A YORK-BASED ecommerce specialist has its eyes on two prizes at The Press Business Awards 2016.

PureNet, which employs 56 people and has entered the Technology and Business Innovation categories, says its specialism lies in two areas.

“The first is complex, business-critical websites which integrate into back-office systems to provide a truly joined up experience.

“We design, build, manage, and integrate business-led B2B and B2C website platforms that add significant competitive value.

“Customers choose PureNet for our ability to design, build, manage, and integrate business-led ecommerce solutions giving significant competitive value to their day-to-day activities.”

The company adds: “The second area of expertise is based on a product providing ecommerce personalisation to boost sales.

“Last year PureNet launched its cutting-edge ecommerce personalisation product; PureClarity. PureClarity was born from PureNet’s experience in the rapidly evolving ecommerce environment.

“With competition high and the attention span of shoppers limited it is increasingly important to capture their attention with products and promotions that are relevant to them.

“PureClarity ‘plugs in’ to ecommerce websites and allows ecommerce managers to transform the way they market their products.”

The system literally learns from user behaviour, and is the brainchild of PureNet’s chief executive, Dr Paul Gibson, who has a PhD in artificial intelligence from the University of York and is a former Business Awards Personality of the Year.

The product was designed by Dr Gibson and built by a product development team headed up by chief technical officer Ian Lawton.

“PureClarity creates a special site search function to display tailored results. The search autocompletes and displays products, images, pricing and shows popular, personalised and brand search results.

“The product also has a series of triggers to market to customers on site and after they leave, offering promotions based on their user type, and post-sale emails such as abandoned basket and emails that suggest relevant products based on their activity on an ecommerce website.”

In April 2016 PureClarity was recognised with a European award (IT Europa) which recognised its innovation and its market potential. In addition, it has been awarded a Creative England interest-free loan of £120,000 to help fund its ongoing development.

PurNet says it has commitment and innovative flair, delivering return on investment. “We have delivered fantastic results and are growing rapidly as a business, creating jobs and pushing York’s name forward as a digital hub.”