OREANDA-NEWS. November 13, 2012. Swedbank launched a digital platform developed in Latvia - Business Network.The Business Network innovatively combines a customer relations management (CRM) system and social networking functionality, as well as providing other opportunities, reported the press-centre of Swedbank.

The Business Network will be available from 12 November and will allow making contacts with all companies that are Swedbank customers and have registered with the network.This opens an opportunity for every entrepreneur to meet over 75 000 other businesses from all over Latvia.

The majority of entrepreneurs in Latvia (72%) look for business partners through friends and acquaintances, while a third (26%) do so in seminars, conferences and other similar events. 25% also use public events for these purposes, such as seminars, conferences and expos. 16% rely on the support of business industry’s professional organizations, shows the survey conducted by Swedbank1.The majority of business representatives (91%) point out to the need for a reliable website for establishing business contacts faster and more efficiently.

“ Swedbank has over 75 000 businesses among its corporate clients. We strive to not only offer financing and daily banking services for our customers, but also provide environment and partnership for sustainable business development. Hence, Swedbank, being mindful of the needs of its business customers, has developed a solution – a digital platform called Business Network. This will enable entrepreneurs to establish business contacts quickly, conveniently and securely, as well as making use of other advantages arising from Swedbank’s large customer base and the strong customer offering," tells Daniils Rulovs, Board Member and Head of Corporate Banking at Swedbank Latvia.

About Swedbank’s Business Network
Swedbank’s Business Network is a unique digital platform for businesses that enables widening business contacts, expanding opportunities to sell more products and services, obtaining most up-to-date information about business environment, using day-to-day business management tools, as well as controlling transactions and invoices. The Business Network will be opened for registration on 12 November to all corporate customers of Swedbank. In order to register, the company needs a bank account with Swedbank and Internet Banking code card or security token (‘code calculator’), plus the registration must be done by the company's authorized signatory at the bank. A company’s wish to use the Business Network is initially (only on the first occasion) confirmed by Swedbank.

The Business Network will enable establishing contacts with all enterprises registered with it. Thus, business representatives will have a way to easily and quickly find new business partners, suppliers and other cooperation partners. Also, there will be a possibility to offer their goods and services to other Business Network members.

On the digital platform, companies will be able to conveniently manage and review all of their daily transactions from a single place, as well as using a special invoice-generating programme. For more about Swedbank’s Business Network, visit www.businessnetwork.lv

1 Swedbank Business Survey conducted in September 2012 in cooperation with TNS, covering more than 200 entrepreneurs from all over Latvia.