SEATTLE, Oct. 15 -- Getty Images Inc., the leading provider of imagery and related products and services, today announced the debut of gettyimages.com, a new online destination and business platform that will increase scalability and efficiency for the company while providing significant benefits to customers worldwide. The launch marks the most significant milestone in a company-wide initiative to integrate the company's Web-based customer offerings, supporting technology platform and business processes. The company already generates nearly half its revenue on the Web, and expects this percentage to increase steadily. The new site and systems have already resulted in significant efficiencies across all areas of the company. "With the launch of gettyimages.com, we have completed the most difficult and costly aspects of this initiative,'' said Jonathan Klein, Getty Images co- founder and CEO. "The integration of the largest part of our business, rights- managed images, has been completed, along with establishing the technology, business process, finance systems and customer interface platform for the continued transformation of the whole of our business.'' Consolidation provides increased efficiencies In addition to enabling the company to transition from multiple technology and finance systems and platforms to one scalable Web architecture, this company-wide initiative includes the transition to one centralized sales order processing system, one integrated accounting system and one master customer database. This will allow the company to maximize its sales and service resources and service its customers more effectively. The company anticipates that this consolidation effort will result in significant operating cost and capital efficiencies over the next year. "The launch of gettyimages.com is a watershed event as we continue to build a world class industry leader in visual communications,'' said Klein. "From an operational perspective, the new functionality will revolutionize the way Getty Images runs its business. From a customer perspective, gettyimages.com simply makes it easier, faster and more hassle free for our customers to find the right images and produce striking, provocative and meaningful communications.'' Gettyimages.com: a true partner to creative professionals Gettyimages.com, which includes the fully localized gettyimages.co.uk, gettyimages.fr, and gettyimages.de, makes the entire experience of selecting and managing creative materials more convenient and exciting. The new online destination features photographs, film clips and an expanded set of materials, tools and services for the development of communications projects and media. With the enhancements and the launch of gettyimages.com, Getty Images is now a deeper partner to professionals at communications and design companies, media organizations, film and television studios and businesses. This release of the site is designed around the needs and wants of creative professionals with improved efficiencies and added creative resources and services to save them time and money.