Skip to main contentRotterdam - November 20, 2007 - MetrixLab, a global provider of online consumer research services, announced today that it has acquired 2C Usability, a leading provider of usability research services and the largest independent usability specialist in the Netherlands. 2C Usability is known for its advanced in-lab usability tests and its ability to make user experience the central point for website (re)design programs. The company will be integrated with MetrixLab's E-Business Performance Research group and will be led by 2C's founders and Managing Partners, Wouter van den Berg and Bastiaan Klooster.
"Usability is increasingly becoming a core component of online marketing," said Han de Groot, CEO of MetrixLab. "The pace at which marketing euros will flow to website usability and more recently mobile usability, will continue to accelerate." On average, companies are spending 13% of their website design budgets on usability and 9% of their on-going website maintenance budget, resulting in a market for usability and accessibility research in Europe of more than 300 million euro. "The markets are growing very quickly because more and more companies are realising that an optimal online experience is directly linked to commercial success," added de Groot. Alone in the UK 72% of organisations are planning to increase their usability budget over the next 12 months, a greater percentage than for any other area of digital marketing.
"These powerful trends are what make our acquisition of 2C Usability significant. MetrixLab will continue to invest in the development of advanced online tools and methodologies to improve usability testing". A big next step will be the launch of our renewed online usability test, allowing consumers to test websites remotely from their homes, instead of taking a test in a laboratory.
By combining MetrixLab's Website Performance analysis with 2C's proprietary usability tests, clients will be able to receive detailed, specific recommendations on what they should do to address user satisfaction concerns and improve website conversion rates: improve brand perception, loyalty, retention and sales in case of e-commerce sites. "It really completes the cycle of analysis," said de Groot.
"As usability becomes more ubiquitous in the world of Internet, Mobile and Interactive TV, a company like ours is well-positioned to grow by meeting evolving client needs," said 2C Usability's founding partner Wouter van den Berg. "By joining with MetrixLab, we see the opportunity for 2C Usability to advance its leadership in usability research and offer clients worldwide expertise in managing website, mobile and interactive TV communication performance."
"This is a big plus for our customers as well," stated Bastiaan Klooster, managing partner of 2C Usability. "By joining forces with MetrixLab, 2C Usability will now be able to offer our clients more of what they're looking for in a research partner: access to international online research capabilities, a much larger online panel and a complete portfolio of proven research tools."
About MetrixLab (www.MetrixLab.com)
MetrixLab is a global provider of Online Consumer Research services, specializing in the areas of New Product Development, Brand Communication, E-Business Performance and Satisfaction Research. Over the past seven years MetrixLab has grown to be one of Europe's leading online market research companies.
With offices in Rotterdam, London, Hamburg, Paris and Madrid, MetrixLab conducts online research in 39 countries worldwide and works with 41 of the top 100 global brands such as Microsoft, Philips, Unilever, Siemens, PepsiCo and Canon.
MetrixLab is a major supplier of online and cross media campaign tracking, advertising pre-testing, online concept, prototype and pack testing, global consumer communities, website user testing and customer and employee satisfaction research.
About 2C Usability (www.2c.nl)
2C is the leading Dutch expert in the field of usability and accessibility research services and has worked with more than 150 clients, including industry leaders such as Fortis, AON, ABN AMRO, T-Mobile, Vodafone, UPC and Microsoft.
Contact:
Drs. J.A.G. (Han) de Groot
CEO MetrixLab
+31 (0)10 20 30 700
h.de.groot@metrixlab.com
Drs. W.M. (Wouter) van den Berg
Managing Consultant E-business Performance
+31 (0)10 20 30 700
