research & development

Serko Limited (Serko) takes a serious approach to research and development.

Fifty per cent of the company's 2004 sales went into research and development. This is a collaborative effort as all employees are involved in product development.

In August 2005 Serko received a $1.34 million boost from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.  Serko is using this grant to develop software to integrate a company's different travel plans so bookings can be easily changed.  For example, if a flight is delayed, hotel bookings would be updated automatically.

Foundation subsidiary Technology New Zealand, assisted with funding Serko in 2001 to develop e-commerce functionality in its Serko® Online product.

Commercial Manager Bob Shaw attributes Serko's success to its innovative solutions, its motivated staff and especially its emphasis on research and development. "We plough 50% of our sales revenues back into R&D - the highest of any other company that revealed their R&D spend in the Deloitte's Fast 50 Growth Survey. "So we're sure we'll remain at the leading edge of travel technology in the coming years."