See clarification at bottom of article
People everywhere will now be able to keep track of their pets like they might not have been before thanks to a new product developed by Jax-based Smart Tracking Technologies.
The product, a wearable device that comes with an app and includes training tools, customized activity monitoring and a tracking system.
"Link was a product originally created by the American Kennel Club, and was acquired two and a half years ago, by a group of private equity (investors)," CEO Donny Lamey told the Business Journal Friday. "We formed a company to be able to take a Link to the next level because we recognized the opportunity that the product had."
Smart Tracking Technologies acquired Link back in 2019 and the device is the first created by the companies post-acquisition. Before, he was the CEO of another Jacksonville-based company, DiscoverTec, for about 27 years. The group worked with those investors to acquire Link.
Since then though, Lamey said the pet-tech market has been booming, especially since Covid-19.
"We recognize that pet parents are spending more and more time with their pet," he said. "They want to know what's happening every day with them even when they work."
He said the GPS tracking device and training aspects are what he thinks will attract people the most.
He said he's also seen tech-based startups in Jacksonville start to bloom in recent years.
"We're seeing a tremendous influx of (investing) locally in the industry," he said. "One of the things that we're doing is working with other businesses and exchanging data for things that they could benefit from."
For example, he said a local daycare might be able to record activity happening on the day-to-day thanks to Link's software and technology.
Lamey said he's hopeful about sales, but not without fears of ongoing inflation. He said when pricing the product, which costs about $135 plus a $7 per month subscription, he had to take into account rising costs up and down the supply chain.
"The shipping industry is so backlogged," Lamey said. "It's cheaper to fly the finished goods here (from Malaysia) than it is to ship the container ... And the timing of it is unpredictable as well."
He said transportation costs have increased about 20%, and he's had to secure supplies into 2022 to avoid delays.
Lamey said he's hopeful though, that by the first quarter of 2022, prices will start to even out.
Clarification: A previous version of this article referred to the wearable device as a collar. The device can be attached to a collar, harness or any other clothing the pet is wearing.
