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Showcasing HubConnect: Connecting operators, suppliers and business vendors  

| By Katrina Holmes | Reading Time: 6 minutes
Igaming innovators Hub88 recently launched HubConnect, a self-service portal that streamlines communication and solves some of the industry’s key operational pain points. Ollie Castleman, head of Hub88 shares the motivation behind this exciting new solution that comprises of both a Supplier and Operator Zone.

There’s been vast interest in the igaming industry about your latest launch HubConnect. Can you give us a high-level overview of HubConnect and its unique selling point that’s got everyone excited?

“HubConnect is a comprehensive self-service portal designed as the front store for Hub88. It serves as a bridge connecting casino operators, game providers (suppliers), and business vendors in the Marketplace, enabling them to initiate various business cases and streamline internal workflows tied to their partnerships with Hub88.

“One of HubConnect’s key USPs is its multifunctional, user-centric design that caters to the diverse needs of our partners. For casino operators, HubConnect features the Operator Zone, where partners can raise platform cases and engage efficiently with the support team. A standout functionality here is the portal’s capability to facilitate the due diligence (DD) process. Through HubConnect, the compliance team can coordinate with a brand’s representative to complete DD for their contracting entity. This feature alone transforms a traditionally time-consuming, back-and-forth email process into a seamless, centralised interaction—saving significant time and effort for all parties involved.

“For game providers (suppliers), the Supplier Zone offers a suite of self-service functionalities that are critical for operational efficiency. This includes access to platform distribution data insights across the network, detailed operator information, contact directories, and essential procedural guidelines. By integrating these resources into one portal, HubConnect simplifies workflows, making it easier for suppliers to manage their business interactions with Hub88.”

We’re always looking for tools that actively solve the industry’s biggest challenges head-on. What is the biggest challenge that HubConnect solves for its partners?

“HubConnect tackles one of the igaming industry’s biggest challenges: operational inefficiency caused by fragmented communication and cumbersome processes. With HubConnect, partners can easily access critical data, trigger workflows, and maintain smooth, productive interactions—all within a single platform.”

Developing a new tool is both costly and time-consuming and with such competition in the industry, it’s imperative that suppliers are delivering on genuine demand. What was the motivation behind building this tool?

“The primary motivation behind building HubConnect was to address recurring partner inquiries and operational bottlenecks that had become time-consuming for both Hub88 and our partners. Over time, we noticed that suppliers frequently contacted our operational teams with questions around key areas—such as platform distribution data, the positioning and performance of their games on various brands’ sites, the publication of network promotions, and month-end reconciliations.

“These queries often required back-and-forth communication, creating delays and impacting our teams’ productivity. HubConnect was designed to address these specific needs by equipping suppliers with the information and resources they need, all in one place. With SupplierZone, they can easily access distribution data insights, track game positioning, monitor portfolio performance, manage promotions, and streamline reconciliation processes without requiring direct intervention from our support teams.

“By listening closely to our partners’ feedback, we developed HubConnect as a solution that not only saves time but also empowers our partners to manage their operations more effectively. It represents our commitment to creating a seamless, self-sufficient experience that ultimately enhances collaboration across the Hub88 ecosystem.”

Labelled as the “industry first Supplier Zone” – what can you tell us about this feature and how is it an “all-in-one tool”?

“The SupplierZone in HubConnect is an industry-first feature designed to centralize and streamline every aspect of a supplier’s interaction with the platform. By integrating a range of self-service functionalities, it allows suppliers to access vital data, execute routine tasks, and maintain control over their network performance—all in one place.

“What makes the SupplierZone an “all-in-one tool” is its comprehensive approach to supplier needs. It offers a unified dashboard with immediate access to distribution data insights, which suppliers can use to monitor game performance across the network. Suppliers can also view the positioning of their games on various operators’ sites, giving them transparency and control over brand exposure. This visibility empowers them to make data-driven decisions on how to optimize their portfolio’s performance.

“Additionally, the Supplier Zone simplifies the promotional process. Suppliers can independently manage network-wide promotions, making it easy to plan and execute campaigns without needing direct support from our operational team. The tool also incorporates end-of-month reconciliation features, allowing suppliers to handle administrative tasks efficiently and maintain accurate records without the usual back-and-forth communication.

“In short, the Supplier Zone is more than just a tool; it’s a transformative platform that provides suppliers with autonomy, transparency, and efficiency in their partnership with Hub88. By centralizing all these functionalities, the Supplier Zone sets a new industry standard for how suppliers can interact with igaming platforms, reducing complexity and enhancing productivity on both sides.”

HubConnect allows for direct contact with Hub88’s Live operator partners, why is this useful to your partners?

“Direct access to Hub88’s live operator partners is a powerful feature of HubConnect that enhances collaboration and opens up new business opportunities for our partners. By allowing suppliers to engage directly with operators, HubConnect creates a seamless channel for communication that’s especially valuable for activities like launching new games, coordinating marketing promotions, or offering targeted discounts.

“For example, when a supplier has a new game release, they can use HubConnect to reach out to operators directly, ensuring that the launch gets prime positioning and visibility. This can lead to higher engagement right from the start and provides both parties with real-time feedback and data insights on game performance.

“Similarly, if a supplier wants to promote a specific game or offer a seasonal discount, they can directly coordinate with operators through HubConnect. This ability to communicate directly fosters a more dynamic partnership, allowing operators to quickly take advantage of offers that align with their players’ interests. It also reduces the time spent on administrative coordination, so suppliers can focus more on driving their growth strategies.

“Ultimately, HubConnect’s direct contact feature empowers our partners to proactively build relationships and adapt to market demands, creating a more agile and responsive igaming ecosystem.”

How can clients review performance data to help manage their outreach in the Supplier Zone? What else can they monitor to help them make better, more informed decisions?

“In the Supplier Zone, clients have access to robust performance data that empowers them to manage their outreach strategies more effectively. They can view month-on-month performance metrics across key dimensions, including brands, countries, and individual games. This 360-degree view allows them to track how new brands and game releases are performing, as well as to identify trends in their overall network distribution.

“For example, by monitoring performance data, a supplier can see how specific games resonate with players in different regions, allowing them to refine their marketing strategies and tailor their content to target markets. This level of insight helps them make data-driven decisions about where to focus their outreach efforts, whether that’s doubling down on high-performing regions or adjusting their approach for markets where they want to boost engagement.

“Beyond performance data, the Supplier Zone also allows suppliers to monitor player engagement trends and distribution patterns, which can highlight opportunities for network growth. By combining these insights, suppliers can optimise their outreach strategies, prioritise partnerships, and make informed decisions that enhance their portfolio’s overall impact within the igaming network.”

What has the initial feedback and success been of HubConnect and how do you plan to use this to enhance the tool?

“Since its launch in September 2024, HubConnect has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our suppliers. They appreciate the unique insights, simplicity, and ease of use that the Supplier Zone brings to their workflows. Many partners have emphasized that the data provided in HubConnect surpasses even their own BI tools, giving them a clearer picture of operator distribution, performance trends, and growth opportunities. In fact, we’re hearing consistently that no other aggregator is currently offering this level of insight and transparency, which has been a big differentiator for us.

“One of the most common requests from suppliers has been for performance benchmarking against other suppliers, which we’re excited to incorporate in our planned Phase 2 updates. This feature will allow partners to gauge their position within the Hub88 network, providing valuable context for their performance and helping them identify areas for competitive improvement.

“Based on this feedback, our roadmap includes enhancements to make the SupplierZone even more powerful. We’re prioritizing the addition of benchmarking features, expanding our data insights, and incorporating more operator-specific details. By continuing to listen closely to our partners, we aim to refine HubConnect as an indispensable tool that not only meets but anticipates their needs—transforming how they approach performance management and growth in the igaming space.”

Ollie Castleman, head of Hub88

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