Innovation in business Also featuring: TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS WITH FLP MONITORING SOLUTIONS GPS tracking has a multitude of applications, and FLP Monitoring Solutions has considered them all. Whether there’s a need for monitoring people, assets, tracking vehicles or signalling SOS or Fall alerts, FLP Monitoring Solutions provides the perfect product. With 24/7 monitoring, pinpoint accuracy, user friendly applications with cutting-edge insights, their products lead the market in quality and accessibility. Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 THE FUTURE OF GPS AND 24/7 MONITORING SOLUTIONS Digital Personal SOS & Fall Alarms GPS Personal Tracking Solutions Security, Domiciliary & Lone Worker Solutions Fleet Management Solutions Vehicle Tracking & Monitoring
Innovation in Business is devoted to offering insight and features from across the global business landscape. This quarterly magazine is committed to bringing you updates on the digital world and all that it encompasses in this age of sophisticated technology. On the front cover of this issue, we are excited to be featuring FLP Monitoring Systems (FLP), one of our Top 10 Innovators. With a long history of military experience and advanced understanding of GPS systems, their uses, and benefits, FLP provides GPS tracking software that can be used for a range of different purposes to enhance safety and efficiency, whether in the form of an SOS alarm for personal use, to track vehicle fleets, or to provide protection for lone workers in remote or hazardous environments. As you read on, you’ll discover what it is exactly that makes FLP a top innovator. Elsewhere, we explore more companies that have made it on to our Top 10 Innovators list, hailing from industries such as financial planning, omnichannel fulfilment, and online investment crowdfunding. Each are leveraging the power of technology to create solutions that make lives easier and have a positive overall impact. They are truly revolutionising their industries and we are excited to be watching it all unfold. We hope you find this issue to be insightful and that it inspires you to think differently, to explore and welcome the opportunities that come with innovation. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon for our Q4 issue. Rebecca Scotland, Editor www.innovationinbusiness.com Welcome to the Q3 issue of Innovation in Business magazine. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Editors Sofi Parry, Senior Editor | Rebecca Scotland, Editor | Kita Thomas, Writer | Lou Allkins, Writer | Emily Godbold, Writer | Matthew Wright, Writer | Joshua Beardsmore, Writer Designers Haeri Jung, Junior Graphic Designer | Lauren Baldwin, Graphic Designer
Contents 4. News - Pudu Robotics Launches PUDU MT1: AI Powered Robot in Large-Scale Cleaning - Vantiva Demonstrates its Vision of the Connected Home of the Future with New Lineup of AI-Powered CPE at IBC 2024 Q3 Issue 6. Fine Sounds UK: Audio Components Distributor of the Year 2024 – UK 7. Dalton Buck: Best PropTech & Real Estate Recruitment Company 2024 - UK 8. Justlin Ltd: Communication & Media Solutions CEO of the Year 2024 – Malta Top 10 Innovators 2024 12. FLP Monitoring Solutions: The Future of GPS Monitoring: Trends and Innovations with FLP Monitoring Solutions 14. Utopia Plastix: The Journey to a Sustainable Utopia 15. Cardforté: ‘Cards Are Our Forte’ 16. Compare Your Life Pty Ltd: Expert Support for Financial Planning Success 17. Extensiv: Software Solutions to Empower 3PLs Everywhere 18. FundingHope LLC: Empowering Those Investing in Hope
NEWS cleaning only when needed to maximize efficiency and conserve energy. • Smart Spot Cleaning: Efficiently patrolling large areas with a wide scanning field of view, the PUDU MT1 identifies and cleans trash immediately upon detection. This ensures maximum efficiency by activating the cleaning mechanism only when necessary, avoiding redundant paths and targeting trash directly for a smarter, more effective cleaning experience. • Dynamic Environment Adaptability: Using Lidar SLAM and VSLAM, the PUDU MT1 adapts to dynamic environments with fullspace awareness, allowing it to efficiently map and clean large areas. Its route optimization ensures thorough coverage with minimal redundancy, and it adjusts seamlessly to layout changes, ensuring consistent and uninterrupted cleaning. • No Debris Too Big or Small: With a 35-liter largecapacity trash bin and a 70cm wide cleaning path, Pudu Robotics Launches PUDU MT1: AI Powered Robot in Large-Scale Cleaning Pudu Robotics, a global leader in the service robotics sector, proudly announces the launch of the PUDU MT1, an AI Powered Robotic Sweeper designed for large-scale environments. Traditional cleaning in expansive settings like home improvement stores, warehouses, and manufacturing plants is often labor-intensive and less efficient. The PUDU MT1 aims to revolutionize this with advanced technology, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining high cleanliness standards. Designed for vast areas, the PUDU MT1 can efficiently handle cleaning regions exceeding 100,000 square meters, leveraging sophisticated AI-driven features to handle the unique challenges of large environments with ease and accuracy. Key features include: • AI-powered Trash Recognition: PUDU MT1 uses advanced AI to identify and categorize waste, continuously updating its database for improved accuracy. This technology distinguishes real trash from non-trash items, activating the PUDU MT1 captures all types of debris, from fine dust to larger items like beverage bottles, ensuring a thorough cleaning in a single pass and significantly reducing manual intervention. • Proactive Dust Control: Using high-flow negative pressure exhaust and a filter system, the PUDU MT1 captures and contains particles, preventing secondary pollution and maintaining a healthier environment. • Ease of Use: The MT1 is designed for maximum user convenience. Its intuitive touchscreen interface ensures easy operation and customization, even for first-time users. The extended handle allows effortless manual intervention, facilitating transitions between areas and semi-outdoor tasks. Its modular design features a quick-release trash box and other consumables, making maintenance and replacement straightforward. • Outstanding Operational Capability: Navigating narrow passages as slim as 75cm, overcoming obstacles up to 20mm, and traversing gaps up to 35mm, the PUDU MT1 ensures thorough edgeto-edge cleaning. With a 45Ah battery capacity and a 6-hour battery life, it offers 24/7 cleaning when paired with its charging dock. • IoT Integration: The PUDU MT1 integrates with IoT devices, interacting with elevators, gates, and other infrastructure for multifloor cleaning. Remote monitoring via apps and PC interfaces provides real-time updates, visualized cleaning reports, and notifications when the trash is full, ensuring efficient management. Felix Zhang, Founder and CEO of Pudu Robotics, emphasized the significance of intelligent automation in large-scale cleaning: “The scale and complexity of modern facilities require advanced cleaning solutions that go beyond traditional methods. The AI capabilities of our PUDU MT1 deliver the intelligence and automation essential for keeping extensive areas meticulously clean, meeting the high expectations for hygiene and operational efficiency in large environments.” As the third cleaning product in the product lineup, the PUDU MT1 further expands Pudu Robotics’ application in the cleaning sector, offering unparalleled efficiency, precision, and adaptability. Pudu Robotics remains committed to advancing intelligent automation across various industries, continually enhancing its product lines to meet the evolving needs of modern facilities. For more information about the PUDU MT1, please visit: https:// www.pudurobotics.com/ products/mt1.
Set-top boxes with human-like AI personal assistants and gateways with AI-powered security and privacy shape a new consumer experience at home Vantiva, a global technology leader enabling Network Service Providers (NSPs) to connect consumers worldwide, will demonstrate innovative AIpowered products at IBC 2024, including set-top boxes (STBs) and broadband gateways, all connected to Vantiva’s Navigate AI cloud. This new class of CPE features a local Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and enhanced CPU and GPU performance, ensuring more private, secure and lower latency Edge AI use cases. This positions operators as “Home AI” platform providers offering new AI services, while optimizing cloud costs and maximizing CPE capital investment. “Our focus and vision for the home of the future incorporates AI-enabled devices that can meet and exceed the evolving demands for intelligent interactions between consumers and their digital environment,” said Charles Cheevers, CTO at Vantiva. “With deep insights we’ve gained from serving the connected home industry, we are poised to combine the STBs, broadband gateways and cloud capabilities into a unified AI platform delivering new-AI based assistants, enriched video and audio experiences such as automated multi-lingual services, diversified advertising opportunities and cutting-edge gaming experiences, positioning Service Providers at the forefront of generative AI offerings for consumers.” Vantiva will be demonstrating the following at IBC: • The STB as central hub of the AI-powered home: With multi-modal inputs such as camera, far-field microphones and speakers, Vantiva’s new STBs enable cutting-edge features such as an AI-powered personal assistant that can understand and engage in human communication. Users can fully engage with this human-like assistant, making interactions with Generative AI feel like real conversations. • Shoppable TV: Vantiva’s STBs improve the shopping experience with AI and NPU capabilities. The “Shoppable TV” feature utilizes the NPU for real-time object detection, automatically matching that object in video to a catalog. This allows for instant shopping through the TV via voice commands. • Audio accessibility feature improvement: AI greatly enhances the STB by enabling live audio transcription, allowing consumers to enjoy video streams in their original audio with auto-generated subtitles in any language. This local transcription capability helps service providers reduce costs by lessening their dependence on cloud services. Vantiva’s AI-powered transcription technology empowers operators to offer a richer, more inclusive viewing experience around the world. In addition, local AI can detect noise in a room and automatically adjust the TV volume for optimal sound. • More immersive gaming experience: By adding a vision camera to the STB, along with NPU acceleration, Vantiva introduces new gesture-based interactions, creating a much more immersive gaming experience. In addition, the ability to run gesture, pose and facial detection models locally on the STB reduces costs and latency by eliminating the need for cloud processing. • AI upscaling technology: Vantiva significantly improves existing upscaling technology by leveraging the local STB engine to analyze images in real-time to enhance video quality and enable new features, like upscaling and tracking objects in a video for highquality Picture-in-Picture. • Broadband Gateways: Vantiva’s broadband gateways complement the STBs with the addition of a NPU on top of their already impressive MIPS count. This allows new broadband apps to run locally for Edge AI services. The broadband gateways also ensure consumer privacy and security by providing real-time activity reports of cameras, microphones and sensors. Additionally, they offer advanced tools to show interactions between devices, leverage the gateways to detect security threats and intrusions and allow consumers to manage or block camera and audio services as needed. Vantiva Demonstrates its Vision of the Connected Home of the Future with New Lineup of AI-Powered CPE at IBC 2024
May21135 Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 6 Established in 2020, Fine Sounds UK is part of the McIntosh Group, a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of high-end home audio equipment worldwide. Fine Sounds UK specialises in importing and developing the customer experience of the finest audio and video solutions to the UK and Ireland. As a part of the McIntosh Group, the company is the exclusive distributor of prestigious audio brands like McIntosh and Sonus faber. With access to some of the finest audio equipment available, Fine Sounds UK holds an advantageous position within the market. The company resells its high-end solutions to independent Hi-Fi, audio visual, and consumer audio stores across the country. Ultimately, it aims to build a network of incredibly detailed, highvalue service oriented dealers to ensure that its end-users’ needs are met. Fine Sounds UK takes a client-centric approach, first aligning itself with its end-users’ requirements. Then, it designs its communication channels, assets, and team in such a way that provides its dealers with what they need to excel with the client. This includes providing stock in the UK, immediate access to information and digital assets, customised support, marketing, and smart assets. At its core, Fine Sounds UK aims to support its dealers in providing the very best service, and strives to generate customers for them, either in-store or online. “Keeping close communication with dealers and asking for feedback on how we are servicing them is key to trust,” says Andy. “We invite criticism; it helps us better understand their needs and ensure that we can keep being the best at what we do.” Fine Sounds UK remains at the forefront of innovation due to its commitment to customer service. The company keeps it simple and opts to help its immediate customer generate the best end-user experience. By ensuring that it remains knowledgeable and current with market trends and changes, Fine Sounds UK can anticipate its clients’ needs to provide value-added services. By inviting criticism and feedback, Fine Sounds UK can continually assess and enhance its offerings, ensuring that it stands out in the market for delivering the most cutting-edge solutions. This includes monitoring the market for emerging technological advancements in audio equipment. “Communication is the key to innovation,” Andy tells us. “We need to stay true to our vision: to be the best at what we do. Innovating by using new technologies and software solutions is something that any business can do. Complacency is the enemy of value; it will erode performance, which will ultimately destroy relationships.” Relationships are strong within the team at Fine Sounds UK, with a culture focused on being a safe place to fail. The company inspires success and invites dynamic discussions amongst employees, setting the team free to critique each other and themselves. This ensures that everyone is accountable to each other, and time together is an opportunity to learn. With this approach, Fine Sounds UK strives to be the best at what it does, and each member of the team shares this goal. Fostering such a culture positions Fine Sounds UK on a path to success. The company continually looks to innovate and improve and encourages its employees to get involved with this journey. With impending plans for optimisation and development, Fine Sounds UK demonstrates exactly why it has been awarded the prestigious title of the Audio Components Distributor of the Year 2024 – UK. Currently, Andy tells us that the biggest challenge faced by Fine Sounds UK is itself. The company must remain lean and agile in such a competitive environment, so resisting the desire to increase cost-base can be difficult. However, it recognises the importance of investing in the areas that move the needle and staying aware of those that do not. This strategical perspective enables Fine Sounds UK to retain a keen business acumen that ensures continued success. Of the company’s future, Andy says, “We’re leaning into inventory optimisation, with a companywide MRP system that ensures we always have stock on hand. Inventory optimisation is a critical component to win. We are also developing our support systems for custom integration and cinema, working even more closely with our dealers to help them design amazing audio and cinema systems for their clients!” Contact: Andy Oattes Company: Fine Sounds UK Web Address: www.finesounds.uk Audio Components Distributor of the Year 2024 – UK Fine Sounds UK is a significant player in the high-end audio market, renowned for importing and distributing premium audio products across the UK. The company works closely with top retailers and installers to ensure their brands are well-represented and supported. Following Fine Sounds UK receiving its title in the PropTech Awards 2024, we speak with Country Manager Andy Oattes. Aug24067
May21135 Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 7 Finding the best candidates in such a competitive market is not straightforward. However, with Dalton Buck’s seasoned experience and small boutique firm approach, the company regularly exceeds all expectations. George adds, “We foster a professional, polite, and hard-working environment.” Bringing everyone together, while supporting them in being independent at work, Dalton Buck has cultivated a small high-performance team of its own. This has ultimately set the standard for how the company wishes to impact its clients – to help them gain their own dream team. Awarded with Best PropTech & Real Estate Recruitment Company 2024 – UK, Dalton Buck has added yet another layer to its prestigious status. For PropTech & Real Estate recruitment, Dalton Buck is a standout option for the recruitment needs within such crucial industries. The future looks promising for Dalton Buck as it retains its number one ranking for PropTech recruitment on Google, and will see even higher rankings for real estate recruitment as it continues to contribute innovative techniques for finding the best candidates in the ever-changing market. Company: Dalton Buck Web Address: https://daltonbuck.co.uk/ Best PropTech & Real Estate Recruitment Company 2024 - UK With innovative trends taking hold of the PropTech & Real Estate industries this year, we’re proud to present Dalton Buck’s contribution to these ever-evolving landscapes. We speak with Founder and Company Director George Buck, as the specialist recruitment consultancy wins its title in our PropTech Awards 2024. With over 20 years of experience behind it, Dalton Buck has steadily built a reputation for excellence in its field. As a recruitment specialist, they are expertly responding to the needs of the PropTech & Real Estate sectors, being a renowned strategic partner for a seamless recruitment process. Ensuring its clients are able to build exceptional teams, Dalton Buck goes above and beyond in alignment with their unique needs and requirements. George Buck tells us, “We are proud to say that we have over a 95% success rate filling the vacancies we are given; and on average, it takes us between two to seven days to present a strong shortlist of candidates for the majority of jobs we work on. Executive searches will often take a little longer.” Doing more than simply filling a vacancy, Dalton Buck’s proactive approach to recruitment results in consistently delivering high-performing teams that are perfectly suited to their roles. Dalton Buck’s commitment to delivering a highly professional service has also earned them a loyal and impressive client base. Their ability to meet tight deadlines and consistently find the perfect candidates for their vacancies has solidified their reputation as a trusted partner in this niche space within the recruitment industry. “We have experience recruiting every discipline of position, across the entire Real Estate and PropTech lifecycles. So our clients know that they can call on us for all of their recruitment needs.” As Dalton Buck proactively goes to market utilising Boolean Search techniques, they guarantee that the search is specific to the qualifications, skill set and experience required for each role – tailoring the best fit for its clients. New additions to teams are not only well-equipped to carry out their duties, but often highly committed to the vision of the company on a long-term basis, as they have been sold the opportunity effectively. “This can only be achieved by developing informed and trusted relationships with both client and candidate alike.” With a diverse client base in the world of PropTech & Real Estate, Dalton Buck has all the tools required to succeed for its clients. George shares, “Our PropTech clients include big brand names, as well as startups, whose goals are to revolutionise the real estate industry by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving the overall experience for both property owners and tenants. PropTech often overlaps with FinTech, so we have clients in this space too. We have also worked in Real Estate Tokenisation. We have made volume hires to keep up with our clients’ aggressive growth plans, as well as key/strategic/executive level placements. In Real Estate, we represent investment management clients: fund managers, asset managers, private equity real estate firms, investment banks, sovereign wealth funds and family offices. We also work with property developers, real estate consultancies, project management and property management companies. We essentially fill every discipline of position, from C-Suite to front and back-office staff, across the whole property lifecycle.” Jul24746
May21135 members to experience more from Justlin, on an exclusive basis. Furthermore, introducing its overseas communications app for Australia, Justlin’s work has become well known outside of Europe. Steley is a new way of communicating and finding new people to connect with. As we age we may find it more difficult to find new connections and networks, but Steley is changing everything. The team at Justlin takes pride in their contribution to the world of technology as they continue to work tirelessly in their creative endeavours. “Through creativity, innovation, motivation, and coherent concepts, we have managed to grow continuously and to continually develop our product and service range year after year.” As we all know, behind a strong team is a committed leader there to guide them every step of the way. We’re here to celebrate Stefan Heller’s success in our Technology CEO of the Year Awards earlier this year, especially as he devotes himself to his company’s development. After working at WBN Invest and Appitioner Aps., Stefan has swiftly become one to watch in the corporate world. Additionally, as acting partner of FGF Stall, Co-Founder of Saemann & Heller, and CEO of Justlin Ltd., Stefan brings years of experience to the world of technology, communications, and media. Working hard to streamline innovation through technological advancements, Stefan is taking positive steps forward year upon year. Not only has he led Justlin to success, but his achievements for FGF Stall and Saemann & Heller have been outstanding. For example, Saemann & Heller is a digital, visual communications company which is altering the trajectory of the industry. As we live in an ever-evolving digital age, it is absolutely imperative that businesses and individuals have access to unique digital strategies which can help companies, brands, and institutions to flourish. Uniting traditional branding, marketing, and communications with the changing digital world, Stefan is setting an example for those dreaming to enter the industry. Being part of three core companies for so many successful years is no small feat, yet Stefan’s dedication has kept customers and clients coming back for more – time and time again. With great technology comes great power, especially as the corporate landscape shifts towards a higher need for digital services. Expanding further across Europe in the near future, in addition to its global reach, Justlin is able to confidently say that it is reaping the benefits of its sturdy subsidiary’s foundation. Juggling so many projects may not be easy for some, but Justlin’s expertise and specialist attention has meant that its clients and customers have always been greeted with the technology they have sought after. With all of its applications and platforms, and Stefan’s experience behind it, Justlin is guaranteed to see excellent growth for the rest of 2024, and beyond. Recently, Stefan was awarded with Communication & Media Solutions CEO of the Year 2024 – Malta and we know there’s much more to come from the team at Justlin, especially with Stefan at the helm. We’re sure to see many more products, platforms, and services come from the company as the years go by. Founded in 2016, Justlin Ltd. delivers pioneering solutions for its customers through its many services. Its Job Portal aids businesses and individuals alike to advertise the work which they have completed, through creative means. Translating ideas into coherent concepts, this award-winning company’s work ensures that craftspeople and other service providers can then submit their bids to Justlin’s creative clients. Guaranteeing that its clients can set the duration of the quotation phase, and that, at the end of the bidding process, its clients can choose the right offer for them once they have weighed up their options. Allowing for searches on the advertised orders to be made for full-text search categories, and location, Justlin makes it easy for them to be identified and understood, so that the bidding process may commence in a seamless fashion. The company’s Rental Portal means landlords can advertise their rental price, deposit, minimum rental period, and other conditions may be chosen and set entirely by the individual themselves, making the process customisable and simple for the owner of the property. The Learn Portal by Justlin helps learners to pay for their courses directly – at the time of booking – to ensure they receive a credit account upon their registration. With this easy process, using PayPal or an alternative, each course is seamlessly paid for straight away – making it easier to access courses as well as giving educational institutions a guaranteed payment as soon as the course is selected. Justlin is also home to an innovative real-time geolocation tracking app and its Justlo chat7 platform. Both of these technologies have been exclusively built for Justlin’s clients – delivering a seamless platform to registered members. Its tracking and mapping capabilities, as well as its communications platform allows for Communication & Media Solutions CEO of the Year 2024 – Malta With projects all over the world, Justlin Ltd. offers creative and innovative scripts to start your own business, as well as delivering its applications and platforms to positively impact its customers. Moreover, the company continually aids businesspeople and startups alike in their journeys, whether that’s with its pioneering job portal, carsharing portal, learning portal, real-time geolocation tracking tool, or rental portal, there’s something for everyone. Led by CEO Stefan Heller, the company has experienced success since 2016. Here we take a look at Stefan’s contribution to the corporate landscape as he recently won his title in our Technology CEO of the Year Awards 2024. Creativity, Innovation, Motivation, and Coherent Concepts
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 9 Contact: Stefan Heller Company: Justlin Ltd. Web Address: https://justlin.com.mt/
May21135 Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 10
TOP 10 INNOVATORS 2024 Top 10 Innovators 2024
The Future of GPS Monitoring: Trends and Innovations with FLP Monitoring Solutions GPS tracking has a multitude of applications, and FLP Monitoring Solutions has considered them all. Whether there’s a need for monitoring people, assets, tracking vehicles or signalling SOS or Fall alerts, FLP Monitoring Solutions provides the perfect product. With 24/7 monitoring, pinpoint accuracy, user friendly applications with cutting-edge insights, their products lead the market in quality and accessibility. Additionally, with the pending Digital Switchover, FLP Monitoring Solutions stands out as a marketleading Digital SOS Alarm provider. This innovation ensures they remain at the forefront of the industry, earning FLP Monitoring Solutions a comfortable spot as one of our Top 10 Innovators. At its core, FLP Monitoring Solutions focuses on two key principles: delivering outstanding products and providing first-class customer service. According to the company, its mission is to serve its customers, which means maintaining a no-shortcuts approach. This commitment ensures that every product and customer experience meets the high standards set by the FLP team. FLP’s offerings are tailored for both consumer and business markets. Whether you need a solution for a friend or family member or a bespoke corporate package, there’s a product suited to every customer’s monitoring requirements. Operating in over 28 countries, FLP handles over 15,000 calls a year and tracks more than 5,000 active users. Despite this global reach, the company remains true to its values, treating each customer like a member of the family. Through its partnership with a leading monitoring centre, Apr24613 FLP provides 24/7 support, continually enhancing its services. “We don’t follow shift patterns; we’re always responsive and committed to year-on year growth, continually improving our service for everyone involved. When you join FLP Monitoring Solutions, you become part of our growing network and family.” The company’s custom GPS tracking software, RED ON, operates using a dedicated, secure server. It is accessible via desktop, phone, or tablet, and provides an intuitive suite of tools, such as geofencing, custom alerts and tailored notifications. RED ON is available 24/7 and can be tailored to a wide range of business needs. Their products utilise a multinetwork allowing for both indoor and outdoor coverage with consistent service. With both realtime and retroactive monitoring, the software provides a comprehensive view, empowering businesses to gather data and review activity. RED ON’s applications are extensive, and its insights help companies remain compliant with electronic logs. Telematic insights into driver behaviour, fuel consumption, and vehicle maintenance allow for informed route planning and optimised logistics. It can enhance workflows across a wide range of businesses simply and efficiently. FLP’s monitoring devices cater to a wide range of common use cases. For personal use, they offer personal GPS devices with SOS alarms. These can also monitor health, making them ideal for providing peace of mind for those with a loved one experiencing health issues. In the event of an emergency, help can arrive quickly, and friends or family can be informed immediately. These discreet, unobtrusive devices last for days on a single charge and offer features such as fall detection, a 24/7 managed response centre, and enhanced notifications for a family and carers peace of mind. Customers praise its ease of use and swift service. One customer reports, “Whenever I press the SOS button by mistake (which is often), the response is always within seconds and very polite. On the one occasion I had a fall, my neighbour was here within a few minutes.” Another customer writes, “My partner and I have just purchased 24-hour cover for our safety. Nothing was too much trouble in meeting and accommodating our home and medical needs.”
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 13 The Future of GPS Monitoring: Trends and Innovations with FLP Monitoring Solutions On a broader scale, FLP empowers domiciliary carers by enabling staff coordination, simple emergency measures, and reassuring family members about their loved ones’ safety. Real-time incident reporting and response provide emergency services with swift, accurate information, bridging the gap between carers and responders. Precarious situations aren’t exclusive to those with health issues. FLP simplifies safeguarding for lone and remote workers in potentially hazardous roles. With pinpoint accuracy, its trackers ensure that these workers never feel alone or unable to access assistance. Calling for help is straightforward with its range of security watches, pendant alarms, and innovative tracking software. FLP’s corporate offering is a popular solution for businesses requiring vehicle tracking. Advanced GPS tracking provides live locations and sophisticated telematics for crash and theft data. It is scalable from a single vehicle to an entire fleet, offering reliable monitoring for logistics businesses of any size. Geofencing alerts allow fleet managers to specify routes and locations, while remote blocking provides the capability to disable engines remotely in case of emergency. FLP’s VTAT Fleet solutions give businesses a new level of intelligence and control, simplifying the coordination process significantly. “Our intuitive mobile app, and RED ON Platform enables fleet managers and drivers to stay connected. Drivers can receive job assignments, navigate efficiently, and report incidents directly from their smartphones.” Fleet tracking uses a roaming multinetwork signal and is powered directly from the vehicle’s battery, eliminating the need for charging and ensuring constant signal access. Tracking also captures details of drivers’ habits, including harsh braking, acceleration, and speeding. This data promotes safer driving and a more fuel-efficient, eco-friendly operation. The company values innovation, rigorously testing and continuously analysing its products for improvement. Dedicated to its mission, FLP ensures constant monitoring where required, with precision and no signal loss, providing valuable insights. However, despite its constant innovation, FLP is mindful of budgets and works to accommodate customers at any price point. Monthly GPS tracking starts from as little as £9, with scalable pricing available for businesses. Free demonstrations are available to showcase the effectiveness and use cases of both hardware and software, providing a first-hand look at the benefits before any commitments are made. Whether used for personal safety, protecting the vulnerable, or meeting complex business needs, FLP Monitoring Solutions product line provides comprehensive solutions to various monitoring requirements. Its devices are simple, intuitive, reliable, and connected to a robust support and customer care network. As a true innovator in the GPS tracking and monitoring space, FLP brings ease to its customers, constantly improving its service, and is rapidly approaching industry leadership.. Contact: Justin Kerley Company: FLP Monitoring Solutions Website: www.flpmonitoring.com Top 10 Innovators 2024
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 14 The Journey to a Sustainable Utopia Sharina Perry founded Utopia Plastix in 2018, following her lifelong aspiration to make the world a better place. Growing up, Sharina understood first hand what it meant to be an African American woman before being a businesswoman and has continuously strived to uphold and empower other minority businesses. At the core of Sharina’s mission is a desire to help multi-generational minority and disadvantaged families and communities. Utopia Plastix describes its business model as circular. The company operates by controlling its supply chain through a sustainable eco-system business model. The Utopia Model Model Companies oversee farming, processing, manufacturing, distribution, as they collectively work together following the Seed to Sell methodology. The objective is that eventually all plastics within households will be produced with seeds sown by local farmers, creating a sustainable economy within communities. After years of extensive research and development of plant-based products, Sharina was able to create a plant-based straw at home. Her goal was to create an alternative to the petroleum-based plastics that are polluting the environment and increasing global health issues. Sharina turned away from common, single-use plastics to develop materials that are compostable and degradable, having minimal impact on the environment in both its creation and its implementation. According to a 2024 brief from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, over 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year, with an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic litter ending up in the environment every year. This amount Utopia Plastix is a woman minority owned business that has developed a plant-based alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Based in the USA, the company is comprised of a diverse team of professionals, all aligned with the common goal of bettering the world. Utopia Plastix produces resin made with crops that replenish the soil with valuable nutrients, meaning that its products are environmentally friendly from the start. Here, we take a look at the ways in which Utopia Plastix is building a sustainable future. is projected to increase significantly by 2040. There are many adverse effects to the pollution stemming from irresponsible plastic disposal to both the environment and our personal health. Plastic waste has become a large factor in biodiversity loss, it effects food and water safety, contributes to climate change, and negatively impacts human health. Utopia Plastix has developed a patent-pending compounded resin that is entirely plant-based and produced in USA FDA Compliant, ISO Certified manufacturing facilities. The resin is made with crops that are approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and absorb carbon at four to five times the rate of trees, making them the more environmentally conscious option. This, in addition to supporting communities through supplying seeds to local farmers contributes to ensuring that Utopia Plastix is responsible in its production methods. The resin has been developed to be suitable for use in any plastic application for manufacturers looking to use sustainable alternatives. The company has intentionally developed the resin so that manufacturers do not have to modify their equipment or processes to use it and can instead integrate it seamlessly into their existing methodologies. Working closely with manufacturers across the country, Utopia Plastix has developed numerous samples of finished goods, including straws, cutlery, film, bags, and a variety of container types. These products are made with plant matter in blown film processing, blow molding, extrusion with a thin wall, and injection mould. Despite these innovative advancements, Utopia Plastix is not here to replace manufacturers, but instead assist them on a shared journey to a more sustainable future. The company recognizes that global sustainability can be achieved at a much faster pace through sharing resources and collaborating on developing solutions. Additionally, Utopia Plastix has ensured that its costs are significantly lower than any other plastic alternatives currently available on the market. The core goal of the company is to provide sustainable solutions, which would not be possible if prices were too high to entice manufacturers to make the switch to sustainability. In less than ten years of operation, Utopia Plastix has worked relentlessly to develop the sustainable plastic of the future. These altruistic efforts will not only have a major impact on local communities, but also on the greater world. We eagerly anticipate the ways in which Utopia Plastix will continue to pave the way for a brighter future. If you would like to keep up with the latest advancements in the development of a sustainable world, you can visit Utopia Plastix’s webpage for more information. Contact: Sharina Perry Company: Utopia Plastix Web Address: https://utopiaplastix.com/ Mar24573 Top 10 Innovators 2024
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 15 ‘Cards Are Our Forte’ If there’s one thing recent years have told us, it’s that we deeply rely on convenience when trying to manage our money. Contactless cards are one such example – a way for people to pay with ease, while still knowing that their funds are secure and protected. Unfortunately, not all corners of the world have yet bridged this gap, and it’s here that Cardforté stepped in to help. Established in response to the financial inclusion deficit facing Nigeria’s population, Cardforté is a card manufacturer whose presence has already had a noticeable impact on the region. Embracing Financial Inclusion in Nigeria Recent years have underscored our reliance on convenience, especially in managing finances. Contactless cards exemplify this trend, allowing people to pay effortlessly while ensuring their funds are secure. However, not all regions have achieved this level of financial integration, and this is where Cardforté steps in. Established to address Nigeria’s financial inclusion deficit, Cardforté has already significantly impacted the region. The Rise of Cardforté Founded in July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardforté is a reputable card manufacturer whose innovative approach has initiated Nigeria’s journey towards embracing contactless and card payments. The company designs, manufactures, and prints card products for various sectors, including public, financial, healthcare, hospitality, transportation, and education. Their mission is clear: “To indigenously produce and deliver quality and affordable smart card products and solutions to the Nigerian and Pan African Markets.” Meeting the Needs of Fintech Companies As Nigeria’s fintech industry expands, the demand for reliable and secure card issuance services has skyrocketed. Cardforté is uniquely positioned to address this need. By collaborating closely with fintech companies, Cardforté ensures the seamless integration of cutting-edge card technology into the digital financial ecosystem. This partnership enables FinTechs to provide their customers with efficient and secure payment solutions, fostering greater financial inclusion and accessibility. Achieving Excellence in Card Manufacturing Cardforté is renowned for its quality, speed, and affordability in card manufacturing. Since 2020, the company has significantly advanced the market. As many schemes transitioned to contactless payments, Cardforté adapted by acquiring stateof-the-art technology to meet the rising demands. This transition, though challenging, showcased Cardforté’s ability to exceed industry expectations consistently. With impressive production figure of 20 million cards for the likes of Opay, Sterling Bank, Wema, Providus, Moniepoint, and FCMB, amongst others, Cardforté has established itself as a leader in the industry. Core Values Driving Success Cardforté’s success is rooted in its core values, encapsulated in its name: Customer, Accountability, Respect, Dedication, Flexibility, Outstanding Reputation, Teamwork, and Expertise. These values form the foundation of the company, guiding it through challenges and driving it closer to its goal of becoming a leader in smart card manufacturing and a household name in Nigeria and Africa for world-class card products and solutions. Innovation and Dedication Cardforté has not only responded to regional needs but has also ensured that it offers the best solutions available. Through innovation and dedication, the company has delivered card manufacturing solutions that have significantly impacted the sector. Various businesses have praised Cardforté for its commitment to providing the market with everything it needs to succeed. This dedication has caught the attention of Innovation in Business, recognizing Cardforté’s achievements multiple times. Future Prospects Reflecting on the companies honored over the years, we recognize those who challenge norms and bring invaluable contributions to their trades. Cardforté is one such company. Its involvement in Nigeria’s card manufacturing scene has reshaped how families and businesses approach payments. Therefore, we are pleased to feature Cardforté as one of our Top 10 Innovators for 2024. We eagerly anticipate the future developments in Nigeria’s card manufacturing sector under Cardforté’s leadership. Contact Details Contact: Tunde Aka Bashorun Company: Cardforté Web Address: Cardforté Mar24450 Top 10 Innovators 2024
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 16 Expert Support for Financial Planning Life Insurance Success Compare Your Life is the home of the iFace software innovating the world of financial planning and Life Insurance. It offers comprehensive software that give the users the flexibility they need to grow and manage their business well. The iFace software supports the Financial Planner from the very first time you receive the lead through to their payment being received. The software has many modules that include a CRM with email and SMS sweepers, Task and Workflow Management, document creation including Statements of Advice, Bulk Emails, automated Fee Disclosure Statements and a Commission Module which allows advisers to see on a daily basis what they will be paid at the end of the period. iFace also includes a client portal known as self-care, where clients can complete Fact Finding details which automatically updates the CRM. The software also has the functionality of digital signatures which can be used for Fact Finds, Advice documents, and Ongoing and Fixed Term Service agreements. Additionally, iFace has automated reporting capability, to run practice management reports on a weekly basis with a notification sent to the user. For example automated reports notifying the adviser of due dates for generating the Fee Disclosure Statements and Consent documents. As it is an all in one system, there is no double handling of information and each module interlinks with the other which creates efficiencies.This is where Compare Your Life comes in to save time and resources, so that financial planners are more able to carry out their jobs effectively. There’s so much more to financial planning than getting lost in the data, so why not delve into Compare Your Life’s iFace software to free up your time? Rebecca comments, “We are passionate about the Financial Planning industry and especially all aspects of Life Insurance. Our Deeply rooted in its experience within the Financial Services Sector, Compare Your Life has all the experience needed to understand and address the pain points of running a successful practice. Here to empower and liberate its clients through its dedicated work, Compare Your Life acts a buttress for many. We learn more from Managing Director Rebecca Firns as the company is recognised in our Top 10 Innovators 2024 feature. platform is dedicated to supporting all financial planners who provide risk advice, by providing them with one software platform that has all the required tools and resources they need to find to provide risk advice with ease.” “Comprehensive product information and expert knowledge are combined to a powerful, completely automated solution, which creates a compliant process with minimum administrative input.” Proud of what the business does, and how it operates as an everevolving team, Rebecca comments, “We are highly focused on our development and have an ongoing plan for it. We will soon be releasing some unique modules, such as a research module that has a distinct feature of product ratings based on the client’s goals and objectives, rather than a static rating. “Embarking on a new journey always comes with uncertainties and discoveries. One piece of wisdom that often resonates with me is the importance of embracing change and uncertainty. It’s crucial to remain adaptable and open-minded, as the most significant growth often occurs outside of your comfort zone.” Of course, without an open-minded approach, businesses would be less likely to find new ways to operate. Exploring alternative avenues within automation, Compare Your Life continues to innovate the realm of financial planning. Rebecca shares, “We receive commission statements from around 20 providers every week. These statements are formatted differently and contain information for multiple advisers. To streamline the process, we have developed the Commissions Module. With this module, we upload the commission statement into our Master CRM system, iFace which then distributes the relevant information to the corresponding adviser’s iFace account. This enables the adviser to view their earnings and any deductions for the week on a daily basis.” Providing software to empower Life Insurance writers, Compare Your Life uses automation to elevate our experience of financial services. We’re sure to see the company continue to exceed expectations as it keeps its end goals in sight, appreciates the process and the small victories – all while paving the way to success for financial planners everywhere. Contact: Rebecca Firns Company: Compare Your Life Pty Ltd Web Address: www.compareyourlife.com.au May24012 Top 10 Innovators 2024
Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 17 Software Solutions to Empower 3PLs Everywhere Extensiv promises to enable and equip team members and clients with the tools required for long-term success through software development and solutions. Providing Warehouse Management Systems for third-party logistics companies, and more, Extensiv has been selected to feature in our Top 10 Innovators 2024 segment. Built on the core values of trust, transparency, commitment, and change, Extensiv pushes innovation to the forefront for 3PLs (thirdparty logistics providers). The company is aware of the ever-evolving landscape of 3PLs and expertly guides them to react well to these changes. Supporting and empowering its clients through a variety of strategic initiatives, partnerships, and a comprehensive suite of software solutions, Extensiv has swiftly become a leading business in innovation for creators, builders, and designers of the world. It believes that its clients “deserve to have access to the simplest and most efficient systems to run their business,” and works tirelessly to provide access to modern systems brimming with pioneering developments and solutions. “Extensiv empowers brands through a suite of solutions designed to centralize data, remove friction from fulfillment provider relationships, and provide a single solution for growth.” This inevitably helps Extensiv’s clients to bloom as they are more able to serve their customers in a way that allows them to grow rapidly yet organically. With its network of more than 2,000 3PLs, Extensiv is able to provide flexibility which results in business scaling to meet higher customer demands. With its integrated software solutions, the company ensures that its clients can have access to cloudbased warehouses, inventories, and order management platforms which are streamlined and fully integrated into their day-to-day activities. “Extensiv Network Manager is a combined program of software, services, and tools which link 3PL warehouses together to work in a 4PL network. This provides warehouse capacity, visibility, and order orchestration across multiple 3PL Warehouse Manager accounts. It empowers 3PLs to work together to serve brands like never before, expanding warehouse capacity and geographic reach, increasing potential revenue and profit” says Rachel Trindade, Chief Marketing Officer. Of course, this connected ecosystem – including over 110 e-commerce integrations, 80+ EDI retail partners processing millions of orders – helps Extensiv to aid its clients with forging strong relationships and experience tight integrations. The interaction with key players in the logistics operations sphere guarantees that its clients have access to all the support they need to feel empowered and inspired. With regards to empowerment, the technology provided by Extensiv promises, and delivers, excellence through its Warehouse Management system which is a cloud-based solution including everything from inventory to order management, advanced reporting, and billing tailored for 3PLs – amongst other integrations. Cetralizing data for brands, Extensiv removes friction from fulfillment provider relationships to offer a single solution for growth. This ultimately provides visibility throughout order management activities – resulting in its clients ability to manage all inventory in one system, integrate with e-commerce shopping carts and order destinations, and optimize both shipping costs and speed. Moreover, its Billing Manager allows for quicker payment processing which minimizes difficulties for customers and gives 3PLs the power to manage their revenue. In a world where AI is so prevalent, Extensiv has constructed foundational elements to pull data from 170 million orders per year to provide intelligent analytics. This means that its Labor Analytics and Data Analytics services can help to make 3PL brands create better opportunities for themselves while making better decisions with data. Additionally, by simplifying onboarding for 3PLs with a leading platform, Extensiv makes onboarding easy and helps its clients to connect sales channels. This means its clients can focus on product development and growth, rather than the complex world of logistics. “We not only simplify business health monitoring through intuitive visuals and detailed analytics but also provide ecommerce businesses with vital data for strategic decision-making,” said Brian Sevy, Principal Product Manager at Extensiv. “Merchandising teams gain insights into sales trends and SKU performance, while the geographic fulfillment efficiency map sheds light on operational effectiveness. By enabling brands to compare year-overyear performance of channels and SKUs, the dashboard helps brands take action where it is most needed.” With an internal culture characterized by an unwavering focus on customer communication, rapid support methods with efficient service level agreements, and a commitment to helping its clients with innovative solutions, Extensiv has been recognized in our Top 10 Innovators 2024 feature. We’re sure to see it continue to flourish by pushing its core values to the top of its priority list, delivering solutions that truly work, and striving for excellence every day. Contact: Jill Hillen Company: Extensiv Web Address: www.extensiv.com Apr24803 Top 10 Innovators 2024
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