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Aviation Software Case Study

How Upturnly Generates 8–10 Qualified Leads Every Month for Aviation Software Companies

Zafire and Quantum Aviation had world-class products but couldn't break through to the right buyers in one of B2B's most niche, trust-driven markets. Upturnly's SDR service changed that — without them hiring a single in-house rep.

8–10
Qualified Leads / Month
$100K+
Avg Deal Size
0
In-House SDRs Needed
2
Niche Clients Served

Zafire & Quantum Aviation

Aviation Software · Enterprise SaaS

Industry Aviation SaaS
Buyers Airlines & Airports
Deal Size $100,000+
Markets EMEA, APAC, Americas
Service Dedicated SDR
Trusted by global airlines & airports
Background

Two World-Class Platforms, One of the Hardest Markets in B2B

Aviation software is one of the toughest B2B niches to crack. Decision-makers are senior, hard to reach, and deeply cautious. Ticket sizes start at $100,000 — so every conversation has to count.

Both Zafire and Quantum Aviation were generating strong brand awareness but struggling to convert it into qualified pipeline. They had the product and the proof — what they needed was a repeatable engine to put it consistently in front of the right buyers.

About the Clients

Best-in-Class Aviation SaaS

Zafire

UK · Ground Operations Platform

A cloud-based ground operations platform — Zafire FIRST — for airlines, airports, and ground handlers. Active in 350+ airports globally. ISO 27001 & ISO 9001 certified.

  • FIRST Bag: Real-time baggage reconciliation, check-in to carousel. IATA 753 compliant — eliminates mishandling and cuts compensation costs.
  • FIRST Ramp: Turnaround management capturing every ground service in real time — automates billing, tracks SLAs, stops revenue leakage.
  • FIRST Load: Automated weight & balance with centralised load control — reduces fuel waste and ensures full safety compliance.
Key Clients
Qantas Vienna International Airport Widerøe Ground Handling BARA

Quantum Aviation

Canada · Baggage Management Platform

A SaaS company behind the world's first cloud-based Baggage Reconciliation System (BRS), helping airlines and airports achieve full IATA Resolution 753 compliance from check-in to carousel.

  • Quantum BRS: World's first SaaS BRS — tracks every bag at every touchpoint. IATA 753 compliant. Integrates with existing DCS and baggage handling systems.
  • Quantum Reflight: Automates rerouting of mishandled bags — 95% faster than manual, reducing disruption and compensation costs.
  • Quantum Relay: Arrival baggage tracking that completes full IATA 753 compliance to the carousel — 97% more efficient than manual.
Key Clients
Lufthansa Group Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Ethiopian Airlines Air New Zealand Budapest Airport Edinburgh Airport
Who Upturnly Targets

A Multi-Threaded Buying Committee

Both platforms carry enterprise deal sizes, so Upturnly's outreach targets the full buying committee across three layers — commercial leadership, operations, and technology.

1 C-Suite & Commercial
  • CEO / Managing Director
  • COO / VP Operations
  • CFO / Finance Director
  • VP Commercial / Route Development
2 Ground Ops & Security
  • Head of Ground Operations
  • Station Manager
  • Director of Aviation Security
  • Baggage Services Manager
3 Technology & IT
  • CTO / IT Director
  • Head of Airport Systems
  • Systems Integration Lead
  • Digital Transformation Manager
Target organisations: Airlines, Airports, Ground Handlers, Civil Aviation Authorities, and Private Concession Operators across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.
The Challenge

Awareness Wasn't Converting Into Pipeline

Aviation is niche, senior, and trust-driven. Cold outreach without the right framing simply gets ignored — and with six-figure tickets, there's no room for a scattergun approach.

The Core Problems

No consistent flow of qualified leads — inbound was sporadic and outbound was untested.

Wrong personas being targeted — reaching IT contacts instead of commercial and ops decision-makers.

Messaging was too technical — prospects couldn't see the commercial value quickly enough.

Trust bar was high — a niche industry where unframed cold outreach was being ignored.

What Upturnly Did

A Repeatable Outreach Engine, Built & Managed End-to-End

SDR-Led Outreach

A dedicated SDR service handling cold calls, emails, and LinkedIn — targeting C-suite, ops leads, tech directors, and security managers at airlines, airports, and ground handlers.

Niche Messaging Strategy

Repositioned both products from technical tools into commercial growth enablers — Quantum's BRS as a route-approval credential, Zafire's ground ops as revenue protection.

Multi-Channel Cadence

Structured email drip sequences, a LinkedIn connection & follow-up strategy, and persona-tailored call scripts — all coordinated within one outreach cadence.

Proof-Point Positioning

Leveraged marquee references — Qantas, Vienna Airport, Widerøe, Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines — to build instant credibility with cold prospects in a trust-driven industry.

The Results

8–10
Qualified Leads / Month
Delivered consistently, with no in-house SDR team
$100K+
Average Deal Ticket
Every lead is a high-value commercial opportunity
4+
Regions in Pipeline
Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia-Pacific
100%
Upturnly-Managed
A repeatable engine, built & run end-to-end

From Compliance Tool to Commercial Growth Lever

By reframing both platforms around commercial value and reaching the right decision-makers with the right proof, Upturnly turned sporadic awareness into a predictable, scalable pipeline — and both clients now own an outreach engine that runs without a single in-house rep.

Aviation is one of the hardest industries to break into with cold outreach. The buyers are senior, the sales cycles are long, and the trust bar is high. Upturnly understood that from day one — and built a system that actually works in this environment.

AV
Commercial Leadership
Aviation Software Partner
8–10 qualified leads delivered every month — consistently, without an in-house SDR team.
Pipeline built with decision-makers at airlines, airports, and ground handlers across four regions.
Average deal ticket of $100,000+ — every conversation is a high-value opportunity.
Messaging repositioned from compliance tool to commercial growth lever — lifting response rates.
Both clients now have a repeatable, scalable outreach engine — built and managed entirely by Upturnly.

Selling Into a Niche B2B Market?

Upturnly specialises in building qualified pipeline for complex, high-ticket SaaS companies — without the cost of a full in-house SDR team.

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