Mark Smith
We have written software that SEARCH’s inside a company’s own documents, especially within archives of technical-documents (Computer Aided Designs, PDF’s, diagrams, installation guides, maintenance manuals, floorplans, etc.).
Tell us about yourself?
After 20+ years in computer systems integration, building some of the largest online companies in the world, I learned that there can be software that scours each company’s own documents, commonly proprietary, and yet highly useful to all employees.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Don’t wash all the food (fruits, vegetables, etc.).
What problem does your business solve?
Retained Knowledge: Companies spend a LOT of time and money to document their products, services, workflow, etc., but few companies are good at accessing all their own data.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
I was inspired to build a business with “zero employees”. It has worked great, so far. Outsourcing 100% of every task. Docupoint’s DrawingSearcher has solved the technical challenges and is moving to a new phase of partnering with sales-focussed companies who will be able to reach our end-users, worldwide.
What is your magic sauce?
The magic is our strength with technical documents. They are the hardest to decipher, interpret, and SEARCH. Tho our product SEARCH’s and finds common documents (Microsoft Office files, SQL databases, Spreadsheets, etc.), our ability to find information within documents such as AutoCAD drawings is what sets us apart. No document management procedures need to occur (e.g. TAG’ing information within each document), allowing access to all files via simple-to-use SEARCH engine techniques.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Focus on working with worldwide sales teams and growing the business to $20+ Million, whilst not building our own salesforce.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
End-users thinking that such a solution even exists!
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
I anticipate working with M&A firms who are good at matching technology-rich companies like Docupoint with existing, established sales teams who are already calling on F1000-type companies/organizations (our sweet-spot) with the promise of making those companies/organizations much more efficient at gaining access to their own Retained Knowledge.
