Mike Nuthall

Why Defend Fire Relies on Uptick's Asset Maintenance Software to Streamline Operations

Defend Fire started in Darwin and has grown to become the only locally founded fire protection company to expand across the Northern Territory and into South Australia. Managing Director Mike Nuthall has always focused on delivering top-tier service, and for years, FireMate was the system that helped him do that.

So when FireMate merged with Uptick, Mike wasn’t exactly excited.

“I was a passionate FireMate supporter. We grew the business on that platform, and I saw it as an integral part of what we did. I had no plans to switch.”

But with the merger, he had to re-evaluate. He explored every option, testing different platforms—but one system kept standing out.

“I kept coming back to Uptick. Eventually, the penny dropped, and I realised—this package has everything we need.”

And Mike hasn’t looked back since.

All in one solution

What sold Mike on Uptick was that everything he needed for his business was all in one platform.

“I looked at other platforms, but they all had add-ons—this feature was extra, that feature was another add-on. I wanted one solution, and that’s what Uptick provided.”

Now, Defend Fire has a single system for quoting, scheduling, reporting, and invoicing—giving them the tools to run their entire business more efficiently.

Better visibility and reporting

One of the biggest improvements Service Coordinator Dan Pearon has noticed since switching to Uptick has been reporting and tracking.

“Before, we sometimes sent a tech out two or three times for the same issue because we missed key notes. Now, Uptick’s timeline function shows us exactly where we’re losing time so we can fix it.”
This has led to fewer wasted visits, faster job completion, and better service for clients.

A scheduling system that actually works

Keeping track of where technicians need to be used to be a challenge for Defend Fire.

Now, Uptick’s scheduling tools give Defend Fire a clear view of every technician’s day.

“The scheduling has been a game-changer. We can plan our team’s days, track their work, and instantly see when jobs are completed.”

That means less downtime, smoother workflows, and a better experience for customers.

Reliable offline mode for remote work

Darwin’s remote areas, stairwells, and basements often mean poor signal. Defend Fire's Technician Okkie Deetlefs says Uptick’s offline mode has removed that stress.

“The offline feature is really reliable. We can take photos, upload data, and it syncs automatically when we reconnect—no manual syncing needed.”

An easy transition with real support

Despite being a longtime FireMate user, Vivika Turner, Defend Fire's Implementation Manager, says the transition to Uptick was smoother than expected, thanks to a structured onboarding process and the Uptick Academy.

“We had a dedicated onboarding specialist, Teresa, who guided us through everything.

The Uptick Academy was a huge help—it let our team get familiar with the platform before training, so nothing felt overwhelming.”

Would Defend Fire recommend Uptick? Absolutely.

Since moving to Uptick, Defend Fire has streamlined admin, improved reporting, and made scheduling more efficient.

“The system is user-friendly, and having everything in one place just makes sense. Our invoicing has improved, scheduling is easier, and the team works more efficiently. Uptick has transformed the way we do things," says Vivika Turner.