After countless hours* of planning meetings, documentation, design, further meetings, website development, programming, head scratching, more programming, more meetings, systems integration, data migration, database querying, head scratching, training, more meetings, and several rounds of testing including alpha, beta, gamma, and several other Greek types of testing, we are finally in a go-live Defcon 1 position with the new Business Answers website. Oh yes.

Indeed, the time this has taken has almost rivalled the amount of time we spend drinking tea and talking about our favourite films of all time so this was quite some project, but we’re delighted that we’re there, and we’re delighted that our our client is delighted, so everyone’s a winner. More to the point, you’re likely to find this site incredibly useful, so we’re even more delighted about that as well.

Project Objective

Business Answers is the new portal to replace the Business Link for Cornwall, Devon and Somerset website, and we’re rather hoping that the rest of the country will sit up and take notice at what we’ve done here. Indeed, every year the regional version of the Business Link site receives over 200,000 unique visitors, and we’re anticipating that with the new functionality at least this number of people will be using this site to find the latest in business advice and information that, in an unprecedented development, will be uniquely tailored to each individual.

Website Design & Development

Through the Ask An Expert system developed by Slightly Different and integrated with the existing Business Link knowledgebase, a site user can ask a question and have the most relevant answers displayed to them based on an automated intelligent analysis of the question. The more accurate the question, the more precise the answer, and the system is self learning, so new answers will be added to the existing knowledgebase which, over time, will create a significant resource for all sizes of companies and organisations.

In addition to this, the Ask An Expert system will also flag questions up to a network of over 80 Business Link advisers who can add their unique knowledge and experience to the answer thus providing the most comprehensive answers to any business questions. With high levels of knowledge in general business, but also with specialist knowledge in a diverse range of subjects including finance, law, marketing, and e-business, this new resource, available for free as part of the Government’s new initiative to support UK businesses, will make a significant difference to the business community throughout the South West.

Why not visit the site at www.businessanswers.info and Ask An Expert today. We hope you enjoy the Slightly Different experience!

* I have been advised to point out that the phrase “countless hours” has been used for editorial effect, and we know exactly how many hours the project took to do, which was delivered on time and on budget. Thanks for that, Andrew.

Makes me want to scoop my eyes out with a melon baller, but isn’t that what good design should do?

Be warned.  Do not look at this on a full stomach.

http://yvettesbridalformal.com/

The Brick Testament

I especially like ‘The Law‘ section.  It’s useful to know under what circumstances you should stone your children.

The really scary thing is that it isn’t a spoof, it’s been done by the Rev. Brendan Powell Smith.  (Don’t serial killers and assassins always use their middle names? – John Wayne Gacey, Lee Harvey Oswald et al).

Not that I’m suggesting that the good Reverand is a killer.  Not at all.

I’m sure he’s a really nice guy.

http://www.hotel626.com

www.arngren.net