Tag: rate

HAYLOU Solar Lite 2 Smartwatch Review

The Haylou Solar Lite 2 is a major leap forward from its predecessor, shifting from a budget “basic” tracker to a more premium-feeling smartwatch. While the original Solar Lite was known for its simplicity and TFT screen, the Solar Lite 2 introduces a vibrant AMOLED display and Bluetooth calling while maintaining a sleek profile.

Having tested many watches in this price bracket the Solar lite 2 comes pack with more features than others at this pricepoint giving it a more favourable look of others and like many watches in this price tier they do not offer bluetooth calling where the Haylou Solar Lite 2 does which is a sought feature for those on a budget.

Haylou’s main pitch for the Solar Lite 2 is its 9.8mm ultra-thin design. It feels noticeably lighter and less bulky on the wrist than most competitors in this price bracket.

It features a high-gloss polished zinc alloy frame that gives it a more “executive” look compared to the matte plastic feel of the first generation.

It has been upgraded to 1ATM, meaning it handles splashes and rain much better, though it is still not a dedicated deep-diving watch.

The display  is the star of the show here. with a 1.43-inch AMOLED: Moving away from the 240×240 TFT of the original, the Solar Lite 2 features a 466×466 resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate. It is fast an smooth.

Colors are punchy, and the blacks are deep. It also supports Always-On Display (AOD), which was a major missing feature in previous “Lite” models.

Key Features & Performance

  • Bluetooth Calling: You can now make and receive calls directly from your wrist. The speaker is surprisingly clear for the price, though it struggles in windy outdoor environments.

  • Health Tracking: It utilizes a new self-developed algorithm for more accurate heart rate and $SpO_2$ monitoring. It also includes 24/7 stress tracking and female health management.

  • Fitness: With over 150 sports modes (up from 100), it covers almost any activity. It also syncs directly with Strava, which is a huge win for runners and cyclists who don’t want to be locked into the Haylou Fun app.

Battery Life

Despite the power-hungry AMOLED screen, Haylou has optimized the battery system:

  • Typical Use: ~12 days.

  • Heavy Use (AOD on, frequent calls): ~5–7 days.

  • Extended Battery Mode: Up to 30 days.

Is it worth it?

At roughly 40 euro, the Haylou Solar Lite 2 is one of the best value-for-money smartwatches on the market right now. It looks and feels like a watch twice its price. If you don’t need onboard GPS for running, this is a near-perfect daily driver.

Haylou Fun App

 

  • Slim Design That Feels Weightless

With a slim 9.8mm profile and a carefully balanced structure, Solar Lite 2 is designed to feel natural on the wrist from morning to night.The lightweight form minimizes physical and visual presence, allowing the watch to blend seamlessly into workouts, commutes, and relaxed moments.From the soft-touch strap to the overall ergonomics, every detail is shaped to reduce pressure, heat buildup, and distraction — so comfort stays effortless throughout the day.

 

  • A Display That Stays Clear, Indoors and Out

HAYLOU Solar Lite 2 features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a sharp 466×466 resolution and smooth high refresh rate, delivering vivid colors and refined details at a glance.Even under bright outdoor sunlight, users can easily read notifications, check data, and enjoy watch faces with exceptional clarity.

 

  • Sleep Smarter, Feel Better

Solar Lite 2 includes a sleep scoring feature designed to support everyday awareness of sleep habits.By offering simple feedback, it encourages users to pay more attention to rest and recovery.

 

Designed for everyday freedom, Solar Lite 2 delivers up to 17 days of battery life on a single charge, minimizing interruptions and reducing the need for frequent charging.With support for over 150 sports modes and 1ATM water resistance, it adapts easily to workouts, changing weather, and daily activities such as handwashing or light rain.Together, these features allow users to stay focused on movement, routine, and rest — without adjusting their day around the watch.

Smartwatch Essentials: HAYLOU Solar Lite 2

Product Type: Slim smartwatch for everyday wear

Design:9.8mm slim minimalist design

Display:1.43″ AMOLED display, 466×466 resolution

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4

Battery Life:Up to 17 days

Sports Modes:150 sports modes

Health Features:Sleep scoring and sleep stage analysis

Water Resistance: 1ATM

BUY

Other HAYLOU Reviews

Video Review

Honor GT 2 Faces Fierce Competition from OnePlus 15R

Honor has been one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers of 2025, especially when you look at their range’s screen quality and battery capacity. With that said, the OnePlus 15R is set to rival their latest release, the Honor GT 2, in every single way. Reports saying that the OnePlus 15R will be the first smartphone to have an 8300mAh glacier battery at launch, something that’s gone down very well with users.

A Bigger Focus on Performance and Power

The OnePlus 15R puts a big focus on performance and power. Representatives have said that the device is going to run efficiently all day long, without draining the battery too much, due to the design of the phone. 

One charge is enough to run the handset for a full day, with the power-saving mode and 100W SuperFast Charging feature that makes it easy to use your phone for anything you need, without worrying about it running out of battery. 

When you look at the Honor smartphone, which comes with an 8300mAh battery, it’s coupled with an 80w wired and wireless charging feature. OnePlus 15 has taken this and levelled it up, showing how they are set on dominating the smartphone sector. The 15R model of the OnePlus 15 is also going to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is great news for gamers.

Quality Displays and High Refresh Rates 

The OnePlus 15R also has a dynamic screen, with a 120FPS refresh rate. The phone also has an “always on” gameplay screen, which means the power-saving settings won’t activate when you’re in the middle of something. With a 165Hz refresh rate, playing more complex titles with advanced animations is a breeze. With games becoming more complex over time, bigger screens are becoming the norm, and help to make experiences more fluid. 

Games like chess or even solitaire really benefit from bigger screens, but at the same time, more graphics-intensive titles stand to benefit as well. This includes titles that tend to incorporate more advanced animations, like iGaming slots and Slingo online titles. These often use vibrant graphics and cascading animations, but use the format of a bingo card to create more hybrid experiences. So, even simpler titles like this not only benefit from phones with bigger screens, but also from phones that have more battery power.

It’s not just gamers that benefit from bigger phone screens, either. People who like to stream content from sites like Netflix will find that the quality of their footage isn’t just improved, but that they can also watch for longer without having to turn the phone brightness down or limit streaming quality. 

With the OnePlus 15R taking steps to accommodate the needs of modern-day entertainment, it’s safe to say that it’s proving to be fierce competition for the Honor GT 2. Even though the Honor GT 2 also has a 165Hz refresh rate, the faster charging rate of the OnePlus 15R really helps to complement the high power output the phone has to offer, so your phone not only lasts for longer, but it’s also faster to charge. With that said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Honor GT 2 release a faster-charging phone in the future, to stay competitive and relevent in the ever-changing mobile world.

CHERRY XTRFY INTRODUCES MAGNETIC SWITCH KEYBOARDS WITH TMR TECHNOLOGY

In time for CES 2026, CHERRY’s gaming peripherals brand CHERRY XTRFY announces its first keyboards with magnetic switches. Unlike manufacturers relying on Hall effect sensing, CHERRY uses tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) technology, delivering greater precision and significantly lower power consumption. For gamers, that means going wireless without sacrificing the performance or customisability of a magnetic keyboard.

“The demand for magnetic switch keyboards keeps growing, but with TMR, we’re taking it further. The MX 8.2 Pro TMR delivers ultra-fast wireless performance and everything users expect from a magnetic keyboard, but with higher precision and more flexibility. With hot-swap support for both magnetic and mechanical switches, the typing experience can be customized in more ways than ever. And this is just the beginning. We’re expanding the TMR lineup with the K5 Pro TMR keyboard this spring”, says Joakim Jansson, Director of Product Management at CHERRY.

CHERRY XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless. More than magnetic.

The MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless is a sturdy tenkeyless keyboard with an aluminium top frame and PBT keycaps. Inside, CHERRY MK Crystal Magnetic switches are powered by advanced TMR sensing, registering input with 0.01 mm precision. All with a smooth, linear typing feel.

Thanks to TMR’s efficiency, the keyboard runs wirelessly with an 8000 Hz polling rate. Reporting up to eight times every millisecond, it enables your computer to react faster to every keystroke.

With CHERRY MagCrate software, every keystroke is customisable, from actuation points to assigning multiple actions to a single key based on press depth or duration. It gives gamers the control and features needed to improve their play.

The keyboard also features dual hot-swap support, allowing you to switch between magnetic and mechanical switches across most keys. Built in a compact TKL layout, the MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless is designed for competitive gaming and everyday performance alike.

CHERRY XTRFY K5 Pro TMR. Magnetic precision in a compact format.

The K5 Pro TMR builds on the popular K5 keyboard – known for its high level of customisation – with a new magnetic switch setup. This corded model features CHERRY MK Crystal Magnetic switches with TMR sensing, offering improved precision and expanded customisability through CHERRY MagCrate software. With a compact 65% layout, it caters to gamers who prefer a smaller footprint.

In addition to the switch upgrade, the K5 Pro TMR raises the polling rate from 1000 Hz to 8000 Hz. The result is a performance-focused addition to the TMR series, complementing it with a new size and price point.

Availability and pricing.

The MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless will be launched on January 29th, with an RRP of £199,99.

The K5 Pro TMR Compact is scheduled to launch this spring, with pricing to be announced closer to the release date.

Further information on CHERRY XTRFY products can be found at cherry.de/en-gb and cherryxtrfy.com

Ireland ranks among Europe’s most affordable countries to start a business

For anyone thinking of going freelance or launching their own small business, new research from Europe’s second-largest neobank, bunq, reveals that Ireland is one of the most affordable countries in Europe to get started. Among the top 10 EU economies analysed, Ireland stands out as a highly attractive destination for entrepreneurs and digital nomads looking to kick off their next venture.

Low Entry Costs

Ireland saw a big boost in entrepreneurship in 2024, with 23,384 new businesses starting up – a 5.5% jump from the year before. That includes everything from limited companies to sole traders and partnerships. It was actually the second busiest year for new business registrations in over a decade – only 2021, right after the pandemic, saw more. A key factor behind this growth is Ireland’s low financial barriers that present a highly attractive environment for emerging business ventures. With a nominal fee of €50 charged by the Companies Registration Office (CRO) to register a business officially, combined with a €1 minimum capital requirement and an average business bank account setup cost of €7.17, Ireland remains a popular destination for entrepreneurs compared to other European countries giving self-starters a true head start.

Before professional advice and excluding tax advisor fees, potential staffing costs, and other overheads these mandatory government and basic setup costs total just €58.17 – which makes it on the third place in the European comparison, right after Greece and Portugal. Even though not legally required for setting up a business, the costs of tax advice in Ireland are fairly low with an average hourly rate of €50. By factoring in an average of 15 hours of tax support, the total projected costs for starting a business would increase to €808.17.

How Ireland Compares: A European Snapshot

While Greece (€287) and Portugal (€751) offer the lowest startup costs, Ireland’s total of €808.17 is competitive. In stark contrast are countries like Germany (€26.266) and Italy (€13.512), where LLC’s face significantly higher initial expenses, largely due to mandatory capital requirements. Notably, Ireland also compares favourably on the cost of essential tax advice (€750 for 15 hours), sitting well below countries like France (€3.300) and Austria (€3.000). For comparison, the UK’s post-Brexit startup costs are broadly similar, with a £50 registration fee and no minimum capital requirement, but business banking and tax advisory fees can run higher.

Ireland still tops the list with lowest tax rate

With its remarkably low corporation tax rate of 12.5%, Ireland offers an unbeatable advantage for businesses aiming to set up within the EU. This rate is notably the lowest in the study and compares very favorably to the UK’s tiered tax system, which varies from 19% to 25% based on profits. This factor, combined with the low initial setup costs, positions Ireland as a hidden gem for startups and expanding companies.

Bianca Zwart, Chief Strategy Officer at bunq, comments on the research: “Starting something new takes courage, but where you start can make all the difference. Our research shows that in the right environment – like Ireland’s – ambition meets opportunity in a very real, tangible way.”

New Irish business AgeLess unveils affordable metabolic age testing and data-led longevity solutions

AgeLess is a new Irish business operated by siblings, Daniel & Elizabeth O’Mahony. With over twenty years’ experience in the property and investment industries, the pair combined their business acumen with their passion for health and wellbeing to bring AgeLess to life for clients
AgeLess was created to make longevity testing accessible to the masses by offering affordable tests starting from just €80. These tests enable clients to take control of their health, empowering them with the raw data they need to maximise life longevity. Knowledge is the currency of the 21st century and what could be more valuable than knowledge about one’s own health trajectory.
So, what exactly is Longevity?
Longevity isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better. For those new to this space, VO₂ max and RMR testing provide clients with a deeper understanding of their fitness and metabolism. Once reserved for elite level athletes it is now widely recommended for everyone to test their VO₂ max annually at the very least. The higher a VO₂ max result, the more efficiently heart and lungs deliver oxygen to working muscles—and the more resilient one is against age-related decline.
The longevity industry as a whole is growing on a global level. With sports stars such as David Beckham, Tour de France Winner Chris Froome and Ultra Endurance Athlete Killian Jornet all fans of the VO₂ max test, reaffirming it as the gold standard test worldwide in predicting life longevity, with higher levels linked to lower mortality risks. However, elite athletes are not the only people who can benefit from longevity testing, with celebrities such as The Kardashians having previously discussed testing for their “biological ages” on their TV show also.
So, how does AgeLess work?
The tests on offer at AgeLess give clients the chance to discover their biological age, getting a view of health trajectory for years to come. Performing these tests and knowing personalised data is the key to unlocking longevity. There are three options available to clients at the new Sandyford premises, which include:
  • VO₂ Max Assessment & Performance Analysis: The AgeLess VO₂ Max test measures a client’s maximum oxygen uptake, providing a gold-standard assessment of cardiovascular fitness, endurance capacity and is the greatest predictor of longevity. By analysing how efficiently a client’s body utilises oxygen during exercise, this test helps optimise training, track progress, enhance performance and get key insights into the next steps on a client’s longevity journey. Whether a client is an athlete looking to maximise efficiency or simply aiming to improve overall long-term health, a VO₂ Max test offers valuable data needed to reach health milestones. Priced at €110.
  • Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Analysis: The AgeLess Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test provides a precise measurement of how many calories a client’s body burns at rest, giving essential insights into metabolism. This data helps tailor a client’s nutrition and training plan for optimal weight management, athletic performance, and overall health. Using advanced metabolic analysis, the team at AgeLess determines each client’s unique energy needs, helping them to make informed decisions about calorie intake and lifestyle adjustments. Whether your goal is weight loss, muscle gain, or improving performance, an RMR test is the key to unlocking a personalised and science-backed approach to health. Priced at €80.
  • Longevity Bundle – VO₂ Max Testing & RMR: The longevity bundle combines the Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and VO₂ Max tests for a comprehensive analysis of a client’s metabolism and cardiovascular health. This dual assessment provides a complete picture of how a client’s body burns calories at rest and during exertion, helping clients fine-tune their nutrition, training, and lifestyle for long-term health, longevity, and peak performance. Whether clients are focused on weight management, athletic performance, or simply enhancing overall well-being, this bundle delivers personalised data needed to make informed, science-backed decisions. Priced at €150.
The data collected enables clients to embrace and enjoy exercise rather than fear it. For example, it allows clients to see how long they will be able to perform physical activities of varying intensity levels. From tennis to golf to marathon training, there’s an ideal level and path for every activity, and the results from the tests at AgeLess help clients understand how to maximise their health so they can keep doing what they love for as long as possible.
On the launch of AgeLess, Daniel O’Mahony, co-founder, says “Longevity, health and fitness is a huge passion of mine. Like many millennials I spent a lot of my twenties not thinking about long-term health. However, in recent years I started taking exercise more seriously and became an avid runner. I have now run dozens of marathons and ultra marathons, including some of the most challenging in the world. I took part in the Marathon des Sables in 2021. It’s 250km across the Sahara Desert over six days, and a real endurance test and I was delighted to finish in the top 100. Taking inspiration from my personal fitness journey into my career just made sense. Looking at how understanding health trajectory earlier can ultimately impact our lifespan or even quality of life, it was surprising to me that people weren’t more invested in finding out more about their long-term health, but the tools aren’t readily available. AgeLess fills that gap with assessments that are easy for the client to take part in.”
Fellow AgeLess co-founder, Elizabeth O’Mahony, says “Like Daniel, thinking about health long-term isn’t something most of us do when we’re a bit younger, but becoming a parent I became increasingly aware of my own health and wellbeing. Myself, my husband and two kids like to keep active as a family. While weekends are generally busy with the kids activities we like to get outdoors as a family and in particular go for a hike, and of course, Ireland is a great place to live with endless options for trails to explore. When it comes to AgeLess, I wanted to combine my own business experience with my growing interest in longevity. Daniel and I have worked together in our family business for many years, so diving into a new venture together that includes a shared interest was a no brainer. I think it’s important to create awareness that an understanding of health and longevity is for everyone, not just athletes but for people of all ages and fitness levels, including busy mums like myself. I recently began running and I am looking forward to taking part in the woman’s VHI 10km for the first time this year. Understanding our own health and how to maximise personal capabilities is personal futureproofing and something we are excited to offer at AgeLess.”
AgeLess is mainstreaming longevity testing and making it accessible and transparent for clients. Following the easy to understand yet detailed results, AgeLess recommends partner personal trainers, nutritionists and physiotherapists tailored to the client’s needs. The business is rooted in preventative healthcare at a time when people are looking to live long and age strong.
For more information about AgeLess or to book an appointment, please visit www.AgeLessvo2.ie.

First Look emporia WATCHjoy Smartwatch

The emporia WATCHjoy Smartwatch is their latest product to hit their portfolio of elder friendly devices and good to see them building a nice ecosystem of products

Not that this is just for those who are already entrenched in their ecosystem anyone can use this watch and can be used with both Android and iOS devices via FitCloudPro app which for me is a familiar simple to use app with no complicated menu structures to endure which is akin to their mobile phones we are also familiar with.

Presentation is nice here and again a simple one but making a statement at the same time, out of the box I like the design and build quality of the Smartwatch and it looks good to in both flavours on offer, for now we will be taking a quick first look and if you have any  questions over the next few weeks feel free to ask and come back for the full hands on review. Check out the unboxing below.

Features

  • Screen size: 1.43-inch AMOLED display
  • Screen resolution 466×466 pixels
  • Battery capacity: 380 mAh
  • Stand-by time: 30 days
  • Runtime: 5-10 days

Practical functions such as training recording, heart rate measurement, high heart rate warning, blood oxygen measurement, sleep monitoring, weather forecast, music control, stopwatch, timer and many more make this smartwatch the ideal everyday companion!

 

  • Chipset: Realtek8763EW-VP
  • Memory: Flash 128 MB
  • Sensors: HX3605
  • The watch strap is removable
  • Can be connected to Android and IOS
  • Companion app for the smartwatch, Infowear available in the Google Play Store and the App Store
  • Gesture control possible
  • Reminder to exercise if you don’t move enough
  • Multi-sport mode for all kinds of outdoor sports such as running, cycling, walking and many more
  • Mobile phone search function to find the misplaced mobile phone
  • Notification of phone calls and messages
  • Do not disturb mode available
  • Bluetooth 5.0

BUY

See our emporia reviews

Unboxing video

Efficient Data Retrieval: Optimizing API Requests for Developers

In today’s software development atmosphere, there is a lot of integration and the need to pull information from different external sources. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) help different software systems to communicate, thus making it easy to fetch information when needed. However, developers also have to remember that API requests should be executed very efficiently to maintain the performance of the system. This article provides a clear explanation of how APIs make accessing and collecting information much easier. It will also look at the use of a curl get request and how it can be used for data retrieval.

What is API?

API allows communication between two programs and provides the logic that will operate between them. It also provides a blueprint for software applications, as it stipulates rules regarding the usage of various software.

Significance of Maximizing Data Extraction from APIs

Providing strategies for faster data retrieval from APIs is critical for system performance, minimizing the waiting time, and for effective use of resources by putting them to the most efficient use. Developers face unforeseen costs regarding data usage because of inefficient API adoption, which increases the data retrieval duration and the total volume of data that will be retrieved. 

Best Practices In Requesting And Cascading The Management Of Queries

It is essential to learn and understand as many best practices as possible, especially when optimizing API requests.

Grasp the API Endpoints and Parameters

In making API requests, developers have to do due diligence on the provided endpoints and parameters. A friendly approach towards how API structure works and how data is drawn makes the data calling more reliable.

Apply Relevant HTTP Methods

For prompt and effective data extraction, it is very important to select the appropriate HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) that support the expected activity. GET requests are most efficient in pulling data out, while POST and PUT requests are used to put in or change the data, respectively.

Make Use of Pagination for Big Data Acquisition

In retrieving bigger data sets, pagination helps the developer obtain the data in a few divisions. This ensures that the system is not stressed and that data is processed more effectively.

Make Use of Suitable Authentications

Authentication methods can help combat data threats and prevent data tampering. Therefore, developers need to utilize effective authentication methods, starting with APIs and moving on to OAuth. 

Reasonable Error Handling and Retries

Mistake management and risk assessment have been termed core components in the rendering of API requests. By applying sound error handles and reattempt requests, there’s an improved chance of obtaining data in the event of intermittent errors.

Things to Note in Dealing with Large Datasets

When handling large amounts of data, certain practices will ensure that retrieval is done optimally and efficiently.

Enable Data Streaming for Large Size of Information Carriage

With the use of a data streaming system, developers can send and process data at the same time and minimize the amount of memory utilized.

Use Data Compression Approaches

Data transfers, which involve compressive approaches, reduce the size of the transferred data, thereby optimizing the bandwidth and speed of retrieval of data transfer.

Managing Rate Limit Policy

API rate limiting policies must be respected to avoid violating the terms of abuse of third-party APIs and ceasing to obtain additional data.

Keep an Eye on the API Rate Limit and Respect It

Developers need to monitor and observe the policy’s provisions regarding API usage to preempt any halting of services or blocking of APIs. Adhering to rate limits encourages good business ethics from data providers and guarantees active data flow.

Make Use of Exponential Backoff

Exponential backoff is a programming practice that postpones further attempts to process requests after repeated rate limits, preventing servers from being flooded or throttled. By adopting strategies such as adding request parameters into the exponential backoff requests, request retries can be efficiently and effectively managed.

Investigate the Frequency of Requests and Tweak for Each API

Developers can also study the frequency with which requests are made and when those requests are unnecessary so that data can be fetched more intelligently rather than making too many API calls. By tweaking request frequency, developers will make systems more effective and data access processes more efficient.

The incursion of cURL GET Request

cURL is an efficient command line application designed to transfer data with URLs and multiple protocols which comes in handy for executing API calls in a command terminal.

Benefits of cURL for Fast Data Access

With cURL making all necessary send and receive operations as APIs, communication requests become unnecessary. This is very convenient for developers seeking to improve the efficiency of processes requiring data access.

In Conclusion

Developers looking to maximize how a system is operating and improve user satisfaction must focus on how data is retrieved from the system. Implementing various strategies like knowing API’s endpoints, figuring out how to handle large volumes of data, decreasing the time to completion, popularizing limiting rate features, and using tools like cURL make the process better. Apply these optimization strategies to improve your data access methods and enhance performance in your software development lifecycle.

 

Indeed on CSO unemployment: Unemployment rate increases to 4.3%

The main unemployment rate was 4.3% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, up from 4.2% in February of this year and up from 4.1% in March 2023. There was an increase of 9,400 in the seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed in March 2024 compared with a year earlier. 

Jack Kennedy, senior economist at global jobs platform Indeed, comments on the latest CSO data:

“The main unemployment rate was 4.3% in March, up from the 4.2% recorded in February and compared to 4.1% in March 2023.

The latest figure remains down from the 4.6% recorded in January though and is lower than rates seen in the second half of 2023.

Overall, the Irish labour market remained resilient in Q1 and barring any other major shocks to the economy, the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive, although it is possible that there will be some further modest softening.

Irish job postings on Indeed were down to 14% above pre-pandemic levels at the end of March. This compares to 17% at the end of February 2024 and 22% in January. This is also down from a high of 65% recorded in February 2022. We expect to see job postings continue to gradually recede to levels similar to those prevailing before the pandemic. 

Wage growth in Ireland continues to hold steady and was at 4.1% year-on-year at the end of February. This reflects the ongoing pressure employers are under to recruit and retain staff at a time when the cost of living remains high, but may ease somewhat later this year if the labour market continues to soften and cost-of-living pressures ease further.  

For now, however, employees are likely to continue to press for pay rises despite signs that the inflation rate is falling amid lower energy and food prices. The latest CSO figures showed the annual inflation rate in Ireland fell below the euro zone target of 2% for the first time in almost three years after slowing to 1.7% in March.

This is good news for hard-pressed households and offers some relief, but it is likely to take time before they feel the real impact, especially as government energy and fuel supports have either ended or are about to end later this month. Many households may also require reductions in the European Central Bank’s key interest rate before regaining full confidence in their financial position and ability to spend.”

Digital Wallets: The Key to Improving Your Payment Conversion Rate

In the modern era, digital wallets facilitate expedited and secure transactions across various digital domains—within applications, on the web, or in the physical world. These wallets safeguard your financial particulars, including credit card and debit card credentials, obviating the need for repetitive data entry with each transaction. This streamlines your experiences, saving you both time and the vexation of redundancy while concurrently augmenting your prospects of recompense. In this article, we shall delve into the profound impact digital wallets wield in amplifying the conversion rate of financial transactions. We’ll also give tips on how to use digital wallets for a more significant proportion of your payments.

What Is a Digital Wallet?

One can conduct transactions on the internet, in physical settings, and within applications utilising digital wallets—an ingenious software solution tasked with the stewardship of your financial information, encompassing data linked to credit or debit cards. Digital wallets are commonly denoted as mobile wallets, e-wallets, or e-purses.

How do Digital Wallets Work?

When creating a digital wallet, you must submit your payment data, such as your credit card or debit card information. Your bank account or your PayPal account are additional potential payment options. You may use your digital wallet to make purchases by simply scanning a QR code or placing your phone on a payment terminal once your payment information has been submitted.

How Can Digital Wallets Increase the Rate of Successful Payment Conversion?

Digital wallets can increase payment conversion rates in several ways. The top few are listed below:

 

  • Convenience: Using digital wallets to pay for goods and services is simple and handy for customers. This may result in fewer shopping cart abandonments and improved conversion rates.
  • Security: Digital wallets employ security measures like tokenization and encryption to protect user data. Customers may be inspired to utilise digital wallets as a result of helping to establish their confidence.
  • Speed: Using a digital wallet can make checkout quicker. This is particularly crucial for mobile payments because clients are frequently impatient and want quick, straightforward payment options.
  • Acceptance: An increasing number of retailers now accept digital wallets. Customers may now use their digital wallets to make payments wherever they buy.

How to Raise the Amount of Payments You Receive Using Digital Wallets?

If you want to boost the percentage of purchases made using digital wallets, you can take a few steps to ensure your website or app is prepared. Here are the following suggestions:

 

  • Put a big “Pay with Digital Wallet” button on your website: Give customers a simple way to access the “Pay with Digital Wallet” button. Your checkout page should prominently feature this button.
  • Ensuring compatibility with various digital wallets holds significance as these platforms diverge in functionality. Ensure you acknowledge a spectrum of e-wallets, encompassing Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
  • Streamline the checkout process for optimal efficiency: The objective is to make the checkout process as swift and uncomplicated as feasibly achievable. Use a one-page checkout form and cut out any further procedures to do this.
  • Promote the safety of your digital wallet payments by informing clients that doing business with you is safe. This can be achieved by providing security statements or logos on your checkout page.

Conclusion

Paying for goods and services is simple and secure using digital wallets. By facilitating a quicker and simpler checkout procedure and fostering client trust, they can aid in raising the payment conversion rate. Ensure your website or app is designed for mobile wallets to increase the conversion rate of payments.