The origins of GOSS

Since 1999, it's been our goal to support businesses across the UK in their digital transformation journeys. What began as a web content management platform has evolved to offer a broader range of solutions, enabling businesses to deliver online services and streamline their processes. Over the past two decades, our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to refine the GOSS Digital Platform, providing our clients with a robust tool to address their digital challenges.

From the start, our goal has been consistent, aiding organisations in reaching their digital and online objectives by fostering relationships with their customers, automating manual business processes, and ultimately saving both time and money. In this blog post, we explore our journey from inception, highlighting how GOSS has evolved into a prominent player in digital transformation and self-service solutions throughout the UK.

GOSS had its beginnings in the late 1990s when British Yachtsman Pete Goss embarked on a mission to circumnavigate the globe in record time. GOSS came to life when a website was required to showcase Pete's journey, serving as an early content management system that provided real-time updates on his progress via the internet. This early adoption of content management technology played a pivotal role in establishing GOSS as a trailblazer in online information and service delivery. At a time when such technology was groundbreaking, GOSS led the way in leveraging these innovations to enhance operations for various organisations.

Despite the setback of Pete Goss having to abandon his world record attempt due to a storm-related hull failure, the technology developed by GOSS continued to thrive. The team saw an opportunity to repurpose the technology from the catamaran project into a web solution for businesses across the UK. This strategic shift ensured the continued success of GOSS, allowing the company to evolve and specialise in optimising internet capabilities and developing websites for organisations.

During the 2000s, GOSS witnessed substantial growth in its content management portfolio, attracting an increasing number of clients, particularly within the UK local authority and wider public sector space. The 2000s were a time dedicated to websites, a solution sought after by GOSS clients to inform their customers of the latest information and updates surrounding their business. Approaching the 2010s, and with many of GOSS's client public sector-based, changes in the economy and political spheres began to affect these organisations, which in turn would go on to influence GOSS.

With many public sector organisations being affected by austerity measures and budget cuts, cost-saving measures and an intensified focus on customer satisfaction meant new ways of delivering customer services were required. This dynamic environment spurred the adoption of digital transformation strategies within the public sector, aimed at optimising service delivery through online channels to achieve both efficiency gains and cost-effectiveness. In response to this evolving landscape, GOSS strategically redefined its business model, surpassing the confines of content management. GOSS diversified its offerings to encompass a comprehensive array of digital and online solutions, coming together to form what is now known by the GOSS Digital Platform. These solutions empowered organisations to provide seamless online self-service options, automate intricate business processes, and elevate overall operational efficiency.

Through persistent refinement of this adapted model, GOSS has emerged as a leading digital transformation partner in the UK. The company has played a pivotal role in helping a substantial portion of the UK public sector bring their digital transformation objectives to life. This trend has not only endured but has strengthened well into the 2020s, solidifying GOSS's position as a key facilitator of progressive digital evolution within the public sector landscape.