Edinburgh-based Ciqual is helping its clients do just that - by delivering bespoke software solutions that generate a 360º view of their services as experienced by their users. Through this unique insight, Ciqual’s clients can build a truly customer-centric approach – the key to securing customer satisfaction, and ultimately, success.
Service Providers and operators are fast waking up to the benefits that Ciqual’s services provide. Founded in 2008 by former Agilent Technologies Telecomms experts Tom Walls, John McElroy and David Bonner, the company now boasts a 25-strong team that spans Europe and Asia, and its clients include some of the world’s leading telecommunications and mobile technology brands.
Just being at major industry summits like Mobile World Congress helps to raise your international profile. These events take over their host city, and everywhere you go you meet industry colleagues and generate potential business leads. Many of these events also attract global media attention, providing a forum to communicate our market messages.
Natasha Walls, Ciqual solution consultant
Growing Ciqual’s international profile
With the support of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, Ciqual will be attending the 2015 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this March.
This is the company’s fifth year in attendance as part of Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International’s exhibition stand, highlighting the real benefit large-scale industry events such as MWC can bring year after year.
According to Ciqual solution consultant, Natasha Walls, attending events like MWC with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International reaps numerous benefits for the company.
She explained: “Just being at major industry summits like Mobile World Congress helps to raise your international profile. These events take over their host city, and everywhere you go you meet industry colleagues and generate potential business leads. Many of these events also attract global media attention, providing a forum to communicate our market messages.”
“MWC’s value lies in the seniority of those who attend. As an exhibitor you are able to network with key contacts from potential new clients and maintain established contacts that you have gained over the years. Just as importantly, it gives you the opportunity to check out the competition.
“The cost of attending events like MWC in terms of both finance and time is significant. Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International’s support in terms of funding our attendance and helping us to prepare has been invaluable.”
Making connections with our support
As an exhibitor with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, Ciqual has not only received financial support to fund its presence at MWC and other events, it has also benefited from assistance with managing its stand and setting up meetings with potential leads.
The teams at Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International work hard to understand businesses like Ciqual to help them get the most out of their attendance at any industry event. They have everything covered, from travel arrangements and registration, to supporting the development of marketing materials and building an effective exhibition display.
And when the event closes, their support doesn’t end there, and for Ciqual, this especially rings true. At MWC 2014, Scottish Enterprise arranged a follow up meeting with a key contact from the Middle East through its GlobalScot programme.
As a direct result, Ciqual gained a new lead and business partner, and secured a major new client in Qatar.
Being part of Scotland’s legacy
Ciqual is ambitious to build on its success, and its international portfolio proves that Scotland’s reputation as a nation of innovators, engineers and technologists lives on.
Speaking of her sector, Natasha believes her sector has a bright future: “In the early noughties, a number of major software development firms folded or left Scotland altogether, however, with the continued growth and adoption of mobile technology and its increasing importance in business and everyday life, the sector is moving into a new age.
“We have the talent and the innovative culture to become a major contributor to the future of this industry. And from our experience, businesses around the world enjoy working with Scottish companies because of our ethos and approach to business.
“By working with organisations like Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International we can raise the profile of our industry and become a valuable part of its future.”
Next steps
Learn about our funding support to attend trade shows