A software firm founded in Derry by Terry Kavanagh has carved a lucrative niche in the areas of work process management and data quality.

Its strategy of going to market as a sub-contractor with system integrators such as Fujitsu and HP has allowed Foyle Technologies to win business on both sides of the border.

Kavanagh attributes much of his Terry Kavanagh, Managing Director and owner of Foyle Technologies Ltd FOYLE TECHNOLOGIES BATTLES THE BIG BOYS software company’s recent success to InterTradeIreland.

As a firm employing five staff, battling against the big boys of the IT world is no easy task.

But as Terry says, the networking opportunities afforded by InterTradeIreland opened doors for his firm that were normally reserved for the established firms.

During two years with InterTradeIreland, Foyle Technologies has picked up lucrative contacts with BT and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Foyle Technologies, which has been trading for four years, specialises in ‘cleansing’ the databases of large firms and organisations.

The Rosemount-based company’s software can also be integrated into IT infrastructures.

“InterTradeIreland definitely opened doors for us,” said Terry. “We were able to get in touch with customers that we would not have otherwise been able to reach. “There is only one other company in Northern Ireland offering a similar service to what we are doing. However, worldwide there are a number of big companies offering our service but they are incredibly expensive. We can offer the same for a lot less. That is our selling point. InterTradeIreland understood that and put us in touch with a number of big name companies.”

However, networking is only one of the benefits that Terry says InterTradeIreland has brought his company.

The Derry businessman says the introduction of a graduate into his small firm proved particularly valuable. “When we started out with the FUSION programme, InterTradeIreland gave us a graduate,” he said.

“I am pleased to say that it has worked out very well and that the graduate brought in will be staying on to help the company grow.”

On a practical level, Terry says InterTradeIreland also helped sharpen his company’s competitive edge.

“When we started with InterTradeIreland they identified what needed improved in our business and we were given help with our sales presentations.

“We were also given grants to expand into the South and support in linking up with Dundalk College. By taking part in FUSION we were given access to expertise that we wouldn’t normally have been able to access.”

Foyle Technologies emerged from the ashes of The Data Warehouse Practice (TDWP) in October 2003 to capitalise on the potential of two software products - Matchsoft and Commix Framework - which it acquired when the previous owner ceased trading.