Member Article

Landmark projects boost AI data pioneer in first half

Impact Data Metrics (IDM), the research and data analytics business driven by AI and machine learning technology, is seeing a sharp increase in interest for its high-quality, data-driven solutions for local government and real estate. 

Alongside signing extended and bigger contracts with local authority clients, including Brent Council and Gwynedd in North Wales for their flagship SaaS platform, IDM Occupiers, IDM, which has offices in Liverpool and London, completed a pioneering retrofit project for the South London Partnership to identify the businesses which will help around 635,000 residential and commercial properties in South London decarbonise.

The company's machine-learning powered research, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero via the Greater South East Net Zero Hub, enabled the South London Partnership to establish not only where across its local areas the supply chain is physically located, but also their specific trades – be they electricians, heating engineers, plumbers, roofers, or glaziers.

It has also mapped out the number of people these 13,600 companies employ, how long they have been trading, and even their financial health. This will enable SLP to communicate with them better to ensure they are aware of the opportunities net zero will bring, and also to engage more meaningfully with industry and education and training providers to help ensure the right technical skills are being delivered.

Geoff Wainwright, Chief Executive of IDM said: "We are pleased with the progress this year and are very optimistic for the second half, where with a new government appointed, we expect to see a continuing uptick in activity across the public and private sector.

“At our core, we are a team that likes to answer difficult questions at scale and speed. We have been using AI and machine learning technologies since we founded the business, we understand what works, so we have a clear first-mover advantage in this space. Word is now spreading about our lead web application and what we have delivered for clients in terms of it being a tailored solution that is much better than any other product on the market in the breadth and depth of data and how it’s displayed.

“Working with economic development and growth teams, we have created a flexible web-based tool, Occupiers, that enables them to respond more effectively to opportunities and challenges. As scientists and problem-solvers, we are proud to be supporting a number of councils with local plans to deliver thousands of new jobs for residents; helping deliver net zero targets and revealing supply chains for community wealth building programmes too.

This is complementary to our consulting business, which is where our clients ask us to answer more bespoke, complex questions using our data analytics capabilities, whether it is about a new development site, a new market opportunity, supporting inward investment and marketing, or a strategic development plan." 

Paul Gussar, IDM’s Commercial Director added: “A key strategic focus for the second half of the year is an emphasis on consultancy, especially to coincide with the new government’s plans to grow the economy by empowering regional Mayors to unlock growth and also reforming the planning system to get Britain building more homes.

“We can help leaders across the country drive change and take data-led decisions which will have a much better chance of success.”

A recent project that demonstrates IDM’s ability to support large, complex projects was for major US investor and developer, ALMCOR, and its transformational 700-acre Thames Enterprise Park regeneration scheme on the site of the former Coryton Oil Refinery in Essex.

Rupert Wood, Head of Strategic Land at ALMCOR says: “IDM's data-driven market analysis and comprehensive research provided us with invaluable insights, identifying target opportunities in key sectors such as logistics, advanced manufacturing, and energy for the site's redevelopment. The depth of their analysis gave us a granular understanding that far surpassed typical reports. 

“Their findings, interpretation and recommendations has played a significant part in shaping the evolving masterplan as well as supporting facts and figures in making representations to support the development’s participation in the local and national planning policy discussions. 

“Thanks to their strategic insights, we can now look forward to an estimated £3.5 billion economic value over the next 10 years, the creation of over 12,000 high-value jobs, and identified a potential £25 million in grant funding.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Robson .