Intelligent SME.tech Issue 42 | Page 9

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Totalmobile ’ s lone worker protection alerts surge

Totalmobile , a global leader in field service management software , has revealed that alerts raised through its Lone Worker Protection Software have soared in the last year – handling a staggering 135,859 alerts from its 100,000 users who rely on its safety devices every day .

The rise in alerts highlights the growing risks that lone workers and those working in hostile environments are facing daily in the UK . Findings from the British Crime Survey showed that 150 lone workers encounter physical or verbal assaults every day . More troublingly , the British Retail Consortium also reported that incidents of violence and abuse aimed at shop workers rose to 1,300 per day last year , up from 870 the year before .

Totalmobile ’ s team dealt with an average of 372 alerts per day last year , providing lone workers with an immediate response and assistance . These alerts came from customers in the public , commercial and property sectors across the UK & Ireland .

Deel acquires people development platform

Global payroll and HR company , Deel , announced that it has acquired German-based people enablement platform , Zavvy . All of Zavvy ’ s team members are joining Deel .

Founded in 2021 by Mehmet Yilmaz and Joshua Cornelius , Munich-based Zavvy is a people-enablement platform . It offers a central hub that covers career development , performance management and training programmes . One of Zavvy ’ s big differentiators is its embedded AI technology that makes suggestions for managers to assess team performance and create personalised career development plans . Zavvy counts Moss , Primer , LoveBonito , TypeForm and more as customers .

With Zavvy , HR leaders can run performance and compensation analysis for top performers , provide a library of AI-backed L & D courses and create bespoke career paths and planning modules for their teams .

Deel also announced that it is making Deel HR – previously free for up to 200 users – free for any size company .

Digital start-ups soar during cost of living crisis

Despite challenging conditions , the number of UK digital microbusinesses turning over more than £ 100,000-a-year grew substantially during 2023 , and almost a fifth ( 17 %) now bring in six-figure sums , according to new figures published .

The findings come from Venture Forward , a multi-year research initiative by GoDaddy that analyses data from more than half a million UK digital microbusinesses – typically those with fewer than 10 employees . It shows resilience from UK entrepreneurs during the soaring cost of living with the number of microbusinesses turning over more than £ 100,000 being up from 11 % last year .

The growth is similar for microbusinesses bringing in over £ 50,000 , which stands at 33 % today compared with 25 % last year . In comparison , the median annual earnings for full time employees in the UK was approximately £ 34,963 in 2023 .

Fifty-five percent of entrepreneurs who own microbusinesses that are turning over more than £ 100,000 annually say that their website provides the main source of their income .