Trade Watch V9 No3 2015

CAriBBeAn exporters oF tHe YeAr 2015

A Solution for Every Vision

“Delivering excellent service is not an option, it has to be part of our core values, and it is”. Those are the words of Valrie Grant, founder and managing director of GeoTechVision, specialists in innovative spatial technologies and business ICT solutions provider; recent winner of the Special Award for Service Excellence at the Caribbean Exporter of the Awards 2015. Whilst working in the industry Grant recognized a gap in the Caribbean market; that there were no real solution providers. Many of the Caribbean IT firms were concerned with ‘selling boxes’ as opposed providing ‘customized end to end solutions to meet the needs of clients’ - a service GeoTechVision set out to deliver from inception after incorporation in 2008 in Jamaica. The Excellence in Services Exports was awarded to GeoTechVision due to their exemplary operation and success in exporting services across the region. With 80 percent of their business in the Government and 20 percent into Utilities, GeoTechVision have penetrated 14 Caribbean Territories and are now setting their sights internationally with their expansion into new markets such as South America and Canada.

Grant is the only female business owner in the Caribbean operating in the geographic spatial technology arena, which unfortunately comes with its own set of challenges. “I find that I have to work a lot harder as a female in this space, but the beauty of that is, that once we get our foot through the door we normally have repeat business from the customer as our service would speak for itself” she commented. GeoTechVision received a direct assistance grant from Caribbean Export to revamp their website and to develop training materials for the training services that are offered as part of the solution to customers. Employing 16 people supported with a pool of consultants across the region Grant, was grateful to receive the recognition for the work that her organization has done. Receiving the award “reinforces for us that we’re on the right tract and propels us to continue to push the boundaries” Grant expressed. After just 4 years GeoTechVision have already opened a second office in Guyana in 2012, and as they continue to expand Grant disclosed plans to develop GeoTech Academy to develop the skills and ability needed as Grant recognizes that “human capital is critical” for the success of the company, its growth in the fast evolving web and mobile technology arena and importantly for the regions industry as a whole. (TW)

6 Tradewatch • The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol.9 No. 3, 2015