What our Clients Say
Airbiquity develops technology that was once the stuff of
science fiction. The US-based business is a pioneer of wireless data
solutions for the growing sectors of telematics – the information
exchange between vehicles and control centres – and M2M, or machine-to-machine
communications.
Since the company’s launch in 1997, its telematics technology has attracted the world’s largest automotive manufacturers as customers, and is now used in more than eight million vehicles.
The company has over 80 employees and two offices in the US, one in Seattle and one in Detroit. There is also a healthy demand for its products and services in Europe, driven in part by the European Commission’s eCall initiative, under which all new cars in Europe would be fitted as standard with an in-vehicle emergency call system from model year 2010.
The basic concept behind eCall is to automatically transmit vehicle details, including an accurate GPS location, to emergency services the moment a vehicle’s airbag has been deployed, or is involved in a significant collision. European chiefs say the eCall technology could help save over 2,500 lives a year.
This growing European demand for its products and services led Airbiquity chiefs to open two European offices in August 2006; one in Luton, UK, and another in Brussels, Belgium. Artaius played a key role in the administrative set up process and continues to provide much-valued services to the company.
Aaron Schielke, Airbiquity’s controller, explains: “Artaius was initially recommended to us by our UK law firm and from the start of our relationship we have benefited greatly from their expertise in conducting business matters in the UK.”
“Unique country requirements for payroll and reporting practices for agencies such as HM Revenue & Customs in the UK vary greatly from our requirements in the US, and Artaius has really taken ownership of these and many other aspects of our business. For example, early on in our UK operation we needed to register for VAT, and Artaius very quickly sorted that out on our behalf.”
“Artaius looks after issues including our payroll, tax and accounts and I rely on them to keep us compliant with UK business legislation. It means that we don’t have to learn all the details of another’s country’s business law, though the Artaius team will always take time to explain matters to us when needed.”
Aaron keeps up to date with the Artaius team through weekly phone calls , and describes the relationship as “very friendly.”
In May 2007, Aaron met with Artaius’ Alfred Levy and Melanie Troiano, who were on a business trip to the US and Canada. He is looking forward to seeing them again on a visit to the UK early in 2008. “Our European business is really growing and there are additional roles which Artaius may be able to help us with,” said Aaron.
He adds: “Artaius works as an extension of my own accounting team. I rely on them to take care of our business and they do a great job.”
