Tag: organisations

3 in 10 Irish businesses say supply chain disruption has worsened in the last five years

Three in ten (30%) Irish business leaders believe that supply chain disruptions have worsened in the past five years. The rising cost of materials is cited as the biggest supply chain threat being currently faced by Irish businesses, with more than six in ten (63%) of Irish business leaders stating this to be the case. Tariffs and cyber threats were also found to be major supply chain risks currently faced by Irish organisations (60%).

According to results of new research into business supply chains, conducted by the global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firm, Gallagher, one in ten (10%) Irish businesses expect supply chain issues to worsen in the next five years.

The results of the research, which are unveiled in a new global supply chain research report, provide a comprehensive view of the concerns, strategies, and risk management needs of business leaders in today’s uncertain world. The report, Supply Chains, Redrawn: Lessons from Business Leaders Across Industries, is informed by views from company directors in seven countries, across a broad cross-section of business sizes and industries. Ireland and the UK are two of the seven countries included in this report.

Other risks to supply changes as highlighted by the research include natural disasters/climate change (57%); geopolitical risks (50%); and labour disruptions (50%).

Commenting on the findings of the research, Laura Vickers, Managing Director of Commercial Lines for Gallagher said:

“Some of the biggest supply chain disruptions ever experienced have arose in recent years. These include the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2021 Suez Canal blockage, the Russian-Ukraine war, and recent extreme weather events and natural disasters. So, it’s no surprise that supply chain issues have really come to the fore for businesses worldwide in recent years, and Irish businesses are facing these challenges as much as others.”

Table 1: Current and potential supply chain risks faced by Irish businesses

Looking Ahead

Irish business leaders are slightly more optimistic than their UK counterparts – one in ten (10%) Irish business executives expect supply chain issues to worsen in the next five years compared to almost one in five (19%) respondents in the UK.

Further highlights from the Gallagher report include:

  • Labour disruptions (labour movement, workforce mobility, or strikes) and human rights issues top the list of supply risks which Irish business leaders are expecting in the future, with more than four in ten (43%) Irish business leaders anticipating that each of these issues will pose a risk to their firm (see Table 1).
  • Four in ten (40%) Irish business executives expect sanctions and export controls to present a supply chain risk into the future, with a similar number (37%) citing cargo theft.
  • Interestingly, while the rising cost of materials and tariffs top the list of the supply chain risks currently facing Irish businesses, the research found that Irish business leaders expect these risks to subside in the future.
  • Only 27% of Irish executives expect the rising cost of materials to be a supply chain issue into the future, while 30% cited tariffs.

Managing future supply chain risks

Over six in ten (63%) business executives in Ireland are investing in technology – specifically digital tools, AI, or monitoring systems – to help improve oversight and responsiveness and help manage supply chain risks. This is a slightly lower number than in the UK, where almost seven in ten (68%) of business executives said they were doing so. More than seven in ten (73%) Irish business leaders are also looking to alter supplier relationships in some capacity, due to past, current, and predicted future supply chain disruption. This compared to 64% of UK respondents.

More than six in ten (63%) Irish business executives and 61% (UK) also confirmed that they are adopting onshoring[1], nearshoring or friendshoring to help manage the supply chain risks currently impacting their business. This reflects the growing concerns held by Irish business leaders around geopolitical developments.

Just over a quarter (28%) of Irish businesses who experienced supply chain losses in the last 12 months had insurance in place to fully cover losses, leaving many firms facing potentially substantial costs to bear. This figure is significantly lower than the response from businesses in the UK (with 46% of affected businesses having losses fully covered) and the global response (32%).

Ms Vickers added:

“Irish businesses aren’t alone in facing ongoing supply chain disruption, and many of the issues that are affecting trade here are global. Escalating geopolitical conflict, the rising price of materials, and an influx of cyberattacks all presented unique and complex challenges to businesses last year and continue to concern decisionmakers in 2026. The continued disruption underscores the need to consult a risk management advisor to assess individual concerns and source comprehensive risk management and insurance products that may help to boost financial resilience.”

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies

Today, SocialTies, a new free digital platform co-founded by three-time All-Ireland winner Walter Walsh, has officially launched. Built for community groups, such as schools, and grassroots organisations, SocialTies brings everything – from fixtures and results to ticketing, training resources, messaging, and exclusive content – into one unified, branded space. Designed around the real needs of today’s communities, the platform puts connection, identity, and community impact at its core.

Walter and his team have addressed a common frustration faced by organisations, relying on multiple disconnected tools to manage day-to-day communication and operations. Instead of navigating between group chats, outdated websites and scattered emails, SocialTies brings everything into one streamlined, purpose-built environment, finally offering a digital solution tailored to how real communities work.

“We built SocialTies because communities deserve better,” said Walter Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder of SocialTies, “For too long, they’ve been expected to make do with outdated websites, scattered group chats, and platforms that were never built for them. This isn’t about adding more noise, it’s about giving community groups, schools and grassroots organisations the digital infrastructure to connect, grow, and take ownership of their space online.”

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies – techbuzzireland

SocialTies is built on a new advertising model that delivers value to both communities and businesses. The platform is completely free to use both for individual users and the organisations themselves, with revenue generated through its Community Shared Advertising Model. Businesses gain targeted access to engaged, local audiences in a trusted environment, while 50% of all ad revenue is returned directly to the organisations and communities using the platform.

Brendan Kavanagh, Co-Founder of SocialTies, said: “Too many community platforms fail because they rely on goodwill, not good models. With SocialTies, we set out to create something that’s commercially robust and genuinely useful – it is a platform where local advertisers can reach engaged audiences in a meaningful way, while directly funding the communities they care about. It’s digital advertising that delivers real ROI.”

The first live platform built on SocialTies is Kilkenny Cats Social, created in partnership with Kilkenny GAA. As the pilot rollout, it demonstrates how the platform can be adapted to reflect the identity and structure of any organisation, in this case, one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting communities. Beyond content and communication, the partnership highlights SocialTie’s mission of community engagement at all levels – 50% of all advertising revenue generated on the app goes directly back to Kilkenny GAA, supporting grassroots development and major projects like the new Centre of Excellence.

Walsh, a former Kilkenny Senior hurler added “Kilkenny has given me so much, on and off the pitch, so launching our flagship product here means a huge amount to me. We built Kilkenny Cats Social to reflect everything this county stands for: pride, purpose, and community. I’m proud that we’re starting in Kilkenny, and even prouder that every tap, every ad, and every message on the platform gives something back to the place that shaped me.”

Could 2025 be the year of technological reinvention? Four key trends Irish organisations need to be aware of

All organizations are looking for the same thing right now: to harness the potential of AI to innovate, overcome challenges and remain competitive in the market.
Throughout 2024, we have witnessed the generalization and massification of GenAI and endless debates about how useful it really is. Looking ahead, we are preparing for a scenario of radical change that will test the ability of companies to build a technological ecosystem, where there is a convergence between innovation and responsibility.
In 2025, the era of experimentation will be replaced by reinvention – it is time to effectively implement (and also discard) much of what has been tested in organizations in proofs of concept, pilot projects, or use cases. This change will significantly impact the business, with the introduction of innovation, implementation of new functionalities, or rethinking of processes. In this sense, I have identified below  four major trends that will impact organizations in 2025:
  1. An AI Pivot
GenAI has dominated debates about technology and Artificial Intelligence. It is expected that 2025 will represent the beginning of a turning point, where “hyper-experimentation” gives way to the reinvention phase. Shortage of developers, high costs, poorly defined strategies and poor coordination between different teams, IT and the overall business goals are some of the factors that have limited the success  of implementing GenAI in companies.
Faced with this challenge, and according to IDC predictions, up to 30% of organizations will reconsider their investments in GenAI if the solutions created are not positively impacting the business. Companies must opt for a less complex approach and move forward in a progressive and step by step fashion, in order to manage decision makers’ expectations.
 
  1. Artificial Intelligence Agents
The evolution of AI Agents represents a paradigm shift that redefines the limits of traditional Artificial Intelligence. With a high degree of autonomy, these agents are capable of carrying out predefined tasks independently, revolutionizing multiple areas. From decision-making without human intervention, through software development, and process optimization, this technology offers highly efficient solutions, generating a significant impact on organizational productivity.
It is estimated that, by 2028, 15% of corporate decisions will be made by these agents. More than a virtual tool that complements human actions, Artificial Intelligence agents are an opportunity to rethink the role of technology, prioritizing the balance between responsible integration and the protection of human needs.
More than having just a chatbot replying to some questions or doing some actions, AI agents will be talking between them, orchestrating actions and proving a task-oriented process where actions will be done by agents and supervised by humans.
  1. Data-as-a-Product
Data-as-a-Product (DaaP) remains one of the biggest challenges for organizations in the coming years. If we consider data as strategic assets, and look at it as a product, we are making our companies more efficient and business-oriented. To achieve this, businesses must create not only a robust governance system, but also AI platforms that generate assertive insights capable of guaranteeing ethical compliance, while promoting transparency and responsibility.
There are more advantages than disadvantages in treating data as a product – this model provides innovation and creativity, enabling teams to develop solutions with a previously available date, which increases the efficiency and productivity of organizations.
In short, components of a Data Product are Data Content: Raw and processed data Metadata: Documentation, lineage, and quality metrics and APIs/ Interfaces: For seamless access and integration.
Built to be discoverable, reliable, and usable by all teams across the organization.
  1. Data and Document Governance
Could 2025 finally be the year when the topic of Data Governance assumes a pivotal role within organisations? I believe so. With the emergence of Generative AI and the growing ability to directly query documentation, the scope of data governance is expanding into a broader concept of “document governance”. This evolution highlights the increasing necessity of establishing robust governance over who queries, what they query, in which documents, and with what permissions. Such measures are essential to ensure comprehensive control and security in this rapidly evolving landscape.
This subject goes beyond being a purely IT-driven initiative; it represents a vital connection between technology and business. For Data and Document Governance to be effective, it demands close collaboration between technical experts and business leaders. This ensures that data management strategies are not only technically sound but also aligned with the organisation’s broader goals. By uniting these areas, organisations can safeguard critical information, streamline operations, and support well-informed decision-making, an integrated effort that highlights its essential role in achieving sustainable growth and maintaining a competitive edge.
According to IDC, by 2028 it is expected that the amount invested in AI, worldwide, will exceed €700Bn. An impressive indicator, without a doubt. 2025 will be a critical year in this process,  the year of effective implementation of GenAI and (yet another!) technological reinvention. Enhancing responsible innovation, raising awareness about the conscious use of technology, investing in the robustness of the “governance” of Artificial Intelligence and the potential of AI Agents are strategies that will transform the future of companies in Ireland and globally.
By: Ricardo Batista, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Noesis

New tool to help organisations track progress on diversity and inclusion in workplaces launches

Organisations across Ireland have shown improvements of up to 10 per cent in fostering diverse and inclusive workplace cultures in the last two years, with the public sector making the most progress, showing an average sector improvement of 9.4 per cent. However, organisations need to do more to improve their workplaces for certain groups, including disabled people; people of different race, colour, nationality, ethnicity or ethnic origin; and people of different ages.*

That’s according to a new Inclusion Score metric that quantifies the sense of belonging and culture of inclusion within an organisation being launched today (17.07.24) by the Irish Centre for Diversity, a nationwide body, headquartered in Waterford, that works with public and private organisations in Ireland to help them embed diverse and inclusive workplace cultures.

An organisation’s Inclusion Score is calculated based on diversity and inclusion (D&I) benchmarking data gathered by the Irish Centre for Diversity.  The details have been compiled from more than 130 organisations across Ireland that between them employ more than 120,000 people across both the public and private sectors. The data is updated every 12 months.

According to latest findings from the Irish Centre for Diversity, the national average Inclusion Score is 78 per cent, with the insurance sector having the highest average of 81.7 per cent. Other sectors showing high Inclusion Scores include IT and technology with 80.8 per cent, and construction and engineering with an average of 79.5 per cent. The average Inclusion Score for the public sector is 71.1 per cent.

The latest findings also reveal the top three groups that workers think their organisation needs to focus further on as being disabled people (17.8 per cent); people of different race, colour, nationality, ethnicity or ethnic origin (16.1 per cent); and people of different ages (11.3 per cent).

The Inclusion Score enables organisations to compare their D&I performance both at a national level and against peers in similar sectors, such as the public sector, professional services, construction and engineering, and insurance and finance, among others. It also gives them the opportunity to monitor their own D&I performance and progress, providing data and insights to report to governing boards, for corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD) needs, and for sharing with other stakeholders.

Tracking and Improving D&I Progress

To track and improve an organisation’s D&I progress, the Irish Centre for Diversity delivers an initial survey followed by an action plan with recommendations for improvements. A second survey is conducted 24 months later to monitor progress, with Irish Centre for Diversity records showing 100 per cent of organisations improving.

Improvement pathways can include D&I training, and according to the D&I benchmarking data, the top requested trainings over the last two years are mental health, promoting good mental health at work, unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.

The latest findings from the benchmarking data show that the number of staff who have attended D&I training has increased by 6.2 per cent in the last two years, from 55.9 per cent to 62.1 per cent.

A further finding from the latest research shows that 85 per cent of workers believe that colleagues take D&I seriously in the way that they behave and the things that they say, with line managers scoring 83.8 per cent and senior managers 71.5 per cent. It also shows that 91.5 per cent of people think those they work with are accepting of other people whatever their background.

Announcing the official launch of the Inclusion Score today, managing director of the Irish Centre for Diversity, Caroline Cummins, said: “We are in a unique position working with hundreds of companies across all sectors, and collecting data that covers both diversity of staff and the culture of Irish workplaces. Having such comprehensive and robust data on workplace diversity and inclusion culture in Ireland allows the Inclusion Scores to provide meaningful benchmarks and roadmaps to progress D&I in Ireland. The data shows valuable advances when steps are taken to address workplace challenges ─ what gets measured gets done, and we have the data that is fundamental to support this progress.

“We are seeing huge leaps in creating and fostering inclusive workplace cultures and evidence of this is that 100 per cent of organisations that we re-survey are shown to have improved Inclusion Scores by up to 10 per cent.”

For more information about the Inclusion Score, the national D&I benchmarking research data, and how the Irish Centre for Diversity can help organisations drive progress in this area, visit www.irishcentrefordiversity.ie/national-benchmarking/.

New Cybersecurity Directive holds executives personally liable and up to €10 million in fines for organisations

A new directive set to be launched in Ireland in October 2024, could lead to 4,000 businesses in Ireland and their senior executives being personally liable and their organisations exposed to potential fines of up to €10 Million. The expanded Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) is being implemented to ensure businesses classified as essential and important entities take appropriate measures to enhance their cyber vigilance and protect sensitive data.

In response to these challenges, OpenSky, the business process automation specialists & Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI who use their expertise to bring AI to the centre of digital transformations, have now launched a new Data Management and Governance service for public and private sector organisations.

This new service by OpenSky, powered by Microsoft Fabric & Purview, applies a ‘Data Fabric’[1] approach as the strategy to connect, protect and make data accessible for organisations, aiming to ensure that they meet robust governance and regulatory compliance requirements. In addition their Data Fabric service allows organisations to build greater AI powered insights from connected data by breaking down internal data silos at scale across departments.

Commenting on the new OpenSky offering which will address organisations concerns, Michael Cronin, managing director, said, “The NIS2 directive is reshaping how we approach data management in Ireland, both in the public and private sectors. It’s an opportunity for us to lead by example, ensuring that our data strategies and AI implementations are secure, transparent, and aligned with the best practices in data governance.

The NIS2 directive is an EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity that provides legal measures to increase the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU, and urgently puts pressure on public and private sector organisations to determine its impact on their current cybersecurity posture.

The expanded NIS2 Directive is estimated to impact about 4,000 businesses in Ireland, which is significant considering less than 100 businesses in Ireland are currently impacted by NIS1. The expanded NIS2 brings new categories where organisations in scope are either directly involved in the provision of essential services or connected to their delivery.

Roseanne Killeen, Acting CEO Ireland East Hospital Group, who has worked with OpenSky on enriching the access and integration of HR & Finance data in the hospital group said, “Healthcare faces major hurdles in making data accessible across various departments, and this is due to numerous disconnected data silos. Navigating the challenges around governance and prevention of data breaches can seem like an arduous task but it doesn’t have to be the case when you have access to all your data. We’re not only in a position to govern our data but we’re also now better equipped to provide accountability and transparency to the HSE.”

Based in Naas in Co Kildare, OpenSky has a rich heritage as an Irish digital transformation specialist providing AI powered IT solutions and consultancy services to both public sector and private organisations. OpenSky employs more than 110 people, and this year the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, positioning them as one of Ireland’s most established IT services businesses.

To assess your organisations’ eligibility for a funded Data Governance proof of concept, follow the link here: www openskydata.com

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.

Artificial Intelligence: Irish organisations urged to become ‘more familiar’ with future EU legislation

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is urging organisations, especially businesses, to become more familiar with upcoming EU legislation around artificial intelligence (AI). As Ireland’s official standards body, it is also encouraging organisations across the country to get more involved in the sector by helping develop future international AI standards.

To support Irish enterprises, NSAI is teaming up with Danish Standards and European Committees for Standardisation (CEN and CENELEC*) to jointly host a webinar on Friday, November 24th called: ‘Future EU legislation on AI and the important role standards play.’ The event is an initiative under the new European Commission High Level Forum on Standardisation and will feature speakers from the European Commission, national standardisation bodies and companies such as Ireland’s SoapBox Labs.

The use of AI in the EU will be regulated by the upcoming AI Act, which has been described as the world’s first comprehensive AI law. Becoming more familiar with that piece of legislation is a recommended step for all Irish organisations, says Marita Kinsella, Head of Innovation Policy and Business Development with NSAI. She said: “To successfully implement the AI Act, it’s critical for organisations and businesses in Ireland to know what practical implications the AI Act will have for them and also importantly, how they can help influence the development of future standards around AI.”

Earlier this year, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond T.D. and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary T.D., launched the AI Standards and Assurance Roadmap with the NSAI.

The roadmap is a key deliverable under Ireland’s National AI Strategy and is a significant step in ensuring that Ireland is at the forefront of change. Its aim is to support Irish enterprises and organisations in embracing AI safely and ethically, through utilising AI standards that are published and in development.

“All types of organisations, such as state agencies, businesses, non-governmental organisations and academic bodies, are encouraged to contribute to the development of future international AI standards,” said Kinsella.

She added: “In Ireland, for example, organisations can engage with our national committee or can have their say on draft standards through the ‘Your Standards, Your Say’ portal on the NSAI website.”

The webinar on November 24th runs from 10am to 12pm, Central European Time, and bookings can be made through the Danish Standards’ website at https://www.ds.dk/da/ydelser/kurser/future-eu-legislation-on-ai-and-the-important-role-standards-play