Travel sounds great from the outside. But it can be challenging. Not just practically, but from an environmental perspective. Travel is particularly interesting to global business, UltramapGlobal. In a digitally connected world, do we really need to move around so much these days?.
This issue: TRAVEL
“In the early days, a dozen years ago, international conversation was clunky.” Explains Martin.
“Skype and Webex were unpredictable. Not everybody had cameras. Screen sharing and demo sharing was possible, but without seeing the person it was difficult to build rapport.”
The World’s Most Used.
Martin Connelly is Co-Founder of UltramapGlobal, whose job it is to protect some of the world’s most important subsea cables. UltramapGlobal monitor 100 million vessel movements around the world, every single day. If a client cable is threatened, one of Martin’s Global Monitoring Teams intervene. Nobody has monitored more, for longer. That’s why UltramapGlobal’s AssetMonitor software is the world’s most used.
Responsible Travel.
“This bit sounds great. Over the years, we’ve travelled to Canada, Faroe Islands, Singapore, Boston, Baltimore, Thailand, Uruguay, Mauritius, Spain, Hawaii – and more.
“Mostly for exhibitions. Sometimes to see customers.
But always responsibly. Balancing environmental impact with what’s best for client relationships.
Sometimes – you just have to be there.”
Important Work.
Cables that UltramapGlobal protect transmit power, telecommunications and fuel around the world. And UltramapGlobal protect vulnerable cable installers too.
The consequence of cable strikes can be catastrophic for business continuity, and human life.
“It’s harder understanding emphasis and nuance when setting up projects remotely. Things might get missed. UltramapGlobal wants to reduce the world’s cable strikes to zero. Over half our customers have no cable strikes at all. And all customers, every single one, has fewer cable strikes once they appoint us.
“I’m convinced that one of the reasons we protect so well is because we meet and plan face-to-face.”
Worth The Risk.
One of UltramapGlobal’s first customers was the result of a face-to-face meeting in The Channel Islands. The investment, and risk, was high because Martin travelled to the client incurring all costs.
“The journey must be worth the risk. But as a young and inexperienced company, such decisions are hard to make and hard to pay for too.”
And Martin’s experience of exotic sounding locations is not as glamorous as it sounds.
“I travel abroad about six times each year. I experience taxis, planes, reception desks, elevators, hotel rooms, strange beds, hotel restaurants and conference buildings. Most times – that’s it. Then I experience it all in reverse to get home. Tiring!
“But making the effort is important. People buy people at the end of the day. And if we don’t set projects up properly, we can’t deliver on the promise we make. UltramapGlobal really does want to reduce the world’s subsea cable strikes – to zero.”
www.ultramapglobal.com