Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference is an annual gathering for the Microsoft partner community to learn about Microsoft’s roadmap for the upcoming year, network and build connections, share best practices, experience the latest product innovations and learn new skills and techniques.
This will be Enterprise Ireland’s 3rd year attending the conference and we are excited to announce these Irish companies (below) will join the scene in Houston this July 7-11 to share their business-ready solutions with the Microsoft reseller channel. Watch this space!
accountsIQ is a Cloud Accounting software provider with offices in Dublin (IRL), London (UK), Palo Alto (US) and Sydney (AUS). We develop and support a highly functional Cloud accounting and business application delivered 24-7 from a SAS70 Type II compliant hosting facility. accountsIQ enables accountants and their clients to collaborate online to deliver significantly improved outsourced accounting and BPO services, whilst significantly reducing costs and improving productivity. It is ideal for franchises, groups and other multi-location businesses, without needing expensive IT infrastructure at either head office or each location. It handles full consolidation of results across multiple jurisdictions and currencies, allowing dynamic monitoring of all results as well as automation of the significant transactions flows between a group and its entities. It also provides extensive Web services integration capability, approval workflow, as well as powerful graphs and KPI reporting via user configurable dashboards and via a powerful refreshable Excel Add-in.
AppQuik Limited is focused on the development of high quality Enterprise Class Apps for our customers in the UK, US, and Ireland. With over 200 man years in development expertise we have extensive experience in developing solutions across the Microsoft solution stack. We have recently launched our App development platform (InfoApp Manager) which enables organisations of all sizes to design, build and deploy Apps across iOS, Android and Windows Phone8 simultaneously. This sophisticated platform also integrates with Microsoft SharePoint 2013 and Office365 allowing for content to be created and published directly to your mobile applications. Our in built forms designer allows App users to collect data using mobile forms and write the data back directly to SharePoint or third party systems instantly. Headquartered in Dublin we have offices in London and we are currently expanding into new geographic locations.
CareWorks is an international software company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with regional offices in the UK and US. It is one of only 20 Microsoft Dynamics CRM Global ISV Partners and the only one focused solely on serving the needs of the health and human services (HHS) community. CareDirector is CareWork’s highly configurable and extensible social care management solution built on Microsoft’s powerful Dynamics CRM platform. CareDirector improves HHS agencies’ service efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction, instantaneously transforming data into actionable information that informs services and improves outcomes. It allows resource-constrained organizations to easily configure the system with non-technical staff to satisfy both current and future business process, data collection, and reporting requirements, while accommodating end user preferences and benefiting from the lower total cost of ownership of a true COTS application.
CipherDocs provides users of cloud document collaboration services, including Office 365, secure and controlled access to their hosted corporate data. Our real-time encryption service enables Office 365 document users to eliminate all potential third party access, to secure data-in-use, data-in-transit and data-at-rest at all times control & meet all compliance needs. CipherDocs Secure Gateway can be hosted internally, in the cloud and can be accessed through mobile devices.
Global Business Register Ltd. is an Irish owned company founded in April 2007. Today we provide access to official, live data on over 55 million companies across the European Union and the United States, in 20 different languages. In essence, GBR provides a gateway to hundreds of millions of documents and data from the official government sources. GBR has created a number of products that are built on this real-time access to data. GBR SmartLogo is an intelligent management tool that allows the owner of an accreditation logo or mark to retain ownership and control of their logo even when the logo is displayed on third party websites. It is a “must have” tool for brand owners who wish to retain control of an accredited image or logo that has significant reputational value attached to it.
Established in 1994, and with offices in Dublin and Waterford, we provide Software, Infrastructure and IT Services to businesses of all sizes around Ireland. HCS are a Microsoft Gold Small Business Partner with specialities in Office 365, SharePoint Online and Exchange Online.
Established in 2002, iQuate is a privately owned company, with its HQ in Dublin, Ireland and regional offices in San Francisco and Sydney. iQuate is the global leader in IT inventory and discovery. We develop iQSonar – the most complete and accurate inventory technology available on the market today. This technology delivers complete, continual and accurate visibility of highly complex physical, virtual and cloud environments. Our verifiably accurate inventory improves the critical business decisions that control costs and mitigate risks.
The Isolearn mission is to provide student centered platforms to empower individuals to gain education and training in specific subject areas in any geographic part of the world. Isolearn is a Microsoft partner, and we have encrypted download and security distribution software. Isolearn has developed its content animation capacity with the establishment of in-house facilities in Poland and strategic partners on a contract basis in Dublin. Isolearn currently employs 25 persons in content development for its technical standards business. The company has partnered with the Confucius Institute in Ireland to animate, and securely offer online, their Chinese Language and Culture Education Program aimed at transition year students (5th year – Secondary School) in cross Ireland. It is planned to implement this vertical education program in 2014. Isolearn Technologies Ltd. is actively developing its content offering for mobile e-learning and, in 2013/2014, is intent on growing its customer base directly and in co-operation with relevant partners.
SAM360 is an independent dedicated provider of Software Asset Management “SAM” tools and services. Our cloud services help partners and end clients manage software licence compliance, eliminate software underutilization, optimise software procurement & improve IT operational effectiveness. SAM360 do not resell software & do not provide any non-SAM services. As such, we are uniquely placed to act as independent trusted advisors, delivering tangible results for both partners and end clients. These key differentiators have allowed SAM360 to deliver in excess of 100 on time & on budget SAM projects across a range of enterprise & upper mid-market customers in North America, the UK and Ireland over the last 12 months. Core service offerings Include software license baseline services, SAM program design & implementation, outsourced SAM, cloud based software inventory & software license management.
For more information on Enterprise Ireland, our attending companies and more please contact:
Ireland’s software industry recruiting software professionals in Spain
A clear demonstration of the strength of the Irish software industry, ten Irish owned software companies travelled to Madrid this week to meet with Spanish software professionals, in an effort to fill some of the 1500 vacancies in this indigenous sector.
Targeting English speakers with at least 3 years experience in software and an interest in moving to live and work in Ireland, It’s Happening Here (the recently launched umbrella brand for the Irish owned software industry) hosted a careers fair in central Madrid on Thursday September 27th. The interest shown and the high level of qualification of the 300 software professionals who attended the fair is an indication of the high regard in which the Irish software industry is held inSpain.
Finding IT talent is currently the single biggest challenge for Irish software companies. Strongly focused on exports the industry is one ofIreland’s fastest growing indigenous sectors delivering double digit growth in exports year on year. It is crucial to attract talent to the industry to ensure continued growth at this level. With a pool of experienced and highly qualified software professionals,Spainoffers a real solution. Spanish software developers and engineers have a very good reputation inIrelandand are highly sought after.
Speaking from Madrid this last week Jarlath Dooley, chair of the industry working group behind IT’s Happening Here and HR Director in Version 1 said:
The quality of software professionals we met here yesterday was excellent and this initiative has created a new and badly needed channel for our recruitment. We expect to recruit at least 8 of those we met yesterday alone and will continue to focus on Spain as a source of top quality personnel.’
‘Many Spanish people are aware of the innovative and creative nature of Irish software companies and their commitment to excellence. This initiative offers Spanish software professionals the opportunity to build their careers in some of the most exciting software development companies in the world and offers Irish companies the opportunity to continue to grow their technical teams. It is an excellent example of win-win collaboration between two European member states.’
IT’s Happening Here promotes career opportunities in Irish owned software companies. Acting as an umbrella brand for the industry which comprises over 600 companies, it aims to attract software professionals from across the globe to work in this dynamic sector. The current campaign is focused on recruiting for 1500 open vacancies. The vacancies are from graduate to director level and offer a unique working experience in a highly innovative environment of world class knowledge, creativity, diversity, and responsibility.
An initiative of the Irish indigenous software sector, IT’s happening Here is supported byEnterpriseIreland.
Build your career, balance your lifestyle and make an impact! Choose an Irish software company to put your creativity and innovation to work. :) Be part of IT!
IT’s Happening Here promotes career opportunities in Irish owned software companies. With over 600 companies, this dynamic sector offers exciting positions from graduate to director level, and a unique working experience of world class knowledge, creativity, diversity, and responsibility. There are currently approximately 1500 IT vacancies in Irish owned Software companies.
Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Finance are hosting the World Bank / IFC in Dublin next Tuesday 19 June for a Business Opportunities in Emerging Markets seminar. The focus of this event is investment and procurement opportunities within the World Bank group of organisations.
The event will be held on Tuesday 19 June 2012, 08.30h to 17.30h in the Alexander Hotel, Dublin 2 and will be opened by the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan TD.
This seminar will be of interest to companies who are interested to learn more about:
- Emerging market trends and opportunities
- The World Bank Group
- Introduction to the IFC – its role, objectives, value proposition, financial products and services
- The role of MIGA
- How Enterprise Ireland, IFC and MIGA can support Irish companies in the emerging markets
- Procurement opportunities at the World Bank Group
ICT is the focus of one of the parallel sessions at 13.30. Jennifer Condon (Divisional Manager, International Traded Services & Software) is facilitating and presenting sector profile & EI supports at this session.
Agenda
08:15 Registration and Coffee 08:50 Opening Remarks, Department of Finance 09:00 Key Note Address: Opportunities for Investment and Growth in Global Markets, Mr Michael Noonan, TD, Minister for Finance 09:15 Welcoming remarks, World Bank 09:30 Trends and opportunities in Emerging Markets, IFC 10:15 Introducing the IFC 11:30 The Role of MIGA 12:15Enterprise Ireland 12:30 Lunch 13:30 Parallel Break-out Sessions (Opportunities in the ICT sector/Agri-business sector/Energy sector) 15:00 Parallel Break-out Sessions (Procurement Opportunities with the World Bank Group / Opportunities in Africa / Opportunities inAsia 16:00 Networking
For further information, please contact Evelyn Smith (01) 727 2717
For the 2nd Year, I’m delighted that Enterprise Ireland is taking part in the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. The 2012 WPC which takes place in Toronto from July 8th to 12th and provides one of the best forums for companies to connect with Microsoft channel partners and with Microsoft staff, and to learn about the latest Microsoft programs, strategies, and cutting-edge technologies.
You can visit Digital WPC to find everything you need to know about the event.
Twelve to Fifteen Enterprise Ireland client companies are being offered the opportunity to participate in an ‘Ireland @ WPC’ stand at Microsoft WPC 2012. This is the second Enterprise Ireland participation at WPC and we are keen to build on last year’s success.
The Enterprise Ireland subsidised cost of participation at Microsoft WPC 2012 is €2,450 + 23% VAT per company.
The competition for space on the Ireland Stand at this show will be intense so early registration is advised. Places will be allocated to qualified client companies on a first come, first served basis.
What is the benefit of taking a student for you as an Employer?
The Work Placement Program at The National College of Ireland is looking for industry partners within Software and Service companies immediately. The students attending the BSc.(Honours) in Software Systems and BSc. (Honours) in Business Information Systems degrees have a solid theoretical base, which they are keen to put into practice.
Placements provide the ideal opportunity for employers to foster links with the National College of Ireland.
The opportunity to trial a potential recruit without obligation or target ‘highflyer ’ recruits early.
Your team can benefit from skilled assistance for specific project work at lower cost.
Placements can also provide your staff with some valuable people management and mentoring experience.
Where could a student fit into you team?
Some samples of the projects our students worked on in 2011 include:-
IT development projects
IT support
Network administration
Software development
Software programming
Testing
Web design and development
Database development
How do I sign up?
The Placements start in late January 2012 for 6 Months. Our 3rd year IT students are (again) likely to be in high demand for IT related work experience in any sector of industry.
A smart investment in localisation could be the killer move for Irish companies targeting European online customers whose spending will remain buoyant in 2012 according to Cipherion and the Irish Internet Association:
Multilingual website translation and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) are forecast to be in strong demand by Irish organisations operating overseas, according to research released November 24th, 2011 by leading global communications provider, Cipherion Translations, based in Dublin. The research, conducted amongst Cipherion’s client base in tourism, hospitality, life sciences, exporting, technology and multinational sectors, reveals that 58 per cent of companies will require website translation services in the next year and 35 per cent will be rolling out international Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) campaigns.
The research also indicates that French, German, Spanish and Italian will remain the focus for exporters and multinationals, with over 70% of respondents indicating a future requirement for these languages.
According to the UK’s Centre for Retail Research over 85% of European online retailing spend of €202.9 billion will be made by non-English speaking consumers in 2011. Commenting on these figures, Mark Rodgers founder and CEO of Cipherion said: (more…)
Most companies (such as car manufacturers) use pretty much the same inputs. Toyota, GM and Ford take the same raw materials and have similar levels of education in their workforce. Prices are similar for all the car companies; metal and rubber are are traded globally, manufacturers will relocate to regions where labour is cheaper. All car companies carry out substantial R&D to stay in the game. So, why has Toyota eclipsed GM as the No 1 manufacturer in the world?
A key part of the answer is the Toyota Production System, the process by which it builds vehicles and the way that it is continually improving this process. Toyota’s competitive advantage is not its cars, but the way in which it builds its cars.
Toyota use the TPS that everyone knows, but they also follow the Toyota Way, a way of thinking that gives them the real advantage. They drive their operational performance (TPS) guided by the Toyota Way, which is focused on respect for people, their employees and their customers and a Absolutely Focused and Relentless (AFR) drive to improve, to be better, to provide a better offering to their customers, always, every day. Instead of cars, it is information that flows down the modern company assembly line. Companies that manipulate this information better gain an edge over their competitors.
So why does this matter to your software company?
Building software used to be about a team writing code, and then (every so often) releasing it – either to customers, or to another part of the company that dealt with customers. In the world of Saas and Cloud this is no longer true;. Your company and product are available 24/7 on the web and every member of the team needs to be focussed on gaining and retaining customers.
Everything that your developers do have a direct and immediate impact on the customer experience. If you’re lucky, they will gain you money (The ‘Upgrade’ button is in just the right spot). If you’re unlucky they could leak your cash- either as a trickle without you noticing it (a minor update means the site runs slightly slower, and your conversion rate is down several points) or a flood (the website crashes in the middle of a big promotional campaign).
Enterprise Ireland is here to help
This move from ‘build and they will come’ to ‘everybody focussed on the customer experience’ is big and daunting. But it’s no bigger than what the car companies have done (remember how Toyota’s products were laughed at in the 60′s?). And it’s no bigger than the lean transformation that ‘traditional’ Irish companies have achieved to overcome their high cost base – a transformation that I’m glad EI has taken part in. The trick is continual, small improvements by everybody on the team.
Nobody knows what best way to run a Saas business – even the best, such as SalesForce.com and Google are still learning. We in EI would like to help you on that journey towards a leaner , more customer focussed team. We’ll be learning t0o, but with a range of training and supports to help you get there quicker and faster.
Having successfully launched the Post-graduate diploma in Product Management with DIT & Software Skillnet, the ISA team is now busily preparing for the Software Industry Awards 2011. This for me has to be one of the key industry events of the year. I find it is a great time to catch up with fellow colleagues in the industry who I don’t get a chance to meet from end one of the year to the next. This industry changes so fast, there is always a lot to talk about!
Celebrate this year’s best technology companies, people, products and services at the ISA Annual Awards ceremony and gala dinner. Previous winners who have gone on to enjoy great success include Changing Worlds, Havok & Openet.
This is an unparalleled networking event for the digital technology & software sector and the place to showcase your companies achievements with an anticipated audience of over 400 senior industry executives as well as leading investors and analysts.
The Award categories will include:
Company of the Year
Emerging Software Business of the Year
Technology Software Start up of the Year
Sales Achievement of the Year
Technical Innovation of the Year
Collaboration of the Year
Corporate Social Responsibility Software Business of the Year
Student Award for the Most Commercially Viable Software.
“I know many such management training and incubation programmes exist, we were on LEAP which was good for us at the time, but iGAP is different because it focuses specifically on the needs of internet businesses. Over a period of seven months, six modules were led by international lean start-up and customer development experts such as Eric Ries, Scott Rafer, Paul O’Dea , Justin Knecth, Sean Ellis and Oren Michels .Over the programme they addressed issues such as lean startup theory, product market fit, monetisation strategies, internet customer acquisition, business development using APIs, etc. Here is a quick synopsis of the content covered by the speakers………http://www.ronanskehill.com/2011/02/05/in-a-startup-you-should-apply-for-igap/#comments
In a Games based startup? You should apply for iGAP.
“The iGAP program is an excellent opportunity to both network with a peer group of companies all experiencing many of the same challenges as you, and to hear from some of the world’s leading speakers on building companies and products. The speaker lineup was second to none, with lots of opportunities for interaction and feedback and to build connections. The program itself is very well structured, with lectures, group sessions and mentors and a great curriculum. It presented me with the perfect opportunity to reflect on my own startup and to put the spotlight on our processes for customer discovery, product design and business strategy. I can’t recommend the IGAP program highly enough to anybody building an internet or games industry company and lucky enough to be offered a place.
In a Business 2 Business internet startup? You should apply for iGAP.
“iGAP is one word…. ‘mandatory’. If you want to accelerate your web business and compete globally then you NEED to be on iGAP. If you want to learn from Silicon Valley insiders and world class thought leaders then you NEED to be on iGAP. If you want to collaborate and learn from a brilliant peer group then you NEED to be on iGAP.”
“The really great benefit for me has been the other companies taking part. We were a bit concerned because our company has been in business for longer, but actually the start-up companies on iGap has given us a new lease of life. We’ve started thinking more like a start up again and that’s given us a real focus. That alone has been great.
Hopefully we’ve been able to share some stuff back with other people on the programme as well.
One of the big benefits of iGap has shown in our marketing. I think it’s much more focused now. It’s the first year we have a proper marketing plan, and we’re analyzing the metrics so we’ll actually know for sure what’s working and what’s not.
All in all I think iGap is the best programme Enterprise Ireland has done. Why? Because it’s all practical. They seminar leaders are all guys who have done it.”
Brian Caulfield
Brian Caulfield was the Programme Lead for the iGAP1/2.
“I have spent the last eight years as a venture capital and angel investor in technology companies. Prior to that, I was a technology entrepreneur for ten years. In those 18 years working in and with start-up companies I have become convinced that many entrepreneurs fail simply because they don’t have a clear vision of what their business really is…who their customers are; what their proposition for those customers is; how they are going to reach those customers; how they will make money from those customers. In a nutshell, they don’t have a clear strategy.
Getting to that clarity is essential for every business. That clarity enables you to prioritise tasks amidst the chaos of a start-up. It enables you to focus the team on what’s important. It enables you to articulate a clear and, hopefully, compelling investment opportunity to potential funders of the business.
