic lockdown measures. The measurements were taken by the Geophysics section of DIAS.

AI: Your New Companion in Enterprise Business

The landscape of enterprise business is undergoing a fast-paced shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s rapidly transforming how companies operate, make decisions, and interact with customers. From automating mundane tasks to gleaning valuable insights from mountains of data, AI offers a multitude of benefits for enterprises looking to gain a competitive edge.

Boosting Efficiency and Productivity

One of the most immediate impacts of AI is its ability to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks. Repetitive data entry, scheduling meetings, and generating reports are all prime candidates for AI intervention. This frees up valuable human resources to focus on more strategic initiatives and creative endeavours. AI like virtual assistants in call centres and Chatbots have really helped with productivity and with employee burn out. Serving as a real companion to call centre staff.

For instance, AI-powered chatbots can handle basic customer inquiries, freeing up call centre agents for complex issues. In the finance department, AI can automate tasks like invoice processing and fraud detection, reducing errors and improving processing times. These efficiency gains translate directly to cost savings and a more productive workforce. Not just in call centres or in customer service roles we are seeing AI is revolutionising and serving as a companion in various fields, including the marketing industry and content writers. Great writing assistants, such as ChatGPT and the new Google Gemini, help writers churn out content for business blogs, increasing productivity. Additionally, Quillbot assists professionals in PR with speeches, marketing pitches, and grammar checks.

Enhancing Decision-Making with Data-Driven Insights

Enterprises often struggle with the sheer volume of data they collect. AI excels at analysing this data, identifying patterns, and uncovering hidden trends that would be difficult, if not impossible, for humans to see. This empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions that are more likely to yield positive results.

Imagine a retail company using AI to analyse customer purchase history and predict future buying behaviour. This allows them to optimise inventory management, personalise marketing campaigns, and ultimately increase sales. Similarly, AI can be used to analyse market trends, identify potential risks, and optimise pricing strategies. With better data-driven insights, enterprises can make informed decisions that propel them forward.

Personalized Customer Experiences

The key to customer loyalty lies in delivering personalised experiences. AI plays a crucial role in understanding individual customer needs and preferences. By analysing past interactions and browsing behaviour, AI can recommend products or services that are most relevant to each customer.

This level of personalisation fosters stronger customer relationships and boosts brand loyalty. AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 customer support, addressing queries and resolving issues in real-time. Additionally, AI can be used to personalise marketing campaigns, ensuring that the right message reaches the right audience at the right time.

 

Innovation and Competitive Advantage

AI is not just about automating tasks; it’s also about unlocking new possibilities. AI-powered tools can help businesses develop innovative products and services, giving them a significant edge over the competition. For example, AI can be used to design and optimise product features, automate product testing processes, and even generate creative content.

Furthermore, AI can analyse competitor strategies and market trends, allowing companies to anticipate industry shifts and adapt accordingly. This ensures that by having a good enterprise internet service ensures you to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive advantage in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Beyond the Benefits: Important Considerations

While AI offers a wealth of benefits for enterprises, it’s crucial to acknowledge the accompanying considerations. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

  • Ethical Implications: AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. Bias in training data can lead to biased decisions by AI systems. Enterprises need to be mindful of these ethical implications and ensure that their AI implementations are fair and transparent.
  • Job Displacement: One concern surrounding AI is its potential to displace human workers. While automation will likely lead to some job losses, it’s also likely to create new opportunities. The key lies in reskilling and upskilling the workforce to adapt to the changing landscape.
  • Security Concerns: As AI systems become more sophisticated, so too do the potential security risks. Enterprises need to implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure the integrity of their AI systems.

The Future of Enterprise with AI

AI is not a passing trend and it’s here to stay. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more transformative applications for enterprises. The future of business will be shaped by those who embrace AI and leverage its power to unlock new possibilities. By implementing AI strategically, enterprises can streamline operations, gain valuable insights, and forge stronger customer relationships, ultimately achieving sustainable growth and success.

One-in-five businesses in Ireland creating new jobs to handle AI

Expleo today announces new research which finds that 98% of business leaders in Ireland believe AI will have transformed their industry within the next three years. In response, one-in-five (19%) businesses have already created new positions and roles within their company to help them to deploy and manage AI.

Expleo’s new report, ‘Integrating AI: Navigating the next wave of business transformation’, comprises insights from 100 key decision-makers at large- and mid-sized businesses in Ireland, and a further 703 from France, Germany and the UK, to provide a strategic overview of AI adoption and the challenges organisations face when deploying AI.

Adoption of AI gains momentum

Expleo’s research points to a clear shift in perspectives of AI, moving beyond a technology of promise to one of business necessity as enterprises start to demand more from their deployments. This is characterised by four key trends:

  • Deploying AI an urgent priority: Whilst only 26% of businesses here have already deployed AI tools, a further 68% have them in development, under consideration, or plan to deploy them in the coming 12 months. The survey shows that while almost all business leaders in Ireland believe AI will transform their industry in the next three years, just 47% (versus an average of 56% in other markets surveyed) believe AI is currently having a transformative impact on their own organisation and its processes.

 

  • AI will have a real financial impact: The increased urgency to deploy AI at scale is closely linked to a desire to see returns, particularly in areas that directly correlate to the bottom line. Better time-to-market, financial gains, and improved quality (all 94%) were cited as the top three measurements of ROI for AI deployments amongst businesses in Ireland.

 

  • Scaling AI remains a challenge: Despite a clear impetus to begin realising ROI from AI deployments, obstacles remain. Chief amongst these for organisations in Ireland are technical integrations with existing tools (34%) and the imperative to control costs (33%). However, enterprises in Ireland are less likely to foresee barriers to AI adoption than other locations – more than a quarter (26%) do not see any major barriers to deploying the technology, compared to an average of 17% in other markets surveyed.

 

  • Proven expertise is in demand: The complex integration landscape has put AI skills in high demand. 55% of businesses in Ireland are turning to outside expertise to support their deployments today. Equally, more than half (54%) are investing in AI training for employees.

 

Rajesh Krishnamurthy, CEO of Expleo, commented: “AI is a technology for today, not tomorrow. But the optimism that abounds around the technology often isn’t matched by the success of deployments. After years of promise, businesses are at the point where they are demanding to see a return on their investments. The challenge now is to convert promise into meaningful impact.

“Successfully moving AI deployments from proof of concept to production at scale is more than a technical exercise. Capable data scientists are a critical component to the success of AI deployments, but so is business knowledge. Building teams with techno-functional expertise and implementing a process to ensure adoption across the user base will ensure AI applications are both technically sound and generate value too.”

Phil Codd, Managing Director of Expleo Ireland, said: “Adapting at speed to the AI revolution will be crucial for businesses in Ireland, and around the world, in making the most of the opportunities it presents. It is encouraging to see organisations being proactive and planning for the future by creating new roles that can deploy and manage AI.

“With more than a quarter of businesses in Ireland already deploying the technology, what we now hope to see is a continued upward trend in AI adoption in Ireland. With our pedigree as a technology hub, this will put us in a prime position to become a global leader of AI excellence. Now is the time to seize that opportunity with both hands.”

Six steps to successfully integrating AI at scale

In addition to insights from European decision-makers, Expleo’s report offers businesses guidance based on the company’s real-world experience as to how they can avoid common pitfalls when adopting AI tools and successfully integrate them at scale:

  1. Identify a real and viable business model
  2. Evaluate technical and financial feasibility
  3. Choose the right technology architecture
  4. Develop robust and automated data pipelines
  5. Train and validate models on representative data
  6. Monitor and maintain data and models

Through a qualitative survey conducted by leading research firm IPSOS, respondents also provided detailed insights into how the technology is reshaping eight transformative industries: aerospace & defence, automotive, BFSI, energy & utilities, life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and transport.

The full report from Expleo, ‘Integrating AI: navigating the next wave of business transformation’ is available to download here.

Learn more about Expleo AI & digitalisation services.

National Express West Midlands Renews & Expands Partnership with CitySwift to Optimise Performance using AI

CitySwift, leader in performance optimisation for the public transport sector across the globe, has today announced the continuation of its partnership with National Express West Midlands (NXWM). The three year extension comes following impressive year-on-year results, including improved bus punctuality and efficiencies.

Since September 2023 NXWM’s use of CitySwift’s advanced AI and data technology has led to a reduction of more than 20% in late running, customer wait times have been reduced, and passengers per journey have increased. This follows strong results from previous years and consequently NXWM is now rolling out CitySwift’s platform across its entire fleet of over 1,400 buses.

As a leader in the largest UK urban bus market outside of London, NXWM provides on average 210 million bus passenger journeys per year across the West Midlands and has worked collaboratively with CitySwift to develop best-in-class transport solutions that analyse passenger and service data, drive optimum performance, and delivers a much more efficient use of resources.

Speaking on today’s announcement, Alan Farrelly, CCO and Co-founder of CitySwift said “National Express West Midlands has been core to CitySwift’s product development since 2019, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership for a further three years. This next phase will enable National Express West Midlands to further strengthen their commitment to enhancing the public transport network and improving the passenger experience through our technology.”

The latest innovative CitySwift solution is Spotlight, a globally leading intelligent recommendation engine for bus network enhancements that is integral to building smart cities and regions of the future.

NXWM is the first UK transport operator to adopt Spotlight, with the West Midlands being the first region in the world to benefit, resulting in faster, more customer-centric choices that balance resources, passengers, cities, and operators.

Ed Rickard, Network Director at National Express, commented: “Our collaboration with CitySwift to deliver Spotlight for the benefit of bus users across the West Midlands, and in major cities across the UK, is a groundbreaking achievement for the National Express West Midlands and CitySwift teams.

We are delighted to continue working in partnership with CitySwift over the coming years and proudly leading the charge in the UK when it comes to the use of AI-powered data and insights that are key to an efficient, cost-effective delivery of bus service performance for customers across our network.”

Designed for schedulers; Spotlight improves scheduler decision-making by providing AI-powered insights into performance and resource considerations such as timeliness, cost, and vehicle numbers. It scans the entire network, delivering service optimisation options, and efficiency improvements.

Andy Foster, Director of Bus Planning at National Express, added: “We are excited to be extending CitySwift’s AI performance optimisation capabilities across our bus network in the West Midlands. Traffic conditions on our region’s roads have worsened and can negatively impact the reliability of our services.

However, using CitySwift’s AI analytics and optimisation tools our skilled schedulers and network planners have been able to respond effectively, maximising our productivity and efficiency while also reducing late running for customers that rely on our bus services.”

Founded in 2016 by Brian O’Rourke and Alan Farrelly, CitySwift’s performance optimisation platform gives operators and transport authorities insights, recommendations, and predictions, supporting them in the delivery of efficient, reliable and in-demand services.

CitySwift empowers public transport operators and authorities to achieve unparalleled efficiency by leveraging advanced analytics, simulations, and optimisations. With its easy-to-use industry-leading technology, CitySwift envisions a future where public transport is the travel mode of choice for all people.

Powered by AI data processing, CitySwift optimises over 1 billion passenger journeys annually, working with public sector transport authorities and private bus operators to break down the barriers to accessing and interpreting transport data, replacing manual analysis with reliable, actionable insights. This solution enhances efficiency, benefiting drivers, passengers, partners, and cities, whilst remaining human-centric throughout.

The renewed partnership with NXWM closely follows other developments for the Irish company, having opened its first UK office earlier this year in London and announcing additional partnerships with Transport North East, Transdev Blazefield, and trentbarton. Since its inception, CitySwift has grown to have a presence across the UK, US and its home territory of Ireland, covering transport networks in all major UK cities. Additionally, in February of this year CitySwift announced the close of its latest funding round of €7 million led by Gresham House Venture, as the company continues to scale for growth globally.