On December 1st, Radio Exterior de España dedicated a part of its program Marca España to talk about the innovation and technology innovations that the country's entrepreneurs are leading. To talk about the launch of Wirtualdb, the program interviewed live Guillem Perez, que remarcó la importancia de esta nueva tecnología para virtualizar datos en cualquier sector económico.
What does Wirtualdb consist of?
The concept is based on the strategies of Big Data (or in other words, the management of large volumes of data). Wirtualdb's goal is the virtualization of that data, and for this we have a technology with properties oriented to map data in a cloud system. To put it in a nutshell, we could say that companies need to obtain large volumes of data from different sources, so that an automated and real-time business model can be mapped.
Could you give us an example of how this type of technology works?
Let's imagine that we are a company that has subsidiaries that may or may not be investees. These subsidiaries market different products, in different geographies, with a separate distribution channel. If the customer wants to know the status of the products in real time (and not after 2 days) it is necessary to trace a chain of data available to each of these subsidiaries. In this way, we can instantly have the location of the product.
How does this technology apply to companies?
There are many applications in terms of market solutions: For example, to see traceability in the retail sector, in digital marketing, in the field of logistics and even in the financial sector. In general, it is useful when we need to see a large volume of heterogeneous data in any sector, to have the information at the moment when decisions have to be made.
Do you think the market is transforming at a fast pace?
Of course. And this phenomenon will become more pronounced in the coming years. Companies no longer only manage their own information, but thanks to new paradigms (such as the Internet of Things) they can access multiple sources of information to map out a process. In the process of digitization, new ways of being able to customize consumer demand are achieved, so we are moving towards more precise and efficient production.
Although it is complicated to talk about the future, how far do you think the challenges posed by the digital environment can go?
Thanks to digitalization, predictive business models can be applied in near real-time. From the customer's point of view, we will be able to access what we need instantly. At the enterprise level, it will be possible to customize processes for the user.
Will it also be possible to open new market lines?
This will be precisely the most significant change. Organizations are now in a global, open and collaborative environment. They will begin to implement new business models and be able to be more effective and efficient. Although we sometimes don't realize it, our services are becoming more affordable and accessible.
How did the idea of Wirtualdb come up?
This tool is the result of a market need. Specifically, it was born out of the need for international maritime tracking that multiple companies use to track container transport information. It was also required to have access to the status of cargoes in real time, combining it with customs, ports, consignees, etcetera.
¿Who uses this technology besides maritime tracking companies?
In addition to other types of logistics companies, we are currently working for the tourism industry. It is also very useful to create personalized digital marketing campaigns, to be able to see the profile of potential customers.
How many years did it take to develop this new technology?
In 2003, we started working in this direction from the consulting world, at Zemsania. From there, we have taken engineering to the cloud world to make it compatible with all systems and we have developed a new product, witualdb, which we have just launched on the market.
How would you evaluate the Spanish industry in the technological and digital fields?
Technology today is an important aspect of global, cannot be associated with a country or a continent. In Spain there are many companies that innovate, that carry out digital transformation solutions, IoT (Internet of Things) or data solutions, as in cloud systems. There are even companies that have won awards in R&D, so at the moment we are in a good position.
Do you think that the development of a new technology always requires certain explanations before users can start using it?
Yes, and in fact it is one of the most important issues. It is a disruptive technology, so explanation and understanding is fundamental. With Wirtualdb we are making a didactic effort, helping us with Webinars (training via Internet), which allow us to get this message to as many people as possible. We are not talking purely about technology, but precisely that technology is the vehicle to reach our goal.
If you want to listen to the full interview, you can do so through National Radio a la carte.