As CEO of Ocean Software, Pete Smith shares a proud reflection on an impactful first year leading the company.
Having joined Ocean in early 2022 as Chief Revenue Officer, and being appointed CEO in November 2023, Pete brings two decades of experience successfully leading businesses and teams across various regions of the world. His focus has always been on driving efficiency for customers through the use of innovative technology. Having completed training as a commercial pilot and air traffic controller himself, Pete has a deep understanding of the complexities our industry faces and a strong commitment to delivering solutions that empower Ocean’s customers and prioritise the safety and success of those who rely on them. Ocean Software has a rich legacy spanning more than 30 years, and 2024 has been a transformative year in many ways.
“As we gear up for 2025, I’m excited to share some of the progress we’ve made, and our plans for the future.”
30+ Years of Growth and Innovation
Ocean Software’s journey over the past three decades has been one of growth and resilience. From our first custom solutions for the Royal Australian Air Force to the global expansion of our products FlightPRO®, SmartBase®, and TAMS®, each milestone highlights our commitment to advancing the operational capabilities of defence forces and aviation organisations worldwide.
This year, as the world faces increasingly complex challenges – including multiple conflicts in different regions – we have reaffirmed our focus on supporting defence forces and aviation organisations in their critical missions. Ocean Software’s solutions are designed not only to enhance operational efficiency but, importantly, to help ensure the safe deployment and return of personnel in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
As we reflected on 2024, we celebrated the extraordinary dedication and innovation that have brought us this far. Ocean’s history is a testament to the power of adaptability and a relentless drive to meet the needs of our customers in an ever-changing global landscape.
2024 – A Year of Focus and Quality
In 2024, we sharpened our focus on delivering excellence in quality and customer satisfaction. While these have always been core principles at Ocean, this year we worked diligently to enhance the quality and capabilities of our products, ensuring that they remain responsive to the evolving needs of our customers. This commitment is evident in the tangible improvements delivered across our product suite.
We also made substantial progress in modernising our legacy systems to ensure that Ocean continues to deliver solutions that are at the forefront of technology and usability. This modernisation effort is key to maintaining our position as a trusted partner for defence forces and aviation organisations worldwide.
A major initiative this year has been our strengthened focus on security. In today’s global landscape, data protection is more important than ever, and Ocean is on track to achieve ISO27001 certification before the end of 2024, reinforcing our dedication to safeguarding the data and operational integrity of our customers.
Additionally, we continued to embed and enhance our Customer Success strategy. This is not a new focus but an evolution of our ongoing commitment to providing responsive, effective support at every level. This approach has strengthened our relationships with both new and long-standing customers and partners, ensuring that we continue to deliver value where it matters most.
What to Expect in 2025
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re focused on delivering product updates that will bring substantial quality and performance improvements. At the same time, our modernisation efforts will extend beyond improving individual capabilities. While each of our products – FlightPRO®, SmartBase®, and TAMS® – offers immense value on its own, we’re seeing a growing trend where these capabilities are increasingly required together.
To meet this need, our modernisation strategy involves harmonising our product offerings into a platform capability. This approach ensures that our customers can benefit from an integrated solution where individual capabilities seamlessly complement one another and can be tailored to suit the specific requirements of each customer’s unique operational needs. This evolution will enable us to deliver even greater value while aligning with the way defence forces and aviation organisations are evolving their operations.
In addition to this harmonisation, we’ll continue expanding geographically, bringing Ocean’s innovative solutions to organisations around the world. Throughout this expansion, our dedication to customer satisfaction will remain central to our approach, with a strong emphasis on timely, value-driven support.
Finally, in an increasingly volatile global environment, we remain committed in our mission to equip defence forces with tools that not only drive operational efficiency but also ensure the safety and well-being of their personnel.
People and Partnerships – The Heart of Our Progress
2024 has been a year of incredible progress, and this has been driven by the exceptional people at Ocean. We’ve welcomed new team members who bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, driving our company forward with renewed energy and ambition. At the same time, we’ve celebrated those who have dedicated a decade or more to supporting our customers, embodying the spirit and resilience that define Ocean Software.
As we enter 2025, we are strengthening our partnerships and expanding our capabilities. These advancements are closely aligned with our mission to provide cutting-edge solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency, and compliance, ensuring that our customers can achieve their goals while protecting their most important resource: their people.
“As the world continues to face unprecedented challenges, Ocean Software remains committed in our mission to support defence forces and aviation organisations globally, says Pete Smith. Our solutions are designed and developed to help ensure the safe deployment and return of personnel, and this purpose will continue to guide everything we do. Thank you to our valued customers, partners, and stakeholders for your trust and collaboration.
Ocean Software’s journey is just beginning, and I am excited to see what 2025 holds as we continue to innovate, expand, and lead the way in training and operations management solutions.”
Media Contact – Aayushi Mehta, [email protected]
