Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation at Digital Matter

Founded in 2000 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Matter began with a clear goal: to develop embedded solutions that were simply better.  

What started as a small team driven by a passion for engineering has grown into a global technology provider with over 2.5 million IoT hardware solutions deployed in more than 130 countries. 
 
Through 25 years of innovation, our commitment has remained the same. Excellence comes from a relentless focus on getting the small things right. It’s this attention to detail that continues to define the culture of our team and the quality of our solutions, helping us solve the complex problems our partners face every day.

Celebrating Our People and Partners 

This moment is all about the people behind the progress. 

To our team, thank you. For showing up with curiosity and the drive to make things better, day after day. For thinking through the tough problems, for caring about the details, and for building things that last. 

To our partners, we wouldn’t be here without you. Whether you’ve been with us since the early days or joined more recently, we’re grateful. You’ve trusted us with big challenges, pushed us to improve, and worked alongside us to deliver real results. We’re excited for what’s ahead and look forward to building it with you. 

Unrelenting Commitment to Quality

In 2024, we reached a meaningful milestone: over one million devices manufactured by our team, bringing our total to more than 2.5 million devices, including those developed and produced under license. 
 
This wasn’t just about hitting a number. It marked years of thoughtful engineering, close collaboration, and steady growth, building solutions that last with partners who continue to push us to do better. That commitment to building better is reflected in how we design, manufacture, and test every device. 

After 25 years of refining our approach, we’ve raised the bar for what reliable IoT hardware should be. 
 
 

Listening First: Where Our Story Began 

Our story really started by listening.

In 2001, we built Customer Feedback Systems for global retailers. It taught us something early on: if you want to build something valuable, start by understanding the people who’ll use it. That mindset, listen first and improve always, has been with us ever since.

In 2002, we released our first wired tracking device, the G50, along with supporting firmware and a basic device management platform.  
 
We learned a lot that year, especially that hardware is, in fact, hard. But we’ve always enjoyed a challenge.

Connecting South Africa and Growing Our Reach Down Under 

By 2008, we were supporting mobile connectivity at scale, designing and delivering more than 70,000 SIM registration terminals across South Africa. 

Around the same time, we opened our global headquarters in Australia. This marked a new chapter for Digital Matter, expanding our presence across the Asia-Pacific region and giving us the foundation to support a growing international partner network. 
 
In 2009, we launched GPS Logbook, our first plug-and-play tracking solution. Powered through a vehicle’s cigarette lighter and ready to go out of the box, it was easy to install, simple to use, and a clear indication of where we were heading: delivering practical technology that solves real problems.

The Start of Something Shared

In 2011, we expanded our tracking range with the G52 Solar, G60, and G100. These devices gave partners more choice in size and power, helping them deploy the right solution for their use case. 

That same year, we formally launched our reseller program and welcomed our first partners into the network. Many of those early relationships are still going strong, which we’re especially proud of. 
 
We also launched OEM Server, our first device management platform, giving partners the tools to configure devices, monitor performance, and update firmware remotely. This marked a turning point in how we approached large-scale deployments and demonstrated that the software behind the scenes was just as important as the hardware in the field.

In 2014, we followed with Telematics Guru, a white-label asset tracking platform available to partners delivering end-to-end solutions, particularly in the SMB segment or for those looking to offer a branded experience alongside our hardware.
 

No Wires, No Limits

In 2015, we launched the Remora, Oyster, and Yabby, our first battery-powered asset tracking devices. 
 
These launches marked a meaningful shift in IoT asset tracking, moving away from fixed, high-maintenance installs toward something far more flexible and efficient. Our partners could monitor assets in more places, for longer, with less effort.

This evolution also reshaped the way we approach design, marking the beginning of our ‘deploy-once’ focus, which guides everything we build today. From the components we select to the firmware we develop, every detail is considered with a single goal: to create devices that last longer and perform better than anything else on the market.

North American Growth and Rapid Innovation

In 2017, we opened our US office to support a growing network of North and South American partners and better respond to the needs of the region. 

The following year, we introduced our first LoRaWAN® solutions and began developing our second generation of battery-powered devices, designed for LTE-M and NB-IoT networks. 

These technologies delivered longer battery life, lower hardware costs, and more efficient data use, supporting a shift toward smarter, more sustainable tracking and marking a meaningful step forward in building technology that lasts. 

Expanding What’s Possible 

As the IoT asset tracking landscape evolved, so did we. In 2021, we introduced our first Edge device, combining indoor and outdoor location and cloud-based location solving.  
 
Momentum continued in 2022 with the release of our third-generation battery-powered range. These devices featured new components and firmware, delivering over five times the performance of the previous generation. 

That same year, we introduced the Hawk, our modular IoT data logger. Designed to be flexible and configurable, it gave partners a new way to monitor complex sensor environments. To meet growing demand across Europe, we also opened our office in the Netherlands, bringing us closer to our partners and strengthening our ability to support deployments across the region. 
 
In 2023, we introduced the Barra range, our most affordable tracking solution to date. Designed to improve ROI, the Barra range helps businesses extend visibility across more assets and more use cases, driving greater efficiency and value at scale.

 

25 More Years of Building Better 

As we celebrate 25 years of progress and partnership, we’re proud of the journey, but our focus is forward. 

This year, we welcomed our new CEO, Loic Barancourt. With his leadership and experience, we look ahead to the next chapter of growth, innovation, and collaboration.  
 
Together with our team and our global network of partners, we will continue to deliver world-class IoT hardware that helps businesses connect and protect what matters, built on integrity, driven by detail, powered by innovation, and always shaped by the people who make it possible. 
 
Later this year, we’ll be celebrating the partners who have helped shape our journey in a meaningful way. We’re excited to share more soon.