3 Ways Technology is Changing the Hiring Process

Technology has changed the dynamics of a lot of businesses. Everything from our professional to personal life has been influenced and shaped by technology in one way or another. 

With the emergence of artificial intelligence joining the IT force, new strategies have come into existence to help people become wealthy, efficient and smart. Digital advancement and transformation is the topmost priority of the modern business world. 

Devising forward-looking strategies is one of the primary goals for most companies to ensure that they are on par with the digitally-driven world. 

At this point, how and to what extent has this digital transition affected the recruitment and hiring industry? 

In many ways.

People involved in the recruitment industry, whether it’s the HR department, sales and marketing managing department or employees themselves, the seamless domination of technology over the recruitment industry has become apparent more than ever. Gone are the days of in-person networking and cold-calling candidates. 

Technology has quite daringly changed our outlook to perform accurate resource administration, efficient data collection and a healthy relationship with the employees. Companies can now even utilize platforms within a dedicated recruitment space for existing employees to manage internal mobility and streamline candidate selection. This shift supports a more data-driven, transparent hiring environment that aligns with evolving organizational goals.

Let’s look into three ways technology has impacted the hiring industry.

  •  Social Media as the New Active Agent

We are all familiar with the debate of social media affecting the fundamentals of social networking and how it has made the world a digital global market. It should not come off as a surprise that social media plays a pivotal role in the recruitment process. 

Whether creating brand awareness, offering job opportunities, advertising job vacancies, or directly contacting job seekers online, social media has provided a strong market for all walks of the profession.

For example, LinkedIn has over 660 million subscribers worldwide, making it the most used professional platform globally. Every recruiter uses LinkedIn to inform and update people about changes in their profession. 

Similarly, other social media platforms have also contributed to shaping the recruitment industry but with different codes of media ethics. Instagram, on the other hand, has downplayed major work ethics. From creating fun, interactive reels to showing ‘behind the scene’ of workplaces, recruiters use this social platform to give a glimpse into what working for their companies would look like. 

For those rooting for new jobs, consider making your social media visibility transparent to potential companies. Keep your DMs in check and go through your LinkedIn profile regularly.

Another apparent and, quite honestly, an overly beneficial branch of hiring is virtual interviewing. It cannot be denied that conducting virtual interviews has been a boon to both the recruiter and the candidate. 

Virtual interviewing, especially after Covid-19, has its fair share of advantages. It saves time, eases accessibility and eliminates the need to have all the interested parties physically in the same place. Virtual interviews are an excellent way to conduct the initial screening of candidates before recruiters call candidates for final in-person interviews.

  •  Artificial Intelligence is the New Normal

With each passing second, more and more companies are processing AI technology in their recruitment processes. The most amazing thing about the AI hiring process is that there are zero chances of unconscious bias or favoritism that humans might have towards candidates. The hiring process is quantitative, based purely on data collection and responses. 

However, one cannot bury their head in the sand regarding the disadvantages of the AI hiring process. While AI provides an unbiased selection of candidates, a robot cannot identify the exceptional characteristics or skills that individuals might have. 

This is where technology vs humans come into the picture. Hiring managers and recruiters can pick on a candidate’s skill and identify the talent. Conversely, AI will only provide the outcome of a rigorous and calculative process.

AI also helps to screen candidates automatically while removing those who do not meet the job description criteria and aids companies to better invest their time and money on essential tasks such as interviewing, writing job descriptions and organizing business seminars.

  •  Technology and Time

As mentioned before, time is essential to all tasks. And technology has made it just easier to manage time. In today’s world, losing time to wait for job vacancies to be filled is like waiting for a rainbow to appear in the rain. It costs additional recruiting, and the timeframe to get back to the candidate is painfully slow.

Technology should be sufficient to relieve these burdens of the hiring process and place people efficiently and quickly. The more digitized a method is, the quicker you can move on to your next task. Whether opting for a screening method or providing digitized paystubs, advanced technology will always put you one step ahead of your competitors. 

One thing that goes without question is to make your social media attractive for both recruiters and candidates, depending on whether you’re an employer or an employee. Your social media platforms provide a brief yet comprehensive insight into your professional life and how you carry yourself around. Make sure your details appear appealing to potential recruiters. 

Keep updating your social media posts and use your social media handles to get in touch with new people with the same professional interests. 

Whatever you are looking for, make sure that you stay on par with new technology and adjust yourself around it. Equip yourself with tech-savvy strategies; you might secure your dream marketing job! 

 

New study from Dell Technologies reveals that 56% of Irish businesses are using data to better understand their carbon impact

Statistics unveiled by Dell Technologies in advance of Earth Day 2023 reveal that Irish businesses are increasingly turning to technology-driven innovations to both gain insights into their organisation’s environmental impact and take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

According to the Innovation Index survey of 100 businesses in Ireland, 56% of organisations are using telemetry data to achieve greater visibility of their carbon impacts. 

Organisations across Ireland are also turning to emerging technologies to accelerate their journey to a net-zero future. The survey found that 64% are increasing efficiency by leveraging Edge, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to action data insights.

Amid high energy costs, a majority of Irish businesses are focused on reducing IT energy usage with 56% stating that they are taking steps to increase energy efficiency in the data centre and two-thirds reducing their overall IT carbon footprint.

Organisations are also now looking at more sustainable models of consumption as they advance sustainability. 46% are currently experimenting with how they consume technology by embracing as-a-Service models and on-demand IT services.

“At Dell Technologies, we believe that innovation should go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability,” says Ronan Carey, Director, Dell Technologies Ireland. “Our latest survey reveals that it is a belief shared by businesses and organisations across Ireland. Many are now turning to technology to advance their ESG agenda and achieve their climate goals. By upgrading to Dell’s PowerEdge servers, for example, University College Cork has been able to reduce power usage by over 50% and greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 70%. From using data to monitor emissions to harnessing AI and the Edge to become more energy efficient, we’re seeing advancements in sustainable innovation. This Earth Day and every day, it’s important that we all work together to accelerate progress and put technology to work to protect our planet.”

First Look – TOZO Golden X1 earbuds, custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts

TOZO is a new brand to techbuzz and they have kindly sent us their latest product to hit the market  their flagship earbuds Golden X1 custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts and we are excited to check these out as we do cover the biggest range of earbuds in Ireland and we like to test out new brands and yes there is more to come and sitting on our desk, today though we take a first look at the TOZO X1 and see what is on offer before we go test them out so if you have any questions feel free to ask as usual and check out the unboxing below and have a quick look at the features on offer so stay tuned for a full hands on review soon.

TOZO Golden X1 flagship earbuds

Features

Compact Structure & Exclusive Heavy Configuration

  • 12mm diameter hybrid drivers and balanced Knowles armature driver

  • LDAC HD audio decoding technology authorized by Sony
  • Hi-Res Wireless certification by JAS (Japanese Audio Association) supporting users with a 12Hz to 44.1 kHz wide frequency range
  • ANC and ENC noise cancellation functions, 6 built-in microphones designed with ENC noise cancellation

First OrigX Audio Golden Curve Presents Perfect Quality

  • HI-FI digital, material, and cavity acoustic technology compensates for the frequency lost when the sound passes through the ear canal curve, keeping the sound that reaches the eardrum closest to reality Perfected Ergonomic Design

Perfected Ergonomic Design

  • Matches the curvature of the human ear and fits the pinna, the soft silicone earplugs use a three-dimensional angle positioning to achieve the best in-ear effect
  • Breaks through the traditional shape and has a 45° inclined angle

Minimalist Appearance & Detail Design with High Quality

  • Digital display in the charging case to show the state of charge of LR earbuds
  • Charging case space capsule design under the background of the meta-universe era
  • The waistline of earbuds is like a swell of muscle to present the explosive power of deep bass, which is also smaller than ordinary earbuds
  • Supporting Two Devices Together & Innovative Wireless Charging

BUY

Unboxing Video

Irish Management Institute (IMI) launches new programme of experiences to empower senior leaders to embed change

Irish Management Institute (IMI), in partnership with University College Cork (UCC), has launched a first-of-its-kind programme of experiences, aimed at developing the capabilities of senior leaders including Chief Executives, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers and heads of organisations within the private and public sectors. The Senior Executive Experience (SEE) will allow participants to forge new ways of thinking around leadership, strategy, decision-making and negotiation.

New research published by the IMI has shown that senior executives are facing ever-increasing workloads there is limited opportunity for organisational leaders to invest time in continuous learning. 83% of senior business leaders in Ireland state their organisation needs a transformational change.

Yet, in the era of increased digitisation, growing requirements to integrate ESG and sustainability targets, economic uncertainty and geopolitical factors, the need to bring new thinking and new skills to the decision-making table of companies and public sector bodies has never been greater.

SEE has been developed specifically to meet the emerging skills needs of today’s leaders while also recognising the limited time that is available to spend on learning. The programme, delivered by a team of national and internationally renowned lecturers and experts, including Associate Dean at Ashridge Executive Education Dr Kerrie Fleming and best-selling author Bernard Marr, offers immersive learning together with peer-coaching with successful executives to equip participants with new tools and insights.

Commenting on the launch, Shane O’Sullivan, Interim CEO, IMI said: “The world class faculty on this programme will challenge and disrupt the way senior leaders think and will help to equip them with new tools and insights to shape the future of their organisations. Most importantly the course will provide the time and space to reframe how participants think about the issues they are confronted with, all while making relevant connections with industry peers.”

SEE is comprised of five separate learning tracks, which include: ‘Leading and Managing’, ‘Strategic Decision-Making and Risk Management’ and ‘Digital Transformation’. Participants can choose the area that best aligns with their interests and objectives or select different experiences from multiple tracks.

Upon completion, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Leadership Excellence, and become members of the IMI Senior Executive Alumni group, granting access to exclusive events with guest speakers, networking opportunities with other senior leaders and quarterly insights updates.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “When we surveyed business leaders recently, the vast majority said that their organisations needed a major transformational change. With the challenges associated with the recent global pandemic and economic uncertainty, and the opportunities presented by new technologies and ways of thinking, leaders really need to get away from the desk, be challenged to think differently and learn from others so that they can work towards embedding real change in their own organisations. To help, we have developed this unique programme of events and experiences, including networking and problem solving with like-minded senior executives.”

Dr. Kriti Jain, Associate Professor at IE Business School in Spain said: “Leaders need to continually acquire new ideas and learn new things to be able to make an impact in a digitally-enabled, knowledge economy. SEE offers senior executives alternatives to full-time study and excessive time commitments, with short and flexible experiences that deliver relevant skills, based on a selection of competency foundations.”

Starting dates for the programme are scheduled for May and September. To learn more about the modules, rates and lecturers, visit: https://www.imi.ie/product/senior-executive-experience/

6 Ways to Set Yourself Up For Financial Freedom in your 20s

The middle-aged 65+ seniors come to mind when we think of retirees. But you’ve undoubtedly heard about cases of people who retired at 45 and are now living out their other dreams, such as traveling the world. Everything starts by the age of 20.  Why did they succeed? by means of the FIRE Movement. The FIRE movement has been particularly popular in recent years because it promises financial independence and early retirement. But what exactly does this movement stand for, and how can you use it to your benefit both now and in your later years of life to ensure your financial independence?

Of course, things are different when it comes to retirement, but the FIRE Movement can be a source of inspiration for you to soon achieve your own financial independence and provide for your retirement as well. A lifestyle that strives for financial independence is embodied by the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. By finding methods to increase their income or lower their expenses, those who adhere to it increase the percentage of money they save. The objective is to build up a passive income that will perpetually be able to cover living costs. As a result, one can choose whether and how much to labor in the future.

Although the majority of the movement’s adherents join it with the intention of quitting their jobs or leaving oppressive ones, experts say the real objective should be to accumulate wealth that enables one to pursue a dream, improve one’s daily life, and make decisions about one’s life without focusing solely on money.

  • Aggressive savings model, greater than 10% of income (better 20 %)

For example:

  • At a 10% savings rate, it takes (1-0.1)/0.1 = 9 years of work to save for 1 year of living expenses
  • At a 25% savings rate, it takes (1-0.25)/0.25 = 3 years of work to save for 1 year of living expenses
  • At a 50% savings rate, it takes (1-0.5)/0.5 = 1 year of work to save for 1 year of living expenses

Of course, the above model and the FIRE movement have been heavily criticized and characterized as a model of the rich, as it is difficult to save such a large percentage when one’s income is low. Another criticism of the movement is that there is insufficient evidence to show that those who have retired through it have saved enough money for their retirement, since the limit has been greatly reduced and its duration increased. Many also refer to the fact that in order to save this large percentage they resorted to extreme solutions that forced them to deprive themselves of daily small pleasures and this made them less happy.

In any case, all of the above is possible as long as your income is sufficient and allows you to save a larger percentage, without depriving yourself of your small, beloved habits.

  • 3 FIRE Movement Things You Can Keep in mind in your early 20’s

 

  • It’s never too early to enjoy life
  • Your expenses, unlike your paystub, are a key factor related to your pension and can be more easily controlled
  • The most enticing thing behind the FIRE movement is control

  • Application in everyday life without depriving yourself

The FIRE methodology places more emphasis on the variables you can control, such as your expenses and how much money you save, because your income is frequently a fixed component.

Consider how you envision your existence in 5, 10, 20, or 30 years. Where do you want to be, and what are your (personal and professional) goals? You can shape your capital to accomplish your goals once you’ve decided what they are.

  • Basic savings tips
  • Try to spend less than you earn
  • Keep track of your expenses to get a feel for it
  • Calculate how much your lifestyle costs and see what you can reduce based on your expenses
  • Spend your money wisely

  • Savings and good life go together!

See below some ways that you can apply in your daily life to reduce expenses but not the pleasure they give you.

  • Search the internet for events, shows and sales techniques with free entry in the city and in your municipality.
  • Increase your income by working as a freelancer using new digital platforms. See more here.
  • Change some daily habits that cost money, such as ordering out often or not having a schedule and list at the supermarket.

  • Put your plan into action

The classic savings method, as stated above, is the first thing that comes to mind when we consider how we can build up capital to accomplish a long-term financial goal, such as paying for our children’s education or maintaining our standard of living in retirement. 

However, the economic climate we experience today is different from that of our ancestors. Because we do not have the same amount of disposable income as they do and because conventional deposit accounts have relatively low yields, we cannot compare our situation to theirs. Turning to investments is one remedy, but even there it can be challenging to manage the market. But not only businesses or people with big capital can make investments. You can build up your financial resources for the future and see a return on your investment over time with the proper plan and disciplined effort.

You may be able to find an answer that combines investment and insurance through investment-type insurance programs. These programs provide long-term gradual investment through a planned system of regular payments and are linked to investment goods like mutual funds. The advantage of these plans is that they are adaptable and include life insurance, which protects your family.

The programs are a good choice because they can guarantee you both a decent return on your investment and long-term insurance benefits. You can accomplish any long-term financial objective, such as home ownership, pension enhancement, or child support, by methodically investing in the programs.

How to Easily Start a Business by Following These 4 Tips and Get Help With Corporation Income Tax Return

Starting a business is something everybody thinks about at least once in their life. It is an exciting challenge to take on, and it can provide many rewarding experiences. Whenever an individual wants to start a business, the first question that arises is how does one begin? Starting a business sounds promising but in actuality, it’s a pretty complex task. 

There are multiple ways to approach starting a business, but there are several elements that remain constant. Your business idea is going to form the backbone of your business. The idea needs to be solid and can quickly gain momentum if it solves a problem of society. Moreover, it is crucial to set up a budget so you can know where you stand financially. Starting a business demands careful financial and legal planning. Below are 4 steps you can follow to easily start a successful business. PDFliner is a company that can help you out and you can get a headstart with a 10% discount using the code TechBuzz through this link here. 

 

1. Have the Right Mindset and Refine Your Idea

Mindset plays a crucial role in starting a new business. People often hear about overnight successes, but these are largely exceptions. In truth, they hardly ever happen. To have a successful business, you must be consistent and be ready to withstand any kind of blow that may come in the future. Because business comes with a lot of strings attached. There is always room for error, and the risk of loss is inevitable. Try to follow your timeline and refrain from comparing yourself with others. Stay consistent and focus on your journey. 

Starting a new business can be motivating at first, but when you hit bedrock, this motivation can quickly disappear. Be consistent at such times. Moreover, refine your business idea and know what your business will entail. It doesn’t have to be something new; you can take an existing product and improve it. A good business idea is an idea that helps solve a problem or fill a gap in society. It’s all about supply and demand.

2. Make a Business Plan and Register your Business

A business plan is a document that serves as a map for the establishment of a new business. A business plan consists of everything from your budget to your finances. It helps both investors and the management team itself to fully understand the business. It’s particularly critical because it can help to reveal potential problems which may occur in the future. It covers almost all aspects of the business.

A good plan defines the company’s scope of operation and includes market analysis. The aims of the company are also laid out along with the services or the products the company deals in. A well-constructed business plan should have the following sections:

 

  • Executive Summary 
  • Company description
  • Market analysis
  • Mission and goals
  • Products or services 
  • Marketing plan
  • Financial plan

 

You will also need to register your business. Before registration, you must choose a business name and address. This is necessary because a registered name and a registered business address can come in handy in many different scenarios. Companies across the UK are required to register an office address by law. Your company needs to have a physical postal address. Choose a suitable business structure as well. While structuring, it’s imperative to keep in mind how each structure will impact the amount of taxes you’ll owe. A few types of business structures are as below.

 

  • LLC 
  • LLP
  • Sole proprietorship 
  • Corporation – Corporations must file their income tax return, including form 1120

 

3. Fund Your business

Funding can be acquired from several sources. You can either self-finance or acquire funding from various external sources. Some external sources include small business loans, angel investors, crowdfunding, venture capitalists, grants, etc. If you self-finance by using credit cards, you’ll have to pay the debt on the credit cards which is going to be risky because you’ll lose capital if your business doesn’t bloom or worse, if it plummets. 

The best approach is to use a combination of multiple sources. It all depends on how soon you can pay back the loan amount as well as your risk tolerance. Crowdfunding is a great way to finance your business because you don’t have to pay anything back to the donors and they don’t get equity in your company either. Rather, they get a small souvenir or a gift instead. Launching a new crowdfunding platform can be a successful endeavor for startup companies, having the understanding of how to start a crowdfunding platform

Venture capitalists and Angel investors demand equity or shares in your business which you may not want to give. If you wish to be a sole proprietor, self-financing and crowdfunding is the right choice for you.

4. Market Your Business

Businesses plummet because they use a huge amount of capital for their products and operational expenses and ignore marketing. Either that or they spend countless hours perfecting their products and relegate marketing to the back burner. Marketing or advertising your business plays a pivotal role in its success. Run a social media campaign and advertise your products across different platforms. Set up an online presence. 

Create an engaging and user-friendly website and start marketing over the web. Social media platforms work wonders for marketing campaigns. Whether it’s Meta or Instagram, set up an account and start promoting your business. Ads are an effective marketing tool and can be set up on platforms like Youtube. 

Marketing will play a huge role in the success of your business. You can have the best products or services available, but if they remain largely unknown to potential customers then your ability to generate revenue will be greatly impacted, and the sustainability of your business will be in jeopardy.

 

Starting a business is a dream of many. Although it crossed everyone’s mind at least once in their life, only a few take the leap and actually start it. There are so many complexities involved in starting a business that individuals often give up even before the process truly begins. However, if you follow these tips we’ve carefully curated, you’ll encounter very few problems in setting up a new business. Just ensure that you maintain the right attitude and a winning mentality. 

Refine your idea, try to understand the market, and mold your product or service accordingly. Various funding options will be available. Choose the one that is best aligned with the plans you have for your business. Last but not the least, ensure that you’re giving the proper time and energy to marketing. Marketing and advertising are going to be crucial for not only the launch but also the sustained growth of your business.

Digit Music Disrupts the Creative Industry with Cmpsr, a Revolutionary MIDI Instrument for the Music Market.

Straight out of Derbyshire, a music and tech-based start-up Digit Music, bridges the gap between creativity and music and provides a solution for anyone that wants to play an instrument or make their own music, as the company announces the launch of its first hardware product: Cmpsr (pronounced composer – kuhm·pow·zuh). 

The founders of Digit Music, Si Tew and Owain Wilson, bring over 30 years of combined experience in the music industry to the table. With backgrounds in DJing, producing, engineering, and education, they have worked with major organisations such as Universal Music, Polydor, Sony BMG, BBC, MTV, Arts Council, and Youth Music. Si and Owain initially crossed paths in the early 2000s while participating in gigs and music outreach programs. In 2020, they joined forces to establish Digit Music to create the world’s most user-friendly ecosystem of integrated music creation products, content, and learning services.

As a disability-confident business, their vision is to inspire and enable everyone to be part of the musical landscape and experience the positive impact of creating music. Fundamentally, Cmpsr makes it easier for anyone to reach their creative goal and have fun. For those already making music, Cmpsr offers a new way to be creative on the stage or in the studio.

Introducing Cmpsr: Now anyone can play an instrument

Cmpsr is an innovative MIDI instrument built with user-friendly gaming hardware that enables users to create music through simple finger gestures. It has a 5-octave range, built-in key/scale/chord engines and smart sustain. It connects to anything that accepts MIDI by a USB-C or wirelessly via Bluetooth, to give creative control over software and hardware. 

Cmpsr is hand-built in the UK and offers an accessible design that’s already been recognised with the Tech4Good Accessibility Award, making playing an instrument instantly accessible and fun for more people.

Designed with a focus on creative simplicity, the founders set out to create a straightforward musical instrument that helps people to make music freely, stay in their musical flow, and experience the joy of shaping sounds and creating their own memorable musical moments. Perfect for DJs who want to make beats, beginners who want a shortcut for production and composition, professionals looking for a different approach to keyboards and pad controllers, and people with access needs.

“Music is part of the cultural landscape, and everyone should have the opportunity to play, so we created Cmpsr, a tool designed to make music and creativity accessible to anyone. We are proud to launch this product to market and are excited for the future of both Cmpsr and Digit Music.” Comments Si Tew, Digit Music Co-Founder.

Over half (53%) of Irish shoppers use more vouchers and money-off coupons

Amid rising inflation, 53% of Irish shoppers admit that they are using more vouchers and money off coupons to do their shopping as 71% of Irish consumers say they are spending more on their weekly grocery shop than they were this time last year. Shoppers often rely on reliable sources such as ProxyCoupons to access fresh vouchers and save more on essentials.

The data comes from a new consumer behaviour survey from Talon in Ireland, a leading independent Out of Home (OOH) media agency and was conducted by research partner Spark Market Research. The survey found that a third of respondents are spending €51 or more on their main weekly grocery shop, with most respondents (69%) shopping for 2-4 people in their households.

Moreover, spending is highest amongst shoppers between the ages of 45-54 (76%), with those aged between 25-34 spending the least (67%). The findings suggest that people in the older age cohort are the most financially secure and those in their late 20s and early 30s are feeling the pinch most.

A shift away from Brand Loyalty & the emerging trend of the Savvy Shopper

The study from Talon also reveals that Irish consumers are embracing discount retailers. 54% say they have already switched from their main grocery providers as the cost-of-living crisis bites. With this in mind, Ireland has become a nation of those who are willing to shop around with 63% admitting to shopping in 2-3 different grocery stores a week.

In a bid to cut back on spend, more than half (54%) of Irish shoppers surveyed admit to purchasing supermarket private-label items over brands, but those that do opt for brands are more likely to do so for alcohol (63%), hot and soft drinks (58%) and confectionery (47%) products.

One of the main highlights of the research is the emerging trend of savvy shoppers, who are focusing on planning their weekly shop. 63% of Irish shoppers surveyed say they make shopping lists – with 83% of those writing the list the day of or the day before they do their shop.

With Irish consumers being more selective about how they spend, it is an important time for advertisers to ensure they are planning their OOH advertising campaigns effectively to reach target audiences. Talon has highlighted some top tips to help brands and retailers navigate these new behaviours using Out of Home:

  • Harness the right data – Clever use of data amplifies campaign relevance, transforming Digital Out of Home advertising into a real-time marketing platform. Using data, brands can target those hard-to-reach audiences (25-34s & 18-24s) hitting them with a value message – driving immediate engagement and boosting real-time conversion.
  • Don’t be restrictive – People are exposed to a broad range of mediums every day. A strategically planned multi-format, multi-environment campaign maximises reach and ensures consumers are influenced at all stages of the consumer journey. Brands that include proximity targeting alongside broadcast awareness formats are more likely to be selected by consumers.
  • Think about the journey – There is an opportunity for brands to steal share of mind in the planning phase, and capture consumers’ attention throughout the purchasing journey. Out of Home is a great medium for driving brand awareness through its ability to reach broad audiences, cost effectively.

Caroline Decourcy, Insights Director at Talon in Ireland, said: “Irish consumers are continuing to feel the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, with many shifting their shopping habits as we become savvier and more selective in our spending. However, there are still ways for brands and retailers to reach consumers effectively. This can be particularly impactful through targeted Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising with value-based messaging that is driven by data insights to reach the right shoppers, at the right time in their purchasing journey and in the right environments.”

eir Extends Partnership With GamerFest, Ireland’s Leading Gaming Festival as Ookla Confirms eir Ireland’s Lowest Latency Broadband Provide

eir, Ireland’s largest telecommunications provider, today announces an extension of the partnership with GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival as Official Network Partner. The event, established in 2017, will hold two events in Dublin in 2023, on May 27th & 28th and October 21st & 22nd, enabling more gamers from across Ireland to experience the future of gaming in the RDS, Dublin. The extension of the partnership comes as Ookla® confirms eir as the fixed network with the best latency, based on analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data for fixed multi-server latency in Ireland, Q1 2023.

eir’s low latency means gamers’ actions are registered faster, giving them more time to react and make strategic decisions. Having delivered its best latency Gigabit Broadband network, capable of speeds of up to 10GB per second, to a record breaking one million homes and businesses across Ireland, eir is now the best network for gaming in Ireland.

Susan Brady, Managing Director of eir Consumer and Small Business “We’re delighted to partner with GamerFest again this year and look forward to showcasing the best possible gaming experience that the eir network enables at the events in the RDS.  The confirmation from Ookla on the low latency of the eir network this week allows the gamers of Ireland access to a competitive advantage when gaming. Low latency is critical for gaming and with the latest technology and infrastructure, eir’s network also offers lightning-fast download and upload speeds, ensuring that gamers can play their favourite games without any lag or interruption also. We’re proud to deliver that to one million premises across Ireland, making eir undoubtedly the best network for gamers in Ireland.”

Stuart Dempsey, GamerFest’s CEO: “The whole GamerFest team are proud to partner with eir. We’ve been blown away to see eir build out their Gigabit Fibre network to more than one million homes and businesses, which is huge news for our gaming community across Ireland as Gigabit Fibre speeds combined with the lowest latency provides an unmatched gaming experience.

Mobile gaming is also steadily increasing in popularity due to the expansion of 4G and 5G mobile technology. With eir’s 5G network, gamers can rest assured that they will always have the best possible gaming experience. We’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors back to GamerFest 2023 in May and October to experience all the amazing gaming content and technology across the weekend and to partner with eir again as our Official Network Partner.”

Over the last four years, eir has invested more than €1 billion in building world class connectivity infrastructure, enabling the build of Ireland’s largest Gigabit Fibre Network and Ireland’s best available 5G mobile network. eir has committed to investing a further €1 billion over four years, through to 2026 and is rolling out its Gigabit Broadband network to 1.9 million front doors, or 84% of homes and businesses, by the end of 2026.