AS A child, Rob Gamlin loved taking things apart to see how they were put together.

Forty years on, the self-taught software and electronics designer has turned his hobby into a thriving venture with some of the UK’s biggest retailers as customers.

HisVoicePage communication system allows shop and warehouse staff to keep in constant touch via lightweight, wireless headsets.

Clients include the UK’s largest food retailer and a major DIY retailer, with 20,000 VoicePage headsets in use.

To keep up with demand, his firm StrongByte Solutions has moved into offices and production space in West Oxfordshire.

Mr Gamlin, who has worked in electronics and software communications for more than 20 years, began developing his product seven years ago.

He explained: “Firms were looking for the next thing because paging, which many were using, was very ‘yesterday’.

“It’s about understanding why they needed a new system, because once you get that, rather than worrying about how to make it happen, you can see the best way to do it. With VoicePage, 10 or more people can talk at once.”

The headsets, which have eight hours’ battery life, have a detachable part which can be recharged.

StrongByte’s sales and marketing director Clare Dudley says VoicePage improves customer service, efficiency and increases sales by between three and 20 per cent.

The major DIY chain uses VoicePage call points at its in-store paint-mixing stations. When a customer presses a button, staff receive an automated message asking for help.

Ms Dudley added: “Staff can ask customers what they are looking for, explain where to find it, then use the headset to alert colleagues that a customer is on their way.

“And if there’s a problem, rather than staff having to run and find someone or thing, this system allows everyone on the shop floor to talk.”

Keypads on checkouts allow staff to request a cleaner, change, bag packer, till rolls, bags or product exchange as the system sends an automated message to alert the supervisor.

It can be used to alert staff that freezer temperatures are too high or that a delivery has arrived.

The new premises in Shipton-under-Wychwood is where components and circuit boards are assembled to make finished products.

Mr Gamlin, 51, became interested in how things work when he was young.

He said: “My father and I would dismantle car engines, or buy a broken radio, take it home and get it working and I still love taking things apart. It’s reverse engineering because by taking it apart you can come to the conclusion of how to design something better.”

Our top stories

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.