THE creator of software which helps managers keep tight control of sales staff has landed the top prize in awards for the North East’s best export idea.
Middlesbrough-based Profile Analysis was picked from 11 finalists in the Exporting for Growth competition organised by UK Trade & Investment.
The company last night scooped a top prize of more than £5,000 worth of research and support for expanding their i-snapshot service overseas.
Alan Timothy, chief scientist at Profile Analysis, said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic that we’ve won.
“I’m a firm believer that the only way to make your international trade happen is to go out to markets, so anything that helps us with that is going to be a huge boost to the company.”
I-snapshot is an online sales management system that allows a company to quickly assess its sales performance from information sent by field sales staff by mobile or smart phone, using text messaging or an app.
The data is analysed to provide companies with real-time information about sales performance, helping reduce the amount of time spent on generating reports and enabling them to better understand their sales models.
More than 20 companies entered the competition which aims to encourage more SME businesses to export by offering a package of support to the company with the best new export idea. It was backed by HCBC and PWC.
Eleven finalists at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead yesterday pitched their idea to an audience of business leaders and a judging panel, headed by former Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Richard Farleigh, who selected the winning idea.
Farleigh said: “To all of the companies, and the winner Profile Analysis, I’d say to keep doing what they’re doing and to make sure they get the message out there about themselves.”
The runner up was Newcastle-based Patrick Parsons, which specialises in delivering facilities for paddle sports, using the latest technology to create flexible whitewater obstacle systems.
Third was Low Carbon Lighting, a Newcastle company whose market-leading LED solution helps customers reduce energy bills and their carbon footprint.
UKTI regional director David Coppock said: “This competition has shown how truly innovative and inspiring North East firms are.
“The North East is already enjoying continued growth in international trade.
“The latest quarterly figures last week revealed our highest export performance with £3.63bn worth of goods exported from the region between October and December 2011, bringing our 12-monthly total up to a record £13.5bn.
“Our challenge is to build on this growth and we at UKTI have set ourselves a target of helping 500 new exporters in the year ahead.”
