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Monthly Archives: October 2019

Is Your Company Ready for the 4th Industrial Revolution?

Posted on 22/10/2019 - 12:20 pm by

In the September issue of IITD’s online publication TD I read an article. The article was about an event exploring digital talent trends by Robert Farrell. In the article he speaks about the 4th industrial revolution. As I was born and raised in USSR I have strong feelings about revolutions. I had looked into the 3 previous industrial revolutions and it makes for fascinating reading.
Industrial revolution #1 began in 1760. Manufacturing moved from hand production methods to machines. They began to use steam and water power in factories. There was a large increase in the development of machine tools and the introduction of total mechanisation. Who won in this revolution?  Arguably the people as they were afforded more free time. The 1st Industrial Revolution was the first period in history during which there was a simultaneous increase in the world population.
Industrial Revolution #2 dated between 1870 and 1914. We saw the introduction of the telegraph, electrical power, telephones and railways. Technology was moving at a much faster rate than ever before. It was an exciting era.  I saw a great film called “The Current War” this summer. It really captured the excitement of the time.
Industrial Revolution #3 started in late 1950 and is known as the Digital Revolution. We shifted from mechanical and analogue technology to digital electronics. Transistors, computers and Internet made their debuts. The first home computer was developed in 1977, the Apple II, made its way into homes. The Third Revolution comes to an end with the iPhone 11 and now we are entering the 4th industrial revolution.
Industrial Revolution #4 was first mentioned in 2015. It is  all about robots, artificial intelligence, 5G, 3D printing and technologies that combine hardware, software and biology.
Sounds great but I am not really comfortable when words “robots” “intelligence” and “revolution” are used together. I decided to ask my Echo Alexa about this revolution. My smart speaker and it’s voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant had very little to say. The only response I’ve got was “Hmm, I am not sure”. Very suspicious, don’t you think? I think I am going to be very nice to Alexa from here on in.
All this information made me think about some quality assurance and compliance processes that are still stuck at the end of Industrial Revolution #2. Reams  of paperwork (on high quality manufactured paper) and telephone as the communication channel. Here at Veri we can help you to win in the Digital Revolution and get your data ready for event #4. We can’t escape changes but we can prepare.

Eugena Valadkevich – Customer Success Manager

Language Schools Would Benefit from Digitisation

Posted on 16/10/2019 - 3:26 pm by

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Ireland is a popular destination for people to come and learn English. Every year 100,000 students attend one of over 60 language schools. The courses provided range from basic introductory courses to preparations programmes for the major English language examinations, such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge and Trinity College (London).
It is vital that high standards are maintained in the delivery of these courses. The level must be on par with international levels. The responsibility of monitoring the English language education sector lies with ACELS Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services. Since 2011 ACELS is part of the QQI framework.
The Language school sector is in the news week because of their teacher’s strike. According to Charlene Kane who worked at Deflin, the strike has a lot to do with the paperwork workload. Reporting on compliance and preparing for lessons takes a considerable amount of time outside normal school hours.
English Language Teachers Strike

“I think a lot of people who aren’t teachers…don’t realise how much goes into it outside of classroom hours.”

Our app Veri reduces tutors’ paperwork requirement and streamlines the nonstop paperwork nightmare. Last year we won the Irish Institute of Training and Development Best Digital Partnership Award solving that very problem. 
 Our simple software application called Veri can pre-populate all the data required with just exceptions needing to be logged. We automate tutors track and trace and can support quality standards. A new international education mark for the ELE sector will be introduced in the coming months, Veri will support teachers with these guidelines and allow them to teach rather than fill and shuffle loads of duplicate  paper compliance forms. 
That’s just the start the capabilities of Veri. Digitisation has proven to save up to 40% administration time for present clients. 
 Features include

  • Attendance with logged hours , reasons for non attendance, evidence upload, free text for issues and most importantly analytics to understand and re-mediate 
  • Assessment tracking – real time progression to see where resource is needed 
  • Learning outcome verification, exception reporting 
  • Critical milestones for their progression and success

Streamlining not only benefits teachers but enhances the learner’s journey as well. No additional equipment needs to be purchased; the dashboard can be accessed from all devices. Access to all you need is instant and in real time. The best way to see how your business and your staff can benefit is to arrange a demonstration.  Click here.



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Data Collection has Improved my Performance

Posted on 08/10/2019 - 11:18 pm by

“I am a runner because I run. Not because I run fast, not because I run far. I am a runner because I say I am and no one can tell me I’m not”
John Bingham

I am a runner. I will certainly never win any races, but I have run 5k, 10k and half marathon distances. One of my proudest moments was crossing the finish line in Dublin Marathon last year! I am keen and enjoy how it makes me feel, particularly when running with friends. I like to do what I can to improve and to prepare for my next challenge. Our coach gives us great advice on training, nutrition and recovery, and I endeavour to follow his advice. Alongside that I monitor my progress on my Garmin running watch. It tracks the miles I run using GPS technology, providing me on my app, with a visual of my run, also my speed, distance, heart rate, my cadence, climb, even my sleep!
Even as an amateur in the sport, I can understand the value of this data, collection and appreciate how, almost instantly, the information is delivered and analysed to allow me to see my progress at a glance, and also where I need to work harder and improve.
That gets me to thinking that if it’s important to me, who can barely hit the 10 minute mile, if I were a professional, or striving to be a race winner, how much more important that monitoring and tracking events in real time would be for my success. 
Is this something that also should be at the heart of your business? Are you losing vital information that could be impacting on your performance? Are you getting the information, but too late to remediate and change the outcomes?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions, then you should be talking to us at Veri. Allow us to show you what we can do to help to digitally capture all that information that is at present on forms and spread sheets, and turn them into intelligent data that will help you create the success that you need! 

“How do you know if someone’s run a marathon? – Don’t worry, they’ll tell you!”

 

TD Magazine Featuring Ann-Marie McSorley

Posted on 02/10/2019 - 7:36 pm by

The Irish Institute of Training and Development have a digital magazine that’s published three times a year. It’s an invaluable resource for the profession. The latest issues the industry faces are always addressed along with interviews and best practices.
The latest publication is no exception.

Text so full of useful content, that it requires reading more than once.

 

Lory Manrique-Hyland talks about the pull not push approach that’s required for the future of learning and development. This ties in beautifully with a piece on peer coaching. This is a concept  we should all be aspiring to in the future.
Kingsley Aikins explains how networking is crucial. Despite what you may think, networking is actually more about giving than taking.
Orlaith Carmody examines how a coaching culture can transform your workplace and Noelle O’ Connell looks at how Brexit will affect the sector.
Finally in Careers Ann-Marie McSorley, our own CEO, gives an insightful interview. Ann-Marie shows the path from Trinity Graduate to her current role as head of Fioru Software Solutions. Incentives, experience and career highs are all touched upon and finally the love of horses features in her favourite way to relax.
That’s just a highlight reel, we encourage you to go and have a look at TD Magazine for yourself.