Gen-track record of success
A leader in competitive and reforming utilities markets, Gentrack’s expertise is at work in New Zealand, the UK and Australia.
Gentrack is a New Zealand company leading the way in specialist software solutions and services for utility companies and airports – both here and abroad in countries such as Australia, Europe, North America, Canada and the UK.
The company evolved alongside the deregulation of New Zealand’s energy utilities sector in the 1990s, developing specialist expertise beyond anything experienced prior to the sector’s reform – this was a period of innovation driven by competition, an environment in which Gentrack thrived against some of the world’s largest software companies.
From 1989, when the company won its first electricity distribution customer Eastland Network, Gentrack established its presence in the deregulated environment to the point where, in 1999, four of the five generator retailers were using Gentrack’s software and local talent.
Today Gentrack is a recognised market leader in the provision of billing and customer management solutions for both energy retail and distribution utilities. The company has been successful in expanding its customer base to energy and water utilities in Australia (since 1994), and more recently into the UK (since 2010) with the signing of the UK’s fastest growing energy retailer – Ovo Energy. With competition in the UK’s energy and non-household water sectors, Gentrack’s missioncritical software has been welcomed by leading UK utilities.
Gentrack chief executive Ian Black puts the company’s success down to a combination of innovation, people and technology. ‘‘We were fortunate that we learned so much right from the start, growing up as we did within a competitive utility industry. We have been able to use our experience and understanding of reforming utilities markets and pass this knowledge on to utilities in other countries now experiencing what we did in the 90s.
‘‘We deliver innovation through technology; we also have a team of passionate people who understand how utilities companies operate, their customer retention and acquisition strategies, and where and how the industry is changing. By focusing on one sector of industry we have been able to deliver excellence and the expertise to support it,’’ Black says.
‘‘Ongoing market reforms and new technologies like smart metering, solar and battery storage, along with the industry’s focus on the customer experience, has created enormous potential for both Gentrack and our customers. With change and growth come challenges, and utilities and airports now more than ever want to work with providers they trust, who bring insight, innovation and help deliver measurable business value. That has always been the Gentrack difference.’’
Gentrack (GTK) is a publiclylisted New Zealand tech company on both the NZX and ASX, with a track record of providing solid, stable earnings and performance delivery.
Deutsche Bank Market Research describes the company as ‘the clear market leader for billing and CRM software for Tier 2 utilities’ with ‘potential for meaningful market share growth over time in both Australia and the UK’. It attributes Gentrack with offering ‘a more mature product with superior functionality’ over competitors.
Gentrack is a proud and fitting sponsor of the Innovation in Energy Award at the Deloitte Energy Awards, an event it has supported since its inception.
‘‘We’ve been pleased to support the awards since they started,’’ Black says. ‘‘It’s the best forum for recognising innovation and expertise in the energy sector, and a great opportunity to showcase what New Zealand energy sector companies are doing to innovate and transform our industry.’’