Category Archives: Case

Codema My World

Open-source platform

Codema is an international organisation that develops tailor-made essential horticultural solutions. The company strives to improve its clients’ operational efficiency with regard to six key disciplines: water management, climate control, technology and construction, cultivation systems, electrical engineering and lighting and software & internet solutions. It asked Brandcode to develop an efficient client portal.

“Together with Symfony, one of the largest open-source PHP players on the market, we realised an efficient tailor-made solution for Codema.”

Brandon de la Parra
Developer

Optimisation of the order process

The handling that begins when a client places an order used to be a time-consuming process for Codema. It was sometimes quite a challenge to find the right products for each client, especially when the article number was missing. The optimisation of the order process has made finding products easier, faster and more efficient. Among other things, a database was developed for each client. Their past orders are still accessible and they are now linked to the relevant products.

In the future, we will set up the products per system. The client lets us know what system they have and will only be shown products that are relevant to them. This allows clients to order the products they want, including any related products, with just a few clicks. For Codema, the order-handling process has been greatly simplified.

Requesting maintenance online

By automating the processes involved, it takes less time for clients to order new products. For example, clients can schedule the delivery of spare components and specify the location where they need the products, which ensures these components are delivered to the right location on time. If a client needs more information about installations, they can download the relevant PDF file directly from the website.

Off to a great start with Sylius

A custom open-source e-commerce platform Sylius was used to realise the optimisation of the order process. This platform runs on Symfony, a framework based on PHP. With Brandcode, we can develop fast and reliable tailor-made web applications.

These offer the client more flexibility and significant cost savings. Furthermore, we can test, debug and document everything in detail before going live. We can configure the framework entirely according to preference. Other benefits of Symfony include the speed, reliability and security of the platform.

Scalable cloud environment

The server runs on a scalable cloud environment. Once the number of website visitors hits a peak, the server automatically scales up accordingly. If the number of visitors is lower, the server scales down. This ensures the server is utilised efficiently and it eliminates downtime.

10,000 products added

In total, nearly 10,000 products have already been imported. Codema now uses a professional dashboard that provides insight into sales figures, clients, orders, etcetera. In the future, new products can be added with ease. The client searches for products by name or article number and can place new orders in no time. The statistics are measured, which lets us analyse whether there is an increase in the order value per client.

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Challenge the future

In the spotlight at international trade show

Enticing visitors

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a world leader in science, with more than 70,000 employees. The company helps clients accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, market medicinal products, and enhance laboratory productivity. The company has a stand at the ESHG event every year. Brandcode anticipates how the visitor can be enticed to visit the stand. We do this by envisioning and devising a concept, 3D design, related communications, design, a catalogue and interactive media.

“The stand was a true experience for visitors this year. They could even produce their own music. It turned out to be a real hit.”

Brandon de la Parra
Developer

Attracting attention and generating leads

The aim is to present the new instrument to as many visitors as possible, to share stories, to exchange knowledge and to generate leads. This year, the concept was to be aligned with the launch of a new instrument. After the final concept was decided, the layout of the stand was designed using 3D rendering: Giving the client a preview of the stand at the trade show. There will be a Brandcode team member available throughout the trade show to help set up and to offer support during the event.

Producing live music

The new instrument has a central position on the stand. It omits various sounds, much like it could be used to create a song. From this flowed the idea to install a beat machine: people who visited the stand were able to make live music. A DJ was present all week to help the visitors with the creative process. The visitors could send the musical end result to their e-mail address to listen again later. The sound was turned up just right, attracting lots of attention.

A healthy, clean and safe world

Possibilities are endless thanks to digital content and touch screens. The interactive aspect draws many visitors every year. Brandcode is convinced everyone benefits, especially within the context of Thermo Fischer’s valuable mission: enabling clients to make the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place.

Recognisable look and ambiance

The stand turned out excellent. Brandcode developed the graphics, a trade show tote in the shape of a vinyl, branding, banners, creative goodies, interactive media and other associated communication resources. Every single item supported the concept, lending a great recognisable uniformity across the entire trade show.

VIP invitations for beatmakers

We organised a party on the last day of the trade show. Each visitor who had produced a beat received a VIP invitation. The party featured a DJ, who combined his playlist with beats created by the visitors. Not everyone was a natural but – judging by the reactions – it was a roaring success.

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Codema My World

Knowledge app for the ACD

Knowledge app

The Ministry of Finance has asked Brandcode to offer advice on how to present information for its staff in a more appealing and accessible manner. The elaborate handbook, with a large amount of text, has to be turned into an accessible and stimulating tool that facilitates knowledge sharing.

After a number of intensive brainstorming sessions, it was decided to develop a Native app. This allows employees to study the extensive material – handily divided into themes – in an appealing manner, take tests and achieve high scores!

“Instead of studying large amounts of text, employees can now periodically study the themes, take a test and aim for a high score.”

Brandon de la Parra
Developer

Offering new themes periodically

To make the vast quantity of material easier to grasp, it was decided to make new themes, chapters and topics available periodically. In collaboration with the client, a mobile-friendly Native app was developed to facilitate this. Employees of the Audit Department (ACD) can log in at any time via any device, choose what material they wish to study and immediately take an online exam. Once an employee feels they have mastered the material, they can swipe right to start the exam. If they want to know more, they can swipe left to access more information about the topic at hand.

Motivational and valuable information

The exams are presented in the form of a series of multiple-choice questions. Afterwards, the results are available instantly. Who achieved the highest score? Employees enjoy the competitive aspect of it, while valuable information is collected at the management level. Management can review the teams’ results per theme and per question. If the scores for a specific theme fail to meet expectations, management can e.g. decide to offer additional training or workshops.

Agile collaboration with the client

Using the agile method, we started with a design sprint. We developed a clear product vision and built an initial prototype. After testing and refining the prototype, an extensive list of user stories was put on the backlog. Next, we began prioritising the things that the initial MVP (Minimum Viable Product) would need.

The client was closely involved in this project. Everything was conceived beforehand, tested and optimised. We quickly developed a suitable foundation to build on. The app is user-friendly and accessible and has an intuitive design and a modern appearance.

The national government’s security guidelines

The app has to meet the government’s strict guidelines. Security in particular is an important requirement. That is quite a challenge, given the list of requirements the app has to meet, but we are happy take on that challenge with Brandcode. Once the app was developed, the government’s own internal security experts conducted an audit in the form of a pen test. This is a test designed to expose the app’s vulnerabilities. In the end, the knowledge app’s security proved to be airtight and in compliance with all requirements.

Improved quality policy with the ACD knowledge app

At the moment, we are constantly conducting maintenance and rolling out security updates. In the near future, the app’s development will continue and new features such as push notifications will be added. This will make it even easier to inform and stimulate employees. With the help of the ACD knowledge app, the national government is well on its way towards an improved quality policy.

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In the spotlight at international trade show

The ride to success!

Suitable illustrations

A renowned motorcycling trade magazine is looking for suitable illustrations for a monthly blog. The organisation wants to use the 12 blogs to engage the readers in the world of lobbying in political The Hague.

Client: KNMV – Royal Dutch Motorcyclists Association

“Brandcode approached the original request from a completely different angle. The result is a more efficient structure and better end results.”

Conny Huft
Fotografie en Video

Creative process

The client had an idea about having recognisable illustrations made that would accompany a column. However, the available budget was not sufficient to make suitable illustrations throughout the year. Illustrations are generally speaking quite costly and time-consuming. Photographs are relatively cheaper, quicker to achieve, and lend themselves to editing to create suitable illustrations. Do we have a motorcyclist in our team? Check! With his own motorbike? No. Solution? Within our network? Yes! Double-check!

Photoshoot at well-known locations in The Hague

The day of the shoot: our colleague motorcyclist wears a black waistcoat, jeans, retro helmet and huge aviators. In short: a matching, dandy look. Our photographer captured the perfect images at well-known locations in The Hague – with a political twist, of course.

Thanks to the varying locations, the organisation was able to achieve 12 suitable images for the monthly blog in just one day, all to engage the readers in the world of lobbying in political The Hague.

Stunning black-and-white illustrations

A full day of photography and photo editing delivers the black-and-white illustrations the client wanted. The style of the images can be used to create a look for other communications. With a small budget, the client still achieved a year’s worth of professional images for their monthly blogs.

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Knowledge app for the ACD

Car-hacking? Keep checking!

Digital campaign to combat car-hacking

Brandcode received a request from VBV-SCM for a campaign to combat the growing phenomenon of car-hacking. It’s an issue that Brandcode is happy to help eliminate, especially because there is an easy way to stop this organised crime.

Client: VBV-SCM

“The campaign achieved results that completely exceeded expectations. The hack-check turned out to be an amazing crowd-puller, resulting in 60,000 hack-checks.

Onno Schaap
Creative Director

Reporting car theft

Van den Heuvel used his celebrity status to generate extra attention from television and newspapers. We placed billboards by the side of the road to garner interest among motorists. The laatjeautoniethacken.nl website – developed by Brandcode – displayed live updates of car thefts reported to police, through a pop-up from a register database. This initiative also created extra awareness among visitors.

Do the hack-check

The laatjeautoniethacken.nl website features a simple test for car owners to check whether your specific model is susceptible to hacking. If yes, you can take appropriate action immediately: our programmers have incorporated a database that checks the details provided. If required, the customer can be referred to a company that specialises in car security.

A great success

We realised a total campaign consisting of a campaign style, video, text, website, leaflet material and a billboard campaign. The campaign achieved results that completely exceeded expectations. The hack-check turned out to be an amazing crowd-puller, resulting in 60,000 hack-checks. The campaign was developed and produced entirely in-house, ensuring rapid adaptability, short lines and optimised results.

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The ride to success!

Clearly defined global image for Kiwa

Kiwa house-style

Kiwa is among the global top 20 of companies working on testing, inspection and certification (TIC). This successful organisation has acquired many competitors over the last few years. Positive news, but it meant Kiwa had to deal with a great variety of communications. Brandcode was asked to create a unified style: one Kiwa.

“Each country uses the elements designed by Brandcode. It means Kiwa exudes a unified look across the world.”

Onno Schaap
Creative Director

Complex and
challenging task

Brandcode was asked to rejuvenate the logo, the house-style and the visual identifiers. A complex task, due to the different countries, cultures and preferences. The management team in the Netherlands expressed a wish for retaining the well-known beaver in the logo. What’s more, the logo and style had to be broad-based – this was important,

with or without keeping the beaver.

We used the various styles to develop a single recognisable style that took into account the diversity of requirements and expectations. With small nuances and a familiar nod to the old style, but also with a completely new approach. Designs were created that either clearly showed the beaver or partially showed the beaver, and designs that did not feature the beaver at all.

Presenting designs

The management team was included in the design process at an early stage. After gathering a broad array of designs, we started funnelling ideas. The resulting designs were presented to the marketing department in the Netherlands and abroad. It is important to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet when working on change projects. Eventually, a final style and new logo were selected that still included the beaver.

Clearly defined global image

Brandcode rolled all manner of items in the new style, for each country – even China. We used an online portal with a house-style handbook full of basic elements and templates. The handbook contains all guidelines for design and layout. Every country uses the elements, ensuring Kiwa exudes a unified look across the world, Evoking tremendous image recognition and familiarity among the target group.

Video and content production approach

Further development of the resources is ongoing even at present. Brandcode genuinely acts as an extension to Kiwa’s internal marketing department: Strategically proactive, with communicative implementation. Right now, we are designing a unified style for video and content productions.

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Car-hacking? Keep checking!

Can I app a minute with you…

Improving feedback

Can I app a minute with you so I can give you some feedback? Brandcode was asked by the VUMC Amsterdam if we could get involved in the feedback improvement process related to interns, junior doctors and the client. The end goal: optimisation of the learning process.

Client: UMC Amsterdam

“The success of the app has meant that other departments within the hospital have also started working with the Feedback App.”

Brandon de la Parra
Developer

Team of specialists

A Brandcode team of specialists developed the app. There was continuous harmonisation with the end users throughout the build process. After all, the end users are ideally placed to know about needs, requirements and the applications that be most useful in a hectic work environment. The app has enabled more efficient feedback, with time savings for employees.

The build phase resulted in Brandcode devising a hands-on feedback application that is practical and quick to use in the workplace. The application can be used by doctors, nurses and interns or junior doctors to provide feedback in a quicker and more efficient way. Very useful, as feedback is a crucial aspect of ensuring the best possible learning results within the VUMC.

The Feedback App

Before, team members would just tell each other ‘you’re doing a good job’ or ‘maybe you could do this better’; often incomplete comments that did not yield the best results for the learning process. The new application prevents the above. Now feedback can be provided in a specific and efficient manner.

The Feedback App is available on Android and Apple in a Cross Platform Framework. This means the app only has to be developed once to work on both systems, saving money on development and maintenance costs in the long term. The VUMC is also able to manage and structure the app entirely independently, by way of an online control environment. The application is fast, simple and secure.

Improving medical care

The success of the app has meant that other departments within the hospital have also started working with the Feedback App. Brandcode continues to play an active role in optimisation of the app, together with the VUMC. Brandcode is proud that the application of this e-health technology contributes to the improvement of medical care.

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Clearly defined global image for Kiwa

Website template with a bespoke twist

Website template

Car body repair shop WIBU is a renowned company. Since its establishment in 1976, it has grown into a well-known company in The Hague. The current website was lacking and needed a significant overhaul. Brandcode was asked to build a new website that meets contemporary demands and is easy to find in Google.

Client: WIBU car body repair shop

The new website is secure, fast, and easy to find in Google. In short: it meets today’s requirements.”

Michel Rolvink
Copywriter / SEO specialist

Content kick-off

Before we start the build, we get acquainted by way of a content kick-off. What are the wishes and needs? Who is the target group? Which services do you want to emphasise? Which search terms should bring you up in the Google search results? The content kick-off is used to determine the website menu structure, among other things.

Writing
SEO web texts

As soon as the menu structure is finalised in consultation with the client, our web builders start the engines. In the meantime, our SEO copywriter gathers the right information through interviews and a tour of the company. We also carry out keyword research to ascertain the exact search terms that are relevant to WIBU, to ensure the findability of the website, more traffic and a higher chance of conversion.

Easy to find in Google

The WIBU website is easy to find in Google with the keywords important to the company, thanks to SEO optimisation. In addition, the website is now clear and uncluttered, fast, mobile-friendly and secure. In short: it meets today’s requirements.

Report your damage

Ease of use to the nth degree: report your damage. Take a photo of the damage to your car and send it to WIBU via their website. The experts will assess the damage and give you the right advice.

Professional photography

A photoshoot at WIBU has added a polished look to the website. Professional images adorn each page of the website, perfectly complementing the look & feel of the website and the image of the company. There are plenty of images still available for upcoming news items or blogs, creating consistency in new publications.

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Can I app a minute with you...

+James, the super- smart assistant

Digital platform

The James Company asked us a questions which seemed simple at first: is it possible to build a digital platform that allows us to offer our online convenience services to the occupants in our properties? Ranging from access to rental documents and a moving house service to ordering a driver or bespoke flooring. All in just a few clicks.

Client: The James Company

“We used well-thought-out system architecture to create a future-proof foundation ready for further development over the coming years.”

Brandon de la Parra
Developer

State-of-the-art technological product

A question that led to the birth of our James®. Our team of consultants, developers and designers succeeded in creating a state-of-the-art technological product. The original CMS did not suffice for James® as it did not offer the desired level of dynamics and customisation.

Our team built a new platform based on the Symfony framework, suitable for dynamic order processes and third-party services. The order process and bookings and linked to E-commerce systems and payment systems. In addition, Brandcode developed a native Android and iOS application that is closely interwoven with the website yet offers extra options such as push notifications.

Customisation for each apartment

Example: one of the services on offer by James® is a floor service. A few clicks and the resident is provided with a bespoke flooring quotation for one or more rooms in his or her apartment. To make this seemingly simple service possible, we needed to clear some complex technical hurdles,

because the application contains all measurements of all rooms and apartments in a building. The occupant logs in, James® has the details of the relevant apartment and uses the home’s specific measurements to provide an immediate quotation straight from the flooring company. In short: genuine customisation for each apartment.

Concierge of the future

The platform was built using the highest standards for security, scalability and white label: with the option to configure to individual house-style and layout. The James Company now offers the online portal and digital personal assistant James® in more than 20 buildings. At Brandcode, we continue to develop and improve the service-oriented James®. He is the concierge of the future and an absolute added pitching value to The James Company. And the bonus is that residents are very happy with our James®!

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Website template with a bespoke twist

Coca-Cola – let’s open it!

Concept, strategy
and implementation

We were asked by Dr2 to join the thought-sharing process on the concept, strategy and implementation of the opening of new Coca-Cola premises in Rotterdam. There was also a wish to work with urban artists: Freestyle artists with impressive talent for jumping, cycling and climbing, or amazing football skills

Client: Dr2 Events & Campaigns

“Brandcode brought a dazzling opening of a our new premises. The concept and implementation were presented in perfect harmony.”

Jimmy Thepass
Photo / Videographer

Rotterdam
skyline

Coca-Cola’s wish was to incorporate iconic buildings in Rotterdam in the concept. We quickly came up with the idea to make Coca-Cola emerge gradually in the shape of the Rotterdam skyline. We filmed the artists at iconic buildings, such as the Erasmus bridge and the Euromast. We shot short and fast clips, with editing to ensure their movements were shadowed by the red Coca-Cola energy.

From edit to
live direction

After the clip was showcased, the street artists entered the new building one by one. Their acrobatic skills created the right ambiance and experience immediately. Video direction took over a live feed from the presented clip and at the same time, the artist pressed a button, Beaming the artist with the iconic building in the background directly to the large screen. The skyline came into focus.

Opening by
the mayor

After all the artists had arrived, the skyline was almost complete: time for the director of Coca-Cola and the mayor to enter the stage. It was their turn to press the special button. This button was situated on a pillar designed by us, with a large Coca-Cola bottle inside. The last manoeuvre placed the iconic Coca-Cola bottle in the skyline, among the icons of Rotterdam. Dr2 had devised and organised various activities in the building for after the official opening. Brandcode looked after suitable signs to complement these activities.

Cold Coke!

Beforehand, we criss-crossed Rotterdam for stunning recordings with urban artists to provide the live feed during the show. The video was part of the official opening of the new premises. As well as the concept, we also looked after the recordings, editing, stage design and the LED screen content, and signage. Time for a delicious cold Coke!

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+James, the super- smart assistant