A leading mobile communications specialist is expanding its operations into the North West, launching a new Manchester-based technical innovation hub.
Bulk messaging provider Voodoo counts Sports Direct, Amazon and the NHS among its client base, and said demand for its services has "soared" during lockdown.
The new hub will be based in Ancoats and headed up by telecoms specialist Zia Rizvi, who co-founded the firm in 2013.
Gareth Davies, managing director, said: “Manchester has a truly international reputation for the innovative work delivered by the city’s digital and technology sectors. With wealth of knowledge and expertise to call upon, it was the natural choice for our new technical innovation hub.
“Since the beginning of the national lockdown in March, we noticed a significant increase in demand for our messaging services as growing numbers of businesses turned to text messaging to communicate directly with their customers and staff.
"It is a trend which is set to continue as businesses adapt and evolve their operations during the current economic climate. Industry data has consistently shown text messaging can be a much more effective way of engaging with customers than other forms of communication."
Launched in 2013, Voodoo uses a custom-built SMS delivery platform to help businesses communicate via mobile messaging more effectively.
As well as investing in future development work on the company’s messaging platform, Voodoo said the hub will help businesses "harness the next generation" of Rich Communication Service (RCS) messaging, regarded as being the natural successor to SMS text messaging - due to the enhanced levels of flexibility and security offered by the technology.
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The firm has also recently hired software engineer and business analyst Rob Kerr as its technical director.
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Mr Davies said the company chose Manchester to be at the centre of its new technical division in a bid to tap into the "wealth of knowledge and technical expertise" in the city, and that the new centre will form a "key part" of the company’s future growth plans. The opening will create four new jobs.
He added: “Despite the growth we have enjoyed in recent months, we have been keen not to rest on our laurels. Innovation has always been an important part of our work and our new technical innovation centre will help us to invest in some of the latest industry innovations.
"For example, RCS Messaging is still a relatively new concept when it comes to businesses harnessing the technology, but it can provide many advantages over traditional SMS messaging and our new Manchester-centre will play an important part in our future growth plans."