What does it take to transform a regular machine into a smart one? While several options are available on the market, selecting the right platform can be challenging. Discussing such instances and some key aspects, Anirban Bhattacharya from Quarkifi Technologies Pvt Ltd speaks to EFY’s Nitisha Dubey.
Q. Can you explain your latest technical features and how they effectively benefit your customers?
A. Let me tell you how we started. As an IoT-focused technology company, Quarkifi was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Initially, we began with retail-based smart devices in the power automation domain, such as smart switches and controllers for lights and fans. Over time, we evolved into a full-fledged Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider supporting hardware manufacturers and solution integrators. Today, we offer a robust, scalable IoT platform with artificial intelligence (AI) services (Quarkifi Stream) that enable users to connect, monitor, and control any device, sensors, switches, cameras, or navigation units, while reducing engineering efforts and time-to-market.
Q. Who are your target customers?
A. Our primary target audience comprises IoT solution providers serving various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and infrastructure. They collect devices from multiple hardware vendors and need a unified platform to build an integrated solution. The second major segment includes manufacturers building smart devices but may not have the technical expertise or infrastructure to develop and maintain a cloud or mobile application layer. These companies can integrate Quarkifi’s software into their products with minimal effort. We serve as a bridge, enabling faster deployment, better integration, and intelligent data analytics, which are critical to delivering high-quality remedies to end customers.
Q. How does Quarkifi simplify smart integration for manufacturers and solution providers with minimal effort?
A. Suppose a solution provider is managing a hospital or mall and deals with different types of devices—CCTV cameras, motion sensors, and temperature regulators. Normally, they would need to integrate each device separately and build a custom dashboard. But with Quarkifi, they get a ready-made platform to plug in any device, use pre-built connectors, and visualise everything from a single dashboard. Whether for security, energy savings, or building automation, we enable them to build solutions quickly and efficiently. Similarly, if a manufacturer of traditional ceiling fans realises that consumers today expect smart control features, like operating the fan through a mobile app or using voice assistants like Alexa. However, their core expertise lies in designing and manufacturing fans, rather than developing technical solutions. That is where Quarkifi comes in. Customers can integrate Quarkifi’s software stack into their fan with minimal hardware changes, instantly making their fan smart and controllable through apps and voice commands.
Q. What differentiates Quarkifi from competitors like Amazon Web Services (AWS) IoT or Microsoft Azure?
A. While larger platforms like AWS IoT or Microsoft Azure offer vast ecosystems, they often require substantial engineering work to integrate a new device or build a working solution. Quarkifi, on the other hand, positions itself as a zero-code platform that removes the need for complex coding or integration processes. Devices can be connected and tested within one to two hours. Additionally, Quarkifi incorporates AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities into its core offering, enabling predictive analytics without requiring extra modules or costly add-ons. These built-in features, combined with flexible and affordable pricing, make Quarkifi an attractive alternative for both startups and established companies.
Q. What is your R&D focus, and how much is invested annually in innovation?
A. Our research and development (R&D) primarily focuses on enabling AI on low-end or edge devices. We realised that AI usually demands significant computational power, which smaller, cost-effective devices in industrial and rural IoT setups often lack. That is why we are investing heavily in developing AI that runs efficiently on these devices, making intelligent decision-making more accessible and affordable. We are also exploring industry-specific innovations in agriculture, healthcare, and logistics to expand into global markets, such as North America and Europe. A substantial portion of our revenue is consistently reinvested into these innovation-driven efforts.
Q. How do you reduce machine downtime in manufacturing?
A. We reduce unplanned machine downtime by leveraging deep data analytics and AI-driven image recognition. In many cases, issues on production lines may not be detected by sensors alone. However, using live camera feeds and computer vision models, Quarkifi can detect early signs of malfunction or quality issues. Simultaneously, it analyses continuous sensor data to identify patterns and predict failures before they occur. This dual approach helps manufacturers receive alerts in advance and take preventive measures, ultimately minimising costly downtime.
Q. Can your platform integrate with legacy equipment?
A. Yes, our platform supports open communication standards and is fully compatible with legacy and modern equipment. The system uses open application programming interfaces (APIs) and is not tied to proprietary protocols, making it easy for manufacturers and facility managers to connect their existing infrastructure without major upgrades. This compatibility ensures that companies can retrofit their current setup while benefiting from Quarkifi’s advanced IoT and AI features.
Q. What real-time analytics does Quarkifi provide for production monitoring?
A. We provide a comprehensive suite of real-time analytics tailored for production line monitoring, including performance metrics like overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), sensor-level data tracking, and visual insights. What makes the platform unique is its self-service customisation. Users can create and configure their own dashboards, selecting the types of charts, colours, and data sources they want to visualise. This flexibility allows operations teams to adapt the interface to their specific workflows and preferences, without requiring support from the Quarkifi team.
Q. Do your edge AI devices function without constant internet connectivity?
A. Yes, Quarkifi’s edge computing platform is designed to operate in scenarios where internet connectivity may be intermittent or unavailable. Edge devices can perform scheduled tasks, make decisions, and trigger actions locally without relying on cloud-based commands. This is particularly useful in remote or critical environments where downtime or latency in cloud communication can lead to operational issues.
Q. How customisable is your platform for specific workflows?
A. We offer high levels of customisation across all layers of our platform. Users can define their own data templates, input types, permissible value ranges, and visualisation styles. They can decide how they want to view the data, as I said, be it via bar charts, line graphs, or colour-coded dashboards. Everything from parameter configuration to visual representation can be personalised by the user without any backend development, making the platform extremely adaptable to specific operational workflows.
Q. What is the ROI time frame after implementing your smart factory solutions?
A. Since Quarkifi works through partners and integrators rather than selling directly to end customers, the exact return on investment (ROI) depends on the broader solution being deployed. However, the speed of deployment, low integration costs, and flexible pricing models enable our partners to deliver ROI within a short time frame. The first month is free, allowing customers to test and evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan, thereby reducing initial financial risk and encouraging quicker adoption.
Q. What is your pricing and payment model?
A. Our pricing is subscription-based and determined by several factors, including the number of devices connected, the duration of historical data storage, and image or video analytics. Customers can choose from various predefined plans or request a custom plan tailored to their specific needs. Payments are typically billed monthly, and the platform’s portal provides clear options for selecting or modifying plans. The first month is free for all new customers, allowing them to evaluate the solution before committing to a paid tier.
Q. How do you ensure data security and compliance?
A. We adhere to established data security protocols and follow International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)-certified standards. The platform offers varying levels of encryption and security settings based on user requirements. This includes basic authentication for developers and proofs of concept (POCs) and high-security certificate-based encryption for enterprise clients. Data is hosted in secure environments, and role-based access control ensures that only authorised personnel can access sensitive information. Users can customise the level of security they require, giving them full control over data integrity and compliance.
Q. Can your system provide predictive maintenance for heavy machinery?
A. Our platform enables predictive maintenance by analysing historical and real-time data using advanced AI models. Users can select from ML algorithms such as long short-term memory (LSTM), convolutional neural network (CNN), or recurrent neural network (RNN) based on their prediction accuracy. The platform allows experimentation with multiple models to identify the best fit, ensuring that predictions are tailored and accurate for the specific type of equipment and data involved. This helps companies prevent equipment failures before they happen, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Q. How scalable is your platform for multi-location deployments?
A. Our design supports large-scale, multi-location deployments with ease. Its infrastructure supports distributed across various regions, including Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the United States, and the company is planning expansion into Europe as well. The platform can manage data and devices across different geographical locations while maintaining centralised control and an analytics dashboard, ensuring smooth operations and consistent data visibility across facilities.
Q. How does Quarkifi reach new customers and promote its services?
A. We are a recognised startup under the Government of India’s Startup India programme and have gained visibility through participation in several innovation cohorts and competitions. The company was a winner or finalist in initiatives led by Altair, Maruti, and Bosch, among others. In addition, we rely on organic growth through customer referrals and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, where we maintain an active presence. Many of our new customers come from existing partnerships or word-of-mouth recommendations.
Q. Are you open to vendor and partner collaborations?
A. We are actively seeking collaborations with device manufacturers, gateway developers, and IoT solution providers. The company partners with hardware vendors to deliver complete IoT solutions to market faster. These partnerships help both parties extend their market reach and leverage each other’s strengths to offer a unified offering to customers.
Q. Where are you based, and how many employees do you have?
A. We are headquartered in Bengaluru, India, with a few of our members in Mumbai. The team comprises around 15 core members, primarily focused on R&D. The company also collaborates with labs and research institutions for prototyping and testing, but does not manufacture any hardware in-house.
Q. Do you provide support and training to customers during deployment?
A. We offer extensive support during and after deployment. The platform includes detailed documentation, training videos, and onboarding material. For clients who need additional assistance, personalised training sessions and consultations are available. The company ensures that in-house teams are well-equipped to use and maintain the system independently.
Q. What is your hiring and training process like?
A. We hire fresh graduates and experienced professionals, especially in fields like computer science, embedded systems, and electronics. We also run a paid/unpaid internship programme, occasionally absorbing talented interns into full-time roles. Training is primarily on-the-job, with new hires learning through guided mentorship and real-world project involvement rather than formal training programmes.
Q. What challenges are you facing in your industry?
A. Running a tech business in the IoT space comes with several challenges. Sales cycles can be long and unpredictable, particularly in enterprise infrastructure projects. Scaling quickly also demands rapid hiring and onboarding of skilled resources, which can be challenging. Additionally, macroeconomic trends sometimes delay decision-making and deal closures. Despite these hurdles, Quarkifi continues to grow steadily without facing any major industry blockers.
Q. What are your future expansion plans?
A. We are expanding into North American and European markets through local partnerships. We prefer an organic growth approach, leveraging established networks and partner ecosystems instead of investing heavily in advertising. These partnerships help adapt the platform to regional market needs and accelerate global adoption.
Q. What was your company’s growth in the last fiscal year?
A. We have maintained a strong growth trajectory, reporting a consistent increase in revenue over the last few years. The company is currently bootstrapped and led by a highly experienced board with members having more than 20 years of experience in the deep tech field.
