Software companies Naviaq and Seacloud have decided to merge in order to provide customers in the aquaculture industry with a broader and more cost-efficient data-driven service offering. Both are owned by Bluefront Equity.
Seacloud provides cloud-based software and sensor technologies for analysis and utilisation of environmental data for the aquaculture industry, while Naviaq delivers software systems to standardise, safeguard and streamline industry workflows.
‘Put simply, Seacloud delivers sensors and software that describe the fish’s status, while Naviaq’s solutions gives an overview of equipment, operations and logistics,’ said Seacloud managing director Jens-Harald Jenssen.
‘Both systems aggregate data and convert it to meaningful information that allows the user to make well-informed operational decisions. By combining data from the two companies’ products and databases, we can further simplify fish farmers’ operations through presenting data via the same interface.’
The core of Seacloud’s service offering is a proprietary software that can communicate with all types of sensors, irrespective of type of equipment and the end-user. Seacloud also has sensors that, among other things, provide an overview of the marine environment above and below the ocean surface.
Naviaq has developed a software that provides full overview of equipment, maintenance history, logistic operations, resources and competence.
‘For fish farmers and vessel operators, this merger facilitates a more holistic product offering that will provide enhanced operational insights and enable more cost-efficient operations. Moreover, our colleagues will benefit from combining two highly competent teams that can develop even better software systems and help create more new jobs,’ said Lisbeth Plassen, managing director of Naviaq.
Naviaq is headquartered in Trondheim, with an additional office in Namsos. Seaclould’s head office is in Alta, with additional office in Trondheim and Tromsø. The companies will merge the two offices in Trondheim, while the operations in Alta, Namsos and Tromsø remain unchanged.
‘Our ambition is to continue creating new jobs in Alta, Trondheim, Namsos and Tromsø. All offices have important roles for us going forward,’ Lisbeth Plassen said.
Naviaq and Seacloud will until further notice operate under their current brand names.
Seafood investor Bluefront Equity is the largest shareholder in both Naviaq and Seacloud and has been key to the merger of the two companies. The combined company becomes one of the seafood industry’s largest and most robust SaaS players (Software-as-a-service).
‘Prior to investing in companies, we always consider which structural measures are available that can unlock powerful business combinations and add value to the aquaculture industry. Combining Naviaq and Seacloud is a no-brainer as their technologies and customer offerings are highly complementary,’ said Kjetil Haga at Bluefront Equity.
