shipping containers

Managing supply chain risk

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Global supply chains have been stretched to breaking point as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enforced closures of companies, coupled with newly imposed border controls and other issues, have had a severe impact on many Irish businesses.

There are steps that can be taken to mitigate those effects, according to Shirlee Kelly, a strategic sourcing consultant with IDDEA, a strategic procurement consulting company.

“In Ireland, many companies rely on just-in-time delivery for the supply of goods and services, and the success of this strategy is dependent on highly integrated and efficient supply chains,” Kelly points out. “The availability of labour may impact on supply chains, while government actions may lead to delays in physically moving materials from location to location as well as at ports and across borders.”

As a first step, she advises businesses to assess their supply chain risks and identify those critical suppliers that can have a detrimental impact on the business. “Businesses should conduct a health check on their critical supply chains,” she says.

Start by looking at internal data.

  • Who are the high-spend, high-impact suppliers?

  • What are the immediate risks that you need to plan for?

  • How will you address any lack of supply?

  • What are the steps you need to take to ensure that you continue to meet your contractual obligations with customers?

Contingency Planning

The next step is contingency planning. “These plans may include, finding alternatives to normal supply routes, investing time in discovering and conditioning new suppliers,” Kelly advises. “Companies may need to change their sourcing strategies to include a more local approach. If companies are dependent on one supplier, they need to put measures in place to make sure they have sufficient stock and ensure business continuance. It is important for businesses of all sizes to build resilience across their supply channels and keep their key customers informed of the work they are doing to meet demand.”

Good supplier management is essential in order to reduce the potential impacts of supply chain disruption. “You may have 500 suppliers, so it is not possible to manage every supplier in the same way,” Kelly notes. “We use the Kraljic Matrix to categorise suppliers by the value you spend with them and the risk they pose to your ongoing operations.”

This matrix reveals those suppliers who are strategically important by evaluating them against their value to the bottom line and the risks of a disruption affecting their performance. High-value, high-risk suppliers clearly need careful management, as indeed do those in the low-value, high-risk quadrant who are defined as bottlenecks.

Supplier management begins with information.

“Capture all appropriate data about your critical suppliers, and use this information to drive value for your organisation.  Using tools such as Porters Five Forces and PESTEL analysis as part of your market research, will allow you to assess and evaluate the external factors which may affect your industry and business operations.” says Kelly.

The data analysed, and the knowledge gained, forms the basis of your supplier performance management. “Ensure you have a scorecard in place to allow you measure supplier performance? What metrics do you use and are they aligned with what you are trying to achieve in your overall business strategy?”

“It is important that strategic suppliers work with you on risk management strategies,” she adds.

Those risk management plans should be based on four key elements – awareness, impact, mitigation, and contingency planning.

“Awareness is about understanding the probability and potential impact of the risk,” Kelly explains. “The goal of risk management is to recognise, reduce or mitigate the likelihood of risk. The objective is to identify procedures for managing all stages of risk, this includes, disruption – interruption, response, recovery and restoration of service.

She concludes by pointing out that doing nothing is not an option.  “Companies need to act now, investigate the opportunities in your data, identify your key supply partners and work together on problem resolution.  Treat key suppliers as an extension of the business and find out how you can support each other. Irish businesses are very good at working together in difficult times.  Government bodies such as Enterprise Ireland are a great resource for information on the various supports available to Irish businesses.  The companies I am currently working with are sharing information with their supply base and this is helping to ease supply chain problems.”

man applying for funds

Support when it’s needed most

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The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) has launched a range of supports for employers and people who have lost work and income in order to support them during the COVID-19 crisis. These include the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment.

 

Pandemic Unemployment Support

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an emergency payment of €350 per week introduced by the Government in response to the numbers of people who have lost employment on foot of the pandemic. It is designed to quickly get thousands of people into payment.

According to the DEASP, all workers, including the self-employed, are eligible to apply for this emergency payment provided they are aged between 18 and 66 and have lost employment – or temporarily ceased trading if self-employed – due to the pandemic, and live in the Republic of Ireland.

To be eligible, workers must have been in employment or self-employment immediately before Friday 13 March and have been temporarily laid off from work, and are not in receipt of any employment income. For employees, their employer must not be in a position to retain them on the payroll.

 

Apply online for quick payment

The quickest and easiest way to apply for the emergency COVID-19 payment is to apply online at MyWelfare.ie All that is required is for the individual to have an email address, a bank account and a PPSN. Simply go onto the COVID-19 Services section of the website and apply for the payment. You will have to set up an account, but it is a simple and straightforward process.

The DEASP advises those with an adult dependent and one or more dependent children to apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and then apply Jobseeker’s Benefit instead, as this will pay more than the €350 available under the COVID-19 scheme.

 

Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment

The Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment is available to workers who have been told to self-isolate by a doctor or the HSE, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a doctor. To be eligible for this payment, a person must be confined to their home or a medical facility. The rate for this payment is €350, as compared with the normal Illness Benefit rate of €203. It will be paid for a maximum of two weeks where a person is self-isolating and for a maximum of 10 weeks if a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

A doctor will complete a medical certificate on the person’s behalf and send it directly to the DEASP. Alternatively, where the person has been advised by the HSE to self-isolate, they will need to submit a copy of the HSE notification with their Illness Benefit application form.

Once again, the quickest and easiest way to apply for the payment is by applying online at MyWelfare.ie

 

Short Time Work Support

Another payment available to workers is Short Time Work Support. This is a form of Jobseeker’s Benefit for people temporarily placed on a shorter working week. The payment is made in respect of the person’s regular salary for the days that they are no longer working. For example, if their working week has been reduced from a five-day work pattern to three days, they can receive support for the other two days. Payment is proportionate to the €203 Jobseeker’s Benefit rate.

People can apply for Short Time Work Support by applying at their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

 

Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme

Operated by Revenue, the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is an innovative initiative to support companies to retain employees and to re-employ employees who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the scheme, employers will be refunded 70% of an employee’s wages – up to a level of €410 per week.

The subsidy scheme applies both to employers who top up employees’ wages and those who aren’t in a position to do so. Employers make the support payment to their employees through their normal payroll process and will then be reimbursed by Revenue within two working days of receipt of the payroll submission.

The scheme is available to employers from all sectors (excluding the public service and non-commercial semi-state sector) whose business activities are being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To qualify for the scheme, employers must be experiencing significant negative economic disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic; be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Revenue, a minimum of a 25% decline in turnover; be unable to pay normal wages and normal outgoings fully; and retain their employees on the payroll.

Revenue has made it clear that declarations made under the scheme are not declarations of insolvency.

Employers wishing to register for the scheme can apply to Revenue through ROS myEnquiries on the COVID-19: Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy section.

Market Watch Industry Bulletin – Life Sciences

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Download the bulletin here.

Enterprise Ireland life sciences companies are experiencing extraordinary market conditions, resulting in unpredictable demand, production shortages and bottlenecks, as well as fractured supply chains.

While these are certainly unprecedented and challenging times, there remain significant opportunities for clients within the global lifesciences market. Read the full report in our industry bulletin.

Industry Bulletin Construction

Market Watch Industry Bulletin – Construction

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Construction Bulletin

Download the bulletin here.

Enterprise Ireland construction companies are experiencing unprecedented market disruption both domestically and across international markets.

In this first bulletin, we look at the movement of labour and materials, restrictions on access to sites, market supports and the projected implications of shutdown where this has occurred.

 

 

 

Market Watch Germany – Webinar – Covid-19 challenges and market sentiment

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Market View Germany

Enterprise Ireland’s offices in Germany have launched a series of Webinars; Market Watch Germany, to help Irish companies exporting to Germany navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by Covid 19.

The first webinar on Friday April 3 looked at overall market sentiment and the German Government support package for companies facing acute difficulties in light of Covid-19. We were joined by market, legal and tax experts from Germany Trade & Invest, SHWP Tax & Law and MHL Law.

 

Marina Donohoe

Market Watch – A view from the UK, Central & Northern Europe

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There is no doubt that COVID-19 is making its presence felt with businesses across the globe feeling its impact and Marina Donohoe, Regional Director, UK, Central and Northern Europe, says Enterprise Ireland clients in the region are no different.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Great uncertainty on how deep the recession might be and its length makes it a particularly challenging time for Irish industry. 
  • Restriction of movement is causing further issues for Irish exporters.
  • Prepare for the upturn – invest in client and partner relationships to secure existing business and research potential new opportunities to emerge now and post the crisis.

 

“Restrictions on movement of people is impacting on clients’ ability to respond to customer and partner needs,” says Donohoe. “Market confidence and demand has been eroded, and deals are being lost while fund raising plans have been curtailed or stalled. There is great uncertainty on how deep the recession will be and how long it will last, and this makes for a particularly challenging time for Irish industry.

“Enterprise Ireland has eight offices across the region which are working closely with clients on a one-to-one basis to support them throughout this difficult period focusing on sustaining existing and securing new business where possible.” says Donohoe.

 

Strengthening partnerships

Donohoe says it’s vital for companies to stay connected by keeping abreast of what is going on, exploring the possibilities of virtual business and continuing to invest in client/partner relationships.

“It’s a time to listen and learn about the problems your clients are experiencing and how together you may find potential solutions which strengthen your partnership,” she says. “But also, it’s important to exercise caution when extending credit, especially when your business partners are relatively new, and you’re not familiar with their current liquidity position.

“So, I would encourage companies to actively research the marketing issues their clients are facing, seek out information on the current situation from trusted sources like the WHO or local government departments. And continue to invest in marketing because while industries globally are in crisis mode, they are still seeking solutions to trade so with heavy restrictions on travel, focus on virtual meetings and as a means of engaging prospective new customers.”

 

Global supports for business

While it is undoubtedly a difficult time in business, the regional director says there have been many supports put in place across UK, Central & Northern Europe and Russia.

“A variety of measures have been adopted by the British and other European governments,” she says. “Each country is offering a range of specific supports including loans, wage subsidies or guarantees and these may be relevant for Irish companies with a presence overseas. OECD provides a regularly updated Country Policy Tracker to help navigate the global policy response and provides information on travel, border crossings and general health advice.

 

Key sectors facing challenges

“Many sectors are severely impacted such as the tourism and hospitality trade, personal and professional services and certain areas of the financial and manufacturing sectors.

“Transport is also a major concern and although some countries (e.g. UK and Sweden) have not closed their borders, many others have created temporary regimes which are causing problems for road deliveries – logistics details can be found here.

With all these added complications, doing business can be difficult for Irish exporters and Enterprise Ireland is currently preparing sectoral market insights which will be shared with clients and updated weekly to provide view on market conditions, government supports etc.  Details on public sector contracts and offers can be seen on this platform and also on the GOV.UK site.

 

Opportunities for growth

Donohoe also says there are still opportunities for growth but in a few core sectors:

“The healthcare, pharma, digital services and medical device sectors are still experiencing growth and Enterprise Ireland has been fielding requests for solutions in this area,” she says. “Similarly, solution providers for retail, BPOs, food production and office solutions may also see some growth.” 

“As markets and sectors emerge from this crisis with expected fundamental shifts in consumer/business needs it is a time to also prepare for these changes. Ireland’s SMEs have demonstrated resilience and flexibility by adapting to Brexit challenges and a global recession so remaining agile will be an advantage”.

No-one knows when the crisis will be over, but Donohoe says it’s vital for Irish exporters to stay connected and prepare for the reopening of markets.

“Utilise all digital tools to deepen relationships and promote your business,” she advises. “Prepare for the upturn to secure existing business and research potential new opportunities to emerge now and post the crisis.

“Business and consumer demand will change so investment in research, new idea validation, competitor analysis and the development of strong market development plans will all position Enterprise Ireland clients for the next global economic growth cycle.  Enterprise Ireland’s executives across the 8 offices in UK, Central & Northern Europe are on hand to support you through this exceptionally difficult and unprecedented period.”

Marina Donohoe is Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Director for the UK, Central and Northern Europe. To learn more about the steps companies can take to address the impact of Covid-19 visit our business supports page.

Evolve UK – Offshore Wind Industry webinar

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This Offshore Wind industry webinar provides an update on:

  • CfD round 3 capacity auction

  • Information on the upcoming CfD round 4 auction

  • UK offshore wind project pipeline

  • Supply chain developments

  • Impact of Covid-19 on the offshore wind industry and its supply chain

serosep

Serosep helps to speed up results

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In a pandemic, time is of the essence. A new diagnostic cuts 25% off testing times.

Serosep, a leading manufacturer of laboratory diagnostic products, has developed a new weapon to help in the global fight against Covid-19.

The Limerick, Ireland headquartered company is set to launch a molecular diagnostic testing product which reduces the time it currently takes to identify the presence of the virus from four hours to less than 3 hours.

The product, RespiBio, detects Covid-19 from nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. Aimed at medium to high-throughput clinical laboratories, it uses novel, efficient, molecular diagnostics techniques.

What makes RespiBio unique is that, unlike competitor products, it does away with the need for traditional RNA (ribonucleic acid) extraction practices.

“Many competitor products require RNA extraction prior to testing. This step alone can add one and a half to two hours to many of the current test systems on the market,” says Serosep founder and chief executive Dermot Scanlon. 

Currently it takes several hours to process a molecular based test, with the RNA extraction step alone adding anything from 1.5 to 2 hours.

“The benefit of our test product is that we do not have an RNA extraction step.  Our method of RNA extraction is already built into the RespiBio test”, he explains. The new diagnostic is based on the success of an existing diagnostic created by Serosep, called EntericBio.

“We launched our new innovative molecular diagnostic test, EntericBio, in the end of 2012,” he explains. “This test detects multi pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites from patients suffering gastroenteritis. It also detects gastrointestinal multidrug-resistant bacteria.”

 

Market Leader

EntericBio was the first commercial product in the world to detect faecal pathogens within three hours and quickly became a market leader in a number of countries.

“Currently in eight out of every 10 samples tested for gastroenteritis in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales, EntericBio is the test method of choice used by laboratories,” he says.

“In the UK four out of every 10 samples use EntericBio. The product is used in Belgium, Scandinavia, Israel, Kuwait, New Zealand and South Africa. In June 2019 EntericBio received US FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) approval for sale there.” says Scanlon. 

Its success is attributable to the fact that the test is “designed by microbiologists, for microbiologists,” he says.  “Our target market consists of high throughput laboratories which want to get results within a few hours.”

The success of EntericBio led to an expansion if Serosep’s workforce, which currently consists of 70 people in Limerick and a further 10 in the UK. The company, which was established in 1997, invests heavily in in-house research, development and innovation.

“We are somewhat unique in that we research and develop, design, manufacture and market our own products, and we partner with other companies for hardware and software solutions,” he explains.

The strength of its in-house capabilities enabled it to adapt the technology behind EntericBio to develop RespiBio, which now has the capacity to be a major weapon in the global arsenal against the spread of Covid-19.

“Already thousands of tests of our flagship product EntericBio take place daily, with several million conducted around the world to date. RespiBio is based on the same platform technology and offers the exact same uniqueness as EntericBio in relation to RNA extraction – that is, it does away with the traditionally cumbersome first step. In a pandemic situation, what we need is to speed up tests,” he says.

The innovation is not to be confused with the vaunted “rapid testing kits” we hear so much about in the media.

Rather, “RespiBio is a gold standard test that adheres to very stringent guidelines. It has been developed to provide really high sensitivity testing for use in hospital laboratories and big screening laboratories,” he explains.

As well as being highly effective, RespiBio is easy to use. “We already have this technology out in the field, thanks to EntericBio, so clinical laboratories and hospitals already have the equipment and are already trained how to use it. Using it for RespiBio is as simple as flicking on a switch.”

The team at Serosep is currently working around the clock to play its part in the fight against Covid-19. RespiBio is set to undergo clinical trials and, he predicts, will be available from mid-April 2020.

“We have always said we would never let our customers down,” says Scanlon.  “The company’s policy of building significant stock of it’s flagship product EntericBio  has always been expensive to do but it is paying off now because we are in a position to switch production to RespiBio with no affect in supply to our existing users”

Washing hands SureWash

Sing happy birthday to stay safe with SureWash

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Irish app SureWash provides us with a safe pair of hands

All over Ireland people are singing happy birthday while they wash their hands. Then they sing it again. It’s because Irish healthcare technology company SureWash has provided people with a quick rule of thumb – and finger. If you want to make sure you wash your hands properly, spend as long doing it as it takes to sing the birthday song.

It’s a fun way to deliver a serious message, which perfectly reflects the healthcare technology company’s overall approach.

 

Stopping the spread of Covid-19

Throughout the emergency, leaders across the world have stressed that the primary tool we have at all our disposal in the fight against Covid-19 is the ability to wash our hands. Slowing down the virus’ spread depends on how often, and how well, we do it.

If hand hygiene is done properly it can be over 90% effective in preventing the spread of harmful germs, yet a large number of people are unaware that they are not washing their hands correctly.

SureWash is an augmented reality hand washing app developed in Ireland to provide proper hand hygiene training to healthcare workers, patients and visitors worldwide.

Developed by health professionals, the app ensures compliance in hand hygiene to World Health Organisation protocol. It delivers training in an engaging manner that encourages participation. It uses gamefication to generate enthusiasm and provides real-time feedback, to help users improve their technique.

The software system also provides infection control personnel with the data necessary to monitor hand hygiene progress and to guarantee positive results.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic SureWash has launched its app to the general public, so that everyone can play their part in stemming community transmission.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), everyone should regularly and thoroughly clean their hands with soap and water, or if that is not available, an alcohol-based hand rub, in order to kill viruses that may be on your hands and protect against infection.

In consideration of the number of shared surfaces that we touch on a daily basis, our hands although not visibly dirty, can still be contaminated.

A large number of people are unaware that they are not washing their hands correctly however, missing key surfaces such as thumbs and finger tips.

Cleaning your hands is vital, not least because not touching your face, the other main piece of advice we receive in relation to Covid-19, is hard to do. Studies show the average human touches their face around 23 times per hour.

The chance of infection substantially increases if we are touching our faces with contaminated hands.

SureWash’s 6-step technique helps users to develop a life-long skill. The consumer version of the SureWash Hand Hygiene APP is available to download on both the Apple and is a replica of the SureWash kiosks that are already in use in hundreds of hospitals around the world. Altogether now…..

Aalto Bio

The race is on at Aalto Bio

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Irish biotech company Aalto Bio has announced the availability of a new protein to test and diagnose the novel Coronovarius. It is now available for diagnostic test manufacturers, vaccine developers, and researchers globally, for use in the fight against Covid-19.

The company’s new recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (code CK 6404) will, it hopes, be of critical importance in stemming the current pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19 as it is also known, was declared a Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), due to the unprecedented international spread of the disease. All coronaviruses are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses that affect many species and have the potential to cause pandemic disease outbreaks.

All viruses have Nucleocapsid (N), Spike (S), Envelope (E) and Membrane (M) structural proteins and some also encode a hemagglutinin–esterase (HE) protein.

The nucleocapsid protein plays a fundamental role during virion assembly – a late stage part of the viral life cycle – through its interactions with the viral genome and membrane protein M. It also has an essential role in enhancing the efficiency of subgenomic viral RNA transcription, as well as viral replication.

“Patients are currently being screened for the virus by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)”, explained Philip Noone, CEO of Aalto Bio Reagents, “however there is an important need for serological tests as well to detect all those mild or even asymptomatic cases that may otherwise be missed.”

“Patients are currently being screened for the virus by PCR (polymerase chain reaction), however there is an important need for serological tests as well to detect all those mild or even asymptomatic cases that may otherwise be missed.” explained Noone

The prevalence of these asymptomatic cases can lead to a rise in community transmission of a disease, simply because, without symptoms, carriers don’t realise they have it. “Sero-epidemiologic investigations, such as those aimed to better understand transmission characteristics and severity of COVID-19, are also essential,” he said.

“The medical field and diagnostic industry has an unrelenting requirement for access to the most scientifically proven raw materials in outbreak situations like this, where fast diagnosis is required. With our new SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein we endeavour to meet this urgent demand”.

The company has a long track record in helping to fight infectious disease, having been founded in 1978 to supply raw materials to the global diagnostics industry.

Today it produces more than 300 different reagents which are used to diagnose a huge range of diseases around the world, including serious tropical viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and zika virus.

As such the award winning innovator is firmly established as a leading manufacturer and provider of raw materials to the in-vitro diagnostics industry and research laboratories globally.

It supplies the largest multinational companies in the industry with a broad range of purified human proteins, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, fungal, parasitic, bacterial and viral antigens as well as disease state plasma for in-vitro diagnostic applications.

“We have two main types of customers, the high-tech diagnostic company and the companies who are creating vaccines to treat emerging diseases,” Noone told Enterprise Ireland. “With any of these diseases, there is a race to find a vaccine.”

remote working

9 innovations in the era of remote working

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While the way we work has been evolving significantly in recent years, the Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the need for many people to work remotely. And during this seismic global shift, Irish talent technology is helping thousands of employees and employers to transition from working at their office desks to their kitchen tables.

Ireland’s progressive, globalised tech sector has cultivated a particularly innovative group of talent technology companies. Their smart, disruptive products and services are enabling companies around the world to attract, engage, manage, and retain their workforce in these uncertain times.

 

Supporting employees

While remote working had become common in certain sectors, especially those in which skilled talent is in high demand, it’s new for many companies. They need to quickly implement new technology to ensure their employees can adapt and continue to be productive while working from home.

Talent tech is enabling home-based employees to engage with colleagues, maintain their wellbeing while in a new routine, and upskill at home through online courses.

 

Benefitting employers

Meanwhile, employers can use Irish-built tech stay in operation, keep their workforce engaged, and manage, schedule, and pay their employees while the latter work remotely.

While some industries will see temporary workforce reductions, those such as health, retail and other frontline industries will need to hire more people fast. Talent tech can provide them with remote technology for sourcing and interviewing potential employees.

 

How Irish talent tech firms can help

These nine Irish companies offer disruptive technologies businesses can use to manage how employees work as they navigate these turbulent times.

1. Wellola

With healthcare systems under huge pressure due to coronavirus, optimising care capacity is crucial. Wellola has collaborated with the Irish public health services provider, the Health Service Executive (HSE), to launch a new online portal that enables GP and healthcare providers to treat people remotely so as to protect themselves from Covid-19.

2. Abodoo

As the world turns to remote working, Abodoo is there to connect global citizens with remote jobs. With 23,000 members across more than 60 countries, Abodoo’s SaaS platform uses smart matching technology powered by data analytics to match people to roles. This means companies can build highly scalable distributed teams quickly and cost-effectively.

3. Sonru

With in-person interviews on hold for now, recruiters must turn to virtual solutions. Sonru is an award-winning global leader in asynchronous video interviewing, which gives both candidates and interviewers flexibility. Importantly, it also removes pain points such as interview scheduling, time zone restrictions, dispersed hiring teams, and time lost on no shows.

4. Peptalk

To thrive and survive, companies need to promote a high performance culture. PepTalk is a workplace wellbeing platform that drives team engagement, productivity and connection across organisations in a fun way. Peptalk’s ‘whole person performance’ approach unlocks employee potential, helps companies to reimagine their work cultures and delivers bottom-line results.

5. Workvivo

During times of crisis, internal communications are critical for engaging and reassuring employees. With the Workvivo internal comms platform, employees can read and post content to an activity feed, and like, share and comment as they would on non-work social media. They can also recognise others through shoutouts, link posts to company goals and values, create community spaces, and publish articles and events.

6. FlexTime

Especially now, employers need to be able to manage flexible working arrangements and the changing needs of their employees. FlexTime offers flexible working, time and attendance, and scheduling solutions. Its products, which eliminate the need for manual tracking, are used by over 400 customers, in more than 5,000 implementations for over 200,000 users.

7. PulseLearning

Now more than ever, it’s vital to protect employee mental health and wellbeing, and promote self-care. PulseLearning, an award-winning, global top 10 learning company founded in 1999, developed the I Am Here programme to facilitate a cultural change within organisations so team members know it’s absolutely OK to ask for help and how they can.

8. Flexiwage

Managing finances can be challenging at the best of times. Flexiwage, which integrates with existing payroll packages, empowers employees and employers to make smarter financial decisions. Employees gain a fully flexible pay schedule, getting paid when it’s best for them, while employers can consolidate payroll, reduce costs and promote financial responsibility.

9. LearnUpon

It’s still vital for employees to learn and train while they work remotely. LearnUpon is a powerful learning management system (LMS) platform with a practical approach. Organisations can use it to manage, track, and achieve their learning goals. Trusted by over 1,000 customers worldwide, LearnUpon is one of the fastest growing LMSs in the world.

Aerogen

Irish aerosol drug delivery firm rises to global Covid-19 need

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Given the numbers of people globally who need and will need care to recover from Covid-19 infection, one Irish medical device firm says it may double the number of units it ships this year.

Before the current coronavirus crisis, Aerogen already provided hospitals in more than 75 countries with its world-leading aerosol drug delivery products, benefitting 10 million patients.

Aerogen CEO John Power expects the company could ship 3m or 4m units in 2020, however, up from 2m in 2019. It is also investigating how to address the global ventilator shortage by adapting non-invasive ventilation systems.

 

Soaring global demand 

Aerogen can be a standalone unit or built into ventilators. It not only provides an efficient and effective way to deliver drugs to patients, but its closed-circuit system means the ventilation circuit does not need to be broken for drug delivery. This means there is a lower risk of patients transmitting Covid-19 to healthcare professionals.

The company saw an initial spike in requests earlier this year from China, where it had already been working with local ventilator company Mindray before the current crisis. “Then we started seeing an uptick in business coming through them early in 2020,” said Power.

“Then the wave of demand started coming across the world. In the past few weeks, we started seeing big orders come through from Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK, and demand has skyrocketed from the US in the past week. That really shows the recent change in awareness in America,” said Power.

 

Fairly balancing distribution

Power and his team are striving to ensure they can meet the sudden and unprecedented growth in demand. “We are a global company and we are balancing demand from across the world.

“We are asking customers and distributors to check at the hospital level if their demand is realistic and represents what they need now or if their order could be phased over a number of weeks. We are trying to proportion out our systems so we can give them to all our distributors and OEM partners.”

 

Ensuring smooth supply chains

Almost all of Aerogen’s products are manufactured and assembled in Ireland, primarily at M&M Qualtech in Galway and Molex in Shannon who assemble their high volume Solo nebuliser.

Aerogen has been growing sales at a CAGR of 30% per year since 2010 and Power explains that in response to the current outbreak its working together with its key suppliers to now ramp production by 50%+ in an effort to try and meet the unprecedented global demand for Aerogen’s product. Redeploying staff, adding additional shifts and production lines with more capacity to be added over time. Their component suppliers are also being asked to prioritise production to ensure round-the-clock manufacturing can ensue.

 

Further Covid-19 solutions

While patients with less severe respiratory issues can typically be put on non-invasive ventilators, such as face masks or nasal cannulas, doctors are concerned that using these could contaminate the air with coronavirus. Patients end up being intubated, possibly even when it’s not necessary, placing huge strains on intensive care units. Aerogen is working with hospital and academic partners to adapt non-invasive vents and make them safe for Covid-19 treatment.

This would also ensure that people with other respiratory conditions such as severe asthma or COPD could still access the aerosol drug delivery they have come to rely on, he adds.

 

About Aerogen

Aerogen has long been recognised globally as a pioneer in high-performance nebulisation and a world leader in aerosol drug delivery through ICU ventilators. John was named the European Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016 and Aerogen has received the Zenith Award, the highest award granted by the American Association of Respiratory Care, six times between 2013 and 2019.

Not only do Aerogen units ensure efficient drug delivery to patients on ventilators, but also their in-line circuit design means they carry a lower risk of Covid-19 transmission from patients to health care professionals than traditional nebulisers. Furthermore, the medication reservoir is isolated from the breathing circuit, minimising nebulisation of contaminated fluids.

Recent UK government guidelines state that when treating respiratory patients a closed suctioning system must be used, and that ventilator circuits should not be broken unless necessary.