Pictured above: (l-r) Rob Gardiner of Marr LLP, Paresh
Patel of Indigo Retail Technology and International Trade Adviser
Bineet Desai.
Two hi-tech companies from Coventry and Warwickshire have won
new business in Canada after visiting the market with UK Trade
& Investment.
Indigo Retail Technology, of Willenhall Lane, Coventry, and Marr
LLP, of Kiln Close, Studley, Warwickshire, joined the high level
visit to Toronto last month (October) to explore opportunities for
11 West Midlands ICT firms.
Indigo Retail Technology has created screen software which
enables retailers to communicate directly with their customers
through music, video and advertising.
Shops can broadcast interactive corporate communications to
consumers with the Indigo Media system, which provides professional
services and technology to enhance the customer experience.
The company has formed its first international trade partnership
with a Canadian technology company to export these solutions,
together with its Insight Customer Research for retailers, which
enables customers to give feedback through devices such as touch
screens or mobile phones.
Director of service Paresh Patel said: "We are delighted to
develop our first international trade partnership. It's a
phenomenal result which opens up a whole new market for us and this
would never have happened without the UK Trade & Investment
visit."
The company was established in 2005 and has about 26
employees.
Marr LLP specialises in the delivery of leading-edge technical
training to the telecommunications and ICT industry, working
closely with universities from the region, and has high profile
clients such as Vodafone.
Managing partner Rob Gardiner said: "During the visit, I met the
technical president of SOMA Networks, one of the largest research
and development companies in Toronto.
"The company combines the latest wi-fi technology with a
partnership model that enables service providers to bring broadband
to homes and businesses around the world.
"SOMA would like us to help it develop wireless solutions for a
distribution network in the UK and Europe and has also commissioned
me to deliver advanced training to hi-tech companies in India.
"The visit was a great success for us. It was crucial that I was
able to meet the right people at such a high level with help from
UK Trade & Investment."
The company was founded in April this year by two managing
partners, who use a pool of consultants as required.
John Coultas, senior vice-president of sales for SOMA Networks,
said: "The potential for Marr LLP and other UK companies to work
with SOMA has come at a very opportune moment. SOMA is currently
rolling out networks across the globe; one of the largest being in
India where 250 million subscribers will be able to access their
networks. We are currently looking for partners in the UK and
Europe."
International Trade Adviser Bineet Desai, based at Coventry
& Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, who is UK Trade &
Investment's West Midlands lead for the ICT cluster, led the
visit.
He said: "Susan Haird, deputy CEO of UK Trade & Investment,
joined us for the visit, which is testament to the importance of
this market and the West Midlands. She was very interested to hear
about the companies' work and their plans to develop their business
in Canada.
"I am delighted with the success that Indigo Retail Technology
and Marr LLP have already achieved as a result of the visit. This
proves that the West Midlands has a great deal to offer to the
world and that the ICT companies within the region are amongst the
best across the globe.
"The remaining companies are all following up very strong leads,
which I am confident will result in further business.
"We are planning a similar visit in June 2010 to Ottawa and
Toronto. Any ICT companies within the West Midlands interested in
joining the visit are welcome to contact the UKTI team in Coventry
for more details."