Australian sales automation platform to expand development centre in Glasgow 

An Australian ‘sales enablement automation’ platform is to expand its reach in Scotland – creating 40 jobs – after a £1.4m investment from Scottish Enterprise.

Bigtincan will increase the footprint of its research and development facility in Glasgow after securing the funding package from the national economic agency.

The investment will ‘significantly transform the company’s existing Glasgow site and drive greater long-term investment into Bigtincan’s UK operations’, according to Scottish Enterprise.

Business minister Ivan McKee said: “We want Scotland to be the best place to live, work and invest so we are committed to growing the economy in a sustainable and inclusive way. Bigtincan already has a presence in Glasgow and this investment will support the creation of more high-quality jobs, helping to grow the local economy.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses to maximise the opportunities that come from Scotland’s established strengths in innovation and technology.  Scotland has huge economic potential so we will continue to work with businesses to unlock more high skilled jobs like these.

“Inward investment has a significant role to play in Scotland’s economic recovery and transformation.  Our skilled workforce, research facilities and supportive investment culture, aligned to our values as a nation, are highly attractive to foreign companies.”

With global headquarters in Sydney, Australia and US headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, Bigtincan’s sales enablement automation platform aims to deliver “the buying experience of the future” to its customer’s customers—empowering sales and marketing teams to drive improved business results. The company’s software automates sales content management, training, coaching, document creation and buyer interaction into a single digital experience.

Bigtincan is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has enjoyed recent rapid growth with offices around the world, including in the United States, the UK, Denmark and Australia. Earlier this year, the company announced the acquisition of Brainshark, Inc, which positions Bigtincan as one of the most complete sales enablement platform in the market.

David Keane, CEO of Bigtincan said: “Bigtincan has grown dramatically – more than doubling in size in the last six months – and this growth presents exciting opportunities for our customers and employees. We are expanding our presence in Europe, with our Scotland development centre as a strategic hub focused on Data Science, R&D, as well as evolving our core products. This exciting growth hub is only the beginning of our investments in Scotland, and we are committed to continued growth in the dynamic city of Glasgow.”

Research suggests the sales enablement platform market, which consists of a mixture of both large high-end and smaller specialist companies, is projected to reach a value of $7.3bn by 2028.

Mark Hallan, director of global investment at Scottish Enterprise, added: “Working with innovative companies such as Bigtincan to highlight the very best Scotland has to offer, and to encourage them to invest in our country, is a priority for Scottish Enterprise.

“Bigtincan is an incredibly exciting company in the sales enablement automation sector and has a growing presence across the world.  Scottish Enterprise is delighted that Bigtincan will continue its global journey by locating its new development centre in Glasgow and we look forward to supporting the company as it enhances its presence in Scotland.”

Software and IT was identified as one of the key areas in the Scottish Government’s Inward Investment Plan published last year, which matches Scotland’s strengths with global investment trends.