A forward-thinking PR agency has launched its own bespoke software to make the client experience run even more smoothly.
Harvey & Hugo, which is based in Darlington but works with clients around the UK, has created PRefix, a project management system for PR agencies that helps improve communication flow to clients.
Charlotte Nichols, founder and managing director of Harvey & Hugo, said: “I’m always looking at ways to continually improve our offering by investing in technology.
“PRefix will help to create more efficient processes with clients, such as the approvals system, as well as creating a hub where clients have access to content whenever they need it.
“Along with our Pay-as-Hugo e-commerce platform, which we launched last year, it’s another way to work in the changing world we find ourselves, where the office-based nine-to-five has been replaced by something altogether more flexible.”
The project, which was funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority’s Collaborative Networks Fund, was developed by Stockton-based Sapere Software.
Charlotte said: “I loved working with the team at Sapere, they made the process so enjoyable and easy to understand. While the whole process took about a year, they made everything as easy as possible, and a lot of thought has gone into it from both sides.”
Paul Drake, commercial director at Sapere, added: “PRefix is a web-based solution that allows an agency to manage customer interactions in a much more efficient way, collating everything about their clients’ needs in one space.
“Charlotte had an idea, very high-level at the time, we bounced the ideas and solutions around, before coming up with a solution – PRefix.
“It’s really positive to see business owners like Charlotte undertake these kind of exercises, as it makes it easier for others to take that leap of faith into software development and see how it can help.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Harvey & Hugo is one firm helping to put the region’s professional services offering on the map. It’s great to see they’ve been able to use our £25,000 funding to collaborate and innovate, boosting productivity and making themselves more attractive to prospective clients. What’s more, they did so by working with a local company, helping spur on our ever-growing digital sector to more success.”
The technology is currently being trailed at Harvey & Hugo, and Charlotte has plans to build upon it, and other automation, in the future.
She said: “I’m constantly looking to develop the way we work, bringing an increased degree of automation into the agency to give both the team and our clients the flexibility they need to work to their full potential.”
Harvey & Hugo creates lovable and memorable brands through its mix of PR, content marketing and social media services, and offers three ways of working – traditional retained contracts, flexible, fixed-fee services with Pay-as-Hugo and its training school, Hugoversity.
For more information, visit www.harveyandhugo.com and www.sapere.co.uk.