OneAdvanced has launched IQ, an AI-enabled system of work for organisations in regulated and essential service sectors. The platform is designed to bring workflows, data and applications together in a single environment.

The Birmingham-based software provider says IQ is built on a shared data layer with integrated APIs and pre-built connections, with all data processed and hosted in the UK. The product has been shaped by its work in government, healthcare and logistics, including with the Department for Transport, the Ministry of Justice, the NHS, Amazon, FedEx and DHL.

The launch comes as businesses continue to invest in artificial intelligence while struggling to move beyond isolated deployments. OneAdvanced argues that fragmented workflows, siloed data and disconnected applications have limited AI use, particularly in settings where compliance, oversight and operational resilience are critical.

IQ is intended to allow AI to operate across workflows rather than within separate systems. The platform also embeds ISO 42001 policies into day-to-day work, which OneAdvanced describes as a way to apply governance and rules within routine business processes.

OneAdvanced positions the product as a response to concerns over data control, vendor dependence and compliance obligations. Those issues have become more prominent for public sector bodies and other heavily regulated organisations weighing the benefits of AI against the risks of using external providers and moving sensitive information across borders.

Governance focus

According to OneAdvanced, organisations have struggled to get sustained results from AI because the surrounding systems are often disconnected. It argues that the accumulation of point solutions and the lack of context can weaken output quality, while weak governance can allow errors to spread quickly.

IQ is designed to address that by bringing processes, policies, data and AI into one platform. OneAdvanced says this should allow organisations to apply AI and agentic functions across multiple workflows and datasets while remaining within internal policies and sector-specific guardrails.

The platform is also intended to produce deterministic results where required. That is likely to matter in sectors such as healthcare, justice and transport, where automated recommendations or actions may need to be tightly controlled and auditable.

Andrew Henderson, chief technology officer at OneAdvanced, set out the company’s view of how the product differs from standalone AI tools.

“IQ represents a fundamental shift to systems of embedded intelligence – where workflows, data and people are connected, so AI operates directly in the flow of work. This is not about adding another tool. It is about rethinking how work gets done,” Henderson said.

Regulated sectors

OneAdvanced is one of the UK’s larger sector-focused software providers and has long concentrated on industries with complex operational requirements. Its reference to existing work with government departments, the NHS and large logistics groups underlines its effort to position IQ in environments where operational continuity and data governance carry significant weight.

The platform is described in three parts: connected, trusted and intelligent. In practice, that means unifying workflows, teams and data in one system, applying security and sovereignty controls, and embedding AI-assisted workflows and AI-driven insight into routine work.

OneAdvanced says the underlying shared data layer carries business and sector context across interactions. That context is essential, it argues, if AI systems are to produce reliable outputs aligned with how an organisation actually works rather than simply responding to prompts in isolation.

Simon Walsh, chief executive officer at OneAdvanced, said disconnected systems and poor data quality could undermine the use of AI in business operations.

“Organisations cannot function effectively with disconnected systems, disparate data sources and workflows that function in silos, then add AI into the systems, this will wreak havoc – if your data, policies, system connections are a mess, so too will your agentic outputs. IQ applies domain specific context, policies and rules, delivering trustable outputs within your business logic,” Walsh said.

The launch reflects a broader shift in the AI software market away from standalone assistants and towards products tied more closely to business processes, internal datasets and compliance frameworks. For suppliers serving public services and regulated industries, the question is increasingly not only what a model can do, but how it fits within the rules, systems and records that shape everyday work.

OneAdvanced says IQ was built from customer work over recent years to create what it describes as a connected and trusted approach to AI, with data sovereignty and operational resilience treated as central requirements.

O2 Daisy has rebranded as O2 Business following the merger of Virgin Media O2’s business unit and Daisy Group.

The new brand brings together a business serving hundreds of thousands of UK customers, from small firms to larger organisations. Its customers include Sainsbury’s, British Sugar, the RFU and Southampton Football Club, as well as organisations across policing, education and the NHS.

The rebrand comes as new research points to mounting pressure on UK business leaders. In a survey of 502 leaders, 66% said technology decisions are becoming harder to navigate, while 49% said their technology set-up is more complex than necessary.

That complexity is feeding broader concerns about performance. The survey found that 30% said technology challenges had increased operational costs over the past year, 26% said they had put pressure on leadership time and focus, and 19% said they had slowed growth.

A confidence gap also emerged between smaller and larger businesses. Just 68% of sole traders and very small businesses said they were confident in long-term growth, compared with more than 90% of mid-sized and larger organisations. Overall, 16% said they were not confident in their organisation’s long-term prospects.

Pressure points

The findings suggest many firms are trying to balance cost control with technology investment amid wider commercial strain. The survey found that 76% of business leaders had experienced increased personal pressure over the past two years, while 33% reported rising costs.

O2 Business will focus on simplifying how customers buy and manage connectivity and communications services. Plans include fewer product choices, a more streamlined onboarding process, and more consistent service and support.

The business combines Virgin Media O2’s network infrastructure with Daisy’s service and support operations. Its portfolio includes connectivity, communications and IT products, including cloud-based services and Teams Phone Mobile.

Jo Bertram, Chief Executive Officer of O2 Business, said: “Most businesses don’t feel short of technology – they feel weighed down by it. Too many systems, too many suppliers and too much time spent trying to make everything work together.

“At O2 Business, we think it should be simpler than that. We’re breathing simplicity into the way business works by bringing connectivity and communications together in one joined-up experience that just makes sense. When technology is easier to deal with, businesses get back time, focus and confidence – and that’s when real growth happens.”

The rebrand marks the next stage in integrating the two businesses after their combination. It is intended to present a more unified offer to organisations that need a mix of mobile, fixed-line, cloud and IT services.

For Virgin Media O2 and Daisy, the move also reflects a push to strengthen their position in the UK business telecoms market. Operating under a single business brand should reduce fragmentation in how services are sold and supported across customer segments.

Market context

The UK business telecoms and IT services market has become increasingly competitive, with providers seeking to combine connectivity, collaboration tools and managed services. For many customers, the challenge is less access to technology than handling multiple contracts, platforms and support arrangements.

That issue appears especially acute for smaller organisations, which often have less in-house technical expertise and less room to absorb added costs. The survey findings suggest complexity may be weighing more heavily on small firms than on larger businesses with bigger technology budgets and dedicated teams.

Matthew Riley, Chairman of O2 Business, said: “UK businesses are the engine of our economy, but too many are being slowed down by complexity they never asked for. When organisations are tied up managing systems instead of strategy, productivity and growth suffer.”

“Simplifying that landscape isn’t just a technical challenge – it’s a commercial opportunity. With our combined scale and expertise, O2 Business is uniquely positioned to help organisations operate more efficiently, unlock real value and compete with confidence in an increasingly demanding market.”

The Village Coffee Shop in Launton, near Bicester, was launched by Jen Walker after a pop-up venture at the pub revealed strong local demand.

They converted an unused family pool house into the café.

Ms Walker said: “I’ve always had a dream to run a coffee shop, and after a pop-up in the pub for six months, we saw a real need.”

With help from the community, including a petition and letters of support to planners, they secured permission to create the café, reflecting the area’s rural charm with repurposed materials and eco-friendly ideas.

“We’ve been kindly gifted items to repurpose,” Ms Walker said. “And the local Island Pond Wood committee gave us the idea to dead hedge the perimeter instead of replacing broken fencing panels, which all adds to our sustainability ethos.”

The café, which operates off-grid and is not connected to mains utilities, has proved popular despite its tucked-away location on a no-through road.

Ms Walker said: “We are tucked away down a no-through road, and it’s been wonderful to see so many people find us and then repeatedly visit.”

Visitors include cyclists, dog walkers, families, and people working remotely.

The shop also hosts community groups such as a knit-and-natter group, a book club, and a Rummikub group.

Ms Walker said: “The atmosphere from day one has been fantastic and gets better and better.

“We’ve added some light lunches—and puppuccinos, as we get lots of dog walkers.

“We have regulars who come alone for lunch and a chat.”

The most popular drinks are lattes and cappuccinos, while a mango and raspberry cake, made by a local supplier, has become a customer favourite.

The team say they are proud to support other small businesses, sourcing tea, coffee, cakes, and ice cream from the area.

While space and menu options remain limited by the off-grid setup, the cafe has introduced light lunches and kept the offering deliberately small and sustainable.

Visitors are encouraged to walk or cycle, and there is an emphasis on parking responsibly.

First-time visitors often express surprise and delight at finding a hidden gem in the countryside, Ms Walker said.

She said: “Every day, new people find us, and it’s always the same lovely reaction.

“We wouldn’t be here without the support of our customers, and we are so grateful.”

There are no immediate plans for expansion, with Ms Walker saying the team are happy to continue doing what they love for a second year of business.