Business
Enterprise Galway company’s app puts them on the crest of a wave
A Galway company’s software is revolutionising the way in which companies interact with their customers on mobile phone apps.
The creators of Element Wave, NUI Galway graduates Dorothy Creaven of Clare and James Harkin of Galway, are riding crest of a wave, having recently scooped top prize in the Small Firms Awards.
Leaving aside the technological jargon, Element Wave software, like the best innovations, is simple.
Mobile phone apps are used by a multitude of businesses to connect with their customers but the problem with them is users lose interest in them and stop using them.
Ms Creaven explained that it costs companies between $1 and $5 (US Dollars) to get people to download apps onto their mobile phones.
The apps allow businesses to market and advertise their wares but also make direct sales – so if someone has downloaded you app, you want to make sure they keep using it.
The problem with apps is interest in them wanes – it’s a crowded market – and research shows that after three months, 80% of people will stop using apps, explains Ms Creaven.
That’s where Element Wave technology comes in.
Using a type of push-notification – where messages pop up to the user through the app, like a text message – businesses are able to communicate directly with their customers who have downloaded the app.
The GAA is among the company’s clients – football and hurling fans who attended Croke Park for the various All-Ireland finals over the past month experienced first-hand the technology.
Several thousand supporters in the vicinity of Croke Park – and who had downloaded the GAA app – were sent ‘welcome to Croke Park’ messages through the app.
Another one of its clients is a bus company in Spain. The bus company’s clients download the app so they can go in and check if their bus is on time – this Element Wave technology allows the bus company to message the user directly to inform them if the bus is on time or delay etcetera.
Another aspect of Element Wave is analytics and it allows companies to track the app usage of the mobile phone users. So, for example, it can track what time most users are online and tailor the messages accordingly.
“For example, Starbucks can use it to announce a deal at a certain store. They can send out notification of a special offer of a free doughnut with every coffee to everyone who has downloaded the app within a certain area,” she says.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune
New President for Local Ireland
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
Connacht Tribune
Employers’ group hears of key challenges facing businesses in the region
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
Connacht Tribune
Survey finds one in five retailers in Galway want to go fully cashless
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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