30 Jan 2014 07:00
RNS REACH
30th January 2014
blur Group plc
("blur," the "Group" or the "Company")
New blur 4.0 brief app brings added functionality and true services-buying freedom
blur delivers early on tech roadmap demonstrating A grade technology function
blur Group plc (BLUR), the technology company that's reinventing commerce at blurgroup.com announced today the release of its ground-breaking blur 4.0 brief app, one full quarter ahead of schedule, which will see not only flawless stand-alone use across every browser, OS, platform and partner site, but a 'wizard'-like project buying user experience and feature-augmented mobile build. It marks the beginning of the phased roll-out of blur 4.0 over the next 2-3 quarters - the 4th generation of blur's market leading services commerce (s-commerce) platform.
It is the first phase of our 2014 mission of a component-based platform architecture, allowing for faster future integration of exciting new functionality and technology. Separating the brief app into a discrete application frees it from being used solely within the blur platform, making it easier and more convenient for customers to buy services from more locations.
Key to the 4.0 release is an enhanced user experience. Seamless customer-focused content supports those buying services on every step of the project submission journey. This improved journey includes clear highlights of where they are in the buying process, what is needed for the complete project brief, where to go next, what's happening with their information and what to expect from blur Group. This demonstrates blur using shareholder funds to out-innovate others and to raise competitor barriers, maintaining focus on functional lead.
Taking on-the-go services buying further, blur's mobile brief app has been updated and will capitalise on the success already seen after the initial December 2013 launch. Already over 10% of all projects submitted to the Global Services Exchange each month are via smartphones - both iOS and Android.
The new version includes more requirements fields so customers can provide more detailed information about their projects, enabling a faster, more thorough response from the exchange.
"We want to make submitting a project so easy and so accessible that businesses won't hesitate in trying out online services buying with blur," says blur CEO Philip Letts.
"The 4.0 Brief app update adds significant momentum to this campaign, and marks the beginning of 2014's push to integrate our platform in every part of a company's short - and long-term strategies.
"It will also hugely increase the bond to our partner sites, a vital side to blur's overall continued growth. blur is architecting 4.0 to match the changing nature of work. Users can start projects any time, anywhere, so they can buy services and blur can execute on the opportunity represented by our addressable $2trn s-commerce market. It's a vital stage to consolidate and further both our own position and the profile of services commerce."
For further information please contact:
blur (Group) plc | lucy@blurgroup.com |
Lucy Davies - Head of PR | Tel: +44 7759 635919 |
N+1 Singer (Nomad and Joint Broker) | |
Shaun Dobson / Matt Thomas | Tel: +44 20 7496 3000 |
Panmure Gordon (Joint Broker) | Tel: +44 20 7886 2500 |
Dominic Morley / Charles Leigh-Pemberton | |
Newgate Threadneedle | Tel: +44 20 7653 9850 |
Josh Royston/ Hilary Millar |
About blur (Group) plc at blurgroup.com
blur Group is a technology company reinventing how businesses do commerce at blurgroup.com. Its Global Services Exchange uses blur's proprietary s-commerce platform to enable approaching 40,000 business users in 141 countries to buy, sell and deliver core business services and take advantage of Software as a Transaction™ to pay for these projects.
blur Group (BLUR) is a public company headquartered in the UK with offices in the US and Europe. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. blur was founded in January 2006 and launched in alpha in 2007 with the full, formal launch of the Global Services Exchange in January 2010. At that time, just over three projects per month were submitted. Now,over 200 projects start on the exchange each month. Customers include Danone, Broadridge, Regus, Exceed, HCA, Momentive, Red Commerce, the Financial Times, Berlitz, Butlins, GE Healthcare and Tyco. Over the same time, average project value has grown from approximately $1,500 in 2010 to $89K in Q4 2013.
Today, over 3,800 projects have been submitted with a combined value of above $158 million. These have come from the US, UK, Europe, Africa and Asia with over 35,000 expert service providers in eight verticals responding to them.