Page 10 - State of Small Business in Chatham County 2020

Tech in Savannah in 2020

2020 has seen challenges for everyone, especially here in Savannah. While our Port and
Logistics industries are holding their own, our hospitality, retail, and service industries have
had challenges. Tech is no different, we have had our own challenges. Focusing on three
metrics to measure or at least show what has happened in Savannah as it applies to Tech is
what we chose to do.

Staffing changes, Change in Technology Services, and to a lesser extent Entrepreneurial Activities.

Staffing

To assess staffing in Savannah we asked TEK Systems, one of the largest Technology staffing companies in the country,
with an office in Savannah for their year over year numbers and significant details from 2020.
TEK Systems, 101 W Mulberry Blvd, Suite #230, Pooler, GA 31322: Staffing requests in 2019 saw a 16% increase over
2018 but 2020 saw 0% growth to a slight decrease in staffing needs

TEK Systems also was scheduled to assist with multiple large IT projects in Savannah and all were canceled most
notably for Savannah 5 large warehouse technology implementations were canceled in 2020

Technology Services

To assess technology services, we asked Seimitsu and Hargray for a summary of what has happened in 2020.

Hargray in 2019 saw 30% growth over 2018 while their 2020 growth is slightly over 10%.

Seimitsu has had seen flat overall growth in 2020 underlying this is a marked decrease in the “hospitality
industries” while Healthcare has seen a marked increase. Also, Seimitsu has seen a significant uptick in tech
needs from HVAC, Electrical Service and other companies caused by the shift to work from home.

Both companies have seen stability in needs from Logistics companies. This fits in with the activity level seen at
the Port.

Entrepreneurial Activity

This is a more interesting metric and a very difficult one to quantify. It is only recently that Savannah has made a
concerted attempt to attract Technology Entrepreneurs, this not to say we have not had some, but not many. In
2020 we want to highlight five startups; all have received funding.

• Collabgistics – Funded in October, creating a Blockchain based EDI replacement middleware application
• ADMOER – Funded in January, creating a Health application that is designed to protect vulnerable
populations from infectious diseases, and augment public health efforts.
• Justifire – Was issued their Second patent in October for a complex miniaturized sensor suite designed to
deliver data around sudden events, for example all data downrange of a firearm when it is fired.
• We Are Global – Funded in June, Creating a marketplace for fractional sale of intellectual property.
• Fin Agility – Funded in July, creating a replacement for the SWIFT system, currently working with
central banks in the Middle East.