TEES TECH AWARDS 2021
INNOVATION AWARD
SPONSORED BY ERIMUS INSURANCE BROKERS
FINALIST
ANIMMERSION
Winner – Lee Elgie of Erimus Insurance Brokers presented the Innovation Award to Everflow Tech .
WINNER
EVERFLOW TECH
The technology arm of Wynyard-based the Everflow Group , Everflow Tech designs and creates software to be used in the utilities industry to improve profits and efficiencies .
The cornerstone of Everflow Tech ’ s success is its Simple suite of software – Simple Quoting , Simple Billing , Simple Accounts and Simple Revenue Assurance .
Simple Quoting was launched to the commercial market in July 2020 and has already won a contract with one of the largest customers in the industry , as well as helping another energy company enter the water retail market .
In total , Everflow Tech provides services to companies with a combined 2021 revenue of over £ 1.2bn .
And on the awards front , it ’ s been quite the year for Everflow Group , being named in 16 award categories and gaining a bronze award for Best Customer Experience at the 2021 UK Business Awards .
Everflow Water launched in 2015 after chief executive Josh Gill saw a gap in the market for an ethical water retailer that could utilise technology to operate efficiently . Everflow Tech was created in 2018 as a retail sales , billing and customer management platform .
Mr Gill said : “ It ’ s really rewarding to be recognised in so many awards this year , especially on a national scale .”
And the CEO of Tees Tech ’ s Company of the Year Salesfire , Rich Himsworth , was quick to recognise Everflow ’ s strength . He said : “ Out of the three awards we were shortlisted for , we won two and lost to Everflow on the innovation side , but we were really going up against it with those guys .”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Erimus Insurance Brokers MD , Lee Elgie , said : “ As a region we have a wealth of local talent , particularly in the digital arena . This sector is growing rapidly thanks to the skills and innovation of local businesses - this is why we were so keen to sponsor an award and be involved in an event that recognises and applauds the best and brightest in the Tees Valley . Like all categories , the Digital Innovation group was extremely competitive . Everflow Tech , Animmersion , Salesfire and countless businesses in Teesside have been leading the charge on digital innovation . It has been truly humbling to witness and we are immensely proud to support the event and present the award . Our congratulations go to Everflow Tech and all those that were shortlisted .”
Animmersion is at the forefront of the application of immersive technology for practical activities . This includes the use of virtual reality in training and engineering site safety operations in sectors such as utility infrastructure and offshore renewables .
Within a diverse range of global clients , the Middlesbrough-based company has also created hundreds of innovative digital experiences for the manufacturing and construction , heritage and arts sectors .
A recent innovation came as a direct response to the challenges of the pandemic . Virtual Interactive Events ( VIE ) is an interactive software solution providing immersive meeting and event spaces . Fast-tracked as physical events were cancelled worldwide , VIE has contributed to the overall increase of Animmersion ’ s turnover of 20 per cent .
FINALIST
SALESFIRE
Salesfire continues to lead the way on superfast , on-site searches for ecommerce retailers from its Middlesbrough HQ , with the launch of a next-generation search functionality called Visually Similar Search ( VSS ) increasing the company ’ s turnover by 75 per cent .
VSS , which uses AI and machine learning to allow shoppers to browse similar items to the product they ’ re currently viewing , and to be inspired by genuinely personalised recommendations , has already made a huge impact in the market , with names such as Moda In Pelle and Stuarts London added to the VSS portfolio .
The potential for commercial success is exponential for Salesfire , which is proud to lead the way for both technological and commercial success here on Teesside .
32 | Tees Business