An Indian technology company has launched its artificial intelligence-powered marketing solution into the UK.
Sekel Tech claims its software-as-a-service platform helps companies to focus on the ‘hyperlocal’ needs of customers. It says hyperlocal activity, marketing and engagement has emerged as a major business imperative for enterprises – particularly for those with 100+ locations.
Described as a ‘dynamic engagement commerce’ platform for national and international brands, it helps bricks-and-mortar businesses generate sales by bridging the online-offline consumer experience.
It couples the more typical listing management, store locator or reputation management processes – such as Google My Business and reviews – with value-add and differentiated services such as location based microsite creation and management within the brand’s domain, sentiment analysis, lead management, offers and campaigns, blogs and articles, product catalogues and extensive real-time analytics across the entire customer engagement.
The firm plans substantial investment to rapidly scale up and grow UK market share, establish a London office and use the UK as a base to then extend further into the EMEA region.
“We will put the power and first party data back in the hands of our customers through one cost-effective platform delivering visibility and benefit across five key pillars within the organisation: customers; operational efficiency; technology; people and culture and governance,” said founder and CEO Rakesh Raghuvanshi.
“We look forward to helping UK businesses to get organically discovered and then engage and grow their customers.”
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The platform supports brands to win organically across search by distributing and engaging through relevant contextual and personalised content that helps consumers make seamless, informed and efficient buying decisions. It is already working with Bridgestone, Goodyear, Grohe, Gulf Oil and Unilever.
Heading the UK operation is newly appointed head of business Mark Walker-Smith, who joins with 25 years’ experience in retail, automotive and financial services.
Raghuvanshi added: “For us, an AI-powered SaaS company, we see the UK as the best possible market for retail and we want to have our own offices and team in place to cater to our customers here.
“UK businesses will now enjoy having a single view and control of all the digital transformation initiatives that are planning to provide a positive business impact on a local level, showing them the impact of every penny spent on digital marketing with real-time insights so they can immediately analyse and take action on their spend.”