Advent Partners invests in global software leader – Flintfox International.
Flintfox International poised for rapid global expansion and innovation of next generation technologies.
(JUNE 2020, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND) Flintfox International (Flintfox), a disruptive innovator and global leader in delivering supply chain management solutions, announced today that Advent Partners (Advent) has invested in the company.
The partnership with Advent will allow Flintfox to further fast-track growth and enhance its leading Revenue Management and Optimization product portfolio. All of Flintfox’s existing shareholders retained a shareholding.
“Advent Partners’ investment approach provides strong alignment with our strategy and offered us a strategic partnership to capitalize even further on our global presence as we begin to enter our next and very exciting phase of growth.” said Mike Ridgway, CEO and Chairman of Flintfox.
“Our partnership will allow us to invest further into research and development, particularly in the areas of revenue optimization, pricing performance, and rebate management, extending our competitive advantage and ensuring our global team of Microsoft Dynamics implementation consultants have the tools they need to deliver the best solution stack available on the market today.”
Despite being headquartered in New Zealand, Flintfox has, over the last decade, become recognized as one of the most influential Microsoft Global Independent Software Vendors (ISV) in the world and has cemented its position as experts in trade revenue management, and supply chain solution delivery.
This was further accelerated by the phenomenal success of the Company’s RMx Suite launched in 2017. With its hyper-speed pricing engine designed to leverage the most advanced technology available, Flintfox has quickly become a global leader in the Trade Revenue Management space, earning multiple accolades for Excellence in Innovation and ensuring its customers maintain competitive advantage.
“The adoption of Flintfox as a best of breed software solution is accelerating as global businesses seek better visibility and tools to exert control over trade revenue management and pricing strategies,” said Symon Vegter, Partner at Advent.
“Mike and his team have built an impressive business and an innovative portfolio of products that empower global customers to manage, track, and reconcile trade promotion and rebate expenditure, and execute multi-channel pricing strategies.”
Brad Lynch, Partner at Advent added “We are pleased to be partnering with Flintfox and its experienced senior leadership to support customer growth against a large global opportunity, and also continued product innovation. Flintfox has built an emerging global footprint to date. We see scope to support the team in accelerating international expansion in the large and rapidly expanding TRM market.”
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About Flintfox
Flintfox provides best of breed Trade Revenue Management (TRM) solutions for resolving revenue challenges across the supply chain. They have over 30 years of expertise delivering TRM solutions to over 125,000 users across 25 countries within the manufacturing, wholesale distribution and retail industries. Their TRM software, for both buy and sell-side operations, integrates with any ERP and enables accurate, real time calculations for complex revenue activities including price management, promotions pricing, rebate management, claims and deductions. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, Inner Circle Member and one of only 10 software developers managed globally, Flintfox also provides consulting and implementation services for Microsoft Dynamics applications. Flintfox operates across North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific, with headquarters located in New Zealand. www.flintfox.com
About Advent Partners
Advent Partners is one of Australia’s most experienced private investment firms. Since its founding over 35 years ago, Advent has invested in over 90 businesses. Adopting a team-driven, partnership approach, Advent brings more than just capital to the table. It provides founders with real world experience to build market-leading businesses. https://www.advent.com.au/
South Waikato District Council’s LED Lighting Upgrade Ready to Improve Public Safety and Air Quality
A smart LED lighting project for South Waikato District Council (SWDC) will be featured by Auckland business NB SmartCities at the IoT half-day conference on Thursday 3 October in Auckland.
The second annual IoT Conference event, hosted by the New Zealand IoT Alliance, will showcase how Internet of Things (IoT) applications are creating smart cities in New Zealand and improving industrial productivity.
IoT Alliance Executive Council member John McDermott says the project for South Waikato District Council demonstrates how IoT technology provides multiple benefits for councils and the public.
“The South Waikato District installation is a standout example of how IoT solutions can provide long-lasting advantages and create new opportunities,” McDermott says.
“The new system is using less than half the power of the legacy street lamps and is providing better lighting for many more local roads. Also important for the council is that maintenance calls have more than halved, underlining the reliability and lower maintenance costs of the new technology.”
The system, which uses open network standard technology, can also support future applications such as air pollution monitoring, traffic analysis, smart parking, and remote water metering.
“South Waikato District Council has received very positive feedback from our community on this improved street lighting,” says Ted Anderson, SWDC’s Group Manager Assets.
“Tangible benefits include people being able to exercise and participate in other outdoor activities, like walking the dog, much later in the evenings especially during winter; and the safety improvements have been highlighted by many of our residents.”
In addition to the SWDC case study, McDermott says the IoT Half-Day conference event will showcase a variety of IoT solutions focused on Smart City and Industrial use cases. “The conference is featuring applications that help deliver better public services, improve health and safety, and enhance manufacturing performance”.
Spark is the gold sponsor for the IoT Conference and Spark Future of Connectivity Lead Renee Mateparae says the company is thrilled to be sponsoring an event that will bring the tangible benefits of IoT to the forefront so businesses can realise what it could do for them.
“The benefits that new Internet of Things technologies deliver are compelling when implemented correctly. They deliver better services, greater value and improve efficiency. Spark is pleased to support the New Zealand IoT Alliance in connecting the people and businesses that are implementing and deploying IoT applications with the decision makers and leaders that need to understand the impact and value that can be achieved”.
Also speaking at the event is Melissa Lee, National MP for Mount Albert, and National spokesperson for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media & Ethnic Communities
The event is supported by gold sponsor Spark and silver sponsor LEAP Australia.
The IoT Half Day Conference is taking place at 12 Madden St, Viaduct, Auckland from 8.30am on Thursday 3 October. For more information and tickets, visit the NZ IoT Alliance website.
World cup for rural connectivity
Saturday’s Rugby World Cup experience shows that New Zealand deserves a Broadband World Cup for getting broadband to its rural communities.
That’s the view of WISPA.NZ, the industry group supporting 28 Wireless Internet Service Providers who collectively provide broadband to an estimated 70,000 mostly rural customers.
“The great news is that WISPs dealt with the surge in traffic almost faultlessly,” WISPA Chairman Mike Smith said. “The problems were with the international link, and with some customer devices. But the part in between worked to perfection.
“WISPs can claim a lot of credit for bringing rural Kiwis in from the broadband boondocks. Tens of thousands of rural homes and businesses now have broadband at city speeds and city prices, with the number increasing daily.
“That’s something we wouldn’t have dreamed of a decade ago. Rural communities in New Zealand have far better broadband than most other Rugby World Cup countries, notably Australia.
“WISPs are committed to finishing the job, with government support, so every rural home and business can enjoy the benefits for social inclusion, entertainment and business. Connectivity to 100% of the community is within our sights.”
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BACKGROUND NOTES
· – Most WISPs, or regional telecommunications companies, are locally owned businesses founded in the early 2000s.
· – Initially they used their own capital, but in recent times 17 of them have received government funding through the Rural Broadband Initiative to expand their networks into remote areas that would otherwise be uneconomic.
· – About half WISP connections use “WISP Wireless” – a series of hilltop towers with radios that bounce the Internet signal from one to another, then down to the homes below. The other half are re-sold services from other telcos.
· – WISP wireless requires line of sight visibility. Hence it requires many more towers than cellular services, but these are much lower cost.
TPC-Labour Local Government Campaign Launch – Media Advisory
What: The launch of The People’s Choice – Labour Christchurch local government campaign.
Who: More than 30 Christchurch TPC-Labour Community Board, Environment Canterbury and Christchurch City Council candidates will be gathered together to kick-start the most diverse local government campaign in New Zealand’s history.
When: Saturday, August 31, 1:00pm.
Where: Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, 288 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch.
“We believe that The People’s Choice and Labour 2019 Local Government campaign is the most -diverse and inclusive local body campaign in New Zealand history,” says Keir Leslie, The Peoples Choice Labour chair.
“Gathered in the heart of Christchurch on the last day of August are candidates that represent many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds but with one common purpose. That purpose is bringing Christchurch together.
“Our candidates are committed to working together for the good of the people of Christchurch.
“Our priorities are clean water, tackling climate change and keeping the city’s assets in public ownership.”
For more information or to speak with any of our candidates prior or post the TPC campaign launch:
Kevin List – Media advisor (021) 426 902
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Beware the Risk 5G Poses to Rural Internet Users
Despite the hype surrounding Vodafone’s launch of the next cellphone technology, it risks a serious downside to thousands of rural broadband users, according to the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA.NZ).
“Vodafone and its competitors are putting huge pressure on Government to reallocate radio spectrum so they can run 5G more cost-effectively,” WISPA Chairman Mike Smith says.
“However, some of the spectrum the mobile companies are trying to claim is already used commercially by about 30 regional WISPs, who collectively service many tens of thousands of rural customers. These customers are farms who use the Internet for business management, rural kids who use it for study, and rural people who depend on it for social inclusion. Most cant get Internet any other way.
“If the government responds to the cellphone companies’ land grab, some of those users could face more expensive Internet or even lose their hard-won connectivity altogether.
“The advantages of 5G are very much in the future. By contrast, WISPs are solving the connectivity issue for rural New Zealand here and now.
“It makes no sense to slow or reverse the progress made in connecting our major export sector, just so that some online games will work a nanosecond faster or city people can connect their home air conditioning to their car GPS. The benefits of 5G are marginal and futuristic, but basic connectivity for rural families and businesses is here, now, and economically essential.
“WISPA seeks a clear assurance from Minister Faafoi that no decision will be made to reallocate spectrum until the issues have been thoroughly aired in public.”
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Contact: Mike Smith 0274503504 mike@ubb.nz
Alternative: Ernie Newman 0223764363 ernie.newman@wispa.nz
NewzEngine makes public relations support accessible and affordable for all
NewzEngine.com, an online service that enables companies, organisations and individuals to write and distribute media releases, has been launched today.
The subscriber-based service provides an easy way for NewzEngine’s customers to create regular, cost-effective, and professional communications about their activities, products and services.
Media releases are created through NewzEngine’s platform, then quality-checked by experienced editors, distributed to a network of journalists/editors, and listed by global information aggregators.
NewzEngine is created by Newztec Developments Ltd directors Selwyn Manning and Sarah Putt, who between them have over 40 years media and communications’ experience. Manning’s career includes roles as a journalist, editor, New Zealand Government press secretary, and news media specialist. Putt has worked as a journalist, public relations specialist and technology commentator.
Manning says: “Organisations and companies require a public profile to grow. Their voice is a valuable complement to the national debate. But reliable media relations support is often expensive and beyond the reach of many.”
“We have launched NewzEngine to help organisations pitch their news to targeted media, and, through syndication and aggregation, supercharge their message so it can reach an audience wider than they thought possible.”
To ensure their message reaches the desired audience, subscribers can select the geographical location and/or sector where they want their media announcement to be delivered within New Zealand.
NewzEngine’s online service includes a guide to writing media announcements, as well as media release templates. This ensures subscribers can create an effective and professional release. In addition to text-based releases, NewzEngine provides the ability for subscribers to upload photographs and video links to accompany their message.
Putt says: “Effective announcements are short, sharp and compelling. Our guide is designed to help subscribers inform professional media practitioners about their organisation’s new product, service, event or milestone achievement.”
“But when required, NewzEngine also provides a writing and media relations service,” Putt says.
Organisations can subscribe to NewzEngine as a monthly or annual service, starting from $70 per month. For more details, visit NewzEngine.com.