A Nuneaton start-up using the power of AI could be set to transform how e-commerce businesses analyses their sales and marketing data with the launch of its new software.
Backona, founded by David Patrykowski and based in Jodrell Street, has created a tool enabling users to effortlessly converse with their marketing data and ask for custom charts and diagrams directly from Google Analytics software.
With the backing of business support programme Business Ready, part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme, he received invaluable assistance during the product’s development phase around getting accurate customer feedback and communicating his proposition.
David created Backona, partly because of his experiences of rescuing a previous business he ran from collapsing after taking the time to dig into the data about its business practices and finding the right solution.
He said:
“Google Analytics is used by so many e-commerce businesses to understand their sales and other data, but it can be a difficult piece of software to use depending on what you’re trying to get out of it.
“The AI can also be used to predict what a business should do next to maximise a certain metric, such as revenue or click-throughs, based on the data it has already gathered.
“Unlike other AI systems available, which typically rely on general data sources, our system stands out by allowing users to work directly with their own data.
“This unique feature ensures more accurate and tailored insights, offering business owners invaluable guidance for their next strategic moves with minimised bias.’’
Steve Tipson, business support adviser at Business Ready, had advised David around his previous business after a referral from CW Growth Hub and continued to mentor him as he began to develop Backona.
He said:
“We’ve been helping David take the right steps to have everything ready for Backona to be a success at launch, such as how much testing needs to be done beforehand, and ensuring its marketing plan is clear.
“Real-world testing is crucial to developing a viable product, and we helped David form a strategy around getting real customer feedback around Backona, rather than assumptions around what they might want from the software.
“I was able to introduce David to some of my network who were happy to be guinea pigs for Backona and helped use their feedback to fine-tune the product and Backona’s proposition to potential investors.”
Cllr Nicola King, Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said:
“I am delighted to see how well Backona is developing and wish David and his colleagues all the best for a successful future.
“It’s always heartening to hear that one of our borough businesses is progressing well, and we would recommend any of our local firms to pursue the Business Ready Programme.’’
Business Ready is delivered by the University of Warwick Science Park on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils.
Business Growth Warwickshire is funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Warwickshire County Council.
Find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visiting the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub website.