Record growth in Canada
Over the past year, Omega 365 Canada's software license sales increased by 40 percent compared to the previous year. The company is planning for further growth and has established a new office in St. John's to ensure close follow-up with clients across the country.
Published: 02. September 2024
General Manager of Omega 365 Canada, Kenneth Steinsvik, and Vice President of Business Development, Arvid Markhus, aim to achieve rapid growth both the company in terms of financial results and the number of team members in the future.
“We have set ourselves some ambitious goals, but much of the focus is about working effectively in the future to secure large projects and recruiting the right expertise when we need it,” says Steinsvik.
In addition to its head office in Calgary, the company has recently established a branch in St. John's. The six time zones within the country pose challenges in following up clients.
“We saw a great need to be closer to clients across the country. There’s a big difference between Kenneth in Calgary, who has just started his day, and me, who is now about to have lunch,” says Markhus with a smile.
New office attracts new clients
The new office ensures that clients across the country receive timely responses to their questions and follow-up when needed. The number of Canadian clients is steadily growing—over the last six months alone, license sales have increased by 20 percent, with a 40 percent increase over the past year.
“Wherever we set up, we see growth. In Calgary, there's traditionally been a lot of activity in the oil and gas industry, which is still important to us. However, there's also a growing focus on green industries and sustainable projects, like offshore wind and green hydrogen," says Steinsvik.
“Since we opened the branch in St. John's, on the other side of the country, we've gained clients that we probably wouldn’t have without that office,” adds Markhus.
Steinsvik and Markhus highlight the EPCM company Hatch, one of the largest users of Pims Cost Management, with over 4000 projects managed in Pims. When this major client needed Omega 365 to be closer, Markhus and his Canadian wife moved to St. John's.
“We can also mention the newest client you signed an agreement with, Arvid—World Energy GH2, which is building a new production facility for green hydrogen and ammonia. It's very exciting," says Steinsvik.
Over the past year, the Canadian company has also achieved ISO certification, further strengthening its position as a supplier of services and products to green industries.
Department Manager at Omega 365 Canada, Arvid Markhus.
Achieving success
Kenneth Steinsvik has been in Canada for 15 years, and for the last six years, he has worked closely with Arvid Markhus after Arvid also moved from the USA to Canada. Today, the company has 21 team members, most of whom are based at the head office in Calgary. Steinsvik and Markhus emphasize that with the new Omega 365 system, they can reach clients and industries beyond those traditionally serviced by Omega 365’s Pims product.
“We're fortunate to have such good systems that our clients can use. Omega 365 is suitable for various projects and is a flexible system that many can benefit from. We’re optimistic that this new system will also drive more growth for us. Traditionally, we’ve had good, solution-oriented people, and now we also have a program that offers significant value to our clients.”
General Manager of Omega 365 Core, Jan Christian Brataas, is impressed by the growth and development achieved by Omega 365 Canada.
“I’m really impressed with what Kenneth and his team in Canada have achieved. It takes courage to pursue growth, and the significant development in Canada over the past 12 months shows how dedicated they’ve been to our strategy. They have a strong passion for delivering great solutions and using their expertise to help clients across Canada. This approach not only supports our clients' success but also provides them with the tools and support they need to thrive,” he says.
New conference
In September last year, Omega 365 Canada held its first all-day conference for existing and potential clients. The team is currently preparing to host the next conference, which they hope will become an annual event.
“The goal of the conference is to take care of our clients, show them what’s happening in our development, and highlight the functions and services we offer. At the same time, we want to make some noise in the market and show potential new clients what they can gain by switching to our systems,” says Steinsvik, with Markhus adding:
“With 100 participants at the conference, it’s a golden opportunity for networking, not just for us but also for our clients. When people know who we are and what we do, they’re more comfortable reaching out. We don’t have many people knocking on our door; we have to go out and make contact ourselves.”
At the conference, the social aspect is just as important as the professional one.
“It’s important that we can meet afterward over a good meal. Our clients appreciate the chance to talk to other clients and share experiences. Some users might find it intimidating to recommend us, but when they see that many others are also using our system, the barrier is lowered,” says Markhus.
A great team
Steinsvik and Markhus like to challenge each other to step out of their comfort zones—that’s when they believe you can really achieve great results.
“We have a great team; we really have to give them credit. We’re also always on the lookout for talented individuals if someone witht the right skills approcahes us. The need. The need for good project managers is just as critical as for developers, especially since our new system allows us to manage more licenses per employee than before,” says Steinsvik.
“It’s motivating to see the progress we’re making, and we hope to continue delivering on Omega’s goals for global growth.”
Welcome to the Omega 365 Calgary Conference 2024!
Join us on Wednesday, September 18th, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM for a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights, connect with industry leaders, and celebrate our shared milestones. Discover how Omega 365 can streamline your project and asset management processes.