Latest news with #SMARTFlexibleInnovationSupport
Business News Wales
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Monmouth Firm Develops Retail Tech System Thanks to Innovation Support
A Welsh tech firm is supporting the the retail industry to streamline operations, grow faster and unlock circular economy initiatives. Founded in 2015 by Jonathan and Louise Petrie, Monmouth-based Dot On helps retailers manage their sales and supply chain operations in one system. Whilst many businesses struggle with outdated, fragmented technology that slows them down, the firm's technology enables retailers to connect all pre-existing systems and flexibly operate them all from a single system, saving time, reducing mistakes and assisting growth. To make this happen, the company turned to the Welsh Government's SMART Flexible Innovation Support (SMART FIS), a programme providing funding, expertise and specialist support to help organisations develop and implement innovative solutions. With expert support, the company was able to: Identify the key challenges facing retailers – like customer frustration, operational inefficiencies, limited ability to scale and growing sustainability pressures caused by siloed and inflexible systems. Develop a detailed three-year innovation plan, setting out how to build a next-gen sales and supply chain management system. Bring that plan to life – developing new features and rolling out the technology to more businesses. As a result, the company has tripled its staff with plans to double again in the coming year. Jonathan Petrie, CEO and Co-founder of Dot On, said: 'There's nothing like this support anywhere else in the world. Wales leads in innovation support and SMART FIS is truly transformative.' Louise Petrie, CFO and Co-founder of Dot On, added: 'It's not just about funding. It gives businesses like ours the flexibility to adapt and grow, helping us push the boundaries of what's possible.' The company worked with the Innovation team to create a centralised platform that manages sales and supply chain operations, saving time, reducing errors and improving customer experiences. In 2021, the company secured £98,000 in Welsh Government innovation funding, which helped move the company from concept to a working solution, allowing real-world testing and refinement. In 2023, the company received £37,000 in SMART FIS Level 1 funding, to develop a detailed innovation plan. The Innovation Specialist worked closely with the company to refine its research and development (R&D) strategy, ensuring its roadmap aligned with the ever-changing needs of the retail sector. Since securing SMART FIS Level 1 funding, the company has seen its revenue grow by 400%. The success of this plan led to further support in 2024 and 2025, including SMART FIS Level 2 funding of £400,000, helped it accelerate growth, improving platform functionality and scaling up operations. Jonathan added: 'Fragmented and inflexible sales and supply chain systems have been a problem for decades. Something as simple as changing a shipping address on a customer order should take seconds, not 10–20 minutes as it currently does – across multiple systems. SMART FIS has given us the support to build a system that fixes these inefficiencies, transforming how businesses operate.' The impact of Dot On's innovation on the retail sector has been significant: Retailers using its platform have cut operational costs by 4%, saving one business £400,000 a year. Customer returns have dropped by 5% and processing time has been cut by 90%. Customer services overall labour cost has been reduced by 33%. Inventory accuracy improved by 28%. Customer satisfaction has jumped by 15%. The company's success has also gained international recognition. In 2024, the company was introduced to luxury goods company, LVMH, as one of the 'best of what the UK has to offer' by the UK Department for Business and Trade.
Business News Wales
18-06-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Llusern Scientific Speeding Up Infection Diagnosis with Welsh Innovation Support
Llusern Scientific is developing rapid diagnostic tests to transform how urinary tract infections are diagnosed and treated. With targeted support from the Welsh Government's Innovation team, the company, which is based at Cardiff Edge Business Park, is bringing its first product to market. It is set to pave the way for faster diagnosis, better patient outcomes and reduced antibiotic misuse. Established in 2020 as a spin-out from the University of South Wales, the company set out to address a major health challenge. Urinary infections affect more than 100 million people worldwide each year. Its portable, easy-to-use molecular diagnostic device delivers accurate results within 35 minutes, giving clinicians fast and reliable information. The company has now announced that it has been awarded ISO 13485 certification for its Lodestar DX testing system, a rapid molecular diagnostic platform for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Dr Emma Hayhurst, co-founder and CEO of Llusern Scientific, said: 'When we founded Llusern Scientific, we were on a mission to make a positive difference in healthcare by developing a point-of-care diagnostic that would enable us to improve antimicrobial stewardship. Achieving ISO 13485 certification is a major milestone in our mission because it demonstrates that we have built a manufacturing facility to world-class standards. 'Not only does our Lodestar UTI testing system help a clinician decide whether or not to prescribe an antibiotic, but it will also identify the bacterial cause of the UTI. This enables clinicians to quickly target the right bug with the right treatment to save lives. Now we have ISO 13485 certification, our next goal is to achieve IVDR certification to further expand the market potential for our innovative molecular diagnostic globally.' There are more than 400 million UTI cases globally each year, of which around 90% are women. According to the Sepsis Trust approximately 15-30% of sepsis cases are caused by a UTI. Research has shown that antibiotics are overprescribed by as much as two times for UTIs leading to them being a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As well as providing guidance on the best treatment option, Lodestar DX also provides a clear 'rule-out' decision where antibiotics are not necessary, helping to reduce AMR through antibiotic stewardship. ISO 13485 certification is a crucial regulatory step for marketing medical devices globally, as it demonstrates that a manufacturer has a robust Quality Management System in place, showing commitment to patient safety, regulatory compliance, and consistent product quality. Llusern is preparing for commercial launches across India and the Middle East and North Africa region this year, and the US in 2026. The company has received a range of targeted support from the Welsh Government's Innovation team, including SMART Flexible Innovation Support (SFIS), expert design assistance and intellectual property (IP) strategy development—each playing a vital role in advancing the technology and preparing for commercial scale-up. Initial SFIS support in early 2024 enabled the team to develop a clear innovation plan, setting out priorities for product improvements, new clinical applications and growth. A second SFIS award in September 2024 has since supported the delivery of this plan, while design and IP interventions have strengthened its route to market. As a result, Welsh Government innovation support has helped Llusern Scientific to: Enhance its existing diagnostic platform, making it suitable for use in a wider range of clinical settings. Develop a new unique test panel design, addressing contamination risks and improving ease of use for non-laboratory settings. Strengthen its IP portfolio through a comprehensive audit and actionable recommendations, boosting investor confidence. Expand research and development facilities at Cardiff Edge Business Park. Advance collaborations with Public Health Wales and NHS partners, supporting clinical validation and real-world evidence generation. While Agile Cymru funding has provided valuable opportunities to explore international markets, the company's core innovation progress has been driven by targeted support from the Welsh Government's Innovation team.
