LBi London

A war on files

Posted by Chris Clarke October 28th, 2009

I’ve just got back from C&binet forum, a government organised conference bringing the creative industries together to discuss the challenges and opportunities outlined in this year’s Digital Britain report. It was by and large a worthwhile event, and as always much of the value was in meeting talented people from all corners of the creative industry. On the downside, the debate in the main hall focussed way too much on ways of preserving outdated business models in the face of web enabled copyright infringement and not enough on ideas and business models which exploit the new realities.

Lord Mandelson announced this morning after keeping us waiting for a suitably rock n roll period of time that the government’s bright idea to combat file sharing is to send letters on a three strikes basis. What then happens isn’t clear, but I can’t help feeling it won’t work. Clearly the government has to be seen to do something, but I can’t help feeling this will drive the behaviour underground via encryption. Yesterday I asked Sion Simon if the government has an appetite for a war on files alongside the clearly very effective one raging on drugs. It seems they have.  To be fair the announcement did hint at help for businesses offering credible alternatives to illegal downloads, but in true New Labour style there didn’t seem to be any clarity over what that will be.  More positive was a commitment to fixing the UK’s arcane copyright laws, making it easier for artists to clear rights for the production of new work. As David Lammy said yesterday in his well informed speech, quoting Picasso; “good artists borrow, great artists steal.” So we look forward to the possibility of legislation which will enable a legitimate future for sampling, mashups and other digitally driven forms of creativity.

Tags: c&binet, copyright, government, UK, web

1 comments Share

Innovative salt app for Food Standards Agency

Posted by Mike October 21st, 2009

LBi has created an iPhone and iPod Touch application and mobile-optimised site called ‘FSA Salt’ to help shoppers calculate the salt content in everyday foods and make healthier food choices for their families. The salt calculator also comes with sound: when you shake the application you can hear salt being shaken and you are provided with useful tips to reduce salt in everyday foods. The app has been created for the FSA in support of their Salt Reduction Campaign after survey results revealed that 26 million adults in the UK consume too much salt in their diets.  This unique app can be used by shoppers and mothers easily when browsing the supermarket shelves.
 
The Salt Calculator is a ‘simple to use’ app that can be integrated into the lives of consumers with ease and acts as a handy nutrition tool when they are ‘on the go’. Users can simply look at the food label, select the appropriate level of salt per 100g and combined with choosing the weight of the serving from the scale provided, a traffic light system reveals instantly if it’s a healthy choice.  The app includes added features such as salt intake information for children of different ages and an inbuilt shake gesture that provides useful tips such as ‘Go for reduced-salt back bacon in your bacon sandwich’. ‘And try adding some slices of tomato instead of ketchup’.  The shake feature provides a built in sound effect of salt being shaken, which can be heard with each tip displayed.

Laura Jordon Bambach, Joint Creative Director LBi UK:  “Its always a pleasure to work on projects that are not only creatively pleasing but provide such a useful tool in promoting good health; and where we can use digital channels to create real benefit for consumers. We’re especially happy to be helping mums make the right decisions at point of sale, through our work with the FSA”.

Tags: app, iPhone, press release, UK

1 comments Share

HMV’s re-engineered search engine

Posted by Mike October 5th, 2009

Boosting HMV’s online sales with re- engineered search engine

As strategic technical partner to HMV, LBi has launched the first phase of HMV’s new e-commerce platform - a new search engine that will support the company’s growth plans and the anticipated increase in online purchasing from customers.  The new search engine will provide faster search, better search results, faceted navigation, improved ability to merchandise products, increased ability to personalise the user experience and will allow HMV to support increased growth in online sales.   The new search engine will enable consumers to find what they are looking for more easily, leading to an easier purchase experience.  Also, HMV will be able to get to know their customers as individuals and communicate with them about things that will interest them.

 HMV is the UK and Ireland’s leading specialist retailer of Music, DVD/Video, Computer Games and Related Products. The company operates around 200 stores in key shopping locations nationwide, equating to over 1million sq. ft. of trading space, as well as a successful online store at www.hmv.co.uk, operated by HMV Guernsey.   HMV is part of HMV Group plc, which as of April 2004 operated 366 HMV stores in eight countries across Europe, North America and Pacific Asia as well as 193 Waterstone’s stores principally in the UK and Ireland. All of the Group’s operations, both in the United Kingdom and internationally, are wholly owned.

We acted as strategic consultants and guided HMV through a detailed analysis which highlighted the limitations of the current e-commerce platform. LBi was named HMV’s lead partner and asked to deliver a 2-year programme of work to replace the existing platform and using a technology stack able to support the significant growth HMV have seen in the online channel.  We assisted HMV with vendor selection and chose Endeca as the search partner for this phase of work.  We are currently helping HMV to select and implement the remaining technologies within the new platform which will go live in 2010.

LBi and HMV have enjoyed a strong relationship since April 2007 which has spanned engagements in digital strategy, web design and build, search engine optimisation, technology, design and implementation, user research, testing and quality assurance. In 2008 we designed and delivered HMV’s new social discovery site: getcloser.com.  LBi were then engaged in late 2008 to help solve a critical business issue: the declining capability of its ecommerce platform.

Tags: e-commerce, HMV, News, press release, search engine, UK

0 comments Share

LBi launches BT Business

Posted by Laura JB April 27th, 2009

LBi and BT Business have provided a solution based boost to UK firms with the launch of a new technology and information site to speed efficiency and reduce costs in just one place. LBi and BT Business have announced the launch of a new technology and information site for BT Business, which is designed to help provide a boost to UK firms.

Featuring all of the information a business needs to work more efficiently and reduce costs in one place – without the need to leave the destination page, the site is designed to help users find the information, products and support they’re looking for more quickly and easily. Product collections have been grouped together according to ‘business needs’ to highlight the packages that can help firms control and cut costs. New features include single page product and service summaries, help widgets allowing customers to see how BT can support them in-life, plus forums where they can discuss the options with other firms and FAQs. The popular BT Business Insight site provides customers with the latest business news, guides, videos and white papers and, if customers want to speak to an advisor, the option to call or start a live web chat is available.

Bill Murphy, managing director, BT Business (http://business.bt.com) said: “We are very sensitive to the limited time owner-managers have to research and understand how to profit from new technologies and services. Time is even more precious in the current climate and our aim is to provide an effective overview of how to work more effectively and profitably.”

LBi managing director Anil Pillai “As an SME ourselves we understand the time pressures other SMEs are under, so we’ve relished the opportunity to create a service that delivers real value for them”.

The re-designed website is online now. For more details visit BT Insight http://insight.bt.com/articles/Were-improving-the-BT-Business-website/

Tags: BT, BT Business, launch, UK

0 comments Share