Qualcom lifts Northern Ireland revenue 30% on retail demand

Qualcom has increased its annual revenue in Northern Ireland by 30%.

Growth was driven largely by demand from retailers in the region.

The Irish IT and cybersecurity services provider also plans to add five jobs at its Belfast office by the end of the year, taking its Northern Ireland headcount to 21. Recruitment is under way for on-site and field-based engineering roles to support expanding work in the market.

Qualcom expects revenue in Northern Ireland to rise by a further 15% by the end of 2026. Retailers are seeking more secure digital systems to manage card and app payments, loyalty schemes and online ordering platforms, often across several sites.

Retail demand

The growth reflects continued investment by retailers in customer-facing technology and the support systems needed to keep those services running. As more transactions move to digital channels, businesses are placing greater emphasis on reliable connectivity, software updates, and protection for financial and customer data.

That has increased demand for local technical support, particularly among retailers without large internal IT teams. Qualcom's engineers are increasingly providing on-the-ground assistance to resolve faults quickly and maintain day-to-day operations, including remaining on site after systems have been installed.

Some clients are also using outsourced support as a more flexible way to cover operational needs, including gaps caused by holidays and staff absences. Qualcom is also helping retailers and other larger businesses manage the procurement and movement of devices and hardware linked to post-Brexit customs and excise requirements.

Northern Ireland has become an active market for IT service providers supporting retailers that operate across physical stores, mobile payment channels, and online ordering systems. Businesses in the sector face pressure to avoid service disruption while managing growing cybersecurity risks and more complex technology estates.

Leeann Saunders, Managing Director for Northern Ireland at Qualcom, outlined the company's view of demand in the retail sector.

"As the retail landscape continues to evolve rapidly, there is growing demand for resilient IT infrastructure that can support secure and streamlined customer experiences, regardless of how people choose to shop. Reputation is key in retail, and it is vital that sensitive customer information remains protected as cyber threats grow. This not only strengthens public perception but also helps ensure operations can continue uninterrupted.

"In this context, IT security is an increasing focus for boards and senior leadership teams in the retail sector as organisations place greater emphasis on resilience and protecting confidential data.

"We are expanding our team in Northern Ireland to meet this rising demand, bridge technical skills gaps, and reduce pressure on organisations. This year, we will continue to work closely with our customers to deliver enterprise-grade capabilities without the enterprise-grade distance."

Qualcom is a privately owned business with operations across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands. It has been trading for more than 30 years, supplying IT and cybersecurity services to organisations across multiple sectors.

The Belfast expansion adds to signs that demand for managed IT support remains firm in parts of the retail economy, where payment systems, ordering tools, and customer data platforms have become central to daily trading.

The planned recruitment will bring Qualcom's Northern Ireland workforce to 21.