In the vibrant world of technology applied to the tourism sector, Clusters play a fundamental role in the promotion and innovation of the companies that comprise them, thanks to the mutual collaboration between their members, promoting development and competitiveness in our sector, in a changing environment and where technology, without a doubt, is a key factor of success and competitiveness.
In this series of interviews, we explore the synergy between technology companies in the tourism field and their membership in the recently created Tech Tourism Cluster, which is established as a driver of the competitiveness of companies to develop their strategic axes through the dissemination of knowledge in innovation, support for the internationalization of companies, the development of future hybrid talent between technology and tourism, the commitment to the sustainable development of the sector, and the support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the territory.
On this occasion we were able to talk with Ricard Soler, CEO of Atlantis IT and president of Catalunya Mobile, he is a professional with extensive experience and a successful track record in the technology and information services sector. He is an expert in IoT solutions, services based on geolocation, mobility solutions, mobile applications and entrepreneurship.
Atlantis IT is one of the more than 80 members of the Tech Tourism Cluster, can you please briefly explain the main elements of your organization?
We are a technology company specialized in applying advanced digital technologies such as IoT, geolocation, cloud computing, BigData, etc. to mobility, to provide information, based on data from the sensors we install, that helps our users make decisions.
We have business users who want to control and/or monitor their mobile resources (vehicles, machinery, containers, personnel, etc.) and also solutions for individuals, such as GPS anti-theft alarms. All solutions are developed by us, because we are software engineering.
How is your participation in this tourism technology cluster contributing to the improvement of innovation and development of your company or organization?
Leaving the company and surrounding yourself with expert talent, with different points of view, with diverse experiences, is very enriching. Generally we do not ignore the same things, so talking and sharing experiences usually brings a lot of new knowledge. Explore new paths, new solutions, discover new opportunities. It opens the mind and allows for a longer look, which is the basis of innovation.
The main objective of being part of the Clusterr is doing business. Sell more being where there is demand, and in the Clusterr we are agents of Supply and Demand. Very interesting. Be part of the Tech Tourism Cluster It allows us to be close to the entire value chain of the sector: hotel chains, hiring platforms, management software, consultants, etc. to better understand your needs and discover opportunities for new business models, collaborations, and innovations. We have already detected some potential alliances or consortium proposals to develop new solutions, some taking advantage of calls for aid, but we have only just begun…
In the context of this cluster, what opportunities for collaboration and networking Have they already been presented for your company or organization in terms of new projects or strategic alliances?
We have just started in the Cluster, but we are very participatory precisely to explore collaboration opportunities for new projects and establish strategic alliances with others. stakeholders of the tourism value chain.
How has the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Cluster member companies influenced the creation and adoption of more advanced technological solutions in the tourism industry or initial proposals in this area?
In our case it has been the other way around, by developing a technological security solution (GPS anti-theft alarms) for private users: motorcycle, car, motorhome users, etc. We discovered that the profile of our clients are people who want to improve the experience of living life on a motorcycle, motorhome, etc. and part of this experience involves discovering new routes, new destinations, etc. …and share them.
From here came the idea of linking ourselves with tourism, since through our motorcycle user App (Atlantis Moto) we can offer: recommended routes to discover and promote the territory: places to visit, its gastronomy, accommodation, the offer seasonal or stable cultural, etc. Wherever the user is from. It is a new way to attract tourism and deconcentrate it from the major attraction centers of the cities.
We continue to evolve the development of our App (for motorcycles, motorhomes, etc.) with new functions and features, to continue improving the experience of our users. It is no longer just a GPS anti-theft security App, as it was initially conceived, but it has become a powerful showcase for discovering the territory and enjoying all the offerings that motorcycle tourism offers, for example.
With the web and App solutions we have for companies: control and management of mobile resources (cars, vans, machinery, containers, objects, people, etc.), traceability of the cold chain in distribution, IoT platform for remote control of machinery (industrial, hospitality, etc.) we have not found, for the moment, the synergy with tourism. Surely new business opportunities are about to be discovered!
From the perspective of the cluster, what main contribution does your company or organization make to the tourism technological ecosystem and the promotion of the growth of other member companies and the cluster itself?
We have come to the Cluster with the spirit of collaborating to reach beyond our current limits. Make synergy to grow. We like to have partners to work together and innovate solutions for new markets and opportunities.
Member of the Research Group on Tourist Accommodation and Restoration of the CETT Campus – UB. Professor in Digital Marketing. Lecturer. Member of Scientific Committees of Congresses. Foundrising, Entrepreneurship & Awards CETT Fundació – CETT. Doctor (PhD) University of Barcelona.
