Limerick entrepreneur's new platform aims to save time doing the ‘nitty-gritty’ tasks

A YOUNG entrepreneur from Raheen has developed a new computer programme which he hopes will transform the way the hospitality industry works.

David Hackett, 20, who was the only Limerick student selected to attend the prestigious WebSummit in Portugal, has come up with the idea of a program called NexEire.

It is designed to help company bosses save time, particularly those in the hospitality sector, where he has experience of working for the last five years.

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“It automates all the administration and the business barriers within the hospitality industry. I’ve worked in this industry since I was 15. I’ve seen stuff which slows things down - things like staff rostering, staff management, issues like communication, a centralised calendar, plus clocking in-and-out issues,” he told Limerick Live.

Mr Hackett believes if these inefficiencies can be ironed out, it will not only save businesses money, but improve the experience of guests.

The program utilises artificial intelligence, or AI.

“It can do what I believe AI is meant to do - help with the boring nitty-gritty business stuff and bring back the human experience,” he explained. “People are stuck behind computers when instead they should be on the ground”.

“The biggest advantage to this we have is removing admin and the nitty-gritty paperwork which takes away time you have with your staff you could use to upskill them.”

At WebSummit - the largest and most influential technology conference in the world - Mr Hackett met three people working in the construction industry.

Seeing how efficiently they were using AI and computer tools inspired him to come up with NexEire.

The product is at an early stage, he admits.

“I do have big aspirations for this, and big aspirations overall. If this were to fail, I would get back up and find something new. I know I really enjoy business. I’m not saying this one could be the next Apple, but I think I have something here,” he said.

The Apple reference is apt, for it is the late Steve Jobs that the young entrepreneur admires the most.

He admits he doesn’t have the “showmanship” of the founder of the tech giant - but it’s something he aspires to.

For many people, AI and automation can be akin to job losses.

He takes a different approach, believing the new technology will lead to fresh opportunities.

“I saw this quote once where it spoke about the industrial revolution and how it was basically saying people were scared of what was going to come then. But new jobs came - you had line managers.

“On a larger scale, new jobs will come from AI. This is not the end,” he added.

Mr Hackett is now looking to partner with companies.

For more information, email nexeire@gmail.com