Best Use of Technology 2008

Business description: Interactive Prospect Targeting Ltd (IPT) provides a range of online direct marketing products and services across Europe. Through its suite of websites it collects targeted, opt-in data to build databases for clients, which is available for marketers to rent, and sources additional data through its list broking services. The company now has 228 staff and turns over more than £24m.

Judges’ comments: Direct marketing solutions provider IPT stood out in this category for the way it has embraced technology to streamline traditional processes, the judges felt. Using its sophisticated range of websites, which boast a combined 22.2 million registered users, IPT captures individuals’ data and most importantly, the permission to contact them for their clients. IPT has constructed an engine that presents questionnaires to a targeted audience using a variety of selection filters. Over four million questionnaires are completed each month and these are used to build databases of up to three million fresh, qualified prospects for clients – household name brands from diverse industry sectors.

Formed in 1999, IPT had the goal of meeting marketers’ technological needs and has succeeded in this. The proof is reflected in its growth – at the time of launch there were two members of staff and its turnover for the year 2000 was £900,000; by 2006 turnover had reached £24.1 million with 228 employees.

www.ipt-ltd.co.uk