Message from Velrada CEO Robert Evans

Starting out, we relied on industry expertise in asset-intensive sectors such as resources, manufacturing and engineering, winning our customers’ trust with our advisory team and ultimately being asked to deliver technology projects that supported their vision. 

Those deep roots in advisory services helped us maintain cohesion during rapid growth. We bring those same foundational elements of change management, risk assessment and business alignment to all our engagements.

As cloud and AI technologies matured, it became easier to roll out predictive, integrated solutions spanning multiple geographies our customers can manage from a single operations centre, with very small teams. Many of our customers use our solutions to deliver services to THEIR customers, particularly services that include mobile staff.

The biggest facilitator in our overseas expansion has been our partnership with Microsoft. Demonstrating our technical expertise with the Microsoft technology stack—particularly in the areas of Data, Artificial Intelligence, Business Applications and the Digital Workplace—allowed us to engage with Microsoft stakeholders in Seattle as well as their geographical subsidiaries. Building a profitable relationship with Microsoft takes effort, but it’s extremely rewarding.

Of course the influence—and hype—associated with Artificial Intelligence technologies such as cognitive services and machine learning can’t be overstated. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the “cycle of disappointment” associated with technology trends and the current exposure of AI in the media and within various industries, but it’s clear to me that AI is far from a trend. The value it brings--even in small amounts--to our customers is enormous, and its successful commoditization into the cloud means it’s accessible to everyone. We are rapidly reaching a point where Artificial Intelligence will be ubiquitous in everyone’s technology solutions, however large or small.

Finally, the amount of constructed infrastructure underpinning commercial industries such as mining, manufacturing and resources as a whole, as well as the civil infrastructure residents rely on in cities around the world, presents incredible opportunity to all of us who offer technology services. This infrastructure is the stage on which the confluence of Integrated Operations, Artificial Intelligence and Mobility technologies will be acted out.