Bridge Finance Group Selects BlueThread's SmartDesk, K2 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server to Help Streamline Business Processes as More Companies Seek Financial Assistance

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 25 -- Bridge Finance Group, a Chicago, IL-based firm specializing in accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and cash flow loans, has selected and deployed BlueThread's SmartDesk, K2 workflow and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to automate its loan processing business and meet critical 24 hour Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

As economic uncertainty continues, an increasing number of companies have sought additional capital to better manage their cash flow. Bridge Finance Group helps these organizations by offering various types of loans and other financial services to businesses throughout the country. With its dramatic increase in business, the company needed a solution that would allow it to substantially increase workloads and streamline existing business processes without increasing staff.

Prior to deploying the BlueThread solution, Bridge's loan and approval processes were labor intensive. Loan applications and supporting documentation were compiled by hand including the client's list of accounts receivable, capital equipment, owned real estate, payables and outstanding debt. Bridge Analysts had to then manually consolidate this information and package it for processing approval which resulted in loans taking longer than expected, jeopardized SLAs, tightened deadlines and increased potential revenue loss to the company.

Today, Bridge leverages K2's robust workflow engine to create and route work to user in-boxes for processing. Once at the desktop, BlueThread's SmartDesk automatically gathers and organizes the specific content required (spreadsheets, line-of-business data, supporting documents, etc.) to complete the work, no matter its source or type. SmartDesk then dynamically optimizes the user experience so that only the right information and specific work processing tools are presented, based on whether the user is a processor, manager or decision-maker. And since the system provides real-time status and visibility within each process, auditors and managers can now stay on top of the borrower's receivables, monitor ineligible companies; ensuring that debt ratios and collections are achieved.

Ben Davis, Director of Operations for Bridge Finance Group, comments, "Our Operations Analysts have saved upwards of 20% of their time processing the most labor-intensive work. The BlueThread solution has increased both their accuracy and efficiency. The system ensures that work isn't just sitting on people's desks ... now nothing gets left undone."

Davis continues, "We have just scratched the surface of what we can do with this solution. BlueThread's SmartDesk is a comprehensive application that made our work easier. Coupled with the security and robust ECM platform features of SharePoint, the solution provides a foundation to automate virtually every business process within our enterprise."

Rich Feldmann, U.S. Financial Services Industry Managing Director, said: "Financial firms often struggle with understanding the 'single version of truth' when it comes to critical documents around loan origination and management. More and more companies are leveraging BlueThread's SmartDesk and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to solve these mission-critical business challenges. The combined solution automates workflow and provides true and measurable business benefits."

About Bridge Finance Group

Bridge Finance Group offers a combination of comprehensive loan products, decades of financial expertise and an unparalleled service approach unique to the lending industry. Through accounts receivable and inventory revolving loans; and equipment, cash flow and real estate based term loan lending products; Bridge is able to address the differing capital needs of its customers. Bridge is based in Chicago, Illinois with offices in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast. Visit www.bridgefinancegroup.com to learn more about Bridge Finance Group.

About BlueThread Technologies

BlueThread Technologies, Inc. (www.bluethreadinc.com) is an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company that specializes in integrated Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions that provide tangible business benefits.