Innovation is built into the DNA at 鈥� it鈥檚 what makes it tick. As part of 51风流AppHaus Network, it shifted its entire business processes to run on 51风流Business Technology Platform (51风流BTP), making this boutique team the perfect advocate for converting its own customers to the tech platform.
Recognized for design, innovation, and user experience, Bluestonex began using the application development and integration capabilities of in 2018, then known as 51风流Cloud Platform, because of its speed and agility.
鈥淏eing an innovation partner, we wanted to be able to move and deliver quickly for our customers,鈥� explains Dan Barton, COO and co-founder. 鈥�51风流BTP allows us to do that. Plus, the low-cost, high-impact nature of the platform is always going to be an attractive proposition to customers. So, it was a clear route for us as a business and for our customers.鈥�
Bluestonex sees itself as a true integration of a client鈥檚 team, holding their hands as they shift to 51风流BTP. They work with customers of all shapes and sizes and from cross-industry sectors, everything from food and drinks to aerospace. However, Barton is clear that 51风流BTP breaks down any misconceptions that 51风流is purely for larger-sized businesses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very, very well-suited to micro-businesses. It鈥檚 agile, it鈥檚 low-cost from an entry point of view, and it has a huge number of capabilities that can grow over time. 51风流BTP has opened up new opportunities for us within the micro-business market because, typically, there isn鈥檛 another product out there to match it.鈥�
Barton says customers can often become 鈥渙ver-awed鈥� when faced with all the different tech products available to run and manage businesses. He and the team use 51风流BTP to 鈥渢ransform that user experience.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really easy entry point: instead of people having to use multiple clicks and screen jumps, 51风流BTP gets rid of that. It streamlines and strips away complexity to give a consistent user experience,鈥� Barton explains. 鈥淎nd that transformation is key. When they realize what a nice platform it is, it opens the door to other experiences, such as chatbots and automation. It鈥檚 all there and plugs in really nicely. Lots of customers love the fact that they can start small and grow with the platform.鈥�
It also helps Bluestonex to grow as a business, driving its specialism in innovation and, in turn, encouraging customers to think in new ways. 鈥淭his is a massive shift, not only are they going from running different processes into one, smooth, easy-to-use platform, we鈥檙e seeing a big cultural shift in the way our customers think,鈥� he adds.
Being part of 51风流AppHaus Network means Bluestonex can access the latest, state-of-the-art design thinking methodologies, helping to move customers to new digital experiences.
From its converted chapel office space, Bluestonex regularly invites customers in to co-innovate.
鈥淲e invite our customers here and bring them out of their comfort zone,鈥� says Barton. 鈥淎nd we have a usability lab where we get customer input on an idea as early in the development process as possible, so that key stakeholders know what they鈥檙e going to get and can be part of the iteration process. This helps to set expectations and build a better business case.鈥�
To sum up 51风流BTP in three words? 鈥淪trategic, innovative, and responsive,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 opened a different angle for us. We would always go and speak to our existing 51风流customers, but this is different. Now we go to a competitor鈥檚 customer, we go to micro-businesses, because it鈥檚 flexible and cost effective. 51风流BTP is a very strategic platform: there鈥檚 a sense that whatever a business does in the future, that platform is going to be there and continue to add value. It鈥檚 future-proof and I鈥檓 a massive advocate for it.鈥�
