The global superyacht industry relies on sophisticated systems to manage finance, payroll and crew operations.
As part of Channel Eye’s focus on Financial Services this week, we are highlighting the different ways the sector connects with global industries and innovation across the Channel Islands.
Today, Ian Flanagan, the founder of Voly, a superyacht software company specialising in finance, payroll and crew management systems, discusses the launch of its new payroll platform, the acquisition of Voyonic, and why Guernsey is becoming a key hub for the company’s growth.
Voly has just launched a new Crew Payroll Module. What does it do?
The idea is to bring together several complicated processes into one platform.
Traditionally, payroll in the superyacht industry has been handled through spreadsheets and fragmented systems. Our new module integrates payroll, contract management and leave planning into a single digital workflow.
It makes the whole process simpler, more transparent and far less prone to human error.
How important was the acquisition of Voyonic in developing this platform?
It was incredibly important.
Voyonic, now Voly Crew, brings decades of experience in payroll and employment services within the yachting sector. That deep operational knowledge has been invaluable in helping us design a system that actually works for the realities of running a superyacht. Combining that expertise with Voly’s technology has allowed us to build something much more powerful than either could have achieved alone.
What role does Guernsey play in Voly’s plans?
Guernsey is becoming a very important hub for us. With the Voly Crew team based there, we now have a strong foundation of payroll and employment expertise on the island.
As the platform rolls out globally, we expect the Guernsey operation to grow and support more of our international clients. As a jurisdiction Guernsey is a perfect fit – it’s in the rare position of being a well-respected international finance centre that also has a long-established reputation in the world of marine crew employment.
Voly works with many of the industry’s biggest operators. How has that shaped the product?
Collaboration has been central to everything we’ve built. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with some of the world’s largest superyacht management companies including Y.Co, Dean & Water and WMG. These same management companies have been influential in shaping the new Voly Crew module.
We’ve invested in listening to captains, crew and management teams; the culmination of all this feedback has shaped the development of the platform to reflect the real operational challenges people face day to day.
Before launching Voly, you had a very different career in sport. Tell us about that.
I spent many years competing in professional tennis. I was fortunate enough to win gold medals in international competitions and to compete at The Championships, Wimbledon.
Sport teaches you discipline and resilience – qualities that translate surprisingly well into building a business.
What does this launch mean for Voly’s future?
Shipping the Payroll Module is a big milestone for us, but it’s really just the beginning.
Our focus now is on continuing to develop the platform, learning from clients and scaling the technology globally. The goal is to build the most advanced payroll and crew management system in the yachting industry – and Guernsey will be a big part of that journey.
With the launch of its new payroll platform and the industry expertise of Voyonic now integrated into the business, Voly — led by CEO Ian Flanagan — is accelerating its mission to modernise the operational backbone of the global superyacht industry. As the company expands its Guernsey presence and rolls out its technology to fleets around the world, the island is fast becoming a key hub in the next wave of yacht-tech innovation.
Voly is the market leading yacht and multi-asset financial management platform designed for superyacht captains, crew, owners, management companies and family offices. From instant global transactions to fully transparent, real-time reporting, Voly saves time, improves accuracy and drives operational efficiency, wherever you are in the world.
To learn more about Voly’s crew, payroll and financial management platforms, visit voly.com or get in touch on email.
