Provista cashes in on recessionary pressures

Published on Saturday 29 August 2009 19:11

AN INDEPENDENT Scottish communications technology business that helps clients cut their costs doubled its turnover in the last 12 months and has orders worth £1 million on its books for this year.

Hamilton-based Provista, which was launched in 2006, has reported turnover of just over 2m for the year to July. This comes on the back of winning business from private sector clients, including McGrigors law firm, and the public sector, including NHS Greater Glasgow Health Board.

It is targeting turnover of 4m for the coming year, partly through expanding the international business it does.

Stuart Little, a director of Provista, said the firm had benefited from the recession because it helps companies use their corporate networks to make the most of the internet. By using the internet for communication, companies can cut their telephone bills.

One of its services is known as "unified communications" which integrate instant messaging, internet protocol telephony and video conferencing. It allows employees to send a message in one form, such as voicemail, to colleagues who will access it through another medium, such as e-mail. Provista has implemented unified communications for McGrigors, which is expected to save 100,000 as a result.

Provista, which is a partner of Cisco Systems, said such technology also allowed business to cut travel costs.

Little said: "Limited business travel as a result of the economic climate and carbon impact is resulting in a strong demand amongst Scottish companies for instant tele and video conferencing facilities. This allows meetings to take place and quick decisions to be made even when staff are hundreds of miles apart.

"There is no reason why company networks cannot be accessed from home or a wi-fi hotspot provided the correct security is in place. Again this means that employees can be more productive and costs can be reduced."

Little said many Scottish businesses chose Provista over bigger competitors because of the easy access of its Hamilton network operations centre.

He said that as many of Provista's Scottish clients, such as Aggreko, have overseas offices he is looking to recruit technical experts with language skills.

Provista's other clients include the National Library of Scotland, University of Dundee and Stagecoach.