Tag: #Irish

Irish tech company develops first recreational app (Able Active) in Europe for people with disabilities.

A progressive Irish Tech company has developed the first app in Europe to give people with disabilities information on a wide range of accessible amenities across the country.

Regarded as a major breakthrough in the promotion of accessible facilities, Able Active builds on technology designed for participation in sport, with considerable input from potential service users and advocacy groups.

Able Active, a fully integrated and comprehensive app that signposts accessible recreational facilities for people with disabilities is the fruition of a long-term project, developed with support from the European Space Agency following a successful application.

Able Active uniquely captures feedback and gradings on accessibility and inclusivity, based on real users’ experience, by distinct disability categories, ensuring that others with similar needs can trust the rating and have better confidence that their needs will be met. 

Speaking at the launch of Able Active, Adrian Geissel CEO said  

“Able Active is the result of 6 years of investment and software development, applying data for the benefit of people with differing types of disabilities and with deep commitment to data privacy and safeguarding”.

“I am passionate about outdoors pursuits and sport, and passionate that they are accessible for all. People living with disabilities should have access to outdoor amenities and facilities suitable for their needs and Able Active provides deeper information that aims to inform and hopefully inspire greater participation for their enjoyment, health and wellbeing. This is so important for people who have varying levels of disability, many of which are hidden.

Able Active is a fully integrated and highly user-friendly guide which maps tracks, trails and amenities and allows each user to determine if these routes are suitable for their particular needs, supported by the ratings and feedback from other users with similar needs. It allows people plan their days around the various amenities from forests to beaches and gives ‘real time ‘live data on weather and pinpoints where safety equipment is located, crucial to ensure safety for users. It also allows for users to record, replay and repeat their own favourite routes which is very valuable”.

“It is interactive so will allow people with disabilities to rate on accessibility based on their experience, which is vital for both their peers and for the owners or providers of the amenities as they can use this information to further adapt the facilities in order to make them more accessible and user friendly”.

“Able Active allows for inclusivity in the fullest sense as users can record trails, save their favourite routes and research amenities to plan future outings with friends ,family or indeed for informal or formal groups”

“It allows for users to connect with family and friends through the app and for group leaders, to plan ,share and co ordinate activities for any gatherings and this helps to bolster safety and security as well as strengthen the community of people with disabilities”.

“Facilities including accessible toilets and parking, surfaces, obstacles, inclines or declines can be detailed”.

“The wonderful thing too is that people with an interest in full inclusion for those living with disabilities to get involved, to identify amenities they know to be accessible, in addition to using many available databases”.

“Able Active is a community platform for gathering new data that is important to the community. For example, disabled parking spots outside of urban areas, especially at amenity or trailhead locations can be submitted through the app”.

“This is a very important platform for amenity operators and sports organisations to connect with this community of users, highlighting the investments they’ve made to support their needs and also to understand how these supports are valued by their users.”.

“There is so much potential for collaboration and partnership across the entire range of amenities, organisations and events and this is only going to be an incredibly positive way forward for people living with a disability”. 

“This only the start of a journey, where we look to present more options where people with disabilities can be active, based on the experiences of others with similar needs and in doing so, make being active a more inclusive experience, for all. “

 

This is a vision shared by Sarah Kerrigan, project lead for Able Active, who adds “I love the outdoors, but know from personal experience how little information is available on the accessibility of trails and other amenities. Working with Able Active allows me to make sure that the app and platform meets the needs of our users and for those who, like me, also want to share their knowledge to help others benefit from nature and being active. “

Get on Android   Get on iOS

Irish businesses have the potential to deliver quality applications fast and at scale with Automation and AI to support their strategic growth

Globally, CEOs expect their digital product revenues to almost double over the next five years. This projection underlines the urgency for organisations to optimise their modern app delivery processes and capabilities to compete. Delivering quality at scale, however, sees slow implementation due to slow software delivery, developers still spending two-thirds of their time on manual and mundane tasks. With 45% of organisations shifting to a value-led approach by 2025 to remain competitive, the solution is an automation-centric strategic approach.
The organisational design of application delivery and the placement of quality within that value chain are essential to ensuring the alignment of metrics and business objectives at individual, team, and organisational levels.
“AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality transforming software development. Organisations can now supercharge the way they deliver software and applications to their customers, by embracing solutions built on AI, automation or low-code.
This is supported by data found in the recent IDC InfoBrief, we commissioned, which highlights how AI and automation are driving productivity and quality.  These valuable insights highlight the key role of quality at all stages of the software delivery process”, said Eduardo Amaral, Quality Management, DevOps & Automation Global Director at Noesis.
According to the IDC InfoBrief, Quality at Scale, 2024 Edition, sponsored by Noesis the use of Generative AI in the development process will lead to increased speed and higher productivity, giving companies the ability to quickly scale up. It also states that modern app delivery is a 2024 priority for 80% of organisations, with business outcomes such as increased agility to meet business requests, faster product development and increased business resilience being the key driving factors.
“If an organisation wants to remain competitive, a value-led approach, leveraging automation and AI, will ensure quality practices become central to software and application delivery” added Amaral.
Noesis, which has recently expanded into Ireland, recognises the potential for Irish businesses to improve their efficiency in delivering software and applications to the market and highly-efficient customer-centric solutions by using technology in the process, from ideation to development, quality testing and delivery.
“Ireland is a very exciting growth market for us, where we see tremendous potential. We know, and we can see this in the research, that there is still a lot of work to be done especially in driving value at scale. To deliver productivity excellence and quality at speed and scale, organisations need a DevOps-centric approach, that considers both culture and practices. Automation is key in this process, but it requires strategic planning, team orchestration, and a well-defined automation strategy. This is where, with our expertise and global footprint and know-how, we can help Irish businesses leap ahead to a very exciting future, that’s full of potential”, concluded Ricardo Batista, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Noesis.
The whitepaper can be downloaded from here

Irish hate speech law could “censor the entire internet”

Global voices have united in concern about the “hate speech” bill pending before Irish parliament, as 1 in 4 Irish say they are worried about the erosion of free speech.

Speaking at the Irish parliament this month, “Twitter Files” journalist Michael Shellenberger stated clearly that “there is no hate crisis in Ireland” and that the case for censorship was brought about by “elite panic” trying to stifle open conversation and discourse among the Irish people.

The bill would make it an offence to possess (for distribution) material that could lead to “hatred” in Ireland, with punishment of up to 5 years in prison.  

The bill would also impact the right to share views on social media across much of the world, with directors and executives of social media platforms with international HQs in Ireland (X, Facebook, and more) held accountable to the Irish government if found to be platforming undefined “hate speech”. 

“The world is watching Ireland. As the home of various international social media headquarters, the bill would have a global impact on what we can all discuss online.”

– Michael Shellenberger, “Twitter Files” journalist & author

“The world is watching Ireland. The censorial “hate speech bill”, if passed, would not only shut down conversation nationally – as the home of various international social media headquarters, it would have a global impact on what we can all discuss online.

“A sweeping ban on undefined “hate” gives authorities the power to determine which viewpoints are acceptable to voice. World history warns us that such power can be easily abused,” said Michael Shellenberger, international bestselling author and journalist behind the “Twitter Files”. 

Far-reaching consequences

On the same day, giving the keynote address at the Ireland Free Speech Summit, which sold out amongst members of the public, Shellenberger suggested the goal of the bill may be to “censor the entire internet”.

The bill offers no clear definition of what “hate” entails. Experts warn this could pave the way for the criminal prosecution of a wide range of expression considered unfavorable by authorities.  

The bill would further make refusal to give a password to an electronic device a crime, which would allow authorities to search and possibly find materials that are “hateful”.

1 in 4 Irish concerned about right to free speech being eroded

New national polling commissioned by ADF International reveals a deep-seated concern amongst the Irish for the erosion of free speech, with a quarter revealing they already feel restricted in expressing their views and opinions in social settings like a pub, or in their place of work or study.  

In the survey, conducted by Whitestone Insight*, 90% confirmed that free speech was “very important” to them – while the Irish parliament debates  new and wide-ranging “hate speech” legislation, with egregious implications for the basic human right to free speech. 

“The proposed “hate speech” legislation would be one of the worst examples of censorship in the modern West. The bill purports to stamp out ‘hate speech,’ but fails to define what ‘hate’” is – allowing authorities to censor any speech the state opposes. 

That’s why voices from around the world are speaking up for the right to debate and discuss ideas – here in Ireland, and everywhere,” said Lorcan Price, Irish Barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International. 

Global voices speak out against censorship

At the 2024 Free Speech Summit in Dublin on 18th June, international free speech champions  gathered with politicians to highlight the issues at stake under the bill.  

 

 

“Father Ted” screenwriter Graham Linehan was among the famous faces gathered, challenging attempts to censor Ireland: 

“We’re all coming together with different viewpoints, beliefs, and perspectives – but we agree on one thing. We should be allowed to freely discuss and debate ideas in Ireland. Our free speech must not be curtailed by a censorial government. It’s essential that the parliament consider the draconian impact that the hate speech bill could have on Irish society – and keep the public square open for all,” said Graham Linehan, screenwriter of “Father Ted”, who is billed to speak at the Summit.  

Independent Senators Rónán Mullen and Sharon Keogan spoke out against the bill, with Mullen highlighting that this bill is “far too vague”: 

“When it comes to democracy, I believe in it. When it comes to the right to test each other’s ideas, I believe in it. And we can’t do that if we’re operating under the chilling fear of giving offence to somebody who wraps that up as hatred, claims that it’s against the law, attacks you as a mob online, causes social media companies to take down your stuff so that you’ve failed to communicate before you even begin to try…If nobody was ever prosecuted under this law, the process itself would become the punishment,” said Mullen in his address. 

Also speaking up at the event were cleric and broadcaster Fr Calvin Robinson; Cambridge academic Dr. James Orr; Irish journalist Laura Perrins; Philosophy Professor Gerard Casey; feminist campaigner Laoise de Brún; GB News host Andrew Doyle; psychotherapist and Director of Genspect, Stella O’Malley; and international bestselling author Andy Ngo.

 

Speaking to censorship within the gender debate specifically, Genspect director and psychotherapist Stella O’Malley said: 

“I am finding the gender world increasingly hardline, and there is a lack of understanding about the importance of free speech, which is a cornerstone and a fundamental to a civilisation. We need to be able to speak about this freely rather than stumbling over what is the fashionable phrase to use right now.” 

For more information on the Ireland Free Speech Summit, click here. Read more here

*Methodology note: Whitestone Insight surveyed 1,027 Republic of Ireland adults online from 15th-20th March 2024. Whitestone Insight is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables are available at whitestoneinsight.com.

Source

Nearly half of Irish jobseekers (47%) would refuse a job offer if there were no hybrid or fully remote working options offered

A new report released today by The Stepstone Group, a leading global jobs platform and parent company of IrishJobs, reveals that hybrid working is a key deal breaker for Irish jobseekers.  Nearly half of jobseekers (47%) would refuse a job offer if there were no hybrid or fully remote working options offered, compared to a global average of 29%. The research also found that 61% of jobseekers would turn down an otherwise attractive job offer from an employer if they received a negative impression during an interview.

Published in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network, a global alliance of more than 70 leading recruitment websites, the new report titled How Work Preferences Are Shifting in the Age of GenAI, is based on survey data from more than 150,000 workforce respondents from 188 countries, including 1,746 respondents in Ireland, and is the fourth instalment in a series, the previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Findings also highlight the growing importance of corporate environmental, social and governance policy for Irish jobseekers. Almost one in five (18%) of jobseekers would refuse a job offer from an employer that didn’t have environmental or sustainability initiatives in place. 30% of jobseekers would not accept a job offer from an employer that didn’t offer mental health or wellbeing benefits.

A good work-life balance was the top job preference among Irish professionals, unchanged since the last report was published in 2021. Financial compensation, job security, and the amount of paid time off/holidays were the other most important work preferences in Ireland. Financial compensation has increased by six places since the last survey, indicating the impact of an increased cost of living on the workforce over the past number of years.

Findings also reveal how work preferences change across different age groups. While a good work-life balance is the most important job element for professionals aged 21 and above, interesting job content is the top component for workers under the age of 21. Financial compensation is the second most important work preference for professionals aged 21-50. Good relationships with colleagues overtake monetary considerations as the second most important job preference among workers aged 51 and above.

The research also revealed that when it comes to the balance of power in the employment markets, almost half of jobseekers (48%) believe they have at least some degree of choice in salary offers and can negotiate with employers.

Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, responsible for IrishJobs says: “The Irish economy continues to expand, albeit at a more moderate pace, with the rate of unemployment remaining at a record low of 4%. Against this backdrop of near full employment, there continues to be significant competition among employers to attract and retain skilled talent. 

“The insights from our latest Decoding Global Talent 2024 report, published today, provide an important insight for employers into the changing needs and preferences of professionals as they seek to meet their talent needs in this competitive environment.

Amidst such a tight labour market it’s crucial that employers regularly review and update their talent offerings to ensure they meet workers’ expectations. Providing employees with a good work-life balance remains the most important job preferences for professionals and should not be underestimated by employers in their job offering ­– it has consistently ranked as the top job preferences in our research since 2018.

“Our research also highlights the growing importance of hybrid and flexible working in the jobseeker agenda. With nearly half of jobseekers willing to turn down opportunities that do not provide hybrid or fully remote working options, employers should ensure they’re evolving their policies to address these needs and comply with new Government guidelines on the right to request remote work.”

Global Findings

The global findings of the survey reveal that three-quarters of workers around the world believe GenAI will bring some level of disruption to the workplace. But despite uncertain times, they remain confident about their place in the labor market: 57% of them are ready to retrain into new roles to stay ahead in their careers, and 64% feel they hold the upper hand when negotiating for jobs.

The findings of the study underscore the proactive approach workers are taking in response to the potential impacts of GenAI. By prioritizing reskilling and development, they are not only preparing to adapt to technological changes but also expressing confidence in their ability to thrive in an evolving labor market. This adaptability is key to maintaining a robust and resilient workforce in the face of ongoing technological advances.

Globally, workers are also clear about what they don’t want—54% would refuse an attractive job offer if they had a bad experience during the interview process. The importance of the recruitment process is underscored by the fact that a negative experience during recruitment is the second-most-significant dealbreaker in North America and Europe. Additionally, 40% of workers say they won’t work for companies that don’t offer mental health support or that have a perceived negative impact on society.

“In attracting global talent, a personalised, modern recruitment process is every bit as critical as providing a value-based workplace that supports the well-being of employees,” said Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of The Stepstone Group. “These are simply not just ‘nice-to-haves’ anymore.”

Interestingly, the impact of AI disruption is evident in what global talent desires in an ideal workplace. Job security was the most important factor for workers in East Asia and South Asia, particularly among those who perceived AI to have a greater impact on their future work. Learning and development topped the list for the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, highlighting a strong desire to adapt, progress, and upskill in an evolving landscape. The highly competitive labour markets of recent years and the strong bargaining position of workers are reflected in financial compensation being the top priority for North Americans and work-life balance for Europeans.

Download the publication here.
More insights about the survey here.

FinTech Depowise, platform handling €800bn in assets, enters the UK and Irish market

Depowise, the Estonian-founded oversight and process automation startup for financial services firms, is expanding into the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company aims to increase its current 5% market share tenfold in the domiciled funds market of Luxembourg, Ireland, and the UK, valued at more than €16.5 trillion. Over the next five years, Depowise plans to achieve a volume of assets on the platform of €8 trillion and become a market leader.

Leading this significant expansion is Leonid Belov, the newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Belov has a wealth of experience across front-to-back and cross-asset-class solutions, having worked in leading financial institutions such as BlackRock, State Street, MSCI, and Bloomberg.

“Having known Leo since our Bloomberg days, I have always admired his drive and insight. During one of our chats, I brought up my ambition to develop Depowise, and this resonated strongly with Leo, who thought we could disrupt the status quo and bring about meaningful change,” says Artur Reiter, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise. “We are beyond delighted to welcome Leonid Belov to our team. His exceptional talent in growth engineering, coupled with his strategic approach, sales expertise, and extensive financial technology knowledge, will undoubtedly secure our success in these new markets.”

Mr Belov shares the excitement: “Depowise has incredible growth potential that I couldn’t resist being a part of. The dedication and achievements of the team in just three years – developing a market-leading end-to-end tool for the depositary market – are truly impressive.

Market starving for automation

The global asset servicing and management industries are in dire need of technological advancement. “Despite the significant pace of automation, a meaningful proportion of the industry still relies on manual processes for critical tasks. We see this as a big market opportunity for Depowise – our modern technology can unlock scale and achieve viable efficiency for our customers,” notes Belov.

In Queen Elisabeth II’s time, asset custody and oversight were managed primarily in Excel; in King Charles’s time, we aim to move it into Depowise, and by the time Prince William picks up the reigns, it will be largely driven by AI,” says Belov.

Depowise offers a comprehensive automation solution that streamlines compliance, oversight, safekeeping, reporting, and record-keeping tasks, significantly reducing manual efforts and inherent inefficiencies.

Unicorn-size market potential

Based on discussions with Depowise clients and prospects, we note that around a third of asset servicing and management companies in the UK and Ireland currently use multiple service providers to manage different parts of operations, around another third use in-house solutions, and nearly every organisation still heavily relies on Excel. The market size for automation in this sector is projected to grow to over €7bn by 2027, and with no complete, end-to-end competitors, Depowise aims to become the market leader within five years.

Our 2022 customer survey showed that Depowise increased efficiency for our customers by up to 82%. “You don’t have to spend your mornings searching for discrepancies because Depowise does the checks for you in the background,” Sven Peekmann, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise, explains the efficiency phenomenon. “Now, when nearly 90% of daily work is done automatically, Depowise allows you to focus on the issues with the most significant business impact.”

Irish aviation industry launches campaign to tackle growing passenger misconduct

As the peak travelling season begins, the Irish aviation industry is launching a declaration to combat unruly passenger behaviour in airports and on flights as part of the #NotOnMyFlight campaign. The safety of flights, passengers and crew can be affected by the unruly behaviour of a small minority of passengers. All Irish airlines and airports, An Garda Síochana, the Irish Aviation Authority, AirNav Ireland, ground handlers and international aviation organisations have all come together to tackle the issue of disruptive and dangerous behaviour, which affects passengers and staff almost every day of the year.
There has been a 3-fold increase in passenger unruly behaviour reported between 2019 v 2023. Unruly behaviour can include intoxication, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour as well as not following the commands of flight crew, who are there to ensure passenger safety. The declaration sets out how the aviation industry aims to combat the issue of unruly behaviour on flights. The vast majority of passengers comply with instructions and show respect to staff and other passengers.
However, the signatories of this Joint Declaration recognise the need to actively promote good passenger conduct due to the adverse impact that disruptive and unruly behaviour can have on the safety of a flight and passenger experience. The signatories of the joint declaration will not tolerate any behaviour that has the potential to disrupt the passenger experience, impact the safety of the cabin crew and airport staff or create a safety risk to the aircraft and those on board the flight. This includes physical and sexual assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and generally disruptive acts.
Angela Willis, Assistant Commissioner, DMR of An Garda Síochána welcomed the Declaration:
“We all want to ensure that air travel is pleasant and most importantly safe for all users. While the vast majority of people that use air travel have the highest regard for fellow passengers, unfortunately there are a small minority whose behaviour at airports or on aircraft can have a significant impact on the experience and safety of other passengers or flight crew. An Garda Síochána is delighted to sign this declaration and to work with our partners to combat disruptive and dangerous behaviour which will not be tolerated.”
 
A Ryanair spokesperson said:
“Ryanair is pleased to support this Irish aviation industry declaration to combat unruly passenger behaviour on aircraft. The safety and wellbeing of our crew and passengers is Ryanair’s No.1 priority and we try to eradicate unruly behaviour onboard our aircraft. We will continue to work closely with An Garda Síochána, the IAA, Irish Airports and the wider aviation industry to eliminate all forms of unruly behaviour in airport terminals and onboard our aircraft.”
According to Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports:
“We’ve great passengers at Dublin and Cork airports, but like every airport in the world there’s sometimes a few bad eggs whose behaviour impacts everyone. We want our airports to be enjoyable and stress-free for passengers and we’re pleased to see the sector coming together to tackle the issue of unruly and dangerous behaviour. Everyone needs to play their part and daa will continue to work closely with our Airport Police teams, our airline partners and An Garda Síochána to ensure unruly passengers are dealt with and our airports are safe and enjoyable places for all.”
Lynn Embleton, Chief Executive of Aer Lingus commented on the charter:
“At Aer Lingus we put safety first, there is nothing more important. We understand that a comfortable and respectful environment is key to ensuring your journey is a pleasant experience. Aer Lingus does not tolerate unruly behaviour of any kind, and in the rare cases where unruly behaviour does occur, we have strict measures in place to ensure that the safety and comfort of our customers and crew is maintained.”
Jim Gavin, Chief Operations Officer of the Irish Aviation Authority said:
“Flying should be an enjoyable and positive experience for passengers. Whilst incidents associated with unruly passenger behaviour occur on only a small number of flights, they can have a significant impact on flight crew, other passengers and even affect the safety of the flight. We want to remind passengers that their actions can have a direct impact on both the safety of crew and others on board an aircraft. We are looking at how we as an aviation industry can address unruly behaviour on flights and put steps in place to ensure passengers and flight crew can have a safe and positive flying experience.”
 
“We are proud to join our colleagues across the aviation industry in launching the #NotOnMyFlight campaign. As we head into the peak travel season, it’s essential that we address the increasing issue of unruly passenger behaviour head-on. By working together, we can ensure a safe and respectful environment for all passengers and staff. This declaration signifies our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and comfort in airports and on flights,” says Niall Kearns, Airport Director, Shannon Airport.
 
The declaration sets out an action plan for the Irish aviation industry to reduce the incidence of unruly passenger behaviour in airports and onboard aircraft. The signatories are meeting regularly and engaged on the topic, working together to prevent disruption and enhance enforcement. Specifically, the industry aims to boost its ability to ban passengers through no-fly lists, ensure Gardai are informed of all criminal activity, enhance training for cabin crew and improve communication to passengers to prevent unruly behaviour.
Summertime is one of aviation’s busiest period. With millions of passengers travelling through Irish airports during this period, we are reminding people of their responsibilities when travelling on aircraft. We will not tolerate any behaviour that has the potential to disrupt the passenger experience, impact the safety of the cabin crew and airport staff or create a safety risk to the aircraft and those on board the flight.

Codex survey finds 85% of Irish workers have ‘pen pinching’ colleagues

Irish-owned office supplies specialist Codex has conducted research uncovering the daily habits of Irish workers, celebrating an office stationery product that is often overlooked – the humble pen.

The survey of over 600 Irish office workers found that even in the digital age, Irish workers still rely on a trusty pen and paper for taking notes. In fact, 65% of survey respondents still have up to five pens on their desk, while 30% have more than six pens to hand, showing that pens are still essential office supplies.

The survey went on to find that 85% of workers have a favourite pen, opting for models that write smoothly (51%), fit perfectly in their hand (22%) or are branded/company pens (13%). When it comes to ink colour, black is the top choice for two-thirds of respondents (62%), followed by blue ink for less than 30%. Many employees still take pride in their pens, with 1 in 4 workers willing to spend over €10 on a good writing pen.

The Codex survey revealed that ‘pen pinching’ is a common occurrence in Irish offices, with 85% of workers reporting that colleagues have swiped a pen from their desk and over 70% confessing that they have taken a pen from co-workers. The survey explored other items that employees have pinched from their offices including staplers, calculators, plants, toasters, and even a Christmas tree! However, certain items are seen as un-pinchable, with 1 in 2 respondents agreeing that personal food is off-limits, followed by favourite mugs (1 in 4).

“We had a lot of fun with this survey, but it also shows the enduring value of the humble pen, even in our digitally-dominated office lives,” says Emily McKenzie, Head of Marketing at Codex. “From light-hearted pen pinching to taking notes and signing important documents, there’s a reason pens are still one of our best-selling stationary items.

“This week, the Codex team will be out and about in Dublin city centre, handing out pens to busy worker bees,” says Emily. “We’re also hosting a great competition on local Dublin radio that gives Irish workers the chance to win lots of cool prizes so make sure you tune in – and keep a close eye on your favourite pen”

Salesforce Research: Improving technology use is Irish marketers’ No. 1 Priority

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, has just released the new State of Marketing report, sharing insights from over 4,800 marketing leaders across 29 countries — including 100 from Ireland.

The report covers the latest trends on how marketers are evaluating and implementing AI into their operations; approaching data acquisition, maintenance, and application strategies; and ensuring customer trust and security as vulnerabilities increase.

Key insights from the research include:

  • Priorities for a new marketing era. Marketers are evolving their practices in a highly competitive landscape. They’re looking to AI — both generative and predictive — to help personalise at scale and boost efficiency.
    • Locally, improving our use of tools and technologies is Salesforce Ireland marketers’ No. 1 priority, while outdated tools and technologies/ creating a cohesive customer journey is their No. 1 challenge.
  • Marketers shore up their data foundations. Businesses have long struggled to connect disparate data points to create consistent, personalised experiences across customer journeys. Yet as third-party cookies are depreciated and AI proliferates, that quest is only becoming more critical — and challenging.
    • 23% of marketers in Ireland are fully satisfied with their ability to unify customer data sources.
    • 66% of marketers in Ireland have access to real-time data to execute a campaign. 67% need the IT department’s help to do so.
    • Marketers in Ireland use a median of 10 different tactics to collect data, with customer service data being the most common.

  • Marketers embrace AI with an eye on trust. Marketers are intent on successfully applying AI in their operations with the right data, but are concerned about security.
    • 75% of marketers in Ireland are already experimenting with or have fully implemented AI into their workflows.
    • AI implementation is also a point of differentiation: high performing marketing teams are 2.6x more likely than underperformers to have fully implemented AI within their operations.
    • The three most popular AI use cases among marketers in Ireland are: Automate data integration, generate content, and improve customer segmentation/lookalike audience modelling.

  • Full personalisation remains a work in progress. To meet rising customer expectations around personalisation, marketers are graduating beyond broad audience segmentations, like location or age, to more specific identifiers like individual preferences or past interactions. There’s also a difference between how the highest- and lowest-performing marketing teams adapt.
    • High performers in Ireland fully personalise across an average of 6 channels, compared with underperformers who fully personalised across 3.5.
  • Marketers seek unified analytics. There is no shortage of data sources, but putting that data to work is a challenge — especially when it demands a holistic or long-term view of data.
    • 58% of marketers in Ireland track customer lifetime value (CTV).
    • 90% of marketers in Ireland say they have a clear view into marketing’s impact on revenue.

  • Deeper relationships emerge with account-based marketing (ABM) and loyalty programs. Companies are increasingly turning to strategies like ABM and loyalty programs for better acquisition and retention. Yet many of these programs’ information sources remain disjointed, as does the customer experience.
    • Only 69% of marketers in Ireland say loyalty data is fully integrated across all touchpoints.
    • 45% of marketers in Ireland say loyalty program functionalities are accessible across all touchpoints.
    • 59% of B2B marketers in Ireland use ABM for customer acquisition with a similar number 56% using it for upselling however just 38% for cross selling.

Comments on the news:

“Marketers have been quick to embrace the new era of AI and are already seeing it revolutionise how they connect with their customers. They also recognise the challenge, as the potential benefits from AI hinge on managing data efficiently and safely, with maintaining customer trust never being more important.” — Gareth Kelly, Head of Marketing, Salesforce Ireland

Methodology

Salesforce conducted a double-anonymous survey of 4,850 marketers between February 5 to March 12, 2024. Respondents were sourced from 29 countries across North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Additional methodology and survey demographic details can be found in the report. Cultural bias impacts country-level survey results.

For more information:

Enterprise Nation partners with Dargan Forum to help small firms evolve their technology to boost Irish localities

Small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation has announced a strategic partnership with business technology conference the Dargan Forum to help accelerate small business engagement with technology to boost Irish localities.
Aiming to create a broad awareness of the social benefits that spring from greater small business adoption of technology, the partnership with the Dún Laoghaire-based Dargan Institute, the organisation behind the Forum, will see the business support provider launch Ireland’s first Tech Hub, a free resource that will connect thousands of small firms to tried and tested tools and training.
‘Putting People & Places First – Harnessing Technology for A Better World’ is the theme of the day-long Dargan Forum, which takes place in the historic Assembly Room of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. It is all about empowering small businesses through digital knowledge, ‘smart’ solutions for localities, sustainable energy and digital towns to raise living standards for all.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, who is one of the high-profile tech entrepreneurs speaking at the event, said: “When local stakeholders understand the profound benefits that supporting their small business community to accelerate digital adoption can bring, everyone benefits.
“Digital adoption is not just about new jobs, a tech-enabled, thriving local small business community creates better jobs, better businesses and more innovation – all of which contribute to a healthy local economy.
“Tech Hub is backed by experts and founding sponsors who all understand that failing to tackle digital performance now is storing up problems for years, and possibly decades to come.
“That’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with Dargan Institute’s forward-thinking plans to ensure Irish firms can get ahead in the global digital transformation race.”
Eoin Costello, national director of the Dargan Institute and adviser on the government’s Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF) said: “We are seeing rapid change and there’s a real danger that local small business communities will be left behind – when the reality is that they have the most to gain.
“Offering digital support to local small businesses at scale is important to not only support growth and efficiency but also to ensure we can feel the benefit of change in our own communities, as well as helping to provide resilience to future shocks.
“Enterprise Nation does exactly that and it’s why we’re partnering with them for the Dargan Forum.”
The group is set to unveil its dynamic digital Tech Hub Ireland platform at the Forum, in partnership with global telecommunications provider Vodafone Business.
Enterprise Nation research found a quarter (25%) of small firms are buying technology and not using these tools due to lack of knowledge and training. The research also found the experience of wasting resources left businesses feeling short changed.
The group also plans to launch a new Tech Consortium, which will see policy leads from major technology brands come together to discuss how digital performance amongst small businesses can be boosted across Ireland.
Dargan Forum tickets are available on this link.