Description of Business
Brief History
Adept Scientific was founded in 1984 by two research scientists, Paul and Elaine Bragg, who saw major opportunities in the application of personal computers ­ then in their infancy ­ to science and engineering.  Although customised solutions played a significant part in the early days of the business, they made the decision early on to seek out ready-made products to resell rather than develop their own. Another early decision was not to become another "me-too" supplier of computers themselves, but to concentrate on software tools and specialist hardware such as plug-in cards that interface PCs to instruments and sensors.
In this way Adept Scientific carved out a unique niche for itself as a supplier of solutions to a market that was, by its very nature, bound to invest heavily in technical computing products for the foreseeable future. This clearly defined market encompasses scientists, engineers and other technical users of personal computers in industry, commerce, research and education ­ a "niche" market but a substantial one.
By focusing on providing solid, high-quality products and high standards of customer care and service, Adept Scientific was able to grow without the need for major borrowings or outside investment. Today the company employs over 30 people in its Letchworth, Herts and Acton, Massachusetts offices, and had revenues of almost £3.2 million in FY1998. The company has been profitable in every year except its very first.

Company Mission, Culture and Objectives
Our mission is to be the world's best supplier of hardware and software for technical computing applications. By "best" we mean most efficient, most successful and most customer-driven, and we believe in the UK we have achieved much of this aim ­ we are by any measure the market leading multi-source supplier in our sector.  We are now using our reputation and expertise, and the opportunities provided by new technology, to become a player in the international market too.
Technical excellence is at the core or our business culture. Our customers are skilled professionals, and we employ a large number of highly qualified engineers and scientists who are capable of understanding their needs and helping them choose the best solution. We are responsive to developing technologies and consider ourselves and knowledge and learning driven company; and we believe in listening to customers and making their needs our top priority.
Internally, we operate an open style of management and encourage an inclusive, participative culture among our staff.  We consider money spent on maintaining a comfortable, enjoyable and team-based working environment, and on providing our people with the best tools available to do their job well, to be money well invested.

Our key objectives are:

• To provide the highest possible standards of customer service
• To provide a happy working environment that all personnel consider the best place they've ever worked
• To ensure that all personnel have full scope for personal development and to achieve their personal goals
• To conduct a successful, ethical business of which we can all be proud
• To be the biggest and best customer of all our suppliers
• To continue to grow revenues so that we can continue to expand the business and show profits

Principal Lines of Business, Key Products and Services
We consider we sell solutions rather than just products, and we take pride in our technical expertise and ability to provide customers with the right answer to their specific application problem. Our products are handled by our three sales/support divisions.

• Mathematical and Simulation Products ­ software products primarily aimed at design, mechanical and electrical/electronic engineers and at the education sector. These include worldwide market-leaders such as Mathcad (technical calculation), Electronics Workbench (electronic design and simulation) and Maple V (computer algebra).
• Data Acquisition Products ­ hardware and software products aimed at engineers and product developers who need to use PCs to record, monitor and analyse data from measuring instruments and sensors. Among other products, we sell the very broad range from ComputerBoards, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing suppliers of data acquisition and control products.
• Data Analysis Products ­ software for a wide range of data analysis applications, from broad-application statistical and graphical analysis packages to specialist solutions for chemical information handling. The largest part of this division's revenues comes from software for quality control and management, including the market-leading NWA Quality Analyst.

In very many cases, we are providing multi-user or enterprise-wide solutions rather than one-off products, and this represents our core business and our primary area of investment and development. We are therefore very keen to build ongoing relationships with our customers than shifting boxes.
Though the bulk of our revenue comes from the sale of products, we see the provision of service (such as highly competent pre- and post-sales technical support) as crucial to the success of our business. Charged-for services, such as Training and Consultancy, are becoming an increasingly significant part of our business.

Principal Customers and Type
Individual users of our products can be described as anyone using personal computers in a scientific, engineering or technical application. Effectively this means our customers include any industrial or commercial organisation with a research and development facility or that is involved in any form of mechanical, electrical or structural design ­ a definition that includes virtually all larger enterprises (In the UK our customer base includes almost every company in the FTSE 100 list). In addition, government and private research research organisations, universities, colleges of higher and further education and (to a smaller extent) secondary schools are important markets for our products.