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Radio Tactics: helping combat crime and conflict World-class companies from across the region


This is the latest article in a series looking at leading-edge companies that we have identified in association with business advisers BDO


Innovation invariably involves improved efficiency (a simplified process that saves time or money) or greater effectiveness (better quality results). Southampton-based Radio Tactics has brought innovation into data capture from mobile digital devices, achieving both enhanced efficiency and effectiveness, while helping to combat the threats of crime and conflict.


With such a combination of positives, it is little wonder that Radio Tactics has been growing rapidly at a 40%-plus annual average since 2004. While company turnover is still in the low millions, market opportunities are high and global. “We are doing well, but we don’t consider we have really started to meet our true potential yet,“ says chief operating officer Paul Martin.


In simple terms Radio Tactics is harnessing leading edge digital technology to produce user-friendly solutions that meet the exact needs of its B2B customers – predominantly police forces and the armed services.


Through its equipment Radio Tactics enables non-specialist law enforcers to retrieve accurate information from mobile phones, digital handsets, SIM cards and memory cards – importantly, information that is legally acceptable in courts.


Within the armed forces, Radio Tactics’ robust specialist equipment enables frontline soldiers to gather vital battlefield intelligence in real-time from cell phones, GPS and portable digital devices that terrorists and insurgents now commonly use.


Time-saving is a key attribute of Radio Tactics’ high- tech tool-kit. Police officers no longer have to decide which potential ’scene-of-crime’ devices should be sent for specialist laboratory analysis. Radio Tactics technology enables officers to ’sweep’ for digital data and potential evidence held on all devices in a crime scene. Analysis now takes hours rather than months, and crime detection and court-case duration rates have greatly improved.


Similarly, technological advantage is a much-prized weapon in the modern electronic battlefield. Time is often in short supply for active armed forces, and rapid comprehensive capture of digital intelligence can frankly save lives. Radio Tactics’ tools are designed to empower the frontline investigators (who can be trained in equipment usage within a few hours) by providing instant intelligence upon which live tactical decisions can be made.


Radio Tactics is also reducing outsourced analytical costs. “Police forces can save hundreds of thousands of pounds by investing in our capabilities,“ claimed Martin.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – FEBRUARY 2012 Leading Edge


distinctive business model which is different to our competitors.“ Radio Tactics makes its money from specialist equipment sales and professional services which include consultancy, competency-based training, and service and support contracts.


Despite its innovation and sales growth, Martin suggests the company is leading edge for two reasons. “All our solutions and equipment can be tailored specifically to resolve that military or legal requirement.


“Also, we pride ourselves on our attention to detail, understanding our customer’s problem and responding with a solution as nimbly and sensitively as possible.“ He admits the company has focused on becoming a trusted provider.


Paul Martin


Radio Tactics was founded by its CEO, Andy Gill, in 2003. Gill spotted a market opportunity in extracting forensic evidence from mobile handsets. He developed a secure and evidentially sound tool to do just that and the Thames Valley Police Force became his first customer. Personal investors, still supporting the company, helped fund further developments.


Today, that opportunity (and the talent of Gill’s currently 40-strong team) has led to commercial involvement with three-quarters of UK police forces, NATO-linked armed forces and business operations spanning Europe, Australia and the USA.


“Our investigative tools are used within all the Australian police forces and our business there has grown from zero to our UK level in half the time.“


Next year Radio Tactics expects to double its sales in some markets. “Our ambition is not just to have our equipment at every police headquarters, but in every police station and police car.“


Radio Tactics is the only UK company in its field and it has just two competitors globally. “But, we have a


Arguably, successfully balancing the twin cultures of free-thinking internal creativity and external customer security is also a Radio Tactics leading edge quality. “A lot of it is about picking the right people and motivating them within your team.“


Is Radio Tactics exploring consumer market opportunities? “We see so much opportunity in our current markets that dealing with the general public would be an unnecessary distraction at present,“ says Martin. A sensible business decision, bearing in mind human rights issues and current public phone hacking concerns.


Which means keeping up with the pace of technological change is the key future challenge to Radio Tactics.


The diversity of phone handsets is not the concern – Radio Tactics operates worldwide supporting the investigation of more than 4,000 international digital devices – it’s the explosion of information now available for analysis, particularly from smartphones.


Can Radio Tactics conquer the hydra that is the Apps market? Can it master the e-cloud on the horizon? And the next technological advance?... Will Radio Tactics’ leading edge be sharp enough to cope?


The BDO business adviser’s view by partner Paul Anthony


Radio Tactics has made significant investment in leading edge products and software during


a period when mobile handsets and smartphones have driven momentous change in the technology market.


By responding quickly, Radio Tactics has put itself in prime position to really make a difference to law enforcement ’back-room’ processing. The technology provides the opportunity to remove workload backlog, improve the quality of data capture and reduce expenditure on outsourced analysis.


There is great potential for increased global penetration of the Radio Tactics offering, building upon the territories and markets where the company currently operates. This not only brings the opportunity to sell into those countries where handset growth is rising fastest, but also balance risk by seeking opportunities in economies less affected by northern hemisphere recessionary aftershocks.


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