The Right Solution
For 20 years, we’ve built our technology consulting and delivery firm around three small words and one big idea: the right solution. To us, it means focusing on our clients’ business goals and diving deep to understand their needs. It means fresh design and clean code crafted specifically to meet those goals and answer those needs. There’s no guesswork or prescribed technologies, only sharp digital solutions and flawless functionality that improve revenue, efficiency, and the customer experience.
Focus
Portfolio
Wedding Shoppe (e-commerce), UnitedHealth Group (medical), Lube-Tech (manufacturing), Kellogg’s (CPG), Pheasants Forever (non-profit), California Family Fitness (fitness), The Excelsior Group (commercial real estate), Northwoods League (sports), Lapp Tannehill (manufacturing), Bluefin Bay (hoteling), and Koehler & Dramm (distribution).
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
Goal: MFIP sought a simpler, more effective method of staying in touch with counselors and county workers that would eliminate communication issues and support the ability to track activity.
DKS pioneered the birth of the MFIP Connect app for iOS and Android, along with a web application for program managers. The apps and web portal were developed to streamline the documentation process, efficiently manage tasks, and bridge communication gaps while tracking necessary participate data for the program.
Solutions Provided: User Experience Design, Mobile Application Development, Custom Web Application Development
Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts
Goal: Bluefin bay was looking to update the web presence of their family of resorts. They were also looking to simply the maintenance process of their properties' websites
DKS proposed integrating the four sites into one new website. Combining the four properties into one parent site would not only better represent the group’s brand and offerings, but also allow for cross-selling, easy content sharing and management, search engine optimization opportunities and an enhanced user experience.
With stronger branding and more intuitive journey through the site, researching, finding and booking the right unit at the right property became easier than ever.
Internally, staff labor hours required for updating sites and managing data and other booking-related tasks were reduced dramatically. Additionally, the new site allows for easier sharing of content across properties, search engine optimization and the ability to better control the guest experience from homepage to heading home.
Solutions Provided: Content Strategy, Information Architecture, Wordpress Development
Northwoods League
Goal: Consolidate existing technology, optimize user experience, and increase flexibility with added features. But most importantly, the League needed to create a stronger ROI.
The solution included a full integration of online and offline game day ticket sales for all of
the League’s 20+ stadiums. Within this solution, DKS crafted seat selector modeling for each
individual stadium so purchasers could quickly and easily select their preferred seats,
providing accurate, real-time availability.
New hand scanner-friendly barcodes on tickets streamlined stadium entry for all fans, while custom integration with Google Cloud Print for real-time printing of tickets accelerated ticketing and reduced costs.
All of this technology sits within a carefully architected custom .NET e-commerce platform,
providing Northwoods flexibility for future enhancements.
Solutions Provided: User Experience Design, Custom E-Commerce .Net Development, Google Cloud Print Integration, POS Scanning integration
Equitable Acceptance
Goal: Equitable envisioned an Internet-based back office processing system that would provide a simpler method for dealers and their customers to make payments, access statements, manage accounts, review electronic applications, and access key data via reports.
With Equitable's ultimate goal in mind, we determined that the centerpiece of the application needed allow dealers instant and flexible visibility into the entire application process, while streamlining the process for their customers.
The sheer breadth and depth of features envisioned introduced numerous technical and usability challenges, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a web application. The end result required the use of both cutting-edge technologies and the invention of some new techniques.
We designed a wizard-style guidance system to assist the user through the entire application process, ensuring they experience all the necessary features, while learning how to properly complete their application. And when customers start an application for the first time, our features easily and conveniently guide them along the right path.
Solutions Provided: UX Design, Application Development, Custom Integrations
Ostbye
Goal: Ostbye recognized they needed to update their digital storefront, while creating a site that effectively managed the daily volatility in the ever-changing metals market and streamlined a complex product catalog.
To address the ever-fluctuating prices, DKS integrated the website with Ostbye’s existing Dynamics NAV ERP system. This integration provided convenient, accurate real-time catalog shopping for customers, along with secure distributor access for order history, invoice control, and product reorder.
The new site quickly paid off with faster and more accurate orders, increased retailers usage, greater sales rep efficiency, and streamlined business processes.
Solutions Provided: Responsive Web Design, eCommerce Development, Custom Integration
Koehler & Dramm
Goal: Automate business processing, ease the customer experience and cut costs along the way.
To address Koehler’s goal of processing orders any time of the day, offering access to order history and shipping status, and cutting out their internal “middleman,” DKS developed a custom .Net e-commerce platform. The new interface takes advantage of user experience testing and design to optimize usability from first click to final order tracking 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
By integrating online ordering with Open Systems TRAVERSE ERP system, Koehler & Dramm has access to greater reporting insights on every sale and each customer, making their ROI stronger than ever.
Solutions Provided: User Experience Design, Custom .Net Development, ERP Integration
Manufacturers Alliance
Goal: Manufacturers Alliance help to updating and keeping their website running smoothly after the departure of their developer. This complex site needed to easily and seamlessly allow users to enroll in membership, register for newsletters and events, access account information and more.
DKS identified and collaborated with Manufacturers Alliance on various site features and enhancements to improve its overall functionality and usability, including converting the site to be mobile responsive.
Under the strategic, interactive guidance of DKS, what started as a good site quickly grew into a user-friendly, responsive and streamlined experience for members and staff of Manufacturers Alliance.
Solutions Provided: User Experience Design. Ruby Development
Reviews
the project
Custom Website Design for Coworking Space
"They helped guide us in the right direction and created the best, cleanest final product."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the operations manager of Wellworth Coworking.
What challenge were you trying to address with DKS Systems?
We hired DKS Systems to build our website and the entire infrastructure of the backend, as well.
What was the scope of their involvement?
To start the project, DKS Systems built the initial landing page of our site. They used Nexudus to build the entire infrastructure of the site and integrated the front- and backend of the platform.
Along with this, they also provided several customized features, making it very unique for our needs. In case we need to make external changes in the future, they also educate us on the steps they’re taking and explain the process.
What is the team composition?
Kathy (Director of Account Services, DKS Systems), Mark (Creative Director, DKS Systems), and a project manager support our engagement.
How did you come to work with DKS Systems?
Someone from DKS Systems has a connection with our billing manager, so they introduced us. They were a great choice for us because we liked that someone on our team knew them.
How much have you invested with them?
The engagement had been ongoing before I joined, so I’m unsure of the total cost. Since I began working with them the price has been around $10,000, which doesn’t include the landing page or consultations previous to the development.
What is the status of this engagement?
The bulk of our project was completed between March–October 2018, but they still supply ongoing support for any developments or changes that we need.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Although I don’t have any specific metrics, we’re very satisfied with their work. We appreciate their efforts and the entire process has been seamless.
How did DKS Systems perform from a project management standpoint?
We primarily communicate via email. If it’s urgent, I can call them but I always hear back in hours, if not minutes. They keep track of the time and budget very well. If we’re running out of resources, they make changes and keep us informed about their choices. Overall, communication has been fantastic between our teams.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were willing to learn a complex software and work with our needs, which was great. They helped guide us in the right direction and created the best, cleanest final product. There have also been no surprises about costs or constraints because of how communicative they are.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Although everyone would love lower prices, there is no area for improvement.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Bring a detailed plan to the project. If you give them vague instructions, they’ll create something that may not match your ideas. Allow them to help you achieve the best UX possible by describing your ideal end result.
The work from DKS Systems has fully satisfied expectations, leading to a continued, trusting relationship between the teams. Their devotion to learning new skills to better the project remains an impressive asset. As a partner, they’re responsive, proactive and skilled.