The new web-based system supports existing workflows and gives Alliance & Leicester a framework to help make marketing processes even more efficient, enhance new recruit training, reduce time spent on mundane tasks and improve information sharing.

Alliance & Leicester wanted a software tool to help manage and support the entire marketing process, to improve visibility and status of all projects, promote best practice and reduce any duplication of work. Alterian Organizer provides planning, budgeting, automated workflow and approvals, electronic job bags, plus print and design management, to 125 users across the group's Branding, Marketing Communications, Design, Print, Legal, Compliance and Operations.

The new platform allows external suppliers to engage with the bank, such as design agencies submitting designs for approvals or printers being able to submit quotes. An integrated soft-proofing module speeds-up the creative review and approval process across teams of internal users and Alliance & Leicester's external marketing partners and agencies.

"We run over 1,000 individual marketing projects every year and improving efficiency of the campaign process was a key driver behind selecting Organizer," explained Mike Lord, senior marcomms manager, Alliance & Leicester. "By having one central repository of all activity, it also provides a clear overview enabling management to make faster, more informed decisions and also help meet Financial Services Authority regulations for reporting on marketing communications."

Delivering automated and collaborative techniques for key parts of the marketing process, Organizer makes campaign approval quicker, gives updates on project timelines and outstanding tasks and reduces time spent in meetings. Alliance & Leicester has also gained computerized data storage rather than physical job bags, allowing easy search and retrieval of previous campaign data which meets with FSA regulations and audit requirements.

"Organizer takes our management of marketing activity to a more sophisticated level," continued Lord. "Alterian has worked alongside us to help define how processes can be streamlined and best supported by Organizer, clearly demonstrating its expertise in the marketing sector. Its partnership approach and project management skills gave us confidence it was the best cultural fit for us."

"Innovative organizations like Alliance & Leicester continuously seek to improve the effectiveness of campaigns by optimizing their marketing operations at every stage," commented David Eldridge, CEO, Alterian. "Organizer helps meet this demand, by providing the 'glue' which holds the marketing processes together in a way that can be managed effectively and hence improve staff productivity."

Alterian also announced today the availability of the Alterian Operational Marketing Benchmark, a self-evaluation tool to help marketers improve the processes used to manage all parts of their marketing operation. It provides marketers with a tailor-made report and recommendations on their marketing strategy and processes.