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Alida (software company)

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Alida Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryCXM Software
Founded2000
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Ross Wainwright (CEO), Riaz Raihan (President of Products), Nicole Kealey (CSO), Efrem Ainsley (COO), Vinod Hariharan (CFO),
ProductsSparq platform
US$128 million
Number of employees
400
Websitewww.alida.com

Alida provides a cloud-based customer intelligence platform.[1] Based in Vancouver and formerly known as Vision Critical,[2] the company was founded by Andrew Reid in 2000[3] and works with over 700 global brands around the world.[4] In 2018, Alida took home a BIG Innovation Award from the Business Intelligence Group.[5] Alida was ranked Canada's 46th-fastest-growing software development company by PROFIT magazine's PROFIT 500 in 2015.[6] The company has also taken home awards for its work culture, including the 2017 National HR Award,[7] Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces in North America[8] and Canada's Top Employers for Young People.[9]

History

After going to film school and working with interactive companies, Andrew Reid realized that the research industry was behind in technology and started Vision Critical in 2000.[10]

In 2004, Angus Reid, Andrew Reid's father, joined the company.[11] Wellington Capital, a privately held bridge financing and venture debt fund, invested in Alida in October 2006.[11]

In 2009, Alida won the Forrester Groundswell Award with customer NASCAR for the Official NASCAR Fan Council.[12] And in 2011, the company installed its 500th online community.[13]

The company announced that it raised $20 million in funding from OMERS Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of Canadian pension funds company OMERS, in August 2012.[14] In September of the same year, 'Scott Miller was appointed to group CEO, while Andrew Reid became the Chief Product Officer.[15] Later that year, Alida made the Deloitte Fast 50 for the fifth year in a row.[16]

Alida had about $80 million in revenue in 2012.[17]

On 24 September 2020, the company announced that Vancouver based Vistara Capital Partners made a $20 million investment in them and that the company was rebranded as Alida.[18]

The company has employees globally.[19] Customers include Banana Republic, Discovery[19] and NASCAR.[20]

Business

Alida's products include:

  • Insight communities: online communities where companies gain feedback from their customers and stakeholders.[21]
  • IdeaHub: a co-creation tool that taps into the ideas of customers, employees or other stakeholders for innovation and new product development.[22]
  • Voice of market: proprietary general population panels in Canada, US and UK, including Angus Reid Public Opinion, an international public affairs organization under the Alida umbrella that conducts regional, national and multinational public opinion polls.[23]

The company has won numerous awards, including being named a Gold winner in the Most Customer Friendly Company of the Year category in the Best in Biz Awards 2013 International competition.[24]

References

  1. ^ Joseph Czikk (17 July 2014). "Vision Critical Gets $16 Million From Georgian Partners, More". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. ^ El Akkad, Omar (2013). "Vision Critical Communications Inc". Profit Guide. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Vision Critical". Financial Post. 28 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. ^ Galang, Jessica (24 February 2016). "Vision Critical sells its research consulting division, CEO addresses possible IPO this year". Betakit. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ "55 chosen as winners in annual Big Innovation Awards". 7 February 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. ^ "The 2015 PROFIT 500: Canada's Fastest-Growing Software Companies". 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  7. ^ "National HR Awards - Winners". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  8. ^ "50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ Award Winners for 2017". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Top Employers for Young People tap into the next generation". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  10. ^ Jeff Barrett. "How Vision Critical sees the future of brand engagement". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b Jordan, David (4 November 2008). "The Poll Position: Angus Reid". BCBusiness. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Winners of the 2009 Forrester Groundswell Awards". Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Vision Critical reaches milestone with 500th Community Panel". TechVibes. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Vision Critical raises $20m investment from OMERS Ventures". Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Vision Critical promotes Scott Miller to group chief executive". Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Deloitte's 2012 Technology Fast 50: Ontario Dominance and RIM's Surprising Acension [sic]". TechVibes. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Hong Kong: Gateway to half the world for Canadian businesses". Retrieved 5 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Vision Critical Rebrands to Alida". 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  19. ^ a b "2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Runners-Up". BCBusiness. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Q&A: Brian Moyer, Director of Market and Media Research for NASCAR". DMNews. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  21. ^ "Vision Critical Transforms Marketing Research Methods in Japan". Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  22. ^ "Vision Critical Launches IdeaHub Co-Creation Tool". 22 October 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Daily Research News Online no. 10692 - Angus Reid and Vision Critical to Merge". Mrweb.com. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Best in Biz Awards 2013 International winners". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
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