Summary:
Expert UK software development SME offers specialised automated tool hire-store tracking and tracing technology to be applied in the construction, rail, mining and manufacturing sectors.
The SME is looking for international organisations with specific capabilities to establish commercial agreements. The main markets of interest are the USA, Germany, UAE, South Africa and Chile, but the SME is open to other markets to establish distributor and/or license agreements.
Description:
The SME was founded in 1990 and is a privately owned and funded UK software development limited company specialising in automated track & trace. Much of the software is used at the point of activity, turning real-world data into rich digital information, which is exchanged with downstream enterprise systems using proprietary middleware and integration services.
Much of the SME’s work is bespoke, with a high degree of technological innovation, developing proofs of concept and pilots for many high-profile companies in different sectors, such as:
- Vodafone interactive display in London (2001)
- International Advertising Festival real time wireless voting system (2004)
- Airbus tool tracking (2005)
- UK Environment Agency electronic waste transfer notes (2010)
- London Crossrail waste transfer tracking (2013)
- Royal Mail dangerous goods monitoring (2014)
- British Car Auctions automated vehicle inventory (2015)
- Royal College of Nursing interactive delegate tracking system (2017)
- Play Revolution custom NFC / LED gaming transponders (2018).
The business is currently 20 people, including 10 developers and 7 technical support staff. Customer retention is high and long-standing, with almost all new business coming from referrals.
In 2011 the SME partnered with a UK tool hire company to develop the concept of an unmanned hire-store that could be placed at the point of activity for its customers, slashing waiting times for tools, speeding up jobs and significantly reducing carbon footprint. All tool hires were associated with individuals, giving a further benefit of near-zero damages.
In 2017 the SME started developing its own second generation version, which was simpler to manufacture, lower cost and more accurate. Designed for export or manufacture under license it can be shipped flat-pack and assembled on-site. Incorporating several new technical innovations, the store can be fitted inside all standard container sizes and offers 24/7 availability to authorised users. Each item to be traded in the store is fitted with a low-cost passive RFID tag. The store can maintain 99%+ inventory accuracy at all times as a full automated check is carried out after every visit. This eliminates the cumulative errors inherent in conventional ‘pinch point’ door portal systems, which require frequent manual stock-checks to maintain accuracy. The software provided (developed in-house) will support any number of customers with any number of stores per customer.
The above mentioned model, launched in 2019 in the UK, has attracted interest from a number of market sectors, including (but not limited to):
- Construction (large infrastructure projects – road, rail, nuclear))
- Builder’s merchant (social housing contracts)
- Rail (critical spare parts in Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul {MRO})
- Mining (tools and consumables)
- Manufacturing (out of hours access to maintained lifting equipment and critical spares)
Early adopters are already showing significant carbon equivalent (CO2e) savings.
All the intellectual property in the system belongs to the SME, both hardware and software. All software is written in-house.
The SME does not have the resource to develop export markets and intends to stay focused on advancing the technical aspects of the store, backed up with a managed service for all deployments. It is therefore seeking partners outside the UK (resellers/distributors/agents/licensees) who can offer import, sales & marketing, installation and maintenance services in a geographic region within a specific market sector. The international partner will supply to both ‘End Users’ and ‘Store Providers’ such as equipment hire companies.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
The UK SME is seeking a partner who can provide the following services, directly or with additional sub-contracting:
• Import of the store panels
• Manage supply of containers and installation of the store panels
• Supply and management of user access fobs
• Supply and management of RFID labels
• Provide training on store management and operation
• Provide first line help desk facility and telephone support
• Provide on-site maintenance capability
In addition, the partner sought must have with the following qualities:
• Established business with strong financial position
• Strong presence in the target market(s)
• Strong sales and marketing skills in the target market(s)
• Technical sales resource
• Support and maintenance resource
ROLE: represent the UK SME brand and assist the final client locally.
The benefits to the international partner are:
• Gain a competitive edge in a new market niche
• High proportion of revenue in add-on services including installation, fob and tag supplies, training and ongoing support
• Wide scope for customisation with additional hardware and services, for example incorporating vending machines within the container
• Potential sales opportunity for hire equipment and consumables
The UK SME seeks to develop stable long-term relationships which will provide a mutual benefit to both parties as the market develops. It is initially looking for International distributors and/or licensees in the USA, Germany, UAE, South Africa and Chile.
Stage of Development:
Already on the market
IPR Status:
Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted,Copyright
External code:
BOUK20210610003
