RNS Number : 0474N
Gladstone PLC
10 February 2009
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Press Release
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10 February 2009
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Gladstone plc
('Gladstone' or 'the Company')
Successful deployment of the new Orbit Professional™
Strong customer endorsement of the next-generation product platform
Gladstone plc, (AIM: GLD.L), a leading provider of software solutions and services to the Health & Leisure and Education markets, is pleased to announce that its web-based membership relationship management ('MRM') software, Orbit Professional™ ('Orbit'), is now being used by its first customers following the debut of the new product platform at Leisure Industry Week (LIW) in September 2008.
Orbit is designed to address the market needs of health clubs and leisure centres internationally. Initially it will address single-site independent operators' requirements for a robust and intelligent MRM solution without the need for the operators to invest significantly in software licences and installation. Due to its web-based model, Orbit is expected to widen the reach of Gladstone's services into other territories and sectors and further enhance Gladstone's future earnings.
In the UK alone there are over 1,700 single-site independent fitness centres (The Leisure Database Company, January 2009) in addition to around 450 single-site centres in Ireland (IHRSA, 2008 European Market Report, October 2008). According to industry data, these numbers are expected to increase over the coming years. Orbit is designed to materially change the value proposition for many of these operators by providing them with the system capabilities and functionality that many larger businesses currently expect.
Orbit adopts leading-edge, web-based deployment models including hosted services and SaaS ('Software as a Service'), which enables customers to subscribe to a transaction-based service. It provides owners and staff the ability to manage memberships effectively and efficiently, allowing them to better concentrate on delivering a more proactive and sustained customer service, thereby boosting their business value and member retention at lower costs.
Nigel Snart, Operations Director of Gold's Gym in Camberley, Surrey, one of the first users of Orbit, said: 'We recognise the business benefits that Orbit offers in enhancing the management of our gym's memberships. Orbit is user-friendly and is specifically developed as a simple yet efficient software solution. Using Orbit, you immediately notice its simple-to-use aesthetics and yet intuitive capabilities. I am confident that investing in this software will reap long-term benefits to us.'
Dr Said Ziai, Chairman and Chief Executive of Gladstone plc, commented: 'The successful deployment of Orbit at Gold's Gym is further endorsement of our next-generation intelligent software platform. We are delighted that Orbit has been so well received by its early customers.
Orbit is further accelerating the consolidation of our position as a leading solutions provider in the UK health and leisure market. With more customer wins and endorsements, we are confident that we'll be on course to execute our plans to provide user-friendly and efficient software solutions across the market and geographical territories.'
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For further information, please contact:
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Financial Adviser and Nominated Adviser to Gladstone:
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Grant Thornton UK LLP
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Charles Cattaneo
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Tel: +44 (0) 7774 276512
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Ian Stanway
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Tel: +44 (0) 121 232 5193
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Gerry Beaney
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 7728 2589
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Media enquiries:
Notes to Editors
Gladstone plc's innovative software products and services, currently targeted at the global health and leisure and education markets, are used daily by thousands of front line staff, managers, end users and students.
Gladstone is a market leader in the provision of member relationship management solutions for a wide range of health and leisure organisations including trusts, leisure centres, and major private leisure chains and is established as the de facto standard for UK local authorities. The Company enables all its clients in both public and private sectors to utilise central database facilities for central and cross-site on-line bookings, Customer Relationship Management ('CRM') and membership management, centralisation of administration, marketing and reporting.
The Company also provides a wide range of integrated systems and software-based solutions for the rapidly expanding Education Facilities Management Solutions ('EFMS') market across the entire spectrum of educational establishments and is a key supplier to the UK Government's Building Schools for the Future ('BSF') initiative.
Gladstone is focused on extending its solutions capabilities, which enable its clients to maximise resource usage, retain customers and improve operational performance, thereby making cost efficiencies, into new vertical and geographic markets aligned with its growth strategy.
The Company's current solutions include the comprehensive Plus2TM product suite which incorporates advanced functionality including web-based remote booking, advanced analysis and the use of kiosks, as well as Gladstone OnRecordTM which serves the education industry with e-registration, biometric and smart card recognition, cashless payment systems, extensive information portals, libraries usage and access control.
Based in Oxfordshire, the Company has sales offices in Glasgow, Dublin (Ireland) and Sydney (Australia), in addition to development facilities in Sonderborg (Denmark) and Karachi (Pakistan).
For further information, visit www.gladstoneplc.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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