Digital NMD – Exploring Emerging Technologies’ for Small Businesses

Digital NMD is a new dynamic collaboration established between SERC, Southern Regional College, and led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The programme aims to equip micro and small businesses with the confidence, skills, and tools they need to benefit from the rapid growth of digital emerging technologies and the opportunities they can bring for micro and small businesses.

Over the course of the next year the Digital NMD programme will help local businesses explore technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality, Internet of Things( IOT), Immersive video content, 3D Printing and Big Data.

Digital NMD will focus on setting up a cluster to stimulate and highlight the business opportunities emerging technologies can bring and will deliver expert one-to-one mentoring, workshops, seminars and digital diagnostics on the subject.

Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are changing the way that people perceive and interact with the digital world. This programme will help to develop Immersive Trails and unique storytelling experiences for your customers or visitors.

Internet of Things can provides a means of inexpensive secure long distance communication between a sensor and a remote location. The sensor could be measuring temperature, humidity, location, movement, air quality, or many other pieces of data. The data can be passed back to a server via the internet and presented to a decision maker with other similar pieces of data.

Businesses are exploring new solutions for tourism, improving agriculture, streamlining health service delivery; improving service and goods delivery, and driving up manufacturing efficiencies.

The programme officially launches on 21 March from 12pm to 2pm in the Burrendale Hotel where businesses can try a range of demonstrations, hear from guest speakers and learn more about the support on offer through the programme.

To register for this event and for more information on Emerging technologies and support of offer please visit www.digitalnmd.org

Cllr Roisin Mulgrew Cairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down said: 

“Digital NMD is the next logical step in ensuring our local businesses are as fully equipped as they can be to tackle what has become a highly competitive business environment. I hope our business owners take the opportunity to join us and see what is on offer and how it may benefit their business.”

SERC principal and chief executive Ken Webb said:  

"As a leading college in digital transformation we are delighted to be part of this unique collaboration to help develop the digital skills of the region. The programme will enable businesses to fully harness the opportunities from digital emerging technologies and aims to provide participants with the distinct skills required to take up new opportunities in this rapidly growing area."  

"With digital marketing becoming the preferred channel for many audiences I would encourage businesses to avail of it to learn how their business can directly benefit from it."