Tag: #Irish

Disengaged employees and poor leader communications key challenges for Irish organisations

Disengaged employees and poor leader communications are among the top challenges facing Irish businesses in 2024, a new report from Springboard Communications has found.

The leading Irish communications agency’s Internal Communications in Ireland Report 2024, supported by the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, also found the number one most important metric for C-level executives is improved employee engagement. The full report is available to download at springboardcommunications.ie/2024ICreport.

Speaking on the Report, Susie Horgan, Founder and Managing Director of Springboard Communications said: “From working with national and global clients across sectors, we have seen first-hand the challenges facing organisations — from recruitment and retention to navigating dispersed teams. Your employees are a primary stakeholder, and post-pandemic, there has been a growing recognition of how critical they are to maintaining and enhancing your reputation both internally and externally.

“Our research backs this up with employee engagement and talent attraction and retention coming out as having the most impact for the C-suite. As we know, this can be increasingly difficult in a hybrid working world, with respondents flagging the dilution of company culture as a top five challenge. As a result, we are also seeing a 26% increase in interactive employee events, including conferences and town-halls – highlighting the desire for connection between colleagues. Effective internal communication is the crucial first step, so it is heartening to see its recognition as a business-critical function. 50% say their team sizes have increased since 2022 while 35% say budgets have also been increased.”

Improving communications from leaders is the number one challenge facing internal communicators in 2024, with over half citing it as a top concern. Commenting on this, Sandy Boundy, Director of Strategy and Insight at Springboard Communications, added: “People leaders are increasingly influential in a hybrid culture as they are the ones directly reaching the wider workforce. Effective communication from leaders is essential as they bridge the gap between the organisation and the broader employee base, ensuring vital information is conveyed accurately. Without the proper tools, resources, and training, leaders can hinder employee engagement and, at worst, contribute to a negative workplace culture.”

Elsewhere, the Report highlights that AI is a key trend along with sustainability communications. While over 60% of internal communications professionals are incorporating AI into their roles, half of organisations lack formal AI policies or guidelines. Susie Horgan added: “Businesses are exposing themselves to significant reputational danger. Failure to have transparent policies in place heightens exposure to risk and the likelihood of outdated information being shared.”

The Report was launched at a Springboard-hosted industry event with insights from leading communications experts including Rosemary Garth, Communications Director, Tesco Ireland; Catherine Dennehy, Senior Internal Communications Manager, Meta; and Sarah Ryan, Director of Communications, daa and PRII National Council Member. The Harnessing the Power of People-Centred Internal Communications event at the Iveagh Garden Hotel, Dublin (30 May), tackled trends and challenges in communications, from reputation management to recruitment and retention.

Certa awarded coveted Guaranteed Irish symbol

Ireland’s largest fuel supplier Certa, which is part of DCC plc, has been awarded the coveted Guaranteed Irish symbol in recognition of its commitment to creating sustainable jobs, supporting local communities and promoting Irish provenance.

Certa has qualified to become a member of the Guaranteed Irish organisation as a homegrown Irish company that employs over 370 people in communities all over Ireland through its network of 49 pay@pump forecourts and 29 home heating depots.

The Certa brand developed through the amalgamation of the Emo Oil, Campus Oil, Jones Oil and DCC Lubricants brands who have been part of the fabric of cities, towns and villages throughout Ireland for more than 35 years.

Certa’s support for local communities goes well beyond job creation and extends to volunteering, sponsorship, donations and fundraising, all of which was examined as part of the qualifying criteria for the Guaranteed Irish symbol.

Certa is heavily involved in sports sponsorship as the title sponsor of the Ireland Women’s cricket team and is helping the sport to thrive from grassroots to elite level and to inspire young cricket players to follow their dream of playing professionally in Ireland.

It has also developed a series of community-based CSR initiatives including its Volunteering Day Programme which allows its 370 strong workforce to take a paid day out of the business each year to volunteer and give back to their local communities.

Certa has also partnered with the Open Doors Initiative to provide opportunities for some of the most marginalised members of society through the creation of pathways to work, training, education, employment and entrepreneurship.

It is continuing to invest in the service it provides to customers and is now the leading supplier of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in Ireland. The renewable biofuel helps motorists and businesses to make greener, sustainable choices that reduce their carbon emissions and lower their energy costs.

Certa opened Ireland’s first HVO biofuel station in Liffey Valley last year and is currently upgrading its network of 49 pay@pump forecourts to offer HVO at all sites alongside other fuels. Solar PV panels are also being installed to enable its forecourts to generate their own power.

Orla Stevens, Managing Director, Certa Ireland said:

“Certa is very proud to be a homegrown Irish brand that operates at the heart of local communities. We are delighted to be awarded the Guaranteed Irish symbol which helps consumers and businesses to identify products and services that are an altogether better choice for the life of their community.

Certa is committed to supporting local communities across Ireland and to continually enhancing the service that we offer to domestic, commercial and industrial customers as we continue to pursue our vision of becoming Ireland’s most progressive energy company. We look forward to promoting our Guaranteed Irish credentials as we continue that journey”.

Brid O’Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish said:

“We are delighted to welcome Certa as a member of Guaranteed Irish. The Guaranteed Irish symbol is a national symbol of trust that is only awarded to companies in Ireland that support sustainable jobs, contribute to our local economies, and are committed to Irish provenance. This has been at the core of Certa’s development as an Irish company over the past 35 years and we look forward to working with Certa as it continues to grow and enhance the service that it provides to communities across Ireland’.

 

New app launched to inform Irish citizens about European Parliament Elections

A new app aiming to help European citizens engage with the upcoming European Parliament elections has gone live on May 9th to coincide with Europe Day. 

The EU&I app aims to help EU citizens navigate the upcoming European Parliament elections, taking place in June. The app provides a comprehensive platform to help voters explore and understand the positions of both Irish political parties and independent candidates competing in the European elections.

When they visit the EU&I web app, users are prompted to indicate their political preferences through a questionnaire, which generates personalised insights about which political parties and candidates align best with the voter’s values and beliefs.

Available in 20 languages with 36 policy statements, the EU&I Voter app offers users an extensive guide on a range of topics central to European politics, including economic policies, environmental initiatives, and social justice issues. It also allows users to explore party/candidate views on Ireland’s position in Europe and beyond. 

The creators of the app are hoping that this new development will encourage Irish citizens to vote in the upcoming elections taking place on the 7th of June. 

Commenting on the launch of the app, Team Ireland lead, and Associate Professor at UCD, Dr James Cross said: “We are delighted to officially launch our new app EU&I ahead of the European elections. This app provides an excellent educational platform to empower Irish voters, which will, in turn, allow them to make informed decisions about the future of Europe. A group of our master’s students from different disciplines here at UCD have been working tirelessly to compile information about the election and its candidates. They have made this information accessible to our app users, contributing to a Europe-wide effort to inform voters. By harnessing the power of technology, we aim to empower voters to make informed decisions when entering the ballot box this June.”

UCD Master’s Student Aaron Kelly added: “By making this political information readily available for app users, we aim to inform the general public on one simple, accessible platform. This helpful tool eliminates political jargon while providing a wealth of information for citizens as well as for politicians themselves. It is a free resource that provides a personalised and exhaustive political guide for users, and we hope that it will encourage more people to get out and use their vote in June.

The official launch of EU&I Voter took place on the 14th of May at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. A panel discussion featuring Dr. Laura Sudulich from the University of Exeter, Dr. Kevin Cunningham Director of Ireland Thinks and Patrick O’Riordan from Dublin Office of the European Parliament on pressing issues faced by the EU was held, as well as a live demonstration of the app.  

 

Quside and Equinix to offer quantum random number generation technology to Irish businesses

Quside, a quantum technology company,  is working closely with Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company®, to enable access for businesses in Ireland to the latest quantum random number generation (QRNG) technology. This will help Equinix customers to build the strongest cryptographic foundation to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks. True QRNG and quantum cryptography provides a vital defence for businesses as AI advancements lead to a new era of cybercrime.

Equinix has led the way in facilitating access to quantum computing for businesses in Ireland recently, announcing partnerships with Oxford Quantum Computing and Alice & Bob in 2023.

The unusual concept of randomness in cybersecurity is known as entropy. In cryptography, entropy creates completely unpredictable strings of random numbers, making it exceptionally difficult for bad actors to predict patterns and hack into systems. Entropy, which can only be produced by hardware, is at the foundation of security, but poorly generated entropy can lead to insecure and vulnerable systems.

Through its globally interconnected Equinix Fabric network, Equinix enables businesses worldwide to connect with this highly innovative and robust cybersecurity solution on high-speed, low-latency, and private network connections. By allowing seamless communication between quantum entropy systems and operational data processing infrastructure, Equinix and Quside are lowering the barrier to world-class security for businesses in Ireland, as well as thousands of businesses across the globe.

Equinix already supports a number of quantum businesses as part of its network of over 10,000 customers worldwide. It is well-placed to support businesses such as Quside on their growth journey and lead the transition towards a range of quantum technologies for multiple sectors, including enhanced cybersecurity options and improved power efficiency.

Peter Lantry, Managing Director, Equinix Ireland, said: “Advanced cyber defences such as Quside’s quantum cryptography are becoming increasingly necessary to defend businesses in Ireland, and around the world, from bad actors. Equinix is proud to be a leader in providing businesses in Ireland with access to quantum computing to help them to explore and unlock its potential. Access to this latest cutting edge solution comes at a time when the need for strong, reliable cybersecurity is at an all-time high.”

Carlos Abellan, CEO & co-founder, Quside, said: “Equinix plays a crucial role for customers in facilitating global access to Quside’s unique quantum entropy technology. To truly harness the benefits of Quside’s entropy solution in their cloud transition, customers require secure, private, and scalable infrastructure. Equinix’s IBX data centres offer the perfect scalable solutions that can easily adapt to changing computational demands, allowing our customers to effortlessly connect to and expand their quantum entropy capabilities as needed.”

Operating in the heart of Europe’s bustling interconnectivity network, Quside focuses on key sectors including government, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and cloud computing. Quside products deliver highly performant, scalable, quality, and measurable quantum entropy and can be used in conventional, post-quantum, and quantum cryptography systems.

Equinix data centres provide the essential infrastructure, security, and connectivity required to support the development and deployment of quantum cryptography and entropy generation systems, enabling organisations to leverage the power of quantum technologies for enhanced cybersecurity and data protection.

63% of Irish businesses admit to struggling with too many systems

In an era marked by an explosion of documents, information and data, a recent survey of industry leaders, carried out by document and information management consultancy, Convergent, sheds light on a critical challenge faced by businesses, namely the struggle to manage and effectively utilise their growing volumes of documents and information.

The results, drawn from information management stakeholders across a wide array of industries including pharmaceutical, finance, healthcare, technology, engineering and construction, reveal the urgency for a better strategy, and solutions for managing documents and information.

A striking 63% of Irish businesses report using up to 10 systems and applications to store information. Alarmingly, almost 24% of respondents operate with more than 10 systems. Nik Healy, Solutions Director with Convergent explained: “This fragmentation of systems contributes to significant numbers of information silos that lead to duplication, version, and information trust issues. The disconnection of information, and related content chaos and sprawl across paper, spreadsheets, systems, folders, and emails prohibits information from flowing. This results in inefficiencies and manual processes, and also restricts reporting and business intelligence opportunities.”

Despite advances in technology, 42% of those surveyed are still heavily reliant on paper. With information sprawled in lots of places, many businesses are drowning in information and are unable to harness its full potential. 82% said that finding the information is the most difficult aspect; while 63% admitted they couldn’t trust that it would be the correct version if they happened to find it.

Nik continued: “Finding and validating information carries a cost, in both time and money, especially for highly valuable knowledge workers. The findings underscore the necessity for solutions where information is trusted within a single source of truth. For any business to perform optimally it relies on its documents and information being available easily, quickly and securely. But when that information is spread across lots of disconnected systems and networks it’s hard to find, so true business automation is not achievable.”

Convergent’s survey revealed a near-unanimous desire for improvement, with an overwhelming 97% of respondents expressing interest in investing in solutions that enable information to flow seamlessly and securely throughout their organisation, highlighting a clear recognition of the need for more integrated and streamlined information management solutions.

“For automation to be truly efficient it also needs to be expandable beyond a single department use. Information management solutions must extend beyond a single automation process and ensure information flows throughout a business, is expandable across departments, on demand, anywhere, any time.” added Nik.

84% of respondents said they would use AI to streamline business processes to reduce manual effort, however this is only achievable once Content Chaos issues have been overcome. Nik concluded: “AI has the potential to dramatically improve business processes and operations. But it’s important to note that the huge potential of AI can only be leveraged once the existing Content Chaos issues have been tackled and addressed. AI solutions generate and process huge volumes of information, and organisations must have an information management foundation fit for purpose to cater for this volume.”

 

Nine in 10 Irish execs expect Gen AI chatbots to have an impact on their organisation’s business processes

Nine in 10 (90%) Irish executives anticipate a medium to high impact to their organisation’s business processes in the next three years as a direct result of generative AI chatbots, with almost two in five (39%) reporting it as transformational change, according to Accenture’s annual Technology Vision Report for 2024.

Accenture’s Technology Vision 2024: “Human by Design: How AI Unleashes the Next Level of Human Potential”, which is run across 20 countries and 21 industries, revealed that 97% of Irish executives agree that the capabilities of AI are expanding, moving from assisting to acting independently. Almost all, 99%, of executives agree that making technology “more human” will massively expand the opportunities of every industry.

The findings reveal that while Ireland is making strides alongside its global counterparts when it comes to technologies such as AI and Gen AI, Irish businesses have been slower to adopt other technologies and trends featured in the report, such as spatial computing and body sensing technologies. While 84% of Irish executives agree that spatial computing will be used to build enriching experiences, providing a realistic alternative or enhancement to in-person experiences, a higher 92% globally believe this to be the case.

Consumers are even further behind in terms of adopting spatial computing, with only 36% saying that they would be interested in it to learn and develop new skills and less than three in 10 (29%) interested in using it to shop, compared to an only slightly higher 33% globally. Spatial computing blends digital content with the physical world in natural way. Virtual reality (VR) is a type of spatial computing.

When it comes to body sensing technologies, while it is clear that the technology has the capability to be transformative, with AI-powered wearables, brain-sensing neurotech and eye and movement tracking, there is some concern around the ethics. 66% of Irish consumers agree that in order to gain trust, organisations will need to develop responsible guidelines on biometric privacy and neurotech ethics and standards.

Austin Boyle, Head of Technology at Accenture in Ireland commented on the findings: “Irish businesses have been leveraging AI at scale for some time now and continue to see its value as it becomes even more “human”. That said, what we are seeing amongst our clients, is that as a country we are still behind when it comes to the adoption of cloud in Ireland, which in turn is inhibiting the integration of other innovative technologies, including Gen AI.

“By fully adopting cloud and Gen AI, we can lay the foundations for the next wave of AI technologies that can be leveraged by Irish businesses, which include spatial computing and body sensing technologies. Globally, spatial computing mediums have already begun to close the physical-digital divide to enable simultaneous activities in multiple spaces and body sensing technologies are raising the bar when it comes to understanding people’s behaviours and intentions, making it particularly useful for customer service of the future.

“In order to gain a competitive advantage, Irish businesses must prioritise integration and adoption early and receive training from the C-suite down, to fully capitalise on the new technologies which have the potential to completely revolutionise Irish business. We are excited to see the opportunities that will present themselves once organsations heed to this.”

Further findings from Accenture’s Technology Vision Report 2024 revealed:

  • 99% of Irish executives agree that generative AI will compel their organisation to modernise its technology architecture.
  • 98% of Irish executives agree that AI agents will begin to collaborate with other agents to accomplish organisational tasks.
  • 99% of Irish executives agree that leveraging AI agent ecosystems will be a significant opportunity for their organisation in the next 3 years.
  • 100% of Irish executives agree that the way we interact with data will change, from searching for information to asking questions and receiving direct advice and answers.

Dell Technologies Research: GenAI a catalyst for innovation yet Irish firms struggle to keep pace with change

Generative AI (GenAI) and AI will significantly transform industries in Ireland, according to 70% of respondents to the Dell Technologies Innovation Catalyst Research.

Based on responses from 6,600 IT and business decision makers across 40 countries including 100 in Ireland, the research suggests that while there is broad optimism for AI and GenAI, the extent to which organisations are prepared for the rapid pace of change varies greatly.

71% say they are well positioned competitively and have a solid strategy in place to harness the power of AI. Moreover, nine in 10 (92%) think organisations can use GenAI responsibly.

At the same time, over half (56%) of the respondents are uncertain what their industry will look like in the next three to five years and forty-nine percent report struggling to keep pace with advancements in GenAI and other technologies. They cite the lack of the right talent (43%), lack of budget (33%) and an outdated technology environment (32%) as challenges they face in driving innovation.

To help overcome some of the challenges, fifty-nine percent of organisations are training or upskilling employees to use GenAI while six in 10 (62%) are providing AI-optimised technology to improve the work experience.

GenAI Moving from Ideation to Implementation

Respondents cite GenAI’s transformative or significant potential to deliver value in improving IT security posture (48%), enhancing the customer experience (47%) and unlocking productivity gains (42%).

More broadly, responses suggest that organisations are working through GenAI practicalities as they transition from ideation to implementation, with 75% saying they have begun implementing GenAI. As organisations increase adoption, concern centres around understanding where risks reside and who is responsible for them. Sixty-six percent agree that the organisation, rather than the machine, the user or the public, is responsible for any AI malfunction or undesired behaviour. 

Catherine Doyle, Managing Director at Dell Technologies Ireland, said: “In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the power of Generative AI and other emerging technologies cannot be understated. Our research underscores the transformative potential of GenAI to drive innovation in every industry across Ireland. Businesses are now harnessing the power of AI to unlock the value hidden within their data, propelling growth and driving innovation forward.

“However, it’s clear that while optimism abounds, many organisations are struggling to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology. It’s vital for leaders to not only recognise the potential of GenAI but also to act swiftly in using its potential to turn ideas into tangible innovation. By leveraging the capabilities of Generative AI and investing in the right technology infrastructure, businesses can position themselves for success in this era of unprecedented change.”

The Right Technology Infrastructure will help Organisations to Succeed

The research also reveals modern data infrastructure’s critical role as technologies like GenAI gather pace and data volumes increase. Investing in a modern, scalable infrastructure was cited as the number one area of improvement for businesses to accelerate innovation. Most IT decision makers (66%) say they prefer an on-prem or hybrid model, to address the challenges they foresee with implementing GenAI.

The ability to share data across the business is also a key part of the innovation puzzle, with only 1 in 3 (33%) saying they can turn data into real-time insights today to support innovation efforts. Moreover, 95% face data management challenges. However, responses suggest organisations are acting on this challenge, with 64% saying that data is the differentiator and their GenAI strategy must involve using and protecting that data.

Revolut Business backs Irish businesses with new Point of Sale (POS) platform

Revolut POS, a Point of Sale iPad app, is now out of beta testing and is packed with clever tools and an easy-to-use interface that rivals the rest.

Aimed at every business from small boutiques to large restaurant chains, Revolut’s POS app streamlines operations, enhances customer experiences, and drives growth like never before.

Revolut is helping small businesses move beyond the cash register, needing only their iPad to take customer orders and payments — going a step further than Revolut Reader, which launched in 2022.

Jesus Romo, General Manager of In-Person Payments at Revolut, said: “Revolut values the trust from all our Irish account holders and we are actively working to simplify their financial needs. For businesses having to deal with multiple vendors on payments and POS software, we have created Revolut POS. Simple, and everything under the Revolut Business umbrella.”

For additional information about Revolut Business’ latest offering, read more below:

Revolut acquired London-headquartered point-of-sale software provider Nobly in 2021.  It has on boarded hundreds of thousands of monthly active businesses since.

Remote Resistance Despite Company Mandates, 92% of Irish Employees Seek Flexibility

Four years on from when the pandemic started, the Irish workforce is still debating the merits and downfalls of hybrid work patterns, according to insights gleaned from professionals and employers by global talent services company, Morgan McKinley.

Insights from the Global Workplace Guide found:

  • Preference for Hybrid or Remote Work: 92% of respondents in Ireland express a strong preference for continuing in a hybrid or remote work model
  • Employee Satisfaction: Professionals working in hybrid models express the highest contentment with their work patterns, with 59% willing to forego pay raises for desired flexibility
  • Remote Rewind: Despite employee preferences, 56% of companies globally are urging staff to return to the office more regularly
  • Employee Dissatisfaction: Onsite workers show higher rates of actively seeking new employment opportunities compared to hybrid and remote workers
  • Impact on Talent Attraction: Flexible working arrangements emerge as a crucial factor in talent attraction and retention, with 80% of hiring managers highlighting its importance.

The survey found that 1-2 days in the office is the favoured weekly working pattern for 47% of professionals, with a further 25% selecting 3-4 days in Ireland. Only 8% are happy to be in the office for the full 5 working days. The survey also revealed that half of employees would even skip a pay raise if it meant they got their desired flexibility.

Despite employee preferences, 56% of companies globally with 42% in Ireland are urging staff to increase their in-office presence, indicating a disconnect between employer and employee expectations. The research also showed the potential attrition of employees with 56% of respondents who work onsite five days a week are the ones most actively looking for a new job in the next six months compared to hybrid employees (41%) and fully remote employees (44%).

The survey also found regional differences from companies mandating for employees to return to the office with Hong Kong (91%), Australia (65%), Japan (62%), Singapore (61%), and China (59%) exhibiting higher rates of return-to-office mandates compared to 40% in the UK, 40% in Canada and 42% in Ireland.

Stephen O’Brien, Managing Director, Morgan McKinley, commented: “Four years post-pandemic, the global workforce is still grappling with the ongoing debate surrounding hybrid work models. Simply mandating a five-day-a-week office presence would likely encounter resistance and productivity dips. Our research underscores the resounding preference for flexibility, with 86% advocating for continued adoption of hybrid arrangements.”

“Companies, therefore, need to implement a strategic and mindful approach to this remote rewind. Striking the balance between flexibility and practicality calls for close collaboration through open communication channels and understanding the motivations driving employees’ desires for flexible work arrangements. 2024 will be a pivotal year to see if organisations see flexibility as not just a perk but a fundamental aspect of workplace cultures creating a more inclusive, productive, and resilient workforce.

The Morgan McKinley Global Workplace Study gathered insights about various hiring and workplace trends by surveying over 3400 professionals and 650 employers/hiring managers globally with 1100 professionals in Ireland.