Double success for MK business owners

Posted 1st December 2017

It was a case of ‘honours even’ after Milton Keynes-based business owners – and firm friends – Ben Peters and Iain Row went head-to-head in the BizTech Bright Sparc awards last week. Both had been entered in multiple categories, and in one of the categories, Best Technology Collaboration, they both made the shortlist.

“When I saw the shortlist, I was stunned,” said Ben, who runs Telematics Pro, a company which focuses on reducing company driver risk and improving fleet operating costs. “I was delighted to make the cut, and then to find I was up against Iain made it all the more interesting”.

“I knew Ben and Telematics Pro would be tough competition”, Iain agreed. His company, Visual Realms, had recently completed a 3D Scan and VR Walkthrough of Willen Hospice, which led to them being shortlisted. “I thought ‘Best Technology Collaboration’ was my best chance of an award, but as I said to Ben, as long as one of us wins, I’ll be happy”.

In the end, the award went to Telematics Pro, but then Visual Realms scooped Best Business to Consumer Technology Innovation, so neither went away empty-handed.

“Our clients are generally organisations who need to promote their physical space, like schools, hotels, and conference venues, in a cost-effective way”, said Iain, “But their customers can take a spectacular online tour from the comfort of their own chair, so there are clearly benefits to the consumer too”.

There was never any chance of them falling out, not least because each is a client of the other’s business. “I have a dashcam from Telematics Pro, and it is excellent,” Iain explained, “It gives me peace of mind to know that the camera records everything, without me having to think about it”.

“It’s a great bit of kit and very unobtrusive”, Ben agreed. “And you don’t have to take my word for it; you can take a look at the scan Visual Realms did of the camera on our website”.

For more information, please visit visualrealms.co.uk and telematicspro.co.uk