The year 2018 is coming to its end. It was eventful and fascinating for all of us and, hopefully, for you too! We are happy to sum up and share our achievements and news.
The year of finding a new home!
This year our home office was expanded due to 15 new employees and moved to new sophisticated and cozy grounds in the middle of technological entrepreneurs’ community. Also, we allocated a lot of resources to our branch located in Berlin. This year we focused on broadening our horizons and continuing our expansion in the European market, as well as on improving our German office. And now, we welcome you to have a look at our home in the heart of Europe.
The year of new challenges!
Indoor Positioning is implemented in a wide range of different industries. It is great news for us. Our portfolio is growing and diversifying together with this technology.
Retail
Although nowadays retail is one of the most unpredictable and volatile industries, it is apparent, that this sphere will be changed significantly by high technologies in the coming years. And indoor navigation is not the least among them. One of the well-established Finnish retailers already uses a special navigation solution for ensuring customers with a fascinating shopping experience and enhancing its own revenue and market share. And we are proud to be of actors and evangelists of this technological revolution!
Not only in Finland, where the 100-th Kesko shop, equipped by Smartcart navigation solution, was opened this year, but also in other European capitals retailers are looking for new advanced technologies, able to improve customer experience. PRO-Market, a grocery shop, implemented a hi-tech e-ink price tags and a tracking solution, which displays the shoppers’ traffic picture as “heat” maps, provide “turn by turn” navigation and send push notifications with advertising offers.
Manufacturing
Navigation technology is something that makes such a difficult industry, as manufacture both safer and more efficient. How? By special monitoring-system, smart mobile devices with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol support (helmets, for instance) and the common web interface. The first one recorded history of movements and facilitated search for employees on the building map, the latter ensures an immediate connection between staff members. The 2050 company is the real example of a company which benefited from Navigine solution, cut down the number of work accidents and increased the overall labor efficiency by 20%.
Logistics
Sometimes it could be difficult to maintain a high level of customer service, operating in developing markets. Our client, a car repair service center (CRSC), had difficulties with indoor positioning of cars and employees and we found an appropriate solution. A platform, which tracks all incoming cars in real time and controls all operations with cars inside the repair service center, reduced the time spent on standard operations by up to 30% and 6-fold on car transportation (from 20 min to 3).
Power supply
Not only malls, supermarkets and manufacture factories, but also power plants could benefit from indoor positioning. This year our team created a special mobile application for staff navigation inside an electricity station. Safety level was improved and incident reaction time was decreased due to staff positioning and way finding, real-time tracking and task scheduling features.
The year of new connections
Indoor Navigation technology is so young and not widespread yet. We think that one of our ultimate priorities is to share our ideas and vision about future and perspectives opening for companies with this technology. That is why we invest so much time and resources into participation in different events. This year our team contributed to more than 10 events throughout the world, including, the world's largest trade fair Hannover Messe, SLUSH и Startup Germany 2018 tour.
Here are the most exciting events of 2018 which we were happy to participate in!
In April Hannover Messe, the world's largest trade fair with more than 5000 exhibitors and 210 000 visitors. Oleg Demidov, a co-founder of Navigine, was among the best speakers from throughout the world. He shared a panel discussion about Opportunities for Enhanced Industry 4.0 Cooperation with VPs of BCG, SeverStal, SAP, Siemens, Bosch and other companies. Moreover, #Navigine has pitched during the fair as one of the most promising Young Tech Enterprises.
In May our CEO Alexey Panyov participated in Yet Another Conference, one of the most advanced conferences of Eastern Europe. Annually this event attracts thousands of people, interested in new technologies, Big Data, computer science and mathematics. Alexey Panyov gave a talk to all these specialists on how the indoor navigation system has changed from signs to b2b services in 2018.
We welcomed warm October in Nantes, France. Our team spent productive time at the conference Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation 2018, a crucial event for all navigation ecosystems. Every year #IPIN attracts over 400 industrial and academic experts in informatics, electronics and surveying. In 2018 indoor navigation specialists gathered to discuss scientific and industrial matters, experience geolocation competitions beyond the conference venue and enjoy the historical and cultural heritage of Nantes.
In December Huawei company welcomed its partners and experts to the 5th International Professor’s Day on ICT Algorithm Design, where Vasily Kosyanchuk and Alexander Mikov presented Navigine indoor algorithms and overviewed some specific features, such as utilization of indoor route graphs, Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) technique and human activity recognition based on sensor measurements from hand-held and wear-on devices.
And, finally, we came to SLUSH, one of the most exciting and marvelous events in entrepreneurial and investment world. As usual, technological show SLUSH took place in Helsinki and brought together more than 20 000 participants from throughout the world. It was an honor to share our experience and tell about Navigine progress and our expansion in the European market.
The year of new horizons
This year our team was honored to be included in some important industrial ratings, as well as well-established startup development programs.
For example, Memoori’s, a research company, included Navigine in its brand new report Occupancy Analytics and In-Building Location Based Services 2017 to 2022. This paper is the first comprehensive evaluation of special solutions and services in the Commercial Office space. It is thrilling to be there!
Secondly, Navigine has been mentioned as one of the key vendors in Marketsandmarkets research study LBS and RTLS Market - Global Forecast to 2023. The report provides detailed information on the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the LBS and RTLS market growth in five main regions, such as North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa (MEA). The report strategically profiles the key market players, with Navigine cited among them, and comprehensively analyzes their core competencies.
Thirdly, Navigine was included in the RetailTech Map, which consists of the most sophisticated and significant technologies for the retail industry.
And fourthly, Navigine won the local competition and obtained access to the Start.up! Germany program. During one week (between 7 and 12 October) Navigine team visited German cities (Cologne, Dusseldorf and Dortmund) in the country’s industrial heartland, North Rhine-Westphalia. This program provided us with an opportunity to meet representatives of German companies and accelerators in person at B2B matchmaking sessions organized by the local German chambers of industry and trade.
This year was so positive for us! We are full of new ideas and projects ready to be fulfilled during the next year. Stay tuned!
