Quartix announces outstanding results for 2012

Quartix recorded strong double-digit sales growth in 2012, whilst its new unit installation rate has risen to more than 3,000 per month, excluding upgrades and renewals.

Sales were up 24% to £8.3m and are expected to grow by at least 50% in 2013, following a number of significant contract wins. New unit installations are forecasted to reach 5,000 per month by mid-year.

Quartix added 1,400 new fleet customers during the year from a broad range of industry sectors. Organisations from both the private and public sectors chose the Quartix system, including Volvo Construction Equipment, Worcester City Council, Alton Towers, Days Contract Hire, Amaryllis Group, and Greater Manchester Police.

A significant highlight of the year was the winning of a contract from LOCOG for the provision of 650 tracking systems used in courtesy cars for visiting officials and dignitaries during the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012.

“Operating profit increased by 60% to £2.9m in 2012, making us one of the most financially stable companies in the tracking sector. Furthermore, we only offer direct rental and purchase options, which means our customers do not need to go through third-party leasing. It is increasingly important for prospective customers to make sure their telematics supplier has a good credit rating, coupled with a strong balance sheet, as engaging in a contract with a financially weak provider is extremely risky,” says Andy Kirk, Sales & Marketing Director at Quartix.

Sales are also growing impressively in France following a launch just two years ago, with the 100-strong network of experienced installers fitting 1,400 new units in 2012.

Product developments

Quartix also recorded sales growth as a result of its market-leading driving-style monitoring suite, as fleet managers increasingly turn to telematics to save fuel and improve the safety of their mobile workforce. This service, which is capable of saving fleet operators as much as £20,000 a year on a fleet of 20 vehicles, detects and reports on speeds, harsh braking and acceleration. Quartix’s offering is not connected to the vehicle’s CAN-Bus, which allows reliable driver comparisons across all vehicle types and avoids the problems commonly associated with CAN-bus based systems.

This year saw Quartix introduce a new user interface, boasting a fresh look and optimised features: “We are constantly striving to offer the best system to our customers – we invest a great deal in development to make sure our users have access to the latest technology and all the tools are optimised for their needs. By designing and developing all our own technology, we are always able to maintain our leading edge position,” said Kirk.

New ground-breaking releases are also planned for 2013 as Quartix prepares to launch exciting driver safety related features both for fleet and insurance customers.

Leading insurers use Quartix technology

Quartix has established itself as a leading provider of telematics for the pay-as-you-drive insurance market in the UK. During the year Quartix telematics hardware and systems were used by its insurance partner, Wunelli Ltd, in the launch of three major new young-driver programmes with the AA, Swinton and Hastings. At the end of 2012 Wunelli also selected the Quartix system for the Co-Operative’s highly successful young driver programme. Since the start of 2013 Quartix systems have also been used in the Sheilas’ Wheels telematics product, and two more insurance launches are planned in the coming months.

The Quartix system is also used to reduce the cost of fleet-based insurance, notably with its acclaimed driving-style monitoring feature which enables insurers to reward better driving and fleet managers to easily identify which drivers need to work towards a safer conduct on the road.

In addition to having a commercially attractive and market leading product, Quartix has a very strong and loyal team dedicated to the highest levels of customer service. “It is this dedication and professionalism that sets Quartix aside from its competition,” says Kirk.