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Laying the Right Pipes: Modern Data Architecture Sets Foundation for Water Innovation Company

Solutions We recommended a four-phase approach that provided a complete assessment and analysis of their current data architecture, future state options, roadmap, and proofs of concept based on the final selections. This would allow us to build out use cases for the modern data architecture. A Four-phased Foundation: From Assessment to Tool Selection Phase 1: Analysis and Information Gathering Gathering essential information to understand the needs and factors the define the objectives of the platform. Review the Client Data Strategy artifacts to understand business strategy and platform objectives Gain and understanding of key business and technical factors leading to an interest in cloud or modern data platforms Gain an understanding of the most essential high-level use cases that will increase in value from the platform Plan and conduct supplemental interviews to address any unknowns and gaps in understanding Deeper dive with technical representatives on the current state landscape and technical considerations as necessary Phase 2: Current State Architecture Readout Capture the challenges with the current architecture and ecosystem and identify the main criteria to be considered in modern architecture. Identifying constraints, limitations, and pain points with the current architecture Assimilating criteria for considering the cloud and modern data platforms Validate criteria with project sponsors Phase 3: Future State Architecture Options and Roadmap Document the architecture options and establish the roadmap and next steps to move to the next phase. Outline summary of possible cloud platforms, modern data architectures, and technologies. With the assumption that the Client has preferences for a cloud platform and relevant data management technologies, focus on identifying the services and design patterns most relevant for that architecture Evaluate the options for key components including ETL/ELT orchestration, data/database tech, and metadata catalog Identify solutions for various ingestions, including near-real-time and streaming requirements Develop a recommended strategy to transition to modern architecture Identify POCs to finalize recommendation or for further validation, if either applies Engage with product vendors in support of tools rationalization, demonstrations, and POCs Phase 4: Proof of Concept for Tools and Final Recommendations Perform further rationalization, demonstrations, and POCs of the options identified in the architecture Enable, acquire, and configure tools for demonstrations and POCs, working with vendors, and Client infrastructure teams Refine criteria and scope for POCs Define the method for evaluating and measuring POC results Perform POCs and capture results Conduct a review of results and work with the Client to support decision making Identify stand-up engagements for pilot phases Define the scope of the pilot; data source(s), data subject area model, data pipeline patterns, BI dashboard/report, aspects of the data catalog Goals Project Goal Rinse and Repeat (or Iterative Implementation As seen in phase 4, standing up and providing the initial iteration is basically creating a pilot program. We recommended taking an iterative approach so the client could see quick successes with the modernized architecture and allow them to continue to build on it as use cases surfaced. Once an iteration worked, we repeated it with new data sources. Our Solution Each time, we would: Figure out what data they still needed What sources they had or did not have to provide it Identify why it was important Add the data sources to the data warehouse in the cloud All without the Client having to worry about the on-prem limitations they were previously using and with a roadmap of use cases to expand upon. Project Goal Modernize BI and Analytics Work and Reporting With near-real-time access to data and improved data pipeline patterns in place as seen in Phase 4, we wanted to create a successful, easy to use BI dashboard. This would let them put their data to work and gain powerful and functional insight from the data they collect. Our Solution With the data sources streaming into the cloud-based data warehouse, we could shape the data into the language the BI teams are using. Transform the data Configure new, updated reports Build a successful BI dashboard/report They now had access to the right data they needed to achieve greater business insights and make informed decisions.

Transforming the Website into a Business Enabler

Solutions Having worked with New Era Technology on digital marketing and product launches in the past and having looked to New Era Technology for suggestions on how to take the brand in an edgier direction, PRECISION extended the partnership to include the website redesign. With a limited budget and an aggressive timeline driven by a key upcoming industry event, New Era Technology pulled in a team with diverse skillsets to meet the challenge. Project Goal Elevate Design to Make the Website Stand Out To create a memorable website experience that communicated their brand’s breakthrough products, PRECISION asked for a bolder, more edgy design that was still consistent with the overall brand standards of their organization. Our Solution Create a new design standard with more conceptual imagery Integrate existing brand fonts and colors, but with a more modern application Incorporate movement and strong design elements to capture attention and elevate the brand experience Develop the new website within the limitations of the existing custom WordPress theme to maximize prior investment and leverage in-house skillsets Project Goal Convey Market leadership in Messaging & Imagery PRECISION leads the market in innovative solutions for their target customers, but the legacy website wasn’t positioned with that focus in mind. PRECISION asked for more direct language that would answer customer needs with bold brand statements — and visual imagery that would reinforce that direction. Our Solution Customer interviews and market research to discover themes that resonate with the company’s target audience New core messaging for the products and business unit using shorter, bolder phrasing Core messaging pulled through the website Illustrations, design elements, and page layouts executed in bolder, more conceptual visual direction Project Goal Design a Better User Experience People who landed on the legacy website weren’t sure how to navigate, as internal business names were used to differentiate sections of the site, and visitors who were not already familiar with product names didn’t know what to select to meet their needs. PRECISION asked for a more customer-focused user experience and site navigation. Our Solution Customer interviews, sales team interviews, SEO research, and topical research to inform new site navigation, information architecture, and page naming conventions Design and implementation of customer-focused pillar page strategy offering topical paths into product information Creation of a new menu structure designed to be intuitive and meet the customer at different points of awareness Project Goal Create Customer-Focused Content to Support Sales To support continued growth and expansion into target markets, PRECISION hoped to implement account-based marketing and create stronger content funnels to assist with lead nurture and cross-selling. They asked that the new website structure and implementation include significant supporting content designed for customer acquisition, lead generation, and nurture. Our Solution Complete content audit evaluating existing resources and positioning Repurposing existing content with new tone and voice, messaging, and product positioning Rewriting existing content for website format, SEO, and funnel position Creation of new, topical pillar page content purpose-built for customer needs and helping to surface the right content at the right time, drawing the ideal customer along the funnel toward a product decision

Enterprise Website Redesign & HubSpot Migration Boosts Engagement by 60%

Challenge Outgrowing a digital Footprint As a quickly growing company with multiple sub-brands and product lines serving different audiences, Mesa Labs struggled to unite a sprawling set of websites that didn’t reflect the leading-edge nature of their work or the commonalities between their brands. Moreover, maintaining ten different sites in WordPress, with a total volume well over 1,700 pages, was proving untenable. Making simple edits and updates to the sites often resulted in site crashes, so over time, more and more errors went unresolved. With a below-standard conversion rate, slow site speed, and an overall web health score of 0, the Mesa Labs team knew something had to be done. After consulting with the Mesa Labs marketing team and business units, we identified several key challenges and opportunities to address: Streamline multiple brand websites into one unified digital experience Migrate from WordPress to HubSpot CMS Hub Integrate siloed tools to create seamless functionality and simplify site management Increase SEO domain authority, improve customer engagement, and boost conversion rates Solution Migrating from WordPress to HubSpot As enterprise-level users of HubSpot Sales, Marketing, and Service Hubs, the Mesa Labs team was inclined to choose HubSpot’s CMS Hub for the website redesign and migration, and we found that the platform made sense for Mesa on multiple levels. Hosting – As a cloud-hosted CMS, HubSpot offers greater flexibility and significant savings over self-hosted WordPress maintenance, particularly for enterprise-sized sites. Security – HubSpot’s built-in security features easily accommodate Mesa Labs’ need to meet both Content Security Policy requirements and GDPR standards. WordPress could accommodate security but requires third-party plugins and oversight, adding expense and risk while slowing the site down further. Performance – The option to consolidate into one ecosystem and seamlessly integrate with other tools was a major selling point for Mesa Labs’ choice of HubSpot. The migration to HubSpot CMS delivered advanced functionalities without requiring as much backend development assistance, while increasing site speed and performance. Self-service – After creating custom page templates, HubSpot gives marketing teams more flexibility for creating and updating content — including layout changes — without requiring developer input, additional plugins, or more subscriptions. Building Understanding During our four-week discovery process, the Fusion team: Fully assessed the current state websites Captured and prioritized requirements from different stakeholders across the business Performed a content audit and created a comprehensive content catalog Redefined the information architecture into one unified customer experience across the legacy brands Developed low-fidelity wireframes to visually outline new page structures Consolidating multiple brands into one unified website is never a lift-and-shift operation. By taking the time to build foundational understanding and develop a strategic information architecture, we had a more accurate view into the final-state website and the effort needed to put the transformation into effect. Unifying the Brand We worked with Mesa Labs to bring their unified brand vision to life structurally, visually, and through core messaging. As we moved the company away from their previous multi-site footprint and consolidated all business units and products under a single domain, we bolstered SEO domain authority, but, more importantly, designed a streamlined user experience that better serves the company’s engagement and conversion goals. Visually, we leaned into bolder graphics and more compelling art, and used more direct and inspiring language to emphasize the company’s core strengths. Testing Assumptions Before moving into development, we tested our assumptions against actual user input. Conducting virtual unmoderated testing with customers from each business unit around the world, we validated the site organization and pathways, and gained critical insight into how users progressed through the redesigned site architecture. Customizing for Flexibility Our team customized and built out the theme, 11 custom templates, and 30 custom modules into a flexible structure within HubSpot to give Mesa Labs marketing the ability and flexibility to lead creative page generation. We added several custom React apps to the HubSpot environment, including a filterable product component, a robust resource library, on-site search, and a gated certificate finder tool. Integrating to Streamline Workflows As we built the new site, we also streamlined workflows. We removed form management from Mesa Labs’ third-party tool, FormStack, and into the HubSpot ecosystem, creating workflows and contact properties to enable the Mesa Labs sales team to act on leads generated by the website. We also developed preliminary architecture to integrate an evolving SharePoint-based asset management solution, Office 365, and the Power Automation platform into the HubSpot instance. And, using HubSpot’s GDPR toolkit, we enabled site cookies and tied and tracked those to communications within Mesa Labs’ Marketing Hub subscription lists.

DAM Solution Streamlines Business for Insurance Agency

Challenge A mid-market regional insurance company was dealing with an extensive collection of brand collateral, creative, and brand-approved imagery that needed to be distributed to multiple audiences such as employees, sales members, and a broad network of independent agents. Fundamentally, there was a lack of organization for these assets and their team members could not access what they needed promptly. This left people opting to recreate assets or search for ones to use that were not approved based on brand standards. Their existing bespoke solution was inflexible, poorly maintained, and unable to scale with the organization. The inflexibility of the platform led to “Band-Aid” solutions that had both working documents and final assets stored in disparate systems. They recognized the need to put this information into a single, more operational platform instead of having all of their data live in places like Sharepoint, Google Drive, etc. The solution they realized they needed was a DAM (digital asset manager). After exploring over a dozen top-tier DAM platforms on the market, and evaluating the many different features and price points, our client decided on Widen Collective. Without significant coding resources on staff, this platform that requires zero development work and lives entirely in the cloud was the perfect choice for the client. Based on their licensing with Widen Collective, they would be able to centralize the management of asset creation requests and the review/feedback process and enable templated cobranding of assets for use by sales and agent partners. With their platform selected, they needed a partner to take on the details of the transition. They reached out to Fusion to help operationalize the DAM platform configuration and rollout and to serve as interim product owners and project managers. Solution In a highly collaborative partnership, we worked with the stakeholders to drive implementation and ensure the platform was set up in a way most conducive to their needs and business. We worked with leaders across the organization to: Set deadlines and milestones Define critical criteria for the configuration of the DAM platform Coordinate efforts to gather and upload assets Create training and governance documentation to encourage adoption and define ongoing upkeep Partner with a Widen Implementation Specialist in initial site standup Collaborate with their IT department on implementation of Single Sign-On via Okta and Active Directory During the project execution, we: Defined six asset types across four key user roles Defined over one dozen metadata fields with more than 140 different values for asset categorization  Uploaded and tagged over 1,600 unique documents As the team was planning out the dashboard design and rollout plan, new requirements caused a need for an immediate launch of the Widen DAM. We quickly pivoted the roadmap to launch the platform within seven business days, including finalizing the creative, essential training modules, and key launch communications.

Modern Data Platform POC Transforms how Oil CoOP Looks at Data

After an Intensive POC Process, this Oil CoOP Landed on Azure and Snowflake for a Modern Data Platform Challenge This leading Midwest oil refinery cooperative must manage many business processes to successfully deliver fuel and oil, oversee pipelines, and manage retailers. And to do so, they were relying on point solutions from multiple vendors for many of their operational needs. They had data coming in from these disparate solutions but no enterprise data management platform to integrate the information and support accurate business intelligence reporting. But they were not just looking to integrate their data; they wanted to elevate their data landscape through advanced analytics and machine learning to improve their business prospects like price optimization and targets for profitable oil exploration. Their primary goal was to evaluate which platforms would best support their business needs and provide scalability and efficiency for their anticipated use of the platform. We had done previous work for this client, so when the time came to integrate and modernize their data landscape, they reached out for help. Solution Modern Data Platform Evaluation The first step was to assess the client’s current data landscape and state of applications and their demands for data integration based on business needs. We looked at their business requirements for data and functionality, from the key select sources including WolfPack, Guardian, and select unstructured manual data sources, and organized the data into subject areas to serve as a semantic layer for all data available. With an understanding of their current state, we then began evaluating viable solution options for a target modern data platform. Based on feedback from the client, we presented two options with a focus on cloud implementations that support BI and analytics — an Azure-based data architecture and a Snowflake Data Cloud solution. Then we provided the client with a complete assessment deliverable that included our findings of their current state and viable options for the modern data platform, including: An outline of solution options, components, benefits, and impacts An outline of the data architecture Estimated costs for development and deployment Anticipated operational costs Side-by-side comparisons of key features and considerations of the two options We also provided the client with a high-level roadmap of prioritized next steps, which included the creation of POCs to test the business use cases against. Modern Data Platform Proof of Concepts (POCs) Armed with the information from our initial assessment, the client asked us to execute a combination of POCs to demonstrate how these modern Azure-based cloud platforms and technologies would support the company’s BI and analytics needs. To create the POCs, we defined the modern data platform reference architecture within Azure with options for specific technologies, including native Azure components (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Azure Analysis Services, PowerBI, and Azure DataBricks), and Snowflake. Building the POCs included: Configuration of Azure subscription and services Design of structures in Azure SQL Data Warehouse Creation of tabular model in Azure Analysis Services Execution of data pipelines into Azure and Snowflake Creation of a Snowflake database & designated views Build out of data pipelines between Azure services and Snowflake Creation of analytics model using Spark with Azure DataBricks Once the platform was created, we demonstrated BI reporting using PowerBI against the POC platforms and the execution of machine learning use cases using Azure ML studio and custom model development. We then tested multiple use cases for data ingestion, BI, and analytics. We validated various use cases for viability, including: Financial reporting using Dynamics AX data that is integrated with budgeting and pricing data Supply chain optimization Predictive maintenance

Creative Campaigns Cut through a Traditional Market to Triple Leads

Challenge PRECISIONxtract’s transformative healthcare market access solutions offer patients and providers unprecedented connection to the right medication and resources in clinical settings. However, they struggled to communicate innovation when healthcare and pharmaceutical audiences are used to a specific type of messaging and imagery. Lab coats and stethoscopes figure prominently. PRECISIONxtract wanted to stand out from competitors and show prospective clients the transformative nature of their ground-breaking products. To help them build a dynamic, innovative digital marketing campaign, they turned to Fusion Alliance's digital strategists. Solution With a clear objective in place, Fusion quickly became an integral part of PRECISIONxtract’s team, assembling a cross-functional group of experts to deliver responsive support for a growing set of initiatives. In addition to advanced data, technology, and AI expertise, PRECISIONxtract looked to Fusion for help with branding, design, and digital marketing Our team began by building a data-driven, multi-stage buyer’s journey model to better understand of PRECISIONxtract’s target audience. Fusion’s people-focused approach then informed our recommendations to disrupt the audience’s usual ad stream. With this insight into where their prospective clients were online and what would cut through the noise of traditional ads, our team developed a creative series of ad campaigns designed to stand out to pharmaceutical industry customers on LinkedIn. Where other products market to this audience with literal imagery and jargon, Fusion brought the donuts. Fusion supported the overall go-to-market brand strategy for four flagship products in rapid succession. Our digital marketing collaboration included: Digital strategy Content marketing strategy Branding Design Lead magnet content Microsite design, development, and content Sales collateral design and content LinkedIn ads Follow-up lead nurture campaigns Each piece of strategy, content, and design worked toward a goal to reach the market with a radically innovative product suite and facilitate rapid adoption.

Creating Connections: Bob Evans Farms Leverages 365 Applications to Improve Employee Experience

Challenge Bob Evans Farms delivers fresh farm-to-table food to grocery stores all over the nation. They have thousands of employees based in corporate offices, production plants, and transportation facilities. For operations to run efficiently, they need all their employees to have ready access to relevant and current information, so they sought a way to facilitate accessible and streamlined communication through a modern, secure means. This was not possible with their existing communications system, as they were using a “traditional” intranet for internal communications and document storage which was cumbersome, difficult to search, and inaccessible to all but corporate and select facility employees. Company leadership recognized the need for an updated system, with modern capabilities, to achieve their goals and asked current users for input. Based on this feedback, they identified and quantified several areas for improvement, including: Lack of use or using the system only for HR and benefits documents No effective search functionality, so employees couldn’t easily find content The content was stale, mostly outdated, and there was no standard process for updating A lack of connectivity between the intranet and other systems resulted in employee confusion about which systems to access and when they should be used Ready to create a communications platform that was more user-friendly, provided modern content capabilities, and allowed more efficient communication across the entire company, Bob Evans Farms reached out to New Era Technology. Solution New Era Technology looked at their primary objective, which was to easily and quickly connect employees to the person or content they needed. We knew this would require multiple steps and quickly got to work to create and implement a strategy that would overcome Bob Evans Farms' challenges and help them meet their goals. Our Goal Establish Guiding Principles Our first step was to analyze their challenges and objectives and assess their existing intranet and how it integrated with third party systems. With an assessment in place, we then established guiding principles to connect them with the right solutions. Our Solution Keep the first iteration simple and intuitive to ensure an enjoyable user experience and prompt more employees to use it Focus on content auditing, optimization, and infrastructure to ensure users could find the content and information they needed Create a content governance process to keep content up-to-date and relevant to employees Solve intranet and third-party system integration issues so they could also simplify and streamline supply chains, sales, and QA/safety teams access to documents housed on other platforms Our Goal Identify content goals With the assessment complete, we worked with Bob Evans Farms to identify content goals for their new site. They wanted the site to include four main content themes, including: team engagement, employee resources, company information, and community involvement. At the same time, we worked on the creative development aspect of their intranet site. Our Solution Complete a content survey and provide recommendations related to organizing content Built a proof of concept (PoC) SharePoint page to highlight their new themes and the potential that 365 applications could bring to their intranet site. Completed a UX assessment to understand their current user experience Created three different designs for their homepage to see what captured their brand and expressed the purpose of the site Our Goal Creating a roadmap for moving forward We implemented several 365 applications to meet their objectives, but we didn't want to just leave it at that. We created a comprehensive roadmap with recommendations on the content and features that needed to be prioritized for the initial intranet launch. This included recommendations for subsequent site updates so they can continue to elevate their site as they move forward. Our Solution Implemented Office 365 SharePoint Online and SharePoint Framework web parts and customizers Implemented Power Automate Flow Created a modern and reactive UX with updated pages and page templates Built an information architecture and established governance Page and document approval workflows

New Wearable Devices: How BioLink Used Emerging Tech to Improve Patient Care

Can a bracelet really save your life? See how wearable devices resulted in improved care quality and patient outcomes for some of our most vulnerable populations. Challenge Nursing homes have consistently struggled with staffing ratios, and it has only worsened with the pandemic. With a caregiver shortage, nursing home administrators are having to find new ways to keep their patients — a vulnerable, elderly population — safe. That’s where BioLink Systems came in. Nursing homes need to constantly monitor patient vitals to ensure they are providing the appropriate care and can intervene as quickly as possible if there is an issue. But that can often be difficult with large patient loads and patients that sometimes cannot communicate their needs to staff. And with an elderly population, things can spiral out of control quickly if they aren’t caught in time. By constantly monitoring a patient’s vitals, nursing staff can address concerns quickly and mitigate potentially catastrophic events with the patient. BioLink Systems had initially created a device that could attach to an adult brief to monitor urination levels and the patient’s body position. However, they quickly began experiencing issues with their prototype and realized that although it demonstrated their capabilities, it was not ready to take to production. They needed to fix these issues quickly, so they reached out to Fusion Alliance for assistance. Solution The first step was to fix the proof of concept (POC) to create a new demo to get the necessary funding for the project. However, even after the initial fixes, BioLink realized they needed to start over. The POC had to be rebuilt including the software, like web pages and portals, but also the hardware and firmware. Our solution was to architect a full-blown IoT solution from scratch. With the initial POC, all of the data was on-premise. But with the new architecture, we moved everything to the cloud. We were able to ensure each patient had a unique identifier and that all data was encrypted, safe, and HIPAA compliant. In addition to re-creating their initial adult brief wearable, we created a wearable device to monitor patient vitals, including body temperature, oxygen levels, and heart rate. Accurate Data in Real-time Once we had a solution for collecting patient data by wearable devices, we needed to ensure that it was transmitted to the right people at the right time. To do so, we created smart hubs that were spread around the facility to upload data to the cloud in addition to web portals and a mobile application for caregiving staff. The web portals allow caregiving staff to check-in at nursing stations and in offices, and the mobile application is something they can carry around to check on a patient immediately and provide real-time feedback when they are alerted to a patient concern. These executions allow data to be transferred from the cloud to the portals and mobile apps where caregiving staff are notified with an alert of any patient that requires follow-up care. Improving Patient Care & Outcomes Each patient device is outfitted with an NFC chip so once the nursing staff is alerted, they cannot dismiss the alert until they scan the chip on the wearable device and complete the appropriate assessment. If the alert is not dismissed in a timely manner, as identified by the nursing home administration, the alert is escalated to a new caregiver. This ensures that no alert is missed because a caregiver ise attending to another patient or busy, and interventions are completed in a timely manner. Personalized Monitoring & Care Powered by Machine Learning Now that we have this data from patients, we can use machine learning to gain insights about a patient’s care and needs. Initially, the patient care staff will set thresholds for appropriate vital levels, but as more data is collected, the system will learn and be able to figure out what the normal levels are for that patient specifically and alert accordingly. Data Security The POC device was acting as a Bluetooth beacon, so as we evolved and proposed a new solution, security was at the center of the entire project. We needed to ensure that the data transmission was completely secure and HIPAA compliant, but also that the wearable device had significant battery life so that data was accurate and consistent. To ensure a long battery life, we created a wearable and smart hub that doesn’t have any screens and only communicates via Bluetooth. You simply have to put the wearable device into pairing mode and it exchanges the encryption key through the cloud. Then, the encryption key is sent to the smart hub, and the data is all encrypted through the device and decrypted once it is in the cloud. In addition, each wearable device has its own dedicated encryption key so if one wearable is compromised, BioLink can simply address the issue that individual device without other wearables and data being compromised.

Website Optimization: AI Healthcare Company Takes it to the Next Level

Challenge A good website needs more than an attractive design and the latest feature. A business website also needs to attract a target audience, provide an engaging experience and intuitive navigation, and deliver the information, service, or product a visitor is seeking. To meet this objective, a business needs to leverage relevant content and optimize it so the specific pages will be visible in search engine results. And of course, it should also be aesthetically pleasing and align with your brand and mission. An AI automation company specializing in healthcare found their website wasn't getting traffic nor bringing in the leads they needed to grow their company. While they were creating content frequently, their target audience either didn't find it in search engines, couldn't find it on their site, or didn't find it engaging enough to take the next step of asking for more information. Compounding this issue, their marketing team couldn't add new content, optimize existing pages, or update designs and layouts without IT support. This delayed campaigns, slowed how content was published, and hurt their search performance. This company needed a website optimization and had three goals for the project: Boost their SEO performance Improve website navigation and user experience Enable their marketing team to make updates without additional IT support To achieve these goals, they knew they needed outside assistance to evaluate their content, website, and internal processes. That’s when they reached out to New Era Technology for help. Solution During the initial assessment, our team found that our client created a large volume of complex content that was targeted toward a fairly niche audience. To help their target audience find what they needed when they visited the site, our team made logical and intuitive information architecture and navigation the cornerstones of this website design. We implemented drop-down navigation for a simpler experience while introducing "pillar pages" which are topic-specific pages that provide overviews of the topic and link out to other internal pages. This creates a guided path to relevant information, resulting in a better customer experience, and it also improves SEO results. While the client's website was built using WordPress, they weren't leveraging the platform's full capabilities. Our team helped them implement WordPress best practices and selecting plug-ins to customize and improve their site performance while also working with the internal marketing team to control content delivery. With WordPress Advanced Custom Fields components, their marketing team can create the content they need, publish, and update whenever it's necessary, without involving the IT department. During the website optimization, we helped the client focus on delivering their content in ways their target audience wants to consume it. We developed a clear, consistent component library approach to create “pillar” pages that provide short content for busy users who only have time to scan for information and long content for users who are researching and considering options. After using this “pillar” page concept of multiple components to optimize their home page, our client asked us to implement the same concept on their other main website pages as well. The result is a content-rich, optimized site that is easy to navigate and find valuable, relevant information.

Achieving Corporate Agility through Data & Analytics

Challenge Most organizations have a large volume of data available, including information about customers, products, services, and more. All this data can be incredible useful to companies by giving them insight into how they can improve customer experiences or improve operational efficiency. However, without the right strategy and technology in place, all of that data may just sit there like a digital paperweight, providing little valuable insight for companies to act on. This was exactly where a large real estate investment firm found themselves. They wanted to gain more insight and knowledge from their data but were burdened by extensive manual data entry, data that was siloed in multiple locations, and delays in reporting and data. In addition to these already large challenges, their on-premise infrastructure was nearing data capacity. They knew they needed to take action and leaders were ready to shift their data to the cloud. Ultimately, their goal was simple: enable corporate agility by implementing a platform that would ultimately allow them to gain valuable, actionable insights through data and analytics. Now they just needed the right tools and expertise to get there, and they turned to Fusion for assistance. Solution Cloud Solution We started with an assessment of their existing system and data sources to determine what type of data platform would provide company stakeholders with better insights into their data. Our client was looking at different cloud options and wanted to ensure their platform decision would align with their existing systems while helping to improve their current processes. More than just a new implementation, they also needed the right data strategy in place that would allow them to meet new business goals. Based on interviews with stakeholders and the results of the platform evaluation, we ultimately recommended a hybrid cloud model that would work with their existing infrastructure, utilizing Azure as a cloud solution and the Snowflake data platform. We created a roadmap that prioritized options for building out their data and technology strategy and a plan for getting from the current state to the updated future state. Implementation & Proof of Concept Armed with the recommendation and roadmap, this investment firm was ready for implementation. Our data and analytics team worked with them to: Build out the new data architecture, data model, and ingest processes Identify and integrate new data sources into their analytics environment Create and refine data governance processes and information This process gave them the means to store and manage data effectively, and from there, our team helped them develop and implement dashboards and analytics reporting that would give them the insights they needed to make informed business decisions. Given its analytics and visualization capabilities, automation functions, and ease of customization, we knew that Power BI was the right tool for this client’s analytics needs. Continued property insights Because this real estate investment firm focuses on shopping malls, data from their shoppers was critical. They wanted to track how well their properties were engaging with customers via different social media channels. We worked with their marketing department to build out a dashboard pulling data from Facebook, Instagram, Chatmeter, marketing email interactions, and other social media platforms to give them the detailed look they wanted.

Intranet Reimagined: Leveraging Sitecore to Build Efficiencies and Collaboration

Challenge Today's customer expects a top-tier experience, especially online. In order to attract customers, websites have to be easy-to-navigate and offer relevant content, while customized portals and self-service solutions are essential to keeping customers engaged. One regional insurance company wanted to deliver an excellent digital experience both internally and externally. While New Era Technology worked with them to complete their digital strategy which included recommendations on how to leverage their intranet portal to deliver personalization, automation, and user insights, their next step was to overhaul their existing intranet. Their existing homegrown content management system (CMS) was neither customer-friendly nor employee-friendly. It was visually fixed, so it couldn't play embedded content, it didn't have any search capabilities, and there weren't any interactive elements. They company wanted to overhaul their site, updating the design and content, then moving it to Sitecore, which is a powerful content management system with expansive capabilities that combines data, analytics, and marketing automation to provide real-time content across any channel and an environment that allows connectivity and interactivity. Ultimately, they wanted to: Create a frictionless user experience for agents and associates Increase awareness, clarity, and understanding of the uniqueness of their service offerings Provide more brand consistency and marketing efficiencies Empower marketing by enabling them to create and publish content Measure content effectiveness to ultimately engage more effectively with their audience Because we had recently worked with the company, they reached out to us to assist them with their Sitecore development project, and our team quickly got started. Solution When the project started, the client already knew exactly what they wanted from their website and that Sitecore was the right CMS to help them meet their goals. Our first step in this project was to evaluate their existing platform and take the necessary next steps to implement a solution that would meet all of their business needs. Following a digital strategy workshop, we began an initial assessment of our client’s current intranet implementation, design artifacts, content tree, and analytics implementation. During this phase, we interviewed stakeholders and primary users, conducted a CMS platform analysis, and identified strategic and tactical goals to lay the foundation for an optimal user experience in Sitecore. We then mapped out a strategy for the Sitecore development project to meet their objectives Optimize their Sitecore Environment We created a content structure that would support multi-site, multi-channel marketing strategies and tactics. This included a digital content governance plan and a publishing workflow process that included both Sitecore functions and offline business activities. Create a Scalable Design System We created a design system to scale across their Sitecore ecosystem, including design templates and objects, including: Description of tone and visual objectives Visual design comps illustrating the visual extension of the brand into a graphic user interface A content matrix Training requirements Testing plan A backlog of user stories Build a Measurement Strategy Our team then built a measurement strategy that leveraged digital analytics platforms to setup appropriate tags and collect customer data that positions proper analysis. This included internal reporting systems and Google analytics so our client could gain more insight from their data. By assessing their initial state, identifying the gaps, and creating the right workflows and systems, we were able to target functions that were most impactful to this organization and their goals.

Cloud Transformation: How DWA Revolutionized their Business Processes and Improved Productivity

Challenge Keeping data and files properly managed is essential for any organization. This includes having a documented process in place to ensure data and files are saved to appropriate locations so they are organized, accessible, and most importantly, secure. Leadership from DWA Healthcare Communications found that their current file management system was inefficient and ineffective for their needs, with silos of inaccessible data, unnecessary licensing needs, and gaps in security. They wanted to take proactive steps to review their file management system and related processes but needed a team of experts to bring clarity and solutions. They partnered with Fusion Alliance to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their file management tools and the processes employees used to save files so they could design a more effective file system. We collaborated with DWA stakeholders to complete a thorough, four-step assessment framework and put a plan in place for a comprehensive cloud transformation. Talking to stakeholders and assessing their system, our team found several elements that were causing company-wide issues, including: An assortment of on-premises file servers causing siloed data An overreliance on employee OneDrives which made it difficult for employees to find content and information Significant content duplication which caused confusion and required added storage space. Solution Working with our team, DWA recognized the need to streamline and upgrade their systems and sought a solution that would allow employees to move through systems seamlessly to improve efficiency. Our consultants suggested a cloud transformation using the following tools: Microsoft Stream for video storage and sharing Teams to improve communications and collaboration SharePoint Online for accessible, efficient file storage and col OneDrive for Business Azure, a scalable cloud computing platform Facilitating a cloud transformation with an efficient, scalable architecture would allow DWA employees to store and share files conveniently and securely. However, we couldn't stop at platforms and tools, we knew that for this strategy to succeed, the DWA employees would need to understand the changes and feel confident in the new setup. We created an implementation and education strategy that we supported with comprehensive training materials and resources to ensure buy-in and proper usage related to storing, sharing, and archiving.

Helping Kids at Risk: How a Vision Became a Startup Tech Solution that Reaches Millions

Challenge Schools provide help and resources to students who they know are suffering from stress, abuse, and mental health concerns, but a lot of children's issues go undetected. To prevent children from falling through the cracks and missing out on needed support, Terrace Metrics was founded in response to schools wanting to understand the behavioral-health status of their students, identify at-risk kids early on, and intervene to change the course of their lives. Utilizing proprietary algorithms, Terrace Metrics created a behavioral health tool that allowed schools to assess the mental health and well-being of their students in a non-threatening, non-invasive way. that established a comprehensive, non-threatening way to assess the mental well-being of students. Schools adopted this tool rapidly, and Terrace Metrics realized that the tool's reliance on multiple third-party tools and manual steps prevented it from scaling with the pace of demand. While their main challenge was an inability to scale with demand, the startup tech solution also needed to address the following needs: Automate manual processes Implement strong security features Automate report generation and distribution Provide schools with access to administrative tools to manage information Create scalability to handle increased usage and thousands of simultaneous assessment submissions Allow the addition of new features such as text to speech Ensure a low operating cost They reached out to New Era Technology for design and technology expertise they could use to reimagine their behavioral health tool and expand nationally and internationally. Solution Creating a Roadmap to Success We worked with Terrace Metrics to understand their processes, goals, long-term strategy, and market demand. It became clear that they needed a comprehensive technology solution that included: Creating a code repository with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) capabilities Development and testing capabilities Production, monitoring, and support Updating the user interface (UI) to focus more on user experience (UX) and ensure an easy, intuitive function for students, parents, teachers, and administrators We built a comprehensive strategy to meet these objectives and revamp this startup tech solution. Cloud Application First, our team developed a cloud-based web application using Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. This eco-system offers the tools and services needed to overcome current challenges and future functionality, including: Cognito for secure user authentication Lambda for managed serverless compute DynamoDB for scalable managed database Polly for text-to-speech. We designed the application specifically as a multi-tenant SaaS application with event-driven design and serverless architecture. This ensured faster time to market, lower costs, improved scalability, and greater resiliency. With no infrastructure administration and the ability to add more functions in the future, such as machine learning, we knew this would be the right option their product. Improved User Experience This tool needed to be accessible to a variety of populations. We addressed UX for students, parents, administrators, and mental health professionals by offering several features, including text-to-speech and translating the tool into other languages beyond English. With an extensible platform on AWS designed to accommodate changes and updates, we could continue assisting them in their expansion to international markets. We’ve worked with several software development companies in the past. None compare with New Era Technology in terms of quality of product, customer service, and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that our needs are met. We love New Era Technology and are so thankful that they are our partner. Rich Gilman, President, Terrace Metrics

Insurance Company Fast-Tracked to Martech Maturity

Solution While they had excellent tools and platforms, they needed a strategy and a roadmap in place to maximize their effectiveness. Our team proposed a martech maturity strategy to help move the company toward more efficient and effective use of their marketing technology. Our Goal Gain Insight into their Goals Our first step was to understand their objectives and how to measure success. Having this insight would be essential to building an effective roadmap to achieving those objectives. We determined that the team could measure success by an increase in engagement with marketing messages across the website, social media, and emails. Our Solution Create a roadmap that would meet the following goals: Increase operational efficiency and self-service of their martech stack Have a single source of truth for customer data Personalize and enhance the customer experience Mature their measurement and reporting capabilities Our Goal Assess the State of their Martech Stack Our project team of consisted of experts in tech, digital strategy, analytics, and customer experience. We assessed the current state of their martech stack, identified where their gaps were, and offered solutions to mature their digital marketing capabilities. Our Solution We performed the following in our assessment: Evaluated client’s implementation and use of Sitecore, Salesforce, Dynamics CRM, and Google Analytics. Developed an understanding of the user journey (both customers and agents) and identified points of friction. Collaborated on the company’s customer experience vision and how they’re engaging their customers. Evaluated a current campaign to bring depth to our understanding and inform our recommendations. Our Goal Build a Roadmap to Success Our client’s martech platforms were not set up in a way that was optimal for their marketing team to use, nor were the right processes and governance in place to ensure tactics were executed effectively. The original setup resulted in delays and missed opportunities to engage customers, which impacted customer acquisition, retention, loyalty, and ultimately revenue for the company. Our goal was to help mature their digital marketing capabilities in order for them to meet their goals and objectives. We provided a martech maturity strategy, including a roadmap listing the activities and workstreams that, when implemented, would enable the client to work more efficiently and effectively to accomplish their goals. Our Solution Some of the work we did and key recommendations included: Sitecore CMS Recommended best practices for content management architecture, permissions, and how users access the system (Sitecore XP, including Sitecore SXA). Suggested key architectural changes so marketers could work faster and independent of IT. Provided steps to help the client mature into Sitecore’s A/B testing, personalization, and marketing automation offerings. Google Analytics Identified where the client could go a level deeper with their analytics, beyond base-level metrics they were tracking (e.g., track specific events on-site and ID users who logged in and their actions). Identified cleanup activities to remove duplicate data and ensure that inaccurate data was not polluting their dashboards. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Identified which Salesforce upgrades they needed to purchase in order to achieve the goals they outlined. Identified opportunities to integrate data from the CRM to increase the accuracy of customer data and decrease the time to execute email campaigns. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Identified data issues that needed to be resolved to fully leverage the CRM. Outlined the ideal way to leverage Dynamics within the technology ecosystem. Our Goal Achieve Quick Wins In addition to providing a strategy and roadmap to martech maturity, we wanted to provide the insurance company with quick wins that would help them build momentum towards achieving their objectives. Our Solution Removed errors and duplicates from reporting Expanded marketing permissions inside their tools Enhanced analytics and reporting capabilities

Regional Bank Identifies over $100M in At-Risk Deposits through Machine Learning

Challenge According to the CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics, banks lose about 10 percent of their account deposits due to customers closing their account. While half of that loss is attributed to factors out of the bank's control, such as death, divorce, or displacement, the other half of loss is attributed to the customer's dissatisfaction with the bank's fees, rates, products, or lack of convenience. For a bank that handles nearly $700 million in deposits annually, losing $70 million due to customer loss will seriously curb their ability to grow. A regional bank wanted to reduce customer attrition and learn how to predict which customers were likely to close their checking accounts within 90 days. This would give them the opportunity to take action to retain the customer. Their traditional analytics tools didn't have the capacity to uncover patterns, and human analysis certainly won't work to analyze billions of data points in real time. The bank knew they could use machine learning to analyze their existing data to reveal trends and insights and predict future behaviors and outcomes, but they hadn't used it before. For expert help with this project, they turned to New Era Technology. Our team had worked with them several times in the past and knew how to help them get the insight they needed. Solution Most machine learning projects take several months before seeing results. However, our client wanted to see a proof of concept quickly to determine how this would work and whether it would help them fulfill their goals. With a New Era Technology Machine Learning Jumpstart, we could help them meet this objective. Machine Learning Jumpstart During our Machine Learning Jumpstart, we assess the key business problem, assess the data, and build a machine learning model that delivers answers fast. To do this, we follow a specific, four-step plan that includes: Use case identification. Prior to beginning our technical work, we explored several use cases in a workshop with the bank’s business and technical stakeholders. Our team rated each potential use cases on different criteria, including the complexity, availability, and value impact of the data. We agreed upon the deposit attrition proof of concept, deciding it would drive maximum predictive value with minimal risk. Data processing. We inventoried and sourced the existing data, then cleaned and loaded it in the target on-premises environment where the models would be developed. We provided the option of loading the models in the cloud to enable additional ML models and more complex computations. Machine learning model development. Within three weeks, we began engineering the machine learning models, choosing the subset of data most relevant to the question, “Which checking accounts are likely to close in the next 90 days?” We selected the machine learning algorithms, then trained and tuned the model. Model insights integration. With a model in place, we met with with the bank’s stakeholders to present metrics to measure the model’s success, focusing on KPIs. The model returned valuable insight into the accounts at high risk of closing which allowed the bank an opportunity to refer customers to the bank’s retention team This end-to-end process generates daily predictions using real-time data in less than an hour with the bank's existing infrastructure. Educating the Team While providing the machine learning model was our highest priority, we also wanted to help educate the bank's team on key elements of machine learning, such as the process for training models and the process for generating predictions. This would occur organically by working side by side with their team. Optimizing Results The bank wanted to use machine learning to predict customer attrition more effectively than how they could do so through traditional analytics. They also wanted to understand the key metrics for evaluating machine learning models. In the secondary phase, we could optimize the model to capture model efficacy. This will allow the bank to optimize and expand the use case or use the model as a template that can be modified for one of the other use cases. The entire proof of concept took eight weeks, and the bank is now in possession of machine learning models that can be implemented in marketing campaigns in the next phase.

Leading Grocery Retailer Looks to Innovation

Challenges Keeping up with Convenience trends As customers seek increased convenience in grocery shopping, retailers like Walmart and Amazon, as well as third-party services like Instacart provide rapid grocery delivery. At the same time, meal-kit delivery companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh use a subscription model to send pre-prepped and portioned meals each week to their customers. The grocery industry is rapidly changing to meet consumers' expectations of convenience and our client struggled to keep up with the demand. Improving the In-store Shopping Experience While grocery delivery and meal-kit delivery is on the rise, consumers still need to shop in the store, and the grocery chain wanted to improve their customers' shopping experience. They had a proprietary solution in place that allowed customers to avoid waiting in checkout lines, but wanted to leverage technology to optimize the process. Lacking Insight into Customer Shopping Behaviors The grocery chain wanted to improve customer service in a way that aligned with the growing desire for self-service and convenience, but they didn't have a system or the technology in place that would allow them to collect valuable information about their customers' shopping and buying experience or their purchases. Solution When the grocery chain reached out to Fusion, they had the pilot program underway for their proprietary solution which showed improvements in customer experience. To build on this success, Fusion worked with them to create solutions that would roll out their program company-wide and improve how they collected customer data. Mobile Application Development Innovation The first step was developing a mobile application that would allow the pilot program our client already had to go company wide. Customers in every store could download an app, scan products as they shopped, and pay through the app in order to avoid checkout lines and hasten their shopping experience. Improve Data Collection The application team added data analytics features to the application so our client could collect valuable information about customer purchases. This provided insight into the customer buying experience and guided the company on where they could improve customer service. Developed Commercially Licensed Apps Fusion helped facilitate a successful digital transformation that allowed our client to take their initial mobile application and license them for commercial sale. By prioritizing mobile application development innovation, they could also serve other retailers who were experiencing the same challenges as our client. Our client could stand out as an authority and innovator in the industry while increasing revenue for their company.

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