LOQUS

LOQUS is a Maltese ICT group that turns location data into practical tools for running vehicles, crews and deliveries. Its head office is on the industrial estate in San Ġwann, close to the Sliema and St Julian's area, and its software is in use across several European and African countries. The group was built on the foundations of the former Datatrak Group and its stated mission is to help customers operate more cost effectively through technology.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the company appears with the other IT companies in Malta.

History and structure

The roots go back to the early 1990s, when Datatrak IT Services Ltd was formed to supply local and international markets with geographic information systems. It has worked in geomatics ever since, providing consultancy, GIS, mapping and remote sensing to government departments, public bodies and private firms. Datatrak Solutions International Ltd, the software arm, followed in 2003 and added field data capture, mobile data solutions and web application development.

Both companies now sit within LOQUS Holdings plc, which is quoted on the Malta Stock Exchange; its major shareholders are JFC Holdings Ltd and Go P.L.C. Investors who want to understand how listed companies fit into the island's economy can read our overview of financial services in Malta, and our Malta corporate tax structure guide covers the tax framework that applies to groups of this kind.

The result is a mix of consultancy, software and managed services under one group, with an international client base. The group's work is organised into five business functions: infomobility, geomatics, ICT solutions, public sector business and management services.

Dispatch, routing and tracking software

DispatchIT is a job management and dispatching system intended to give companies an automated, real-time, end-to-end way to run their jobs. RouteIT takes a list of deliveries and pickups, applies the parameters that matter to you and generates optimised routes. TrakIT is a fleet management product that combines vehicle location with mobile data communications, so managers can cut costs, see where vehicles are and improve service.

Together these products suit couriers, postal services, waste collection, construction, oil and gas, insurance and leasing firms, emergency services and law enforcement. The group tracks more than 14,000 units on land and at sea, and works with clients of every size from micro-companies to large blue-chip businesses. UK travellers who are heading to the island can find flight options in our guide to flights to Malta, but the same logic of efficient routing underpins most of the transport businesses the group supports.

Marine tracking, fisheries and enforcement

For work at sea, the Vessel Monitoring System, or VMS, provides safety and security for seafarers. The terminal has an alarm that, once triggered, immediately sends a distress message to the designated monitoring bureau or authority. A Fisheries Information System and enforcement management systems extend the offer to public bodies that manage fishing activity and regulatory enforcement.

The business ethos is to provide value to clients: success is measured by the success the client achieves, and the solutions are designed to give a rapid return on investment. Clients usually come looking for lower operating costs, quicker response times and better efficiency. The group also runs a research and development stream and publishes news, events and investor information, including corporate governance, financial statements and annual general meeting material.

Location and how to start

The head office at SUB008A Industrial Estate in San Ġwann is a short drive from the seafront hotels listed in our guide to hotels in Sliema and from the capital described in our Valletta guide, so a visit can be combined with sightseeing. For background on the island, see about Malta.

Companies relocating staff or setting up a Maltese branch may also want the Malta relocation guide and advice from CLA Malta, our featured partner for company, tax and relocation services.

To discuss your fleet, dispatch or tracking needs, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to LOQUS.