Technology Magazine September 2018 | Page 32

ONE IDEA , ONE $ 1BN BUSINESS
DIGITAL STRATEGY
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When Carl Rodrigues left his job as an IT consultant in 2001 to go it alone from his basement , not even he could have foreseen what was to be achieved over the next 17 years .

Now the President and Chief Executive Officer of SOTI , the Canadian business mobility firm valued at over $ 1bn , Rodrigues has spearheaded the company ’ s transformation from a developer of Personal Digital Assistant ( PDA ) software to an industry powerhouse working with thousands of clients around the world .
Today , SOTI boasts an advanced suite of applications that includes innovative mobility management , helpdesk and app development solutions , all tailored to support businesses in unlocking the power of mobile technology . Unrecognisable from its humble beginnings , SOTI has embarked on a fascinating journey through the digital era .
ONE IDEA , ONE $ 1BN BUSINESS
SOTI has adapted and grown exponentially over the past two decades , but the core idea that Rodrigues first developed – software that allows a user to control his or her mobile device from their computer – remains a key component of its flagship product , MobiControl .
“ I went down to the basement and I created some early technology that actually became part of our enterprise product ,” he tells Gigabit Magazine . “ Now we have over 17,000 customers in 176 different countries around the world using that technology .”
Initially developed as a consumer product , Rodrigues recognised the potential for his technology to transform enterprises when he was approached by a major retailer based in the United Kingdom wishing for integration to support its remote-working staff .
“ I was in the basement and a lady with a British accent called and said ‘ hi , can I speak to someone in sales ?’ And it was me ! I put the phone down on the desk for a while and then I picked
SEPTEMBER 2018