http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/severe-weather-and-d...

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...s/news-story/3fd0f05a93dce612755d546ce28a29d0

A STRING of headline-grabbing disastrous weather events and fires across Australia late last year led to a spike in interest in the products offered by severe weather and disaster warning service Aeeris.

The Chinderah-based company, headed by ex-army officer and farmer turned tech entrepreneur Kerry Plowright, signed up the first commercial customers for its View360 aerial drone services unit, recording aerial imagery of damage for a major utility company caused by the tornado which smashed Kurnell in Sydney in mid-December.

Mr Plowright said Aeeris had a “highly productive” end to the year, acquiring a range of new customers across the insurance, local government, telecom and utilities sectors.

It also appointed former Victorian Emergency Services Commissioner Michael Hallowes, who it hopes will help boost business in the government and emergency management sector.

In the quarter to December 31, Mr Plowright said Aeeris launched pilot programs and trials for several major companies for its Safe@Work product suite which protects and monitors staff and contractors on remote sites.

Aeeris ended the quarter with cash in hand of just $812,610 but expects revenue to accelerate as its sales pipeline comes on stream.

Mr Plowright said 2016 was “all about scaling up the business”. He said the company is becoming more efficient at implementing bespoke features for major customers and is aiming to roll out new products to several major new customers in the 2016 first quarter.

The company’s existing client register includes more than 100 blue-chip corporate and government clientele including BHP Billiton, Lend Lease, Origin, SEQ Water, Leighton Contractors, Brisbane City Council, AGL, Metcash, BlueScope Steel, Thiess and Suncorp.

Aeeris shares closed 2¢, or 13.79 per cent higher, at 16.5¢