WANdisco secures ‘transformational’ Big Data project with British Gas

British Gas has selected the Sheffield-based group to help with a major Big Data project in a multi-million pound deal.

WANdisco’s chief executive David Richards said: “British Gas is a transformational deal. A very traditional British institution has selected us for a pretty big project.

“They have all this customer information, product data and all these new smart meters that send information back. They have got to store it all and then derive data from it. We ensure the data is always available. If it wasn’t you wouldn’t be able to see your gas bill online.”

He added that the smart meters are designed to accurately predict how and when people will use power.

“They will know how much gas and electricity they will need at any one time. It could save tens of millions of pounds across the board.”

He was speaking yesterday as the group confirmed the appointment of Paul Walker, former chief executive of Sage as chairman.

It also announced annual results, which showed bookings up 86 per cent to £9m. Deferred revenue rose 106 per cent and the cash position stood at £15m following the placing last September.

The group made a pre-tax loss of £12m, up from £5m the previous year.

Mr Richards said the group is going through a period of heavy investment and should make a profit in two to three years.

WANdisco has threatened to leave its Sheffield offices at Electric Works in protest at a 20 per cent increase in rent.

Mr Richards said: “We are very happy in Sheffield.

“The staff are extremely good, but we might have to look for office space elsewhere in the city.”