A small business based just north of Toronto has quietly become a critical supply partner for Canada’s first responders, using homegrown e-commerce technology to keep essential safety gear flowing during health crises, wildfires, and floods.
International Safety Systems Inc., headquartered in Newmarket, developed a proprietary software platform to help predict customer needs and manage inventory, allowing it to ship certified equipment efficiently during emergencies — including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 wildfire season.
“We have continually been honing our online technology to help us better predict the needs of our customers so we can have the products they need in stock and available for them,” said Gus Khouri, president of International Safety.
Built-in-house tech offers flexibility and control
The company’s e-commerce platform, developed with Ottawa-based BiteSite, allows International Safety to quickly respond to shifting demand and maintain control over its operations, Khouri said.
“Big tech just doesn’t move that fast and, in some cases, will abruptly discontinue essential services without notice. We need to be in control of our own destiny,” he said.
Unlike off-the-shelf retail systems, the company’s custom-built platform enables tailored features, including customer verification and real-time inventory management — both critical when serving frontline agencies during national emergencies.
Screening for legitimacy and product safety
Khouri said one of the biggest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic was identifying legitimate first responders amid a chaotic market for personal protective equipment.
“Our e-commerce technology made sure that we could expedite the rest of the order to make up for some of the delay,” he said, referring to the verification process. “But it was important to us that we were getting the safety gear to the people who needed it most.”
The company also maintains strict quality control standards, Khouri said, in response to the growing threat of counterfeit safety supplies in the broader market.
“In the world of safety equipment, the legitimacy of each product is incredibly important. Buying knock-off products can put people in serious danger,” he said.
Preparing for the next crisis
International Safety said it continues to evolve its technology and supply chain practices to better serve Canadian organizations in future emergencies.
“Success for us is not just about finding and marketing innovative products,” said Khouri. “It’s about innovating how those products get to the Canadians that need them.”
