EY launches Studio+ Ireland team to boost AI delivery

EY has launched Studio+ in Ireland, bringing together more than 350 specialists in a single team.

The unit combines staff across strategy, design, technology, data, artificial intelligence, marketing, sales and service as EY targets organisations seeking to improve customer and citizen experiences.

Based in Ireland and connected to a global network of 7,000 Studio+ professionals, the team will work with businesses and public bodies on projects ranging from growth strategy and product design to technology delivery and customer service operations.

The new structure is intended to help clients move artificial intelligence projects from pilot stage into day-to-day use. Many organisations are trying to apply AI to customer journeys and operations while managing cost, risk and regulatory demands.

The launch was announced at EY Ireland's offices in Wilton Park by Minister of State Frank Feighan.

"Digital transformation presents an enormous opportunity to improve how people interact with businesses and public services. Our ambition is to ensure that innovation translates into tangible benefits for citizens through services that are more accessible, efficient and responsive to their needs. That's why I'm delighted to be here at the launch of EY Studio+, which is exploring how we can put people at the centre of that transformation while building the trust, skills and digital capabilities needed to realise its full potential," Frank Feighan, Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, said.

Client demand

The launch reflects growing demand from organisations that want to combine product development, customer experience work and operational change within a single programme. In sectors including financial services, companies are also under pressure to bring new products and services to market more quickly while showing measurable returns on technology spending.

Cillian Leonowicz, Partner and Customer & Growth Solution Suite Lead at EY Ireland, said many companies have yet to turn AI experimentation into routine use that changes customer outcomes or internal operations.

He said: "EY Studio+ is about getting to the practical detail quickly, not just setting the strategy but working out what it takes to deliver it and achieve outcomes for customers. Many organisations are experimenting with AI, but too many pilots never make it into everyday use or deliver quantifiable benefits for customers and the teams that support them. Getting real value means getting the fundamentals right, starting with data, and measuring the return on initiatives and interventions. What sets EY Studio+ apart is the combination of end-to-end capabilities and an entrepreneurial mindset. In Ireland, we bring together the skills to support clients from growth strategy, customer insight and product design through to technology delivery, marketing, sales and customer service. Through EY Entrepreneur of the Year, we see first-hand what it takes to grow a brand and build a business, and we bring that same mindset to our clients. That means not just advising on a problem but doing something about it, helping clients turn ambition into products and services their customers value."

In Ireland, the team will focus on three main areas: customer experience, product and service innovation, and the transformation of marketing, sales and service functions. This will include redesigning customer journeys, testing new business models, and using data and AI to tailor interactions.

People and delivery

Richard Hepworth, EY Ireland Consulting Partner, Studio+, said the firm sees successful transformation as a combination of technology, design, data and execution, rather than a technology issue alone.

He said: "There is a lot of excitement about AI, and rightly so. But successful transformation starts with people, whether they are customers, citizens or employees. Technology is a powerful enabler, but on its own it is not enough. Lasting value comes from combining it with a real understanding of what customers and employees need, strong design, good use of data and effective delivery. That is what excites me about EY Studio+. It brings deep technical expertise and creativity together in one team, helping clients spot new opportunities and get ideas and new ways of working to market faster."

Siofra Moriarty, EY Ireland Business Consulting Partner, said companies across sectors are trying to shorten the time between identifying a need and delivering a new service or product to customers.

She said: "Organisations across all sectors, including financial services, are striving to get better products, services and experiences into customers' hands faster. EY Studio+ enables exactly that, using AI-enabled solutions to accelerate the full transformation lifecycle, from understanding customer needs and rapidly designing and prototyping solutions through to build and delivery at scale, while ensuring this all takes place within a governed and controlled environment."

The launch adds another specialist consulting offering to the Irish market at a time when professional services firms are positioning themselves around applied AI, customer experience and digital transformation. EY argues that clients increasingly want fewer gaps between strategy work, technical delivery and commercial execution.

Studio+ in Ireland now brings those activities together in one team of more than 350 specialists, linked to EY's global network of 7,000 professionals.