The Prolora Story

Introducing Mark Smith

President of Prolora

A Need For New Technology- How State of the Art Automation Solutions Became Reality

The rapid progression and utilization of technology in different fields requires the ability for remote access and control with real-time responses, and Mark Smith has spent over 35 years conceptualizing and successfully implementing the necessary solutions for this constant need. With the founding of his startup, Prolora, Smith provides a next generation platform for delivering highly intelligent data communication devices to the IoT market, presenting novel capabilities that other competitors cannot offer, with big plans for the future.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Smith was a self-proclaimed 'desert rat' with dreams of living abroad. As a young adult, Smith lived in Belgium for some time before relocating to Texas to attend Southwestern University. After graduation, he returned home and accepted a position at Intel. He enjoyed a successful 15 year career in Intel Corporate Strategy, focusing on emerging technologies and their global scale trajectory into the mainstream, as well as data communications. While there, Smith and his team conceived of and designed the Intel Electronic Mail Association Interconnection project, providing an Email interconnection method utilized globally today.

Evolution & Innovation

The specialized experience and insight Smith gained at Intel culminated in the creation and launch of his first company, Neofirma, pioneering Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), to build the bridge of communication between companies and users concurrently. Smith's second company focused more on solar energy, and as an outgrowth of concepts he developed during that time he recognized the need for communication devices to have more intelligence than just being modems. He devised a way to bring these devices onto a network, something they were never designed to do, to allow for them to be remotely managed; bringing existing equipment out in the field effectively online. It was from this innovation that Prolora's technology was conceived.

Successful Applications in the Field

Initial deployments for Prolora devices began in the oil fields, allowing for intelligent communication between devices across locations. Offered at a third of the cost of competing bidders, with more functionality and a faster deployment schedule, Prolora's first client was deployed in 2018. With additional deployments since then, the application has proved its staying power, performing at a level of capability and cost that is unmatched.

When the needs of clients evolve, so does Prolora, as evidenced in the relationship with EPDI. A solution was needed that would streamline the ability to programmatically apply chemical treatments to fluids in a way that is efficient and highly accurate, as opposed to the manually applied, wasteful, low-tech, and isolated methods that were currently used. Using EPDI’s proprietary algorithms, Prolora designed the technology to provide real time management of the chemical streams and treatment, on a 24/7 basis, with complete remote visibility as to how that chemical process was being applied.

Flowpoint Water Solutions presented the opportunity for Prolora to provide yet another comprehensive solution to an operational need. The expedited process of a fracking site requires the ability to manage the transfer of massive amounts of water in a short period of time, something that has historically been difficult to monitor and manage at macro and micro levels. Prolora's technology provides not only complete automation with full control, it also provides Flowpoint's customers with visibility into the entire process of the water transfer; a key innovation in todays market that no other competitor is currently offering. This particular functionality is also utilized in Prolora's new Padwatcher device, designed to monitor contractors activities on well pads, making it easier to manage both security and expenses.

The Future of Prolora

With the launch of Prolora's second generation platform, the 'Slice', just completed, Smith and his team have big plans for their technology. State of the art projects underway include a new family of wireless intelligent sensor devices and Blockchain support for Asset Management.