Tag: #uk

Jabra research shows more than three-quarters of UK office workers don’t use AI

Jabra, a global leader in enterprise audio and video solutions, reveals that while UK leaders (70%) have strong levels of trust in AI, very few UK office workers (23%) are using it in their daily roles, or even their personal lives (25%). This disconnect suggests that even though leaders are optimistic about AI’s potential, they may yet lack the necessary vision or skills to effectively implement it across the workforce. 

The study, conducted among 1,800 AI decision makers surveyed across 6 countries and 4,200 employees from 14 countries, highlights that despite strong enthusiasm for AI, there is a clear disconnect between trust in the technology and its actual use in the workplace.  

In the UK, 84% of UK decision-makers express strong interest in AI. The UK is among the top countries with highest intent to plan additional budget for AI (53%) alongside Germany, with India leading the way followed by Japan. This is above the global average (49%). 

Nearly two-thirds of decision-makers (64%), along with 46% of employees, believe AI can improve their work. Yet, the vast majority (83%) of leaders acknowledge that they need to better understand the workplace benefits and how AI can improve efficiency. Nearly half of employees (47%) see AI as a buzzword used by every company at the moment.  

This lack of understanding has left many business leaders in a ‘wait and see’ phase – engaging in much discussion but taking little concrete action. 

Without a well-defined roadmap, employees are struggling to understand how AI will be integrated into their daily tasks and the broader company strategy. More than a third of UK employees are afraid that AI is coming for their job (37%).  

Jabra’s study reveals additional challenges and demographic considerations that are hindering adoption of AI:   

  • 85% UK of employees wouldn’t trust AI for tasks that require creativity and innovation. This reluctance isn’t just about trust, it’s also about the satisfaction that comes from being personally involved in these tasks that are considered more meaningful. 
  • Globally, there’s a clear generational divide in AI adoption, with 47% of Millennials and 37% of Gen Z indicating they feel positive about AI versus only 15% of Boomers. Adoption wise, 28% of Millennials and Gen Z use AI day to day at work, versus just 15% of Boomers.  
  • Around the world, AI decision-makers are relatively young – 58% are between the ages of 18 and 39 – and 71% are not from the IT department.  

 

Paul Sephton, Head of Brand Communications at Jabra, said: “We see many UK organisations eager to jump on the AI wave, but some are still dancing in the dark when it comes to effective implementation and meaningful use. As tools rapidly shift toward voice-driven input rather than text alone, it’s crucial for organisations to recognise how this evolution will change our interactions with AI and enhance productivity.” 

“To avoid what we call “AI-washing” – simply jumping on the AI bandwagon – organisations must carefully evaluate the productivity gains that AI can offer and actively involve their employees in this journey. AI’s implementation must be thoughtful – it’s not just there to enhance productivity, but to foster a more connected and capable workforce, driving innovation and collaboration at every level.” 

Read more and download full report here:   

https://www.jabra.com/thought-leadership/ai-at-work

See our Jabra reviews 

Aiden: Fellow’s super-cool coffee machine launches in UK

Fellow, the speciality beverage gear company helping elevate everyday rituals into moments that matter, today announces the UK release of its first-ever drip coffee brewer, Aiden Precision Coffee Maker. Set to change the way at-home coffee is brewed, Aiden is designed for coffee lovers at every stage of their journey, seamlessly blending expert guidance with boundless opportunities for personal coffee exploration.

“Automatic drip coffee has a reputation problem – whether serving a crowd or managing only a few moments of free time, the trade-off for many has been either bad coffee or no coffee at all,” said Jake Miller, Founder and CEO of Fellow. “We designed Aiden to solve this problem. Even the busiest people no longer have to choose between their time and phenomenal coffee.”

Working quickly and at scale, Aiden automatically dials in the most important variables for brewing café-quality coffee at home, coupled with an awe-inspiring design and unmatched convenience.

Key benefits include:

  • Barista-quality coffee (at home): Aiden delivers pour-over quality coffee to ‘favourite café’ quality with to-the-degree temperature control, even water distribution, and a built-in bloom cycle (i.e. pre-wetting the grounds) for a smooth, balanced cup every time.
  • Style & substance: Aidens sleek, contemporary style and prime functionality elevates any kitchen countertop. It features a stainless steel, double-walled wide-mouth carafe (to drink now or later), nearly silent brewing capabilities, a silicone lid seal to eliminate steam from hitting the underside of kitchen cabinets, and a detachable water tank for easy refilling.
  • Unrivalled convenience & guidance: Aiden simplifies making great coffee – with brewing and dose guidance along the way. Whether a coffee brewing beginner or expert, Aiden guides someone through every step to making delicious coffee all from their phone – including selectable water quantity, personalisable brew grind profiles for different roast levels, in-advance brew scheduling, and more.

Founded in 2013 Fellow has won many renowned awards and accolades, including the Specialty Coffee Association Awards, the Red Dot Design Award, and the Dezeen Awards.

For more information on Aiden’s technical specs, please seehere.

Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is now available to pre-order for £365 from Coffee Merch and in-store at Harrods and Selfridges. Customers can enjoy peace of mind with a two-year standard warranty.

For more details, visitwww.fellowproducts.com.

New research reveals high usage of ChatGPT in Irish workplaces

ChatGPT is a more popular and widely used generative AI (GenAI) tool in Ireland than in the UK, a recent study of senior key decision makers in the UK & Ireland has revealed.

The study, conducted earlier this year by Coleman Parkes Research Ltd. and commissioned by SAS, surveyed 200 UK & Ireland GenAI strategy and data analytics decision-makers to pulse check major areas of investment and the hurdles organisations are facing around the technology.

It asked questions about organisations’ current plans to deploy GenAI, how the technology is integrated into their strategic planning, and what challenges they are facing. Find out more by reading the report entitled Generative AI Challenges and Potential Unveiled: How to Achieve a Competitive Advantage.

The research found that ChatGPT is by far the most popular GenAI tool in Ireland, with 29% of those who use GenAI in their professional lives saying it is the tool they used most often in the workplace. Meanwhile, other tools, such as DALL-E 2 and Jasper, were only used by 4% of respondents.

ChatGPT was also the most used tool in the UK, with 10% of respondents saying they use it in the workplace. However, Google AI was not far behind, with 8% of respondents selecting it as their preferred tool.

Proprietary/closed source large language model (LLM) was found to be the most common approach to adopting LLMs in Ireland, with 27% of organisations having already done so. However, this was the least common approach in the UK, with only 11% having adopted this approach.

Instead, open source LLM is the most popular option in the UK, with 33% having already adopted this approach, compared to 24% in Ireland.

The study found that more organisations in Ireland are fully prepared to integrate GenAI (11%) than in the UK (7%), but data privacy is the greatest concern in both regions, with three-quarters of organisations in Ireland ranking it as their top worry.

Meanwhile, the biggest challenge in implementing effective governance and monitoring for GenAI is technological limitations in both the UK & Ireland, with 45% of organisations in Ireland ranking it as their top challenge, compared to 28% in the UK.

Despite this, 58% of organisations in Ireland plan to introduce GenAI over the next three years, with 31% of them aiming to do this within the next year. Adoption is expected across many departments, with marketing, sales, IT and finance the most common – a clear majority (75% and above) are either using or planning to use GenAI in these areas.

Customer engagement and personalisation is seen to be the greatest potential benefit of adopting GenAI, with over three-quarters of Irish organisations saying they believe improvements will be made to their organisation in this area.

However, UK organisations are less enthusiastic about the benefits of GenAI. Just over half (56%) believe that customer engagement and personalisation will be improved, while 50% think it will improve the accuracy of predictive analytics. For Ireland these percentages are 77% and 64% respectively.

Speaking on the findings, Jean De Villiers, Head of Analytics at SAS Ireland, said: “There are promising signs of innovation in Ireland, with more organisations saying they are fully prepared to integrate GenAI than in the UK. Our research shows senior key decision-makers in Ireland recognise the many benefits of GenAI, and are aware of the improvements that it can make to customer engagement, predictive analytics, and competitive edge.

“It would appear to be just a matter of time before more organisations in Ireland implement it, with over half planning to do so in the next three years. First, they must tackle the challenges that they are encountering, such as technological limitations, which are being seen more widely in Ireland than in the UK. We are looking forward to supporting our customers through their journey towards trustworthy AI and GenAI adoption, and assisting them in using our technology to achieve the positive outcomes they seek.”

The SAS study sets out a number of recommendations that organisations should follow to successfully deploy GenAI, including the four steps below:

  • Strategic deployment

  • Comprehensive governance

  • Technological integration

  • Expert guidance

SAS’ global report on GenAI adoption has also been published, which provides further guidance around best practices and strategic insights aimed at empowering businesses to harness the technology’s full potential, along with comparisons across key markets and industry sectors.

Find out more by reading the full global report here.

An Post Mobile Extends Market-Leading €12.99 Prepay Plan until October 31st

An Post Mobile, the value prepaid mobile network from An Post,  has extended its market-leading €12.99 mobile plan until October 31st. Plan benefits include 50GB of data, 500 any network minutes, 25GB EU and UK Roaming data and 300 minutes and texts to An Post customers all ‘locked in’ for life.  An Post Mobile operates on one of Ireland’s most reliable mobile networks, with unrivalled 99% 4G coverage nationwide ensuring An Post Mobile customers are always connected.
According to Amanda Campbell, Director at An Post Mobile “The average Irish mobile phone user consumes 13.6GB of data per month and our prepay plan has been designed with peoples actual usage in mind, offering 50GB of data which is three and a half times the average monthly usage. Inflation might be slowing but costs are still extremely high across the board for Irish consumers – this plan gives them everything they need and more at prices they can afford. The plan is easy to set up, with no set-up fees, bills, or contracts meaning our customers are always in control, with peace of mind that the €12.99 price is locked for life with no hidden fees or increases.”
‘Locked for Life’ Benefits
Includes 50GB of data and 500 any-network minutes in addition to 300 minutes and 300 texts with other An Post Mobile customers as well as 25GB EU & UK roaming data and 300 minutes. Customers can watch video content, listen to music, keep connected in their group chats, make Zoom calls, and browse Instagram and Twitter – all for €12.99 per month, for life.
Ease of topping-up
An Post mobile also makes topping hassle-free with their ‘Auto Top-Up’ option allowing customers to pick a day in the month when their account can be automatically topped up. This can be cancelled or changed anytime, and An Post is offering €10 free credit to customers on their first top-up.
Roaming Benefits
The plan ensures that customers can stay connected to loved ones overseas or when travelling abroad with 25GB EU and UK Roaming data and 300 minutes included in the deal. If required customers can also easily add on international minutes to their plan with 100 international minutes available for €5, or 400 international minutes for €15.
Customer Care
An Post Mobile customers have quick and easy access to An Post’s Dublin-based Customer Care experts by phone, email or Web Chat should they need help with their plan or handset with support and advice also available through the extensive Post Office network.
The €12.99 sim-only preplan is available as a limited offer until October 31st online or at any of the 900+ post offices across the country, open 6 days a week.
Further information about this plan and other An Post mobile plans on AnPost.com/Mobile.
An Post also offer a suite of mobile handsets which can be ordered in all post offices nationwide.

New Name Enters UK Connectivity Arena – Sona Business

A new name has officially entered the UK connectivity arena, promising to shake-up the sector and ‘raise the game’ of integrated network communications.

Sona Business is a wholesale internet, cloud and hosted UC solution provider backed by a 12-year international pedigree. The ambitious company is opening flagship offices in Hull to spearheaded UK activities led by experienced industry professional and new UK Partner Manager John McKindland.

The privately owned business was started by founders Sonia Harjani and Walter Perris, with global operations centred from Dubai and Rotterdam – supported by data centres across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

High Calibre

“Sona is on a mission to shake-up the market and forge a strong UK presence based on high calibre connectivity and speed of service through a personal touch. Our core areas are connectivity, communication, cloud and mobility,” Sonia explained.

Sona’s wide-ranging portfolio includes hosted UC, SD-WAN and private cloud services, offering ‘last mile’ access and data connections across the UK and Europe. Sona enjoys a strong market presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, supported by a 24/7/365 Global Network Operations Centre.

Sonia added: “There’s a lot of untapped resource and potential based on exceptional network infrastructure. Everything is in place to make a much bigger market impact and provide customers with unrivalled levels of product and service.”  

Sona provides real-time data, video and voice communication solutions over IP based on the brands of EziData, EziMobile, EziPBX, EziRoam, EziSIP, EziSMS and EziTalk. 

“The UK has taken great strides forward in recent years but in many ways they are still lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of network performance. We want to raise the game and provide more choice,” Walter emphasised.

Sona Business Founders Walter Perris and Sonia Harjani

“We are a complete one-stop-shop with a global reach. Equally the short lines of communication with after-sales, helps us stand out from the competition. We are reachable, caring and professional. In many ways we hold the same importance as a utility provider and recognise that speed of service really matters.”

Building Blocks

He concluded: “We are an ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified company, and our vision is to become the leading provider of advanced IP communications solutions to businesses around the world. We are committed to providing cutting edge technology services to make sure our clients are connected on a secure and extensive network.”

John boasts almost four decades of industry experience which spans military telecoms, hardware manufacturers, networks and distribution.

He pointed out: “I needed a role to challenge me from the ground up. To launch a very established product set into the UK to a select number of partners, brick by brick; a bit like a Lego set. It’s an ideal scenario for me.

“We are a very nimble and adaptable business with high levels of availability. We’re always there when customers need us. Delivering faster, more cost effective and profitable services. The future is bright and we’re all looking forward to putting Sona firmly on the UK map.”

CitySwift announces latest UK partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester

CitySwift, leader in performance optimisation for the public transport sector across the globe, has partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), local government body responsible for transport in the Manchester region. This partnership looks to power the future of Manchester’s public transport network through the use of AI and data.

This move makes TfGM the first franchised transport authority in the UK to utilise AI to deliver more reliable, frequent and quicker bus journeys, building on the Greater Manchester Bus Strategy announced last year. The plans laid out in this report highlight Greater Manchester’s vision for the future bus network, aiming to make buses the first choice for more journeys within the Bee Network.

The strategy sets an initial target of a 30% increase in bus patronage by 2030 from 2022/23 levels, equating to nearly 50 million additional bus journeys annually. This growth will be driven by improvements such as a more integrated, user-friendly, and frequent network, and better infrastructure for reliable bus journeys, with CitySwift playing a key role in this transition.

Founded in 2016 by Brian O’Rourke and Alan Farrelly, CitySwift’s performance optimisation platform gives operators and transport authorities insights, recommendations, and predictions, supporting them in the delivery of efficient, reliable and in-demand services.

CitySwift empowers public transport authorities and operators to achieve unparalleled efficiency by leveraging advanced analytics, simulations, and optimisations. With its easy-to-use industry-leading technology, CitySwift envisions a future where public transport is the travel mode of choice for all people.

Speaking on today’s announcement, Brian O’Rourke, CEO and Co-founder of CitySwift said “The goals and vision set out in the Great Manchester Bus Strategy speak clearly to our mission at CitySwift – grow patronage with frequent and more reliable buses.. I am thrilled that we’re partnering with TfGM, supporting them in achieving this goal through our transport data-solutions, as we continue to build the smart cities of the future.”

 

Through this partnership, TfGM will have access to CitySwift’s performance data across the entire Bee Network, helping to identify trends and pain points such as traveller destinations and service performance, allowing them to recognise where improvements should be made to benefit passengers. Additionally TfGM will leverage CitySwift’s latest product offering, Spotlight, a globally leading intelligent recommendation engine for bus network enhancements.

Designed for stakeholders, the product enhances decision-making by providing AI-powered insights into performance and resource parameters like timeliness, cost, and vehicle numbers through scanning the whole network, executing optimisation variations, and proposing ROI improvements.

Catherine Towey, Senior Lead for Bus Franchising at TfGM said: “Customers are at the heart of the Bee Network and by working with CitySwift we will be able to see more clearly than ever how services are performing. We can then use this information prioritise improvements and deliver a better service for passengers.”

Powered by AI data processing, CitySwift optimises over 1 billion passenger journeys annually, working with public sector transport authorities and private bus operators to break down the barriers to accessing and interpreting transport data, replacing manual analysis with reliable, actionable insights. This solution enhances efficiency, benefiting drivers, passengers, partners, and cities, whilst remaining human-centric throughout.

This news follows a series of other partnerships for the data transportation company across the UK, including National Express, Transport North East, Transdev Blazefield, and trentbarton. Since its inception, CitySwift has grown to have a presence across the UK, US and its home territory of Ireland, covering transport networks in all major UK cities.

Meet the AirB&B of EV charging – Plugable lets people rent out their EV chargers in Manchester and Liverpool

Plugable, the community-driven technology platform that unlocks access to the UK’s vast network of private EV chargers, is launching its EV charger sharing pilot in Northwest UK. The pilot, starting in June, follows a successful launch in Ireland and aims to make EV charging more reliable and affordable for EV drivers without private home chargers.

Plugable allows EV drivers to book affordable and reliable charging slots at local hosts’ homes, or destination chargers at private business, offering a reliable and convenient alternative to complement public charging infrastructure. Despite a 30% increase in public EV charging stations in the UK, the majority of the 60,000 public charge points are concentrated in Southeast England, creating regional disparities. In contrast, an estimated 700,000 private charge points across the country remain largely untapped. Plugable is making this extensive network more accessible, helping more people during the switch to electric vehicles.

Maebh Reynolds, Founder and CEO of Plugable, said “Plugable is on a mission to provide access to the UK’s largest EV charging network by 2025, making charging accessible for everyone, everywhere. Our peer-to-peer network is coming to the UK to allow hosts to maximise the utilisation of their home chargers, earning passive income and supporting the wider EV community. By democratising access to EV charging, we aim to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.”

Through the Plugable app, users can find nearby EV chargers, book a convenient time slot, and enjoy lower rates compared to public chargers. Hosts set their own prices and availability, enabling them to earn passive income from their home charger when it’s not in use whilst supporting the EV community. Chargers and hosts signing up to the trial will receive a £25 bonus credit.

To participate in the trial, users in Manchester, Liverpool,Warrington, Wigan and Bolton are invited to download the free Plugable app and follow the instructions to take part. Pilot participants will then be asked to provide feedback via a survey to influence future improvements for the Plugable community.

Founded by Maebh Reynolds, Plugable was inspired by the experience of switching to an EV and facing charging challenges due to living in an apartment building. Harnessing her expertise in engineering and sustainability, Plugable was established to leverage idle home chargers, which are unused 80% of the time, to support the EV community during the net-zero transition.

As Plugable grows, it is set to expand its charging marketplace nationwide, including onboarding businesses, such as gyms and hotels, to join the platform and offer their destination EV chargers to the community. This expansion aims to further democratise access to EV charging.

For more information and to join the Plugable community, visit Plugable’s website or download the Plugable app.

www.goplugable.com

Download the Plugable app for iOS

Download the Plugable app for Android

Telefónica Tech supports encompass in the roll-out of digital patient records for the UK’s largest trust

Telefónica Tech UK&I has reached a significant milestone in its delivery of a five-year IT managed services contract to support encompass, the health and social care programme that is creating a single digital care record for every citizen who receives health and social care in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Trust, the largest of its kind in the UK, went live this month, replacing paper processes with the new digital patient record system. It follows the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which was the first Trust to Go-Live under the contract in November 2023, with encompass then rolling out across all Trusts in Northern Ireland over a two-year period.

Telefónica Tech, which employs 330 people in Belfast and has created 20 highly skilled and technically accredited locally-based jobs to support the work, is providing the specialist IT hosting and managed services strategic expertise required to underpin encompass.

This involved building and managing all of the back-end IT infrastructure, including for the hosting and deployment of Epic, the market-leading health record management software, and then supporting the roll-out to all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Ellen Dickson, VP, Enterprise Health Services at Telefónica Tech UK&I, said: “encompass is a transformational project from an operational and medical point of view, making Northern Ireland the first part of the UK where patients have a single integrated care record. It is a highly complex project and critical to the health and wellbeing of service users in Northern Ireland. It will require the highest levels of service to support the approximately 70,000 staff members who will use the system once it is implemented across all the Trusts. We are very proud to contribute to its implementation in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, and most recently in the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, the largest Trust of its kind in the UK.”

Dr. Dermot Hughes, the Senior Responsible Owner for the encompass programme, recognised the significant contributions of Telefónica Tech to the successful Go-Live at South Eastern and Belfast Trust: “Telefónica Tech have contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the Epic Platform in Northern Ireland. Their dedicated Healthcare focused team have brought experience and a collegiate partnership to the encompass programme. They have grown their Belfast based workforce and have done so by opening opportunities to all.”

Belfast-based Telefónica Tech UK&I has a dedicated team for enterprise health services and provides IT managed services to major health trusts across the UK and Ireland, including Cambridge University Hospitals Trust.

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

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

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

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

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

Market starving for automation

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

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

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

Unicorn-size market potential

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

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