| "It would be a huge mistake to not take advantage of the easy pathway Austrade has laid to overseas markets." – Mike Smith, Managing Director, NeoProducts Pty Ltd" |
Australian IT company NeoProducts Pty Ltd has successfully positioned itself as a world-class player in the delivery of e-government services, securing several high-profile contracts in the UK. Austrade introduced the company to the European market and serves as a vital partner in NeoProducts' continuing expansion.
NeoProducts provides touch-screen kiosks that support a range of applications, including interactive public information systems, cinema and theatre ticketing, job searching, gift registries, telecommunications, electronic service delivery, Internet access and in-store directories. However, it is the company’s application in the government sector that is currently receiving worldwide attention.
While already active in the marketplace with a number of smaller projects, NeoProducts rose to prominence on the e-government stage in 2001 after winning a contract with Employment Services in the UK worth in excess of $50 million. Implementing a network of 9000 kiosks in over 1000 locations has cemented NeoProducts' leading position as a reputable supplier.
Melbourne-based NeoProducts first considered entering the European market after Austrade encouraged the company to attend CeBIT Hannover, the world's largest trade show. The interest generated at the show motivated NeoProducts, a small company by world standards, to tackle the conservative and competitive market of the UK. As NeoProducts took up this daunting task, Austrade stepped in to help shoulder the pressure.
"Austrade helped us through the whole process," says NeoProducts Managing Director Mike Smith. "From making initial contacts and preliminary assessments of the market to researching property and labour costs when we established our first overseas factory, Austrade's role was absolutely crucial."
Colin Biggs, Austrade Business Development Manager in London, worked with NeoProducts on the UK project and found the company possessed qualities conducive to international growth. "Their willingness to visit the market frequently and at short notice, plus their immediate attention to any issues raised, made their commitment to the market abundantly clear," he says.
"The UK was the obvious first choice for us," says Mr Smith. "Culturally it is an easier place to do business – but it is only the beginning.
"It took over two years of regular meetings to win the UK Employment Services contract at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars. But persistence paid off, and we have since delivered over 100 kiosks into service for the Irish Government's employment agency. NeoProducts is currently working with Austrade to expand into Central Europe and enter Asian markets."
Mr Smith says Austrade has supported the company from the beginning and is still providing valuable services.
"It would have been virtually impossible to achieve what we have without Austrade," he says. "They are a wonderful front-line contact for NeoProducts and they will continue to be a vital resource in our global expansion."
NeoProducts recently commissioned Austrade to conduct research in six new countries, and the export agency is playing an increasing role in overcoming language barriers.
"When you get down to it, the most tangible result of Austrade's services has been $80 million in export revenue," Mr Smith says. "It would be a huge mistake to not take advantage of the easy pathway Austrade has laid to overseas markets."