U.K. Headquartered Zafire Expands into the U.S. via UCF Business Incubator’s Soft Landing Program
ORLANDO, Fla. — With growing interest in Zafire’s Aviation Software Solutions from aviation companies in the Americas, the global company realized it was time to “touchdown” in the US to deliver support directly.
Zafire’s suite of next generation aviation solutions are used by airlines and airports all over the world for baggage management and reconciliation (FirstBag), aircraft loading (FirstLoad), resource planning and management (FirstPRM) and comprehensive aircraft turnaround servicing (FirstRamp). Their ground breaking flight information display system (FirstFIDS) and check-in solution (FirstCheckin) are the first to offer personalized passenger engagement and processing to increase efficiency as well as customer satisfaction.
Chris Beling, Commercial Director of Zafire, says “As our global customer base has grown encompassing the aviation and service industries, we knew it was important that customers had local support. Our new office in Orlando builds on our existing offices in the UK and Australia, with plans for new locations in the future. We’re excited about the new opportunities this expansion will bring.”
Zafire executive Adrian Jones was tapped to direct the expansion. “We have been able to hit the ground running,” stated Jones. “Having assistance meeting all the legal requirements of setting up an Orlando office as well as the networking opportunities and connections within the Florida business community made it easy.”
“We had a great launch at the GHI Americas Conference in Miami in October and already new opportunities are developing and existing relationships strengthened,” stated Jones. “Our software is gaining great interest with airline, airports and ground handling companies immediately appreciating the cost and time savings that it will bring to their organizations as well as the advanced business intelligence that it provides for further efficiency improvements.”
The UCF Business Incubator’s Soft Landing program provides fast growing technology companies who are headquartered outside of Metro Orlando with business support and facilities to quickly stand up a Central Florida operation. In the three years UCF has offered the program, over two dozen international and domestic companies have joined the program. Two of those (CSF Technologies and Aviana Molecular Technologies) moved their corporate headquarters to Orlando after realizing the benefits of doing business in Central Florida.
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For more information, please contact –
Adrian Jones, General Manager, Zafire Aviation, +18444ZAFIRE or ajones@zafire.com
Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program 407-207-2426 carolann.dykes@ucf.edu
Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, lvershelco@aol.com or 407-644-4142 Larry Vershel Communications
About the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program
The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources.
With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output. During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1 invested in the program. For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
