Record growth for online voting and election technology firm Scytl
Secure online voting and election modernisation specialist Scytl has announced a revenue growth of more than 70% resulting from a rapid expansion of its work across the globe, the company says. Specializing in election modernization technologies, Scytl claism to offer the first end-to-end election management and voting platform, building on more than 18 years of research to develop election-specific cryptographic security technology protected by more than 40 international patents and patent applications. The company says its solutions have been successfully used in more than 30 countries over the past 10 years. It says key election industry trends in 2014 will include a focus by more developed democracies on establishing the necessary infrastructure and legislation to support the implementation of remote online voting to help increase voter turnout. In addition, developing democracies are looking into more elaborate and integrated election management systems with a growing interest in poll-site online voting and electronic results transmission systems to help improve efficiency and transparency, the firm says.
Pictured: Section of product diagram on Scytl's website
Scytl: www.scytl.com
BJSS delivers Foreign & Commonwealth Office 'crisis hub'
IT consultancy BJSS has announced it has delivered a project for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to develop an IT platform to aid the FCO's response to international crises, including help for British nationals overseas. The system replaces the FCO's previous system which was decommissioned in May 2013. Updating Parliament on 12 December 2013, Foreign Secretary William Hague said the FCO used the Crisis Hub to help British nationals in the aftermath of the recent Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. It was also also used to help British nationals in the evacuation from South Sudan in December 2013. The system collects data during crisis situations from both the FCO's crisis response team, as well as British nationals affected by the crisis. This information is then used by the FCO to aid the effective planning and delivery of its response to the crisis. Mike Buck, Head of BJSS public sector practice, said: "The platform is hosted in the cloud and has been designed to support a wide-range of communication channels such as SMS text messaging, telephone and a webform on gov.uk. Further extending its reach, Crisis Hub also features an online portal... that can be accessed by the FCO's crisis team from most computing and mobile devices."
BJSS: www.bjss.com
Advanced acquires Compass to expand presence in education sector
Advanced Computer Software Group, provider of healthcare, business management and learning management software, has announced it has acquired education software provider Compass Computer Consultants for a net £14.5 million. Compass, based in Cheshire, provides record management and customer relationship (CRM) systems which are used by more than 80% of UK colleges and by the Learning and Skills Council. Compass is the second education software company to have been purchased by Advanced, after the Group acquired management information system provider Serco Learning in December 2012. Advanced now provides innovative technology solutions to more than 2,000 educational institutions throughout the UK and worldwide. The acquisition was overseen by BCMS, one of the UK's leading advisors to sellers of privately owned businesses.
Advanced Computer Software Group plc: www.advancedcomputersoftware.com
