Submissions demonstrate Ireland’s best digital businesses are innovating beyond current difficulties

Leading digital business representative body, Digital Business Ireland, has today announced the finalists of the national Digital Awards. Digital Business Ireland, in partnership with title sponsor, permanent tsb, launched the inaugural Digital Awards in October in order to recognise the best digital, ecommerce and innovation businesses in Ireland while celebrating talent across the industry.

The Awards consist of thirteen categories to include; Website of the Year, New Website of the Year, Online Retailer of the Year, Health, Beauty and Well-being Website of the Year, Food, Beverage Website of the Year, Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year, Digital Impact of the Year, Innovation Hub of the Year, App of the Year, Digital Trailblazer of the Year, Influencer of the Year, Next Generation and Women in Digital. 

The finalists will now be invited to make a further submission to the judges which will be considered in January 2021. The winners will then be announced on the evening of January 22nd. MC for the virtual event is broadcaster, Jonathan Healy.

Sponsors of the category Awards include Campion Insurances Ltd, Codec, humm by flexifi, .IE, Grouper Technology, Magico, Hikari Data Solutions, Lewis Silkin, Olive Group and Open Out.

Secretary General of Digital Business Ireland, Lorraine Higgins, said “This is the very first year of our Digital Awards which are timely given the fundamental change many businesses are currently undergoing. We were blown away by the 300 entries we received, the quality of the applicants and the individual stories of many businesses as they pivoted their operations over the course of this year.” 

“Amid the extraordinary challenges of 2020, the business community has served as a powerful beacon of hope, staying relentless in its pursuit to reinvent and deliver solutions for their customers, while moving our economy forward. This pandemic exposed many of our vulnerabilities but it also showed the remarkable ability of businesses to adapt and pivot as they innovate past these current difficulties. This proved to be very inspiring to all of the judging panel.”

“Selecting the finalists has proven to be a really difficult task in circumstances where the quality and standard was so high. However, I want to thank everyone who engaged with the process and congratulate those businesses, innovators and talented professionals who have made it through to the next round of the Digital Awards and encourage those that did not, to learn from the process and enter again next year.”

Head of Business Banking at permanent tsb Mags Brennan said “Covid-19 has proved to be one of the biggest challenges that many businesses throughout Ireland have had to face. In the wake of the pandemic, many have had to completely transform the way they operate or significantly change their operations. The adaptability, innovative spirit and perseverance of businesses over the last year has been extraordinary, and we are honoured to support the Digital Business Ireland Awards in recognising these outstanding achievements. Thank you to the 300 business who entered and congratulations to the Digital Business Ireland-permanent tsb Awards 2020 finalists.”