sync ni magazine - summer 2014

Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

SUMMER 2014

Issue 14TEAM SOLUTIONZ 07ALLEN & OVERY 10SBS 2014 14JYROBIKE 16

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www.syncni.com visit us online Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

06 Capital Markets Sector Create CMCN

11 The Little App, Hungry with Ideas – Little Deli

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DON‘T JUST WORKWORK FOR GOOD

Allstate Northern Ireland Receives Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development

Award winning company, Allstate NI is celebrating after being named as winners of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development - the UK’s highest honour for business success. The company received its award for Sustainable Development in recognition of a sustainable employment model which creates prosperity, promotes work-life health and uses resources efficiently.

Rose Kelly, Vice President & Chief Administration Officer, Allstate Northern Ireland said:

"Winning the Queen's Award is a huge accolade for Allstate. We operate in the global arena not just in Northern Ireland so winning an award of this stature further endorses the quality of work and the talent that is on offer here. We are thrilled to be rewarded for our continuous efforts in looking after our people, our community and our environment."

US-owned Allstate Northern Ireland was established in Belfast in 1998 and has grown to over 2,200 employees in a relatively short time to become Northern Ireland’s largest IT company. It provides high quality software development services and high end business solutions in support of its US parent's operations, the Allstate Corporation, the largest publicly held personal lines property and casualty insurer in America.

Allstate NI is hiring! – For a list of current vacancies please go to www.allstateni.com

Search for AllstateNI on:

3SYNCNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014

Our passion in Women in Business NI is to help our members grow their businesses or have greater impact

in their organisation and it’s an exciting time to do business in Northern Ireland. Our talent pool is brimming over with innovative, ambitious men and women. Our Vision is to create a “new economy” and to do that we must ensure our businesses maximise the potential of our most important resource – our people.

Last month, Women in Business NI played host to a groundbreaking event in Belfast, the first International Business Women’s Conference on the island of Ireland. IBWC 2014 brought together over 500 local and international delegates to hear inspirational keynote speakers; to learn from skills development workshops and to join topical panel debates. Entrepreneurial spirit was on display in droves amongst our delegates and throughout our exhibition area, where start ups and global organisations were showcased side by side.

The event was a unique opportunity for business people to tap into new networks and create new Connections. To succeed in this competitive market place we must look for opportunities to collaborate both locally and globally. From this we find inspiration, working partnerships, mentors and customers and we recommend that all businesses should prioritize facilitated networking as part of ongoing employee and leadership development.

Welcome to the Summer edition of the Sync NI magazine

foreword from Kate Marshall, Women in Business NI

Northern Ireland’s Tech & Business Community

CONTENT & EDITORIALNicola McNairEmail: [email protected]: 028 90820944

MARKETINGCaoimhe McKennaPhone: 02890820942Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: [email protected]

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Sync NI28 Adelaide streetRochester BuildingBelfastBT28GD Phone: 028 90820944 Email: [email protected] Website: www.syncni.com

COPYRIGHTNo part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyholder and publisher. SyncNi accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of SyncNi , unless otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress associated to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this magazine can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editors or publishers. SyncNi does not endorse any goods or services advertised, nor any claims or representations made in any advertisement in this magazine. The recruitment agencies listed are acting as employment agencies on behalf of their clients.

We heard time and again from the speakers about the power and impact of having a good mentor, particularly in the early stages of your career or as your business grows. With over 1000 members we offer opportunites through our network for members to find a mentor who will challenge them and help them grow. We continually work to provide opportunites for our members to build their knowledge and skills and to find ways to unlock their potential, whether employed or self employed.

Our ‘30/30 Vision’ was launched at the IBWC 2014 event. This initiative aims to drive gender diversity up the agenda within the Northern Ireland private sector where currently only 5% of Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies are led by females. Global evidence shows that a diverse workforce is more productive and more successful and we believe this is the force that will drive the “new economy”. We challenged NI’s leading businesses to sign up to our ‘30/30 Vision’ through pledging to focus on gender diversity in the workplace. By the time IBWC 2014 opened, 31 had already signed up to the commitment – and that figure continues to rise. I urge you all to consider how you can tap into this most powerful economic lever.

I hope that the spirit of IBWC 2014 will be harnessed by the business community and that the positivity it created will mark the start of an economic ripple effect, felt throughout Northern Ireland and beyond.

Kate MarshallChair, Women in Business NI

4 SYNCNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014

03 Foreword05 IBWC 201406 Capital Markets Collaborative Network07 MinutePad 08 Galgorm - A Personal Concierge09 Liberty IT10 Allen & Overy’s Belfast Operation11 The Little App, Hungry with Ideas 12 Chain Reaction Technology14 Smart Business Show 201416 Jyrobike18 University of Ulster20 You vs. The World21 Event Spotlight22 Logging Off

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Contents

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The first International Business Women’s Conference to take place on the island of Ireland, which brought over 500 delegates to Belfast (12th- 15th May 2014), will leave a ‘lasting economic legacy’ according

to organisers Women in Business NI. IBWC 2014: ‘Creating a New Economy’ brought the issue of gender diversity in business to the fore within the private sector and will see the creation of a global business mentoring programme for local business women, led by Women in Business NI.

IBWC 2014, which was attended by delegates from across the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA, UAE, Croatia, Indonesia, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Rwanda and Somalia, was centred around ‘creating a new economy’ – a diverse and sustainable economy which celebrates empowerment, encourages cooperation between both genders in business and focuses on maximising the full potential of the talent pool.

“IBWC 2014 allowed over 500 inspirational business leaders from across the globe to connect in a very positive forum and share experiences, business knowledge and insights,” said Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive, Women in Business NI.

“The connections made at IBWC 2014 will undoubtedly go

on to develop into business relationships. We have already had feedback from delegates who plan to connect again to discuss collaborative projects and partnerships and several individuals and companies have joined our membership this week. As such, Women in Business NI are planning to lead a global mentorship programme, whereby we will help our members maximise international connections and seek out potential mentors and mentees of mutual benefit, to further drive economic growth and value for our growing membership.” said Roseann.

IBWC 2014 also marked the first step in an initiative spearheaded by Women in Business NI to drive gender

diversity up the agenda within the Northern Ireland private sector. Women in Business NI’s ‘30/30 Vision’ stemmed from the fact that only 5% of Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies are led by females. Women in Business NI laid a challenge to those businesses to sign up to its 30/30 Vision through pledging to support gender diversity in their respective businesses. By the time IBWC opened, 31 of the top 100 companies had already signed up to the commitment.

“By putting the spotlight on the power of diversity in business and the huge untapped economic resource that females in business represent, we hope that IBWC will create a shift in mind set among the private sector which recognizes that to truly maximise our full economic potential, we must encourage the most talented individuals, both male and female,” said Roseann Kelly.

Speaking at the close of IBWC 2014, Chair of Women in Business NI Kate Marshall said, “Women in Business NI is a small but ambitious organisation and IBWC 2014 was the result of a vision to create a world class business networking event in Northern Ireland. IBWC 2014 demonstrated the power of connecting and highlighted the huge pool of talented and inspiring women in business locally and worldwide. We will now focus on ensuring that the economic legacy of our conference is long lasting.”

IBWC 2014 was supported by Visit Belfast, Invest Northern Ireland, Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Department for Employment and Learning, Belfast City Council, Ulster Bank, NYSE Euronext, Queen’s University Belfast, Equality Commission NI, Enterprise Ireland.


IBWC 2014 to leave ‘lasting economic legacy’First International Business Women’s Conference on island of Ireland inspires global mentorship programme and positions gender diversity high on the private sector agenda


Capital Markets Collaborative Network is an exciting new initiative which brings the best innovative research and technology to the Capital Markets sector. The collaboration, which is supported by Invest NI,

has been formed by 5 key partner companies (Citi, NYSE Technologies, First Derivatives, Fidessa and Kofax) as well as Northern Ireland’s two Universities, (University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast). We caught up with CMCN’s newly appointed facilitator, Peter Devine, who told us about the exciting initiative which will positively impact the NI economy.

Could you tell us about the formation of CMCN?

Northern Ireland may not have a stock exchange or a real-life trading floor, but it does have a growing cluster of companies in the Capital Markets technology sector. In recent years we have seen continued investments and expansions by international firms such as Citi, Fidessa, NYSE Technologies and indigenous companies including First Derivatives which all provide technology solutions and consulting services to the Capital Markets industry.

In addition Northern Ireland has 11 globally recognised ICT related research centres including the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) at Queen’s University Belfast and the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) at University of Ulster. With support from Invest Northern Ireland, these founding companies, along with the two University research centres have come together to create the Capital Markets Collaborative Network. This is a key initiative working in partnership to strengthen the research base and graduate skills within Northern Ireland. Each of the companies involved in the network has previously worked individually with one or both universities, but this is the first time they have collectively used their combined effort in an organised programme.

CMCN have recently received support from Invest NI, what has this funding allowed the collaboration to do?

Invest NI has played a leading role in the development of the network and has recently provided financial support through the collaborative network programme. This has allowed the network to appoint a facilitator to focus on building the network and I am proud to have been appointed by the partners to this important role.

CMCN are currently supporting a group of PHD students, tell us about this?

The partners have provided support and resources for PhD studentships at Ulster and Queen’s, this support highlights the

collaborations commitment to research. The grand challenges of Capital Markets Engineering have been articulated by the company partners who provide the students with domain expertise as well as historical data, real time market data and access to facilities. The application of expertise from the students and the support provided by the company partners will lead to world class applied research.

How does CMCN hope to make a positive impact in Northern Ireland? What are your long term goals?

According to recent figures from Invest NI the financial services industry in Northern Ireland employs around 33,000 people in more than 1,200 firms. A recent article in the Financial Times reported that Belfast is globally the top destination city for financial technology investment projects. The Capital Markets technology companies are an important and significant cluster within this sector and we want to facilitate the continued growth of the sector.

We work together on collaborative R&D, skills development through the Capital Markets Academy, marketing of the sector, engaging with diaspora and promoting entrepreneurship. Our long term goal is to position Northern Ireland as a global centre of excellence for R&D in Capital Markets Engineering.

For further information please visit cmcn.net or email [email protected]

Capital Markets sector come together to create Collaborative Network


Local software company Team Solutionz has sounded the death knell for paper based meetings.

The company’s revolutionary software enables organisations to have paperless meetings, bringing to an end the mountains of printed meeting packs.

MinutePad has already been proving its worth in six councils across Northern Ireland. Instead of using large meeting packs with hundreds of pages of agendas, minutes and supporting documents, councillors and senior managers reach for their iPads to quickly access the relevant information.

The potential cost and time savings are staggering. Tens of thousands of pounds have already been saved by removing the print and postage cost for large meeting documents. One customer has reported annual savings of almost £1,000 per councillor in printing costs alone.

‘MinutePad has transformed the way we distribute and access meeting documents for our members,’ said Michael Browne, Head of Development Services at Magherafelt District Council. ‘In the initial stages we found that the intuitive interface and functionality helped members to quickly embrace the technology.’

Other organisations have also been quick to see the benefits and currently the solution is being implemented in Central Government and the Health and Housing sectors.

As a cloud-based solution MinutePad can be used on a range of devices including laptops, desktops and tablets such as iPad, Android and Microsoft Surface. Team Solutionz is

a software company specialising in helping organisations improve their performance. Founded in 2003, the company has grown rapidly and now works with a broad base of private, public and non-profit customers. One of their key customer groups is Local Government.

Geoff Higgins, Managing Director of Team Solutionz said: “With the Review of Public Administration and an environment of increasing financial constraints local councils are facing a challenging time.

Streamlining processes, reducing costs and improving efficiencies are all going to be vital in ensuring that our Councils continue to deliver the high quality services that the public have come to expect. As a local software company with significant experience

New cloud software product signals the end of paper based meetings

and expertise in this area we feel we are ideally suited to helping with this process.”

Team Solutionz has a vision that extends further than Northern Ireland with campaigns about to launch in England and the Republic of Ireland to bring their products to new markets.

Technical Director David Braziel said: “We have spent a lot of time and energy building and developing our products making them both easy to use and powerful in providing efficiencies. We feel that we are in a great position now to sell these products to a much wider market.”

The MinutePad product has recently been included in G-Cloud, an online catalogue which provides an easy way for the whole of the UK public sector to buy cloud computing software and services.

(l to r): ‘Team Solutionz Managing Director Geoff Higgins with Michael Browne, Head of Development Services and Audrey Junkin, Chief Executive’s Secretary from Magherafelt District Council’.


Before the dawn of the internet there were few more reliable sources

of local information, insider tips and helpful contacts than the dependably, exceptionally well groomed hotel concierge, that was until now.

Northern Ireland’s exclusive Galgorm Resort and Spa is the first in the province to take the personal service a step further with the launch of the Galgorm Concierge App. Available now, the instantly accessible app has extended the traditional concierge service to mobile phones and tablets and is available in both Android and Apple formats.

At the touch of a button the innovative App allows guests to find out what there is to do inside and outside the resort, either by date, time of day or depending what mood they are in.

So whether guests are in an active, sightseeing, relaxing or shopping mood, the app will provide a wide range of suggested activities, locations and venues. From fishing in the amazing River Maine, Jungle Activity Centre with the kids, a wonderful spa treatment, walk on beautiful beach to vibrant shopping centres and cultural hotspots, there’s no shortage of inspiration whatever the frame of mind.

Paul Smyth, Galgorm Resort & Spa Operations Director, commented: “We constantly strive to be ahead of the game and this is a great technological first for Galgorm Resort & Spa, not only will guests receive great personal service and attention from the staff whilst at the Resort but now they can also access many of these services directly via their phones and iPads.”

The app also offers an array of entertainment and food and drink options suitable for the time of day. Should live

A Personal Concierge at the Touch of a Button

music and cocktails be the order of the day or fine dining with wonderful views more the case, the Galgorm App will be able to guide guests in the right direction. In addition booking a dining venue couldn’t be simpler as the App also allows new and returning guests to easily reserve a table on-line in any of the hotel’s three fantastic restaurants.

With links to Facebook and Instagram, the Galgorm Concierge App gives users an even greater insight into the unique feel and atmosphere of the splendid resort as well as showcasing the unrivalled wedding venues and sumptuous spa facilities on offer.

Downloading the novel state-of-the-art App has financial benefits too with users guaranteed to be the first to know of any offers and special hotel details as soon as they are released. There will also a number of exclusive last minute App only offers available each month.

So having a personal concierge on hand couldn’t be easier, simply download the Galgorm Concierge App

to instantly tailor your own personal experience, catch up on news and offers or look for inspiration.

For further information regarding the app or Galgorm Resort & Spa visit www.galgorm.com or call 028 2588 1001.

Galgorm Resort & Spa Launches Northern Ireland’s First Concierge App


Local company, Liberty IT, has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK by The

Great Place to Work® Institute.

Based in Belfast and Dublin, Liberty IT employs 400 people and is part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group’s IT operation. Liberty IT was the only Northern Ireland organisation to be included on the 2014 Best Workplaces UK list. This is the third time Liberty IT has achieved this accolade.

The Best Workplaces Programme is the largest of its kind in the world and helps businesses improve performance by encouraging them to understand and improve their workplace culture by building trust and engagement. One hundred businesses from throughout the UK were recognised at a gala awards dinner in London and Liberty IT was one of only 45 businesses

recognised in the medium sized category which includes organisations that employ between 50 – 499 people.

“It is an honour for us to be recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK,” said Dr William Hamilton, Managing Director, Liberty IT. “Achieving this recognition for the third time is a major accomplishment for our company.

We understand the importance of creating an enjoyable working environment that is open, friendly and respectful. This has allowed us to build a team of highly engaged employees and a strong company culture, helping us to become a leading IT organisation.”

Cathy Donnelly, HR Director, Liberty IT added, “Taking part in the Great Place to Work Programme has made an extremely positive difference to our

Liberty IT is recognised as one of the Best Places to Work in UK

organisation. Participation in the survey has increased year on year, with 93% of employees contributing their feedback this year. This enables us to create action plans which are focused on what is important to our employees, and in turn continually improve our workplace, engage and retain our talented employees and secure business success.”

For further information visit www.liberty-it.co.uk.

Queen’s University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group, a select band of the top 20 UK research-intensive academic institutions. Its Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) is a GCHQ accredited Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research and is the UK’s largest university research lab in this field. CSIT is fast developing a reputation as a global innovation hub for cyber security.

Our MSc in Cyber Security aims to develop the next generation of industry leaders and address the shortage of cyber security professionals globally. The programme offers students a syllabus informed by CSIT’s world-class research in the areas of data, network, media and physical security, and is influenced throughout by its strong history of commercial engagement with world leading companies (Infosys, Cisco, IBM, Thales, BAE Systems, McAfee, Roke, Altera), its “Open Innovation” model and an entrepreneurial spirit.

A key differentiator of our MSc programme is the opportunity to closely engage with CSIT industry partners. This includes the facilitation of industrial internships with leading security professionals, as well other commercially specified and co-supervised projects. Invited seminars and special guest lectures from influential industry and academic leaders offer students a chance to engage with those at the pinnacle of the cyber security profession.

MSc IN

CYBERSECURITY

A GLOBAL INNOVATION HUB FOR CYBER SECURITY

For further information go to http://www.csit.qub.ac.uk/msc or contact: Dr Kieran McLaughlin, Email: [email protected], Tel: +44 28 90971890

(1 & 2 YEAR OPTIONS)

csit_halfp_2.indd 1 22/10/2013 16:47


IT Expertise at the Heart of Allen & Overy’s Belfast Operation

In 2011 one of the world’s largest law firms, Allen & Overy (A&O), unveiled plans to move its core IT support

services from London to Belfast.

It was a significant move for the firm and one that opened up a range of new opportunities for IT professionals in Northern Ireland.

Andy Glenn, IT Service Management Team Leader, was one of the first to join the A&O Belfast Support Centre having spent more than six years working in the local industry.

He said, “At Allen & Overy, IT is delivered on a global scale and that brings great opportunities. I knew there was good potential to forge a rewarding career and the challenge of working for an international law firm was appealing.

The firm has a reputation throughout the legal industry and beyond for the way it works.”

The Belfast Support Centre is at the heart of the firm’s network of 43 offices and provides a range of critical services to more than 2,700 legal and 2,500 support staff across the globe.

While a lot of the work is done within the local office, the skills and expertise of the IT team occasionally take them around the world.

Andy, who is responsible for the Second Line Team and manages a group of six people including two IT Infrastructure Apprentices, has worked on a range of projects in Monte Carlo, Dubai, Paris and Casablanca.

In recent months, teams in Belfast have also played a critical role in setting up the telephony and IT infrastructure for the firm’s second Spanish presence in Barcelona.

He says the consistency of delivery in every office is crucial, “The firm has invested in the very best IT systems - the document management system, for example, is an industry leader - and we deliver a platinum service to ensure our systems are available, reliable and secure.

“The teams in Belfast are currently involved in a major project to migrate all of the firm’s physical servers in the Hong Kong datacentre to new virtual servers.

This complex project will see 33 servers migrated as well as the creation of three new ones alongside a thorough

Andy Glenn, IT Service Management Team Leader (Centre) with Belfast Metropolitan College Apprentices Niamh Donegan and James Reynolds.

implementation and testing programme to ensure no downtime and minimal risk to the business.”

Having expanded in January last year, the Belfast Support Centre is now A&O’s third largest office by headcount and, according to Andy, is focused on attracting and retaining exceptional people.

“Allen & Overy need talented people

to help it keep its infrastructure running smoothly 24/7. There is a very clear route for career progression and rewards for anyone who can come in and work hard to help the teams meet their goals. The diversity of the office shows that anyone from any background can climb high.”

To find out more about opportunities at Allen & Overy visit: www.allenovery.com/careers


Little Deli is revolutionising how we order food at lunchtime - just great

food, on your schedule! The mobile app enables customers to pre-order and pay for lunch using their smartphones, allowing them to skip the queue and save time. The benefits for the delis are that they are now able to reduce queues during the lunch rush hour and increase productivity and profits by taking orders more efficiently.

Little Deli is now live and is being used by O’Briens, Deli Lites, Printers, Treat Boutique, The Bakery, Reuben’s, Yummy Sandwiches.

Sync NI caught up with the founder of little Deli, Alexandra Milne. The very busy lady told us all about her new business.

My journeyIn only 10 months, Little Deli has

gone from being just an idea to a fully launched mobile app. In the past 10 months, I have been successfully awarded the ‘40k Proof of Concept’ grant, I was one of the youngest females to receive it. I applied to the Propel accelerator programme in September and after various stages and workshops, which shortlisted 158 people to 27, I joined the programme in late February. Propel has been a fantastic help in the development process of Little Deli.

I have had an exciting couple of months, I recently won ‘Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2014’! I was awarded the first place prize after competing with 450 other students. In June I was also announced as the overall winner of ‘The Ireland Funds, Business Plan Competition 2014’.

And finally I’ve just finished my Masters this month, graduating with a Distinction.

The Little App, Hungry with Ideas

My ChallengesAt the moment my challenges are

creating customer awareness and encouraging delis to come on-board. As I am the sole founder of Little Deli, I do find it difficult to cover every aspect of the business. In order to push the customer facing side of the business and to free up some of my time, I am currently advertising for a sales and marketing position. Get in touch to find out more about the role!

My FutureMy primary focus will be fundraising

to introduce Little Deli to new markets and establish it throughout the UK. It will be essential to build a team to

support this and together we can push the boundaries of what Little Deli can achieve.

My dream, is that when we travel from one city to the next, the Little Deli will be there. In life, it’s the simple things that make it every day easier and I believe the Little Deli provides a simple solution to a common problem.

Download the Little Deli App now and stop queuing!

Little Deli DetailsApp Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/little-deli/id841294524?mt=8Website: www.littledeli.comTwitter: @littledeliapp

The Chain Reaction Cycles (CRC) journey began in 1984 as a small family business in Northern Ireland and has grown rapidly to become the world’s largest online bike

store. CRC is a truly global business shipping over 20,000 items daily to over 115 countries worldwide. The site receives over 8 million visits per month and has in excess of 2 million registered customers.

CRC’s success is driven by technology. Enterprise grade systems support each step of the customer journey from the first click on the site through to order fulfillment. CRC’s state of the art distribution center is capable of processing several thousand orders daily. This is achieved through computer controlled logistics and warehouse automation.

99% of the business is transacted online so the eCommerce platform is critical. CRC have recently launched a new website utilising the Oracle ATG Commerce platform. This is the same technology used by many leading retailers across the world.

Alongside the website launch CRC have formed a new software development team called “Chain Reaction Technology” with the intent of creating a Center of Excellence to harness local talent and to grow the next generation of eCommerce experts. At the heart of these ambitious plans is CRC’s eCommerce Development Manager Conor McCluskey.

Can you tell us about yourself?After graduating with a BEng (Hons) Software Engineering

Degree from UUJ back in 2001, I have worked as a Software Engineer in a wide variety of industries including eCommerce and Investment Banking, from startups with a small team of developers to large multinationals with thousands of staff around the world.

I still get excited by the endless possibilities provided by software and the Internet, particularly when combined with the power and availability of mobile and tablet devices.

Why did you decide to join Chain Reaction Cycles?Obviously, like many people I had heard about CRC and

the global success of a local business – it’s a great story! Having worked previously for Oracle ATG, I knew all about the platform they were using and that it’s typically used by the biggest and best retailers around the world. I was impressed by CRC’s ambition and also excited by the challenge of building

one of Ireland’s first large scale ATG eCommerce sites.

What do you feel makes CRC different to other local technology businesses?

For many enterprise developers, you can spend months building complex systems; never to see it in actual use or even understand how it fits into a large scale distributed architecture. That can be very frustrating and demoralizing.

With CRC, everything you do is visible and used daily by hundreds of thousands of users around the world. You have the ability to make a real impact every single day. Whether you are working with the business to make it more efficient or adding new and exciting features to the website to make it easier for customers to browse and shop. You get instant feedback too; with almost a million likes on Facebook, our customers aren’t afraid to tell us exactly what they think!

Why did CRC opt for a platform rather then building a new site from scratch?

Platforms provide fundamental eCommerce services such as user profiles, product catalogs, shopping baskets, pricing, search, merchandising & customer service tools that every eCommerce site needs. That enables us to focus on what is important for our customers – building a great browsing and shopping experience!

In saying that, a platform really just provides the tools you need to build an eCommerce store. We still had a major task to take all those platform services, customize them and add our unique business logic before combining them along with a custom presentation layer to build the website that we wanted.


Introducing Chain Reaction Technology


There are lots of eCommerce platforms in the market place – Magento, IBM, SaaS – why Oracle ATG?

ATG is the market leading eCommerce platform for large-scale retailers. The platform has an excellent set of tools including promotion and personalisation engines to provide customers with unique experiences tailored to their individual interests. This gives us a great advantage going forward.

What challenges did you face during the re-platforming project?

There were a number of challenges that we had to face. Given the size, scale and complexity of the project, we had relatively short timelines to deliver. The launch itself and subsequently supporting the inevitable issues around stability and performance were especially challenging but it was also a very fast moving and exciting time.

What benefits have CRC experienced since go-live?We are starting to see the benefits of having a more

scalable and powerful system; for example we recently enjoyed a record sales day which the website handled easily in its stride. As we become more familiar with the technology, we are beginning to use more of the features that are available to us such as powerful new promotional tools and search engine tuning.

What does the future hold technology wise for CRC?We are only really at the beginning of our journey. We have

ambitious plans to utilize all of the powerful technologies we have at hand to provide an even better customer experience. We are always exploring new technologies that can improve the website.

What is Chain Reaction Technology?Chain Reaction Technology is the new brand for CRC’s

software development team. It combines the existing .Net

ERP development team that develop CRC’s internal systems such stock management, fulfillment, finance and the new eCommerce development team.

We want to promote the industry leading work we do and the exciting technologies we use on a daily basis. As well as that we want to engage with the vibrant NI tech community though our new twitter feed (@CRC_Technology) and also through tech events and speaking to students at our Universities and FE Colleges.

Are you recruiting?Yes we are! We are recruiting for a number of exciting roles

in both our eCommerce and ERP teams. Please check out our careers page for more details (www.chainreactioncycles.com/careers).

What is CRCs ideal candidate?We are looking for people who are technically strong and

passionate about software development. Ideally we would like people who have some eCommerce experience or who are interested in learning about eCommerce and our ATG platform. It helps if you are interested in cycling too!

In your view what are the next big trends to watch for in the eCommerce space?

It’s a really exciting time to be in eCommerce. Social networking has already impacted our industry in a big way and I think that will continue to evolve quickly. Customers are connected to each other and to retailers like never before but I think the next step will be for retailers to use that network to provide even better, more personal customer experiences.

Find out more at www.chainreactioncycles.com and on twitter @CRC_Technology


Smart Business Success

On the 29th of May 2014, the Odyssey Arena opened its doors to the first ever Business-to-Business innovation event, The Smart Business Show.

The Show was buzzing from the start with over 130 exhibitors meeting new clients and establishing contacts, whilst it was standing room only in the Marketing TalkZone! All were there to find out how to work ‘smarter’ and the Show did not disappoint, with so many opportunities and solutions for businesses from leading UK, Irish and worldwide companies.

Overall, the Show proved that an event like this is helping the Northern Ireland economy to bounce back from the downturn and early feedback strongly suggests that future Smart Business Shows are a must visit destination for business owners and stakeholders from every type and size of enterprise.

Taking place over two days, more than three thousand visitors listened to inspiring Keynote Talks from world famous names such as Nick Leeson, Stephen Moffatt of IBM, Facebook’s Olivia Leonard, Per Thorsheim (an internet security expert) and Microsoft’s Kieran McDonnell.

Intercom’s Paul Adams, formerly of Facebook, Google and Dyson really captured the attention of his Keynote Theatre audience stating that “We live in a time of great change.”

With this as his starting point he proceeded to explain how media has evolved and demonstrated that the internet is only scratching the surface of its potential.

If the crowds surrounding the Marketing TalkZone were any guide, this is where the focus of businesses currently lies. Each session was packed with visitors eager to learn how to gain more market share, much of which is of course internet generated.

Thus the presence of the Google Webmaster Team providing one to one advice was a unique experience many visitors were keen to take advantage of. After so much concentration, the Innovat8 Café was an oasis of calm in which to make business appointments and hold meetings in a comfortable and relaxed way whilst at the same time enjoying some refreshment.

The main focus now turns to April 2015 when the Smart Business Show will open at the RDS in Dublin. If you missed any of the Keynote talks and want to catch up on the latest in the world of business, you can watch them now on our website www.smartbusinessshow.com

To keep up to date with further developments of the Smart Business Show and smarter ways of doing business, don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly e-brief on our Smart Business Brief website www.smartbusinessbrief.com

Pictured is Per Thorsheim, Simon Hamilton (Finance Minister) and Clive Corry (Smart Business Show Director)


A big thank you to @sbbrief for having me as a speaker at http://smartbusiness-show.com in Belfast! Great show, interesting discussions! (Per Thorsheim)

137 business connections made, all in a few days work. #SmartBusinessShow #NetworkingParadise (Phil Murray)

“Smart Business Show partner Sync NI have a unique, user friendly platform which helped Smart Business communicate with Northern Ireland’s Tech and Business community. The Sync NI team have been proactive and great to work with

” Smart Business Show


Jyrobike, the Northern Irish company that has re-invented the wheel to help children learn to ride a bicycle in a single afternoon, has secured

$100,000 in funding in just six days through Kickstarter.

Sync NI spoke to Robert Bodill, CEO and Founder, who told us the story behind their success.

Tell us about Jyrobike – What is unique about the product

Jyrobike is re-inventing the wheel to help children learn to ride a bicycle in a single afternoon with the world’s first and only Auto Balance Bicycle.

Our first products, aimed at 3-8 year olds and available in 12” and 16” wheels, feature a patented Control Hub in the front wheel that uses gyroscopic technology to keep riders upright, even when they tip or wobble.

We’re now taking the technology in our kids model and using it to develop a Jyrobike for adults, which we’re launching in 2015.

Where did the inspiration for your idea come from?

The original concept for Jyrobike was conceived and tested as part of a graduate project at Dartmouth, Thayer School of Engineering in the US.

When this first product, called the Gyrowheel, launched, I became the product distributor for the EU and proceeded to set up distribution for Gyrowheel in the UK.

I took this US product and developed a children’s bike for Europe. Just as it was beginning to take off, and with families across the US buying Gyrowheels for their kids, the US source company faltered.

Less than one year in and with no supply, I initiated discussions for a potential acquisition and nine months later, I successfully negotiated the purchase of the global intellectual property, bringing significant technology, global patents and future benefits to the UK economy.

How did you initially turn your idea into a business?

After acquiring the intellectual property from the USA inventors in 2013, I established a new world class R&D team, including a collaboration with a Dutch technical research and science University studying ‘Advanced multi-body model to assess bicycle and rider stability’.

I pitched at London “Dragons Den” style events until securing angel financing, which led to professional venture capital and the first round of seed funding. With its new team in place, Jyrobike has just launched a vastly improved Version-2 model worldwide via Kickstarter.

Why did you choose Northern Ireland as a base for your business?

Jyrobike received seed capital from a group of private angel investors and a professional fund manager in the form of Co-Fund NI, which is a £16 million equity fund set up by Northern Ireland (NI) government that co-invests with business angel/private investor-led

Jyrobike Saddles Up For Global Market After Kickstarter Success

Robert Bodill, CEO and Founder, Jyrobike

C SYNCNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014 17

deals.

Directly after securing the first investment round, I paralleled my commercial activities with a six month application and business audit process with Invest NI in the hope of being awarded additional financial R&D grant support. With both direct equity investment as well as R&D support from NI institutions, it made perfect sense to relocate the business to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland offers lots of benefits for me and my business, including its location and the talent pool of people that work and live here.

From a geographical perspective, it offers easy access to mainland UK, Central Europe and has a direct route to the US, which is perfect for Jyrobike as these are our key markets at launch.

Finally, I often describe Jyrobike as the ‘re-invention of the wheel’ - the next evolution in cycling, if you will. Jyrobike will become the latest addition in a rich history of cycling innovation in Northern Ireland. After all, it is the birthplace of the pneumatic tyre!

As a start-up, what have been your main challenges?

Like any start-up business, funding and getting your brand noticed are probably the two main challenges. I’ve been on the Jyrobike journey for over two years, and while there have been some bumps in the road, it’s been a fantastic voyage of discovery for me and my team.

We’ve been really lucky with Jyrobike because the product itself is fantastic and we’ve had some unbelievable support from both investors and customers.

If you’re an entrepreneur and you’re thinking about launching your own start-up, my advice would be to absolutely go for it! You won’t look back

- if you have a product that you believe in and you work hard, it makes the journey much, much easier.

Has the Giro d’Italia excitement increased interest in Jyrobike?

Absolutely - the Giro was a great success both for Northern Ireland and for Jyrobike. The Giro was actually the first time that our prototype Jyrobikes were seen in public, and we had some amazing feedback from the kids in Belfast who were among the first in the world to ride Jyrobike.

The ‘Giro Fever’, as we like to call it, really gripped Northern Ireland and rekindled a lot of people’s love for cycling, and it has really helped us keep Jyrobike front of mind for lots of local families who are trying to teach their kids to ride.

Tell us about your Kickstarter campaign which launches in June?

Our Kickstarter campaign has been a great success, achieving the full funding amount of $100,000 in just six days. At the time of writing, we’re just under a week into the month-long campaign and we’ve already secured $110,000. We’ve had phenomenal support from the Kickstarter community and we’re absolutely delighted with the response to Jyrobike.

Kickstarter offers two unique and attractive advantages when compared to more traditional finance mechanisms.

Firstly, it does not require asset backed guarantees with complicated contracts nor does it demand an equity position or charge interest charges. The process is completely transparent and relatively quick to set up.

The second reason Jyrobike launched through Kickstarter is because it offers us the chance to take our prototype to market before going into full-scale production, which offers two additional benefits. The first is the opportunity to shorten the product development cycle by selling our product pre-production and generating revenues earlier than what would be possible if we followed traditional strategies.

The second advantage, and one we’re really excited about, is that the platform offers us a chance to form a direct connection with the Kickstarter community before launching the final product.

We’ll be able to use the early Jyrobikes to get some great customer feedback from our Kickstarter backers on what features they love, and if they’d like to see any changes made. We’ll be asking all of our Kickstarter backers for their opinions through a survey, and we’ll take their comments on board and make changes to the final product based on what they think.

Find out more at: www.jyrobike.comTwitter: @Jyrobike

The Team behind Jyrobike


Dr. Paul Beaney joins University of Ulster’s Office of Innovation as Head of Business Development. “The University of Ulster is an innovation powerhouse,

a knowledge hub around which businesses can thrive; connecting smart people and smart ideas and constantly pushing back the frontiers of knowledge and increasing the flow of innovative ideas.” says Dr. Beaney.

“My role is to focus on how we can help businesses or organisations to access the University of Ulster’s knowledge, expertise and facilities to support growth. Each year Ulster works with 1,000s of businesses in the transfer of knowledge and expertise via a range of methods such as consultancy, research, innovation support programmes, technology transfer, licensing, training and events.”

In the past year alone Ulster has recorded its highest-ever level of support for businesses, undertaking more than 4,000 contracts, providing almost 1,000 innovative solutions to companies and more than 50,000 days of management training, creating five new spin-outs and licensing numerous technologies to businesses across the world.

The University of Ulster is committed to supporting businesses/organisations. Dr Beaney is supported by a team of experienced Business Development and Technology Commercialisation Teams who can help a business or organisation identify the right expertise, facilities or research required and advise on processes and various funding streams.

There are a range of funding support programmes available to assist businesses in accessing Ulster’s knowledge, including: Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers; Knowledge Transfer Partnerships; Horizon 2020; InterTradeIreland FUSIONs and Invest Northern Ireland Grants for R&D.

The University of Ulster is a key provider in a number of these programmes - Ulster has delivered over 400 innovation voucher projects and is a key provider of innovation vouchers in Northern Ireland; it is the lead provider of FUSION with over 200 projects; and has recently achieved a record 150 Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects placing Ulster in the top 10 UK providers out of 141.

Ulster is also leading the way in the creative industries and is spearheading a £3.5m EU support programme Honeycomb – Creative Works. This trans-national support

We’re Open for Business

programme is aimed at maximising the economic potential of the creative industries sector and will help stimulate growth and competitiveness in the industry by providing skills enhancement and a range of supports for individuals and businesses in the film and broadcast, animation, gaming, interactive media and music technologies sectors.

The university is also a central point for businesses to engage in training, development and networking. Our Knowledge Club for example offers members access to a range of free knowledge transfer events designed to grow and develop sector specific knowledge and create network opportunities for member businesses.

Dr Beaney adds: “There’s a strong focus on innovation, and innovation covers a wide area, not only the pursuit of new products or ideas but new production process, new markets or even new ways of doing business. So whether it’s new product development, solving a technical problem or simply driving internal efficiencies, our team can respond to any business challenge. The message to businesses and organisations out there is that we’re open for business, come and talk to the innovation team at Ulster.”

Web: www.ulster.ac.uk/oi Twitter: @ulster2business

Dr. Paul Beaney

Concentrix Technologies are calling all IT professionalsLisa Kavanagh, Global Director, Renewals along with members of the Concentrix Technologies team give an insight to the world of Concentrix Technologies

“Concentrix Technologies has a great international presence whilst working with some of the largest global brands in the industry. This, combined with a team of highly talented, innovative and motivated individuals, it is the perfect mix for the ideal workplace and therefore it is a great place to grow your career!” – Lisa Kavanagh, Global Director

Interested?To apply for our opportunities, send your CV to [email protected] careers.concentrix.com+44 (0) 2890 921717

“What I enjoy about my job is the exposure to new technologies and the autonomy with projects to make decisions in the technical domain. What I really like about Concentrix Technologies are the people! I work with a team of highly skilled and motivated people that are a pleasure to work with.”– Mike Campbell (Software Engineer)

“My daily routine as a Business Analyst is analysing, designing, documenting and communicating with external stakeholders and internal departments. I think Concentrix Technologies is my preferred place to work in terms of the social aspects. I enjoy working with the people and enjoy the parties and events arranged by teams throughout the business. We have lots of fun with our gaming hubs, pool tables and social hubs where we can relax and unwind. “– Mahesh Segu (Business Analyst)


If you haven’t yet discovered You vs. The World, the games based learning app that is successfully making its

mark in schools and homes across the US and UK, now is the time!

We caught up with its founder Aaron Gibson to talk about his journey to date and what keeps his entrepreneurial spirit ticking.

What sets You vs. The World apart from similar learning apps?

The subject matter and skills to be learned are presented in a playful and exciting way. Kids will be encouraged to get actively involved in discussions with their parents whilst having plenty of fun at the same time.

You vs The World enables kids to learn in a creative, multifaceted way making the best of a technology-enriched learning environment, as well as learning opportunities within and beyond the home. You vs The World is designed for children of all ages, the program will alter itself to be as relevant to an 8 year old as it is to a 15 year old.

What drew you to this line of work? Having been engrossed in technology

from a young age I knew I did not want to follow the traditional career routes: teacher, doctor, solicitor. I have always aspired to create something of my own.

My feet are firmly on the ground and I know how much hard work is involved. I hope to give something back to our economy, to keep my business indigenous to Northern Ireland and to hopefully create stable jobs for people - this is our future. You vs. The World exhibits a personal touch. We want to help children learn about everyday

Learning Through Play with You vs. The World

obstacles whilst ensuring parents are at the forefront of their learning.

How have you found the process of pitching You vs. The World? And, what advice would you give to your peers?

To be honest, I would find pitching to an audience of teenagers more intimidating than a group of adults!

Most people feel the same prior to a pitch, nervousness is natural and it’s taking hold of that and transforming it into a positive. As long as you know your product/service inside out, go with it!

We are all human and you will realise that people are there to support you. Eve Earley has been an incredible support, my “business mother” if you like. I cannot stress enough the level of support out there. Source and engage with relevant investors, prepare yourself for tough patches but support does exist, so never give up!

What role does You vs. The World play in this “modern world”?

Often our online activity is conveyed as negative and “destructive”. You vs. The World is a place where children of all ages can safely interact, have fun and learn to make more positive choices in their lives.

The Internet is like the “industrial revolution” of our generation! The pace is incredible and it means there will always be support there for whoever needs it. Obviously, cyber bullying is a major issue and it must be fully addressed from all corners.

We know you can never replace a parent or guardian; we are designed to guide, entertain and engage children as they progress through each stage of their lives.

To see You vs. The World in full view go to www.YouVsTheWorld.co Twitter: @AaronGibsonNITwitter: @YumPod

Pictured: Aaron Gibson demoing You vs. The World


Northern Ireland’s Premier Digital Industry Awards

The DANI Awards are your opportunity to shine and demonstrate the outstanding

work in your field. Now the 4th year of the event, the DANI Awards connects the Provinces digital leaders through its annual ceremony.

Any company within NI or working with an NI business, whether public, private or community and voluntary sector can enter the DANI Awards, regardless of size. The DANI Awards has a range of categories suited to a wide variety of organisations; from large private and public companies through to thriving entrepreneurial businesses, promising start-ups, social enterprises and established SMEs.

To find out more about the different categories and how to enter visit the

1 CultureTECH 2014 BY CultureTECH and lots of other cool peopleWHEN 15th to 21st September 2014WHERE DerryTWITTER @culturetechfest

2 Friday Night MashupBY Friday Night MashupWHEN 18th September 2014WHERE Derry TWITTER @FNMashup

3 Invent 2014 AwardsBY NISP ConnectWHEN 2nd October 2014WHERE Titanic BelfastTWITTER @nispconnect

Would you like your event highlighted in the Sync NI Magazine or online at www.syncni.com?

Email the Sync NI team at [email protected] to find out more.

Upcoming EventsDANI website. Please note that each entry submitted must be submitted by 5pm Friday 18th July 2014 to be considered for shortlisting.

Tickets for the event are available at www.getinvited.to

More info www.thedaniawards.co.uk/@DANIAwards

19th September 2014 - St Columbs Hall, Derry

Event Spotlight

Digi-talk Digital Marketing Conference 2014

Following last year’s success Digi-talk is back! This year we tackle the topic of ‘Content marketing’ with

leading Digital experts from Google, Heineken and BeingOnline.

This year, our experts will address delegates in the morning, before taking part in breakout workshops, giving delegates the opportunity to ask

questions, interact and learn from the industry leaders.

Digi-talk 2014 is endorsed by the University of Ulster Business school.

Tickets on sale now from http://www.hastingshotels.com/Digitalk.html or for more information please email [email protected]

24th September 2014 - Europa Hotel, Belfast

Sponsored by

europa hotel, belfaSt 24th September 2014, 9.00am – 4.30pm

Click here to book your tickets now!

Digital marketing Conference


Logging Off…

We have thoroughly enjoyed putting together this edition of the Sync NI Magazine which

celebrates home grown talent, the application of the latest technologies in business and collaboration. Chain Reaction Cycles is surely one of the biggest inspirations to those of us with an entrepreneurial spirit - a modest family shop which has grown to become the world’s biggest online bike store! We were delighted to feature the launch of CRC’s new brand Chain Reaction Technology as our cover story.

The new brand aims to harness local talent and grow the next generation of eCommerce.

This edition of the magazine was inspired by local talent. We were privileged to feature Jyrobike, Little Deli and Yumpod Group. Each of these businesses has experienced technology driven success, they have embraced innovation and creativity and have developed unique problem solving products.

Northern Irish talent is clearly being recognised as a precious commodity. In a recent interview, Cybersource’s new site executive Fergal Downey said “I’ve no doubt that it is the talent which attracts

the big companies to Northern Ireland and I think it’s contagious.” As long as we continue to highlight the fantastic companies and individuals coming out of NI we can continue to attract opportunities for the next generation.

It is brilliant to see large companies working together with our education bodies to nurture our future talent. Initiatives like the Capital Markets Collaborative Network which aims to boost graduate skills, are key to our shared economic future.

Collaborative events are also crucial to economic growth; The Smart Business Show and IBWC 2014 were just a couple of the super events this year. Make sure you check out our events page for the must attend events in the year ahead - we really are spoilt for choice!

It is encouraging to be heading into the summer season with a shared sense of positivity and pride.

Thank you for reading and check out www.syncni.com for a daily roundup of the latest happenings in the Northern Irish Tech & Business community.

The Sync NI Team

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Join us this summer with your family and friends and raise money in support of Marie Curie.

Stormont Estate, Belfast Saturday 30 August 2014

MarieCurieUK @mariecurieuk #WalkTen

EvEnT SUpporTEd by

Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh Saturday 6 September 2014

10k evening walk music and entertainment fireworks

register now at mariecurie.org.uk/WalkTen or call 0845 052 4184

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sync ni magazine - summer 2014

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