Blutui is a web and digital development platform, built specifically for digital, creative and advertising agencies.
Instead of creating individual web projects using multiple technologies and technologists, the platform enables agencies to deliver any scope of work - from simple microsites through to beautifully designed UX/UI websites and even large data driven projects requiring what would historically be considered a web application approach.
Blutui replaces the need for many technologies in the agency ecosystem meaning a universal scope of work can be delivered out of one technology, Blutui.
“The platform is a strategic industry tool for digital, creative and advertising agencies which will improve productivity and results, typically by 244%-400% while significantly reducing development time,” says Blutui founder and director Graeme Blake.
“It enables agencies to build their client projects far more quickly and efficiently, allowing for incredible levels of productivity within a studio without compromising their creative vision, UX or UI.”
“Usually creative agencies will use multiple technologies and a number of technologists to create even a single digital asset, but Blutui’s platform lets agencies do it all with a single front-end developer,” he adds.
The platform means agencies can more easily manage client work and unleashes a wider scope for creativity by front-end developers.
“If a creative agency can conceive a concept, and a front-end developer can code it, you will be able to build it in Blutui. There are no creative barriers,” says Graeme.
Blutui also has features that are specific to the nuanced workflow and client requirements of an agency, recently deploying their Cassette technology to support agencies with multiple campaigns required by the clients.
As an advertising agency owner himself with 30 years’ experience in the industry, Graeme realised that there wasn’t a single platform that suited agencies’ needs.
In 2018 his brand and digital agency – PAN The Love Agency – started building the Blutui platform.
It took his Hamilton-based team five years to create the platform which is now being used by global advertising agencies.
“To really get the benefit of Blutui, advertising agencies tend to be in larger markets, so we’ve focused on Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom,” explains Graeme.
In his role as director of both Blutui and PAN The Love Agency, Graeme’s time is mostly focused on growing Blutui. He recently travelled to Singapore and London to meet agencies and trade organisations (who represent advertising agencies) to spread the word about Blutui.
“Six years on and we’re only now taking Blutui to market in a serious way and sharing our technology with some of the biggest names in the advertising industry. To walk into meetings in London, New York and Singapore as this guy from Hamilton, New Zealand, and present a product that causes jaws to drop, is pretty exciting.”
“Our long-term vision is that Blutui becomes the gold standard within the advertising industry. As a Kiwi owned business, we are determined to make Blutui a valuable asset for New Zealand.”
Like many startups, Blutui looked to Callaghan Innovation to support its innovation and growth.
It has used Callaghan’s R&D Experience Grant, which funds innovative businesses to employ tertiary-level students as interns over their summer break.
“We’ve had particular success through Callaghan’s R&D Experience Grants which have been a great mechanism to help us engage with the University of Waikato and take on interns from the Uni’s Masters of Information Technology programme,” says Graeme.
Blutui has used the grant twice, each time getting students to complete their summer internship at Blutui.
Following the summer internships, Blutui was able to utilise Callaghan’s R&D Career Grant which funds innovative businesses to employ PhD and Masters Graduates for six months.
As employees, the graduates worked on a project delivering an AI component to the Blutui platform.
“Both grants have helped enormously in fast-tracking the ideation and development of our AI project.
“The Callaghan grants have been an incredible way for Blutui to build our future capacity. They’ve worked so well for us as a business and also offer a valuable career pathway for students.”
Find out if your business could benefit from Callaghan Innovation support.