Vegas-based Compudigm gets lucky at last

By ADAM GIFFORD

The roulette wheel may be spinning the way of data visualisation software developer Compudigm International, after years of burning through investors' cash.

Accounts just filed with the Companies Office show the firm had operating revenue of $3.8 million in 2003 against operating costs of $8.5 million, leaving a $4.7 million shortfall.

But founder Andrew Cardno said last year's figures were so much history.

"We were cash-positive last quarter, and based on orders we will be cash-positive for the rest of the year," said Cardno, who moved the company's headquarters from Wellington to Las Vegas to be near major customers like casino operator Harrahs.

Cardno said a formal partnership in May with data warehousing giant Teradata was significant in the turnaround.

"It is a natural fit and it is bearing fruit."

While the two companies had worked together for several years on the Harrahs project, Cardno said the partnership gave Compudigm an entry into Teradata's blue-chip customer base.

A second joint customer will be announced soon.

"Our primary value is making sense of large, complex businesses with vast amounts of data. Teradata is always looking at ways to create value from the databases they create," Cardno said.

Compudigm focused on the gaming industry in its early years, and still breaks its revenue into gaming and non-gaming streams.

Compudigm