Data Tool Links Business Services Buyers, Sellers

An aptly named business intelligence tool dubbed Blur Data unveiled this week is being pitched as bringing into focus the blur of data encountered when trying to purchase business services. The tool is said to provide a broad overview of specific trends in business services along with handling quotes, contracts and other details related to procuring design, marketing and other services.

The tool is the most recent addition to U.K.-based blur Group’s enterprise services platform used to manage and deliver business services. The new analytics tool is said to provide insights into geographic markets, new technologies and “industry verticals,” the company said this week.

The U.K. firm asserts that global businesses spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year buying and selling services. Its exchange along with the new data tool released on Aug. 4 are intended to bring together buyers and sellers of business services as a way to speed up projects and reduce costs. The platform also handles tasks like gathering competitive price quotes, purchases orders, drawing up service contracts, billing and other back-office functions.

The new tool also combines analytical data from the company’s global marketplace with analytics derived from external data sources uncovered by different search engines and social media platforms. Among the deliverables are analytics related to geographic pricing trends, estimated delivery timeframes and projected budgets for specific projects.

The tool targets buyers of business services seeking detailed analyses about regional pricing and forecast about the availability of services.

The blur Data tool is delivered as an online dashboard running on the company’s enterprise services platform. It provides specific industry overviews of key trends in business services e-commerce with an emphasis on geographical analysis.

Project summaries that include business service requirements, schedules and budget are posted on the blur Marketplace. Potential service providers respond with their pitch. The new tool combs through the pitches to come up with a short list of the most competitive quotes to deliver business services. Once a project is underway, the service also will manage payments to service providers.

The new business services analytics tool is part of the company’s effort to attract larger enterprise customers to its business services exchange, blur Group CEO Philip Letts noted in a statement.

According to the company’s web site, its Marketplace has thus far handled more than 9,300 business services projects valued at more than $450 million. It boasts a list of more than 62,000 service providers in 145 countries.

Its current roster of customers includes Caterpillar, GE Healthcare and Zurich Insurance.

Business services delivered via the “service-commerce” platform range from web site design and marketing to developing and deploying technology platforms for financial services clients. Among the largest projects listed by the company is a $2 million business services contract related to a wind farm construction project in Turkey.

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