An Ayrshire information technology company aims to double in size over the next three years, as it eyes expansion across Scotland.

Dundonald-based Innovec, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, has opened a new branch in Glasgow. And it is now looking at possible sites for other offices in the Central Belt.

The company said its growth has been driven by the “ongoing shift of IT assets to the cloud, the rise of data management and the emergence of artificial intelligence as a significant component in business tools and practice”.

Innovec's turnover in the year to April was £1.213 million, up from £1.1m in the prior 12 months.

The firm flagged its aim of around 25% per annum growth in turnover over the next three years. It noted this would result in total growth of about 100% on the turnover for the year to this April, given compounding effects.

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And Innovec plans a near-doubling of its 13-strong workforce.

It said: “With ambitious plans for continued growth, the company is aiming for a 25% annual increase in income to 2027, growing the workforce from 13 to 25.”

Managing director and owner Iain Wham founded the business in 2009 after being made redundant from his role as an IT coordinator for an Ayrshire-based sheet metal manufacturer.

Mr Wham noted that, initially, the business was “built on a small retainer and local clients”.

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​​Revealing his current growth plans, he said: "Ultimately, we're following the population centres. The focus over next year is Glasgow, then we’ll keep pressing on with the aim of continuing to grow."

Reflecting on the early days of his business, Mr Wham said: “The phone didn’t start ringing immediately. Starting from ground zero, I learned by doing, looking for opportunities and listening to what companies were wanting from their IT systems. We picked up a few local customers and I did quite a lot of consulting for different engineering firms, even travelling the world installing software."

He recalled that, by 2015, Innovec had “found its feet” and he embarked on expansion.

Mr Wham said: "I took on my first apprentice. We shared a tiny office, and we just started making a bit of noise and getting referrals."

Growth continued, driven by positive word-of-mouth referrals and, from 2019 onwards, “more proactive” marketing, he declared.

Mr Wham revealed that last year marked a turning point.

He said: "We reached the point where the service we had been delivering became less personal. We needed to maintain our personal touch.”

This led to the strategic decision to split the operation geographically, with separate teams focusing on distinct regional markets.

Mr Wham said: “We opened the Glasgow office over the summer. Now my focus is on growing Glasgow in terms of new customers, while keeping our existing customers well serviced."

Innovec highlighted a "major transformation" in recent years in business communication and information management, "driven by the proliferation of digital technologies and the rise of cloud computing".

Mr Wham highlighted his belief that the rise of AI “presents the most significant shift yet for the sector, with AI-powered tools now automating many tasks previously handled by human professionals, including basic troubleshooting, data analysis, and even software development”.

He said: “When we launched, our work involved installing on-site servers, extensive internal wiring, and providing dedicated IT staff for installation and maintenance, and often complex, proprietary software systems.

“Communication was primarily through phone calls, emails, and physical documents, with limited real-time collaboration capabilities. Data security was largely managed through physical access controls and on-site firewalls.”

Mr Wham added: “Today, data is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, facilitating remote work and collaboration. Communication tools have evolved to incorporate real-time messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative document editing, enhancing communication efficiency and immediacy.

“This shift towards cloud-based systems has forced IT service providers like us to adapt their offerings significantly. We must offer a broader range of cloud-based solutions, including cloud migration services, cloud security management, data backup and recovery, and expertise in cloud-based collaboration tools like Microsoft 365. The focus has shifted from hardware maintenance to software integration, data management, and cybersecurity.”

Mr Wham attributed the company's success to its “commitment to personal service and prompt issue resolution”.

He said: "It's the cliché ‘it’s about the customer’. Every decision the team makes, I encourage them to do what’s right for the customer.”