JBT Has 4 New Programs, All Tech Focused

They include automated systems for tracking social media followers and for filing UCCs more easily.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

Providence, R.I.—The Jewelers Board of Trade is introducing four new programs for members, all part of the organization’s first major technology overhaul in a decade.

JBT, the industry’s leading resource for credit data, started announcing the new programs on Aug. 17, beginning with its new partnership with Podium, a tech company known for its messaging tools.

Under the partnership, non-JBT member retailers who sign up for Podium services will be eligible for a free, one-year retail membership with JBT and will receive 10 percent off Podium services.

Existing JBT retail members who join the Podium platform will also receive 10 percent off Podium services.

To learn more about Podium and its software, visit the company’s website.

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Secondly, beginning this fall, JBT will offer all Enhanced members an automated service for making Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings with CLAS.

JBT has been encouraging members who use memo to file UCCs for decades to protect their goods in the event of a bankruptcy filing, but many don’t do it because it is cumbersome and expensive.

Through CLAS, JBT said a UCC can be filed electronically in 47 states for less than half what it costs to get a lawyer involved.

For a “modest” additional fee, members will have the option to file a Purchase Money Security Interest (PMSI) and will have access to an online portal to track status.

The service will be available beginning this fall.

The third new service is the JBT API, or application programming interface, an acronym well known by developers.

APIs allow systems to talk to each other via common protocols.

A good example (and an extremely relatable one right now) of a company that uses API is Seamless.

The Seamless API works with the systems of many restaurants and is how, simply put, you’re able to see menus and order from a wide variety of places when you open the Seamless app.

The JBT API will allow both individual companies and platforms to access JBT data in real time from within their own systems.

A JBT member could be working within their own accounting system and with the click of a button access a company’s JBT membership status, credit ratings, credit report information, and more.

The API includes a secure authentication, integration with JBT back-end systems for billing purposes, and a free developer sandbox.

The JBT API system is available to Enhanced supplier members and industry platforms. There is no incremental cost for Enhanced members.

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Finally, JBT is introducing a social media tracking system for both retailers and suppliers, a system it spent months building.

The new system automatically tracks the number of social media posts and follower growth trends on Facebook and Instagram, enabling retailers and suppliers to gauge how their accounts perform when compared with their peers.

The system also enables members to filter data based on region and to view overarching trends over select time periods.

This social media tracking system is available now for all Enhanced and Retail JBT members.

It’s also available as an additional filter via JBT’s marketing list program, further enabling vendors to target a specific subset of the market based on social media metrics.