Case Study - Invisu
- Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Posted By The Growth Company
A Bolton SME is aiming to triple its client base within 12 months after building a new digital product to assist innovation in the manufacturing, engineering, chemical and logistics sectors.
Invisu reduces downtime for businesses that rely on mechanical equipment, ensuring continuity of their production and operation. Warran Bolton, Managing Director of Invisu, describes it as a cost-effective and revenue-increasing solution for sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, chemical and logistics.
He explains: “Millions and millions of pounds of kit gets installed, without any real kind of support from the original equipment manufacturer until it's broken. Globally, this costs industrial manufacturers around £50 billion every year. If you look at the automotive sector, just as one example, the average manufacturer will lose £22,000 per minute when the production line stops – and it can stop for the smallest reason.
“Our major goal in developing Invisu was to reduce this unplanned downtime. The software we’ve created streamline processes and enables complex equipment to be managed, monitored and maintained through one user-orientated system.”
When the new product was in development, Warran was able to call on the support of Judith Ross, Digital Innovation Specialist at the GM Business Growth Hub, who advised on:
- Name and branding
- Trademarking and intellectual property protection
- Use of artificial intelligence and machine learning
The product is now in use in a variety of industries and applications, including airport conveyer systems, Amazon fulfilment centres and a variety of manufacturing facilities.
Following the product launch, Judith guided Invisu through a complex pitching process with a major international chemical manufacturing company, and then referred Warren to Innovate UK EDGE for further support.
With the help of Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist Michael Hadfield, the company was accepted onto the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing Global Business Innovation Programme in Canada, which has accelerated its plans for market expansion in North America.
“We’ve recently returned from the programme’s first visit to Toronto, where we exhibited at the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show 2023” says Warran. “We’ve attended MaRS [which supports science and tech companies] workshops on doing business in Canada, have had conversations with different economic development offices within Canada, and made new connections with potential clients, investors and partners.
“The support we’ve received, and the contacts we’re making in North America, will really help us get a foothold in the Canadian market. And off the back of the trip, we’ve had a meeting with the Louisiana Economic Development Office, who’d heard about us and wanted to know what we could do for them.”
With additional opportunities also opening up in the UK – “We’ve been accepted onto the Made Smarter programme and, after Michael suggested Invisu could be a good fit for the nuclear industry, have met with Fit For Nuclear to explore possibilities” – the future is definitely looking bright.
“I hope that in 12 months’ time we've tripled our client base,” says Warran. “It'll be great if we do that, but the sky is the limit. Thank you to the GM Business Growth Hub and Innovate UK EDGE for your incredible ongoing support!”
This case study originally appeared on GM Business Growth Hub, read the full case study here.