QSIC

The Opportunity: Smart Soundscapes for Improved Commercial Experiences

“Experience is key for retail and commercial office settings,” says Nick Larkins, QSIC COO and co-founder. “If you can provide a unique, powerful experience when people are immersed in your brand environment, there’s the opportunity to give them something valuable and unique. People always choose experience over convenience or product quality.”

Founded in 2013 as Australia’s first commercial music streaming service, QSIC quickly evolved into the world’s only streaming platform with AI designed to positively influence customer mood and behavior. Drawing from over 12 million commercially licensed tracks, QSIC’s AI predicts the right music to play, at the right time, location, and volume, to create an environment that keeps customers engaged and connected to the brand.

This model has attracted global brands like Toyota, WeWork, McDonald’s, and 7-Eleven, helping QSIC deliver brand-enhancing soundscapes to millions of people every week across thousands of locations.

"With Soracom, we can do it all remotely, via the cloud, and control the amount of data that our customers need for updates, support, and system maintenance."

Nick Larkins

COO and Co-Founder

QSIC

The Solution: A Fully-Connected Audio Ecosystem

QSIC’s founders started in the smart home industry, building early connected systems that integrated lighting, HVAC, and security controls. Their work with commercial clients revealed a surprising gap in business audio solutions, many relied on outdated CD distribution or improvised streaming setups that introduced legal and technical risks.

In response, QSIC built a modern, wireless commercial audio platform with integrated optimization, testing, and automation capabilities. Today, QSIC integrates with existing speaker systems and is one of the only native commercial music services on SONOS in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Its API also connects to BI, CRM, and POS systems, enabling the AI to learn which tracks and tempos drive desired outcomes. Patented multi-zone listening technology keeps music at the right volume, while in-store sensors monitor sound levels and adjust playback automatically.

“We can control the speakers individually through the network and increase or decrease volumes as needed,” explains Larkins.

Why Soracom: Reliability, Usability, and Control

For QSIC, reliable connectivity is essential to keeping music streaming and systems optimized. Public Wi-Fi is inconsistent, with varied onboarding and security requirements, and offers little direct control.

“If the internet goes down, we need a backup solution,” says Larkins. “We need to be able to log in and diagnose problems remotely, without hiccups.”

After testing multiple providers, QSIC chose Soracom for its global coverage, scalability, and cost efficiency. Soracom’s infrastructure allows QSIC to manage its network independently and securely, isolating its systems from customer networks for easier deployment and fewer IT dependencies.

“Soracom gives us the ability to implement and manage our infrastructure in a way that’s isolated from other company networks, so we don’t need to rely on external teams,” says Larkins.

The Outcome: Extraordinary Audio Experiences at Scale

QSIC now streams through more than 10,000 devices worldwide, each tailored to its unique retail environment. Soracom’s connectivity ensures the team can manage, update, and troubleshoot remotely, even in remote or rural areas.

“With Soracom, we maintain a direct line of communication to audio devices and can adapt to the needs of people on the ground. We can do it all remotely, via the cloud,” says Larkins.

As QSIC continues to expand, its AI-powered platform is poised to play a larger role in enhancing human experience in commercial spaces, offering not just entertainment, but potentially contributing to improved mood and well-being for millions.

“The world is at the beginning of the Goldilocks zone of IoT,” Larkins concludes. “Over the next 10 years, it’s going to be huge. I encourage businesses to start planning their IoT strategy now.”