News

We've come a long, long way together

Through the hard times and the good.

Fatboy Slim isn’t the most obvious business icon to open my new year reflections but as I thought about all of our fellow enterprises embracing the early days of 2023, that song wormed its way into my ear. Not that I have the slightest intention on recapping on the challenges of recent years. They are fresh enough in all our minds! I am happy to say that Christmas 2022 was a million miles away from the one before. I am so pleased for our retail and hospitality customers who recorded bumper festive seasons. I hope it is a sign of what 2023 has in store.

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Building Business Resilience

I am a big believer in always seeking the positives. The pandemic moved the needle on technology and business comms. Business leaders now rightfully recognise technology as a linchpin of their organisations. Business resilience is the new obsession. Enterprises want infrastructure that is protected and reinforced but is also agile and responsive. Whatever the world has up its sleeve next, they plan to be ready and technology is the main tool in their arsenal.n

Digital Transformation

Technology is also a pathway to growth. Since ActionPoint joined the Viatel Technology Group in January 2022 we have had a front row seat at the digital transformation table. Digital transformation is the game changer. It helps businesses to grow, acquire new customers and manage their bottom line. This is how you level up. We’ve witnessed the difference the transformation team’s skills have made to longstanding customers of ours. A real joy as Viatel evolves into a mature digital services group is all the great customers who continue to grow alongside us. Be it 2022, 2023 or beyond, no year would be possible without them. n

Security Concerns Persist

Cybercrime continues to be one of the greatest threats to business globally. The shift to remote working moved the goalposts. In recent PwC research, 83% of Irish respondents did not believe they had fully mitigated the risks of remote working. On the positive side, they are taking action. 75% of those respondents will increase their cybersecurity budget for 2023. There are interesting developments, internationally, with the potential to tilt the playing field in favour of the business. We are watching closely and look forward to sharing these with you a little later in the year.

Job Opportunities

The later months of last year were bruising on the jobs front for the technology sector. We felt the pain of everyone losing their job, their income and their security at Twitter and Stripe and all the others. We said then, and I want to clearly reiterate now, that the doors at Viatel are always open to great people. If you have found yourself in the unfortunate position of being affected by tech layoffs, talk to us. We want to find a home for as many of your skills as we can in an indigenous Irish, sustainably grown tech firm.n

A Flexible Approach to Working

It comes as no big shock when studies reveal that a shorter working week boosts wellbeing. Now, it’s been proven that shorter hours also increase productivity. Countries doing the fewest hours of work (Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands) are often the most productive on an hourly basis. These countries are also the happiest. At Viatel, our people have spoken overwhelmingly on the topic of flexibility. As an employer, they rated us 8.5 out of 10 in terms of flexibility. 81% of the group told us that our ramp-up in flexitime initiatives in 2022 improved their overall satisfaction at work. We care deeply about our people in their professional and personal lives. Time is their most precious resource. 2023 will be the year of flexiwork in our organisation. n

Higher Purpose: Vision, Values and Meaning

• Our responsibility to our communities

• Our duty to act sustainably

• Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Focus on the customer (Customers love our service!)

We have been listening. Our team has told us what is important to them. I am so grateful for these insights. We’re using them to transform our agenda. Why are we doing it? Because companies that instil meaningful values, engrain a sense of purpose and communicate a clear vision enjoy the greatest success. Happy staff make even happier customers. Happy people make us a better place to work: the more attractive we are as an employer, the higher calibre talent we can attract, hire and retain which makes the business even stronger. We have a lot of work to do but I am very proud of the mindset shift. This particular revolution is democratic but I am firmly on board. We're #BuildingSomethingSpecialn

Standing at the cusp of 2023, (with that song still going round my head!), thinking of our colleagues, customers and partners, I do want to praise you. Thank you for your excellence in 2022. I can't wait to witness the great things we will do together in 2023. n

From all the team at Viatel Technology Group, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. n

Best wishes,

Paul Rellis

CEO

Viatel Technology Group