Latest News at Acumium

Madison, Wisconsin: Duluth Trading Company, established in 1991 as a specialty online cataloguer of Men’s and Women’s work-wear clothing, tools and gifts is moving into an exciting year two in its relationship with Acumium. When the relationship began in 2004, the goal was to dramatically change the Duluth Trading web site in a short period of time.

During the first year, Acumium helped Duluth entirely re-work their web site from the ground up. With the help of Acumium’s Web Content Management solution (WCMS), they not only implemented a highly customizable software solution but a built in shopping cart module to help improve overall customer usability and interaction.

Acumium approached the Duluth relationship as they do with each client with a “detailed discovery phase” to help Duluth identify key problems they wanted to solve in a phased approach over a three year time-period. Ultimately, the strategic plan that Acumium recommended to Duluth Trading Company included a detailed E-Business architecture plan to help Duluth Trading restore their E-Commerce backbone.

“The content management solution from Acumium allowed us to easily integrate our catalog and web site content allowing us to incorporate the web into our overall business. We now have one staff that can easily share content, eliminating a duplication of efforts” said Carol Mueller, Executive Vice President of Duluth Trading”.

As with many clients our content management solution was implemented quickly. “Within a few months time, we helped Duluth Trading gain control of their internet presence while maintaining the quality they are known for,” says Dan Costello, President and Founder of Acumium.

In year two of a three-year strategic web plan that Acumium developed with Duluth, new improvements include a new product categorization system, multiple ship options allowing purchasers the ability to ship products to multiple addresses and A/B testing allowing marketers to create several different homepage starting points.

Acumium has helped Duluth refine and enhance the strategic recommendations from year one such as a “quick” check out shopping cart, improved search capabilities, web analytics and a greater understanding of customer behavior. This has allowed Duluth to be more responsive to customers needs in addition to re-connecting with their loyal customer base. “The overwhelming positive feedback from the built in customer survey when the new site was launched was truly gratifying” said Carol Mueller, Duluth Trading.

The business accomplishments that Duluth Trading has realized as a result of Acumium’s WCMS solution are “better brand recognition, easier web navigation and clearer, more accurate information” said Carol Mueller, Duluth Trading.

Acumium is already thinking about the year ahead and the goals that have been already defined. During year three, we will work to refine all the strategies that were identified in the “Discovery Phase” more than two years ago.

About Acumium
Established in 2001, as a Web-based consulting and development company. Acumium is committed to delivering technology solutions that meet business needs. Acumium works with its clients to enhance their web performance and reduce their costs. Acumium is currently headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and was founded by the current President and Founder, Dan Costello who brings to his clients more than ten years of experience. For more information, visit www.acumium.com.
About Duluth Trading Company
Established in 1991 by tradesmen, builders and carpenters, Duluth is currently headquartered in Belleville, Wisconsin. Duluth’s original business began by selling merchandise off a barge on the waterfront of Lake Superior. Today, it is one of the countries largest retailers of work clothing and tool accessories with $50 million in annual sales. For more information, visit www.DuluthTrading.com.
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Contact Information
Richard Fallis, Acumium LLC
608-310-9700

Madison, Wisconsin, – The University of Wisconsin’s 500 thousand member alumni association is upgrading its website functionality with Acumium LLC, a leader in Web-based Content Management Solutions.

Currently the online student alumni Directory requires constant manual updates. Limited functionality and the inability to make easy changes to content have been identified as emerging issues of concern to the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

Working with Acumium, the Wisconsin Alumni Association expects to have a new working website within four months.

"The first phase of the project will include creating a new alumni membership directory system that should see an immediate and measurable increase in reliable data. And website updates will be made by creative staff who will need no programming skills," according to Accumium President and Founder, Dan Costello.

As part of a multi-year plan, new add-ons to complete the over-haul of the Alumni Association’s web presence will allow more and better customized services to alumni, such as the creation of personal web pages in addition to local Chapter Websites. Also to be included in the upgrades will be a new and improved search tool allowing alumni to easily network with members of local and regional chapters as well as former class members. As well, alumni will be able to now search the website for information specific to their individual needs and interests by keyword.

Other planned updates to the system will include:

• An expanded Badger Career Network enabling alumni to volunteer or benefit from mentors
• New Event Calendar to include attached pages of content.
• Installation of E-commerce paid event registration for local chapters to offer programming to local membership.
• New shorter URL’s making it easier for other members to find each other’s web pages.

"The Acumium web content management solution will provide benefits to the Association staff as well as alumni. Membership data will be updated on an ongoing basis online freeing up staff for more mission-critical work. As well, directory data will enable creative uses such as fundraising, marketing and building community through better segmentation of data," adds Dan Costello, Acumium LLC.

The Acumium web content management system is Microsoft Certified, and is built on a highly flexible XML .NET framework. The solution is known for its flexibility powering profits and controlling costs for a variety of clients around the globe in a dozen vertical markets.

About Acumium
Established in 2001, as a Web-based consulting and development company. Acumium is committed to delivering technology solutions that meet business needs. Acumium works with its clients to enhance their web performance and reduce their costs. Acumium is currently headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and was founded by the current President, Dan Costello who brings to his clients more than ten years of experience. For more information, visit www.acumium.com.

About Wisconsin Alumni Association
Wisconsin Alumni Association® is your connection to UW-Madison. Since 1861, we've been enriching the lives of UW alumni — catching up with old friends through the alumni directory, making new memories on our alumni tours and expanding horizons at lifelong learning events. Wisconsin Alumni Association® is an independently financed, nonprofit alumni organization. Through the support of dues-paying members worldwide, we offer our services to all alumni. For more information, visit http://www.uwalumni.com

Contact
Richard Fallis Acumium LLC
608 310-9700 x 522
rfallis@acumium.com

Acumium, LLC, today announced it has earned certified status in Microsoft’s Partner Program, which recognizes Acumium’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Certified Partner, Acumium has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support that give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Acumium is an e-business strategic consulting and custom software development firm focused on web technologies. Acumium helps companies shape their complex business ideas in simple, effective software solutions. Acumium seeks to develop long term partnerships with their clients by first understanding their business goals and objectives and then aligning custom software solutions to meet those demands. The Acumium Framework supports these solutions by enabling a development environment that leverages best practices and a delivery record of on time and on budget every time.

“Only companies that have demonstrated high levels of customer service, proved their experience and attained advanced certification receive the designation of Microsoft Certified Partner,” said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “Today, Microsoft recognizes Acumium for its skills and expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology.”

In addition to earning certified status, Acumium has declared a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

Acumium’s core Framework solution is the Acumium Web Content Management System (WCMS). Version 2.8 of Acumium’s WCMS has been certified by Microsoft’s stringent testing program and has received the ISV/Software Solutions Competency. Many of Acumium’s clients currently run on WCMS 2.8 including Duluth Trading Company (www.duluthtrading.com), Omnipress, (www.omnipress.com), and Henan Prosper (www.henanprosper.com). Acumium’s WCMS is a system that enables organizations to make changes to their website quickly and easily without using a complex programming language or spending money to outsource the changes. Built on Windows Server 2003, WCMS 2.8 is a modular solution built using XML and XSLt and is optimized for today’s demanding search engine environment. WCMS 2.8 can be expanded easily to provide dynamic ecommerce, multi-language support, member directories, email and newsletter managers, knowledge base and more.

“We are extremely pleased to have earned certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program. The certified status reinforces the quality of the custom web solutions Acumium delivers to our customers,” said Dan Costello, CEO and President. “The benefits provided through our certified membership will allow us to continue to enhance our offerings even further.”

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The Microsoft Partner Program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.

MillTown Paper, Inc., located in Neenah, WI, launched their new corporate website to better assist their customers. A leader in the paper reselling market, MillTown Paper required the ability to keep their website up to date with available products, but lacked the proper support.

MillTown Paper quickly saw the potential and advantages of the Acumium Web Content Management System to allow them to use their website as a commercial communication tool. Looking beyond the public version of the website, MillTown Paper has also considered the possibilities to use the same powerful Content Management tools to maintain a company intranet for all company communications and document postings.

For the first time, company managers with little or no HTML experience have access to key areas of the website to keep products and services up to date to meet their commercial and internal needs.

Dinner Helpers, located in Appleton, WI, launched their new customer centric website. Utilizing the features of the Acumium Web Content Management System, coupled with custom product and customer management tools, the owners have complete control over the Dinner Helper's content.

The Dinner Helpers website is the foundation of the business. Meals, menus and session schedules are made available to customers through the website and is the primary portal for order collection. A key requirement of the project was to give website editors on demand access to edit these key elements. Acumium's development and creative teams worked closely with Dinner Helpers to build the tools to best suit their needs and expectations.

In addition to meal, menu and schedule management, Acumium also installed customer management and business statistic reporting tools. These enterprise features allow Dinner Helpers to see up to the minute data regarding customers that have signed up for meal sessions, collect payments and process customer orders, view meals ordered and associated food quantities, as well as on demand finical reporting.

"I don't know how we would have done it without you guys." Gail Geise, owner Dinner Helpers, Appleton, WI.

Dan Costello, President and CEO of Acumium, LLC selected by the IBA Board of Directors as the 2004 IBA Member of the Year for his outstanding efforts in improving the organization’s communication and membership development efforts.

Costello helped IBA by helping them improve their communications with all of the IBA members by implementing a new website built on Acumium’s Web Content Management and E-Business software framework to simplify content changes as well as facilitate event and membership management for the IBA. Executive Director, Steve Sobiek said, “Through Acumium’s efforts, members are able to see up to the minute changes with issues that affect them on a daily basis. As an active lobbyist for small businesses, IBA is able to provide and receive information quickly and easily on the hottest issues that affect Wisconsin businesses. Since we have put these changes into place our membership is at an all time high.”

Costello founded Acumium after recognizing a niche in providing Fortune 500 e-business services at affordable, small business pricing. Costello said, “There is no need rewrite or replace existing applications. Chances are we can integrate with what a business already has in place to deliver a solution that balances a client’s needs at a fraction of the cost of replacing the systems. As businesses strive to become more competitive, they will continue to look for ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs by leveraging new technologies. We work with our clients to help them more effectively design, plan, and build technology infrastructures that help them become more responsive to their customers needs and more competitive with changes in their internal processes, products and services. ” Acumium has been growing at a dramatic rate of over 100 percent per year and expects their growth to continue as businesses continue to seek to build and integrate with internal applications.

Acumium, in its commitment to their community had a chance meeting with the founders of Team MS and offered to help the cause in any way they could. It was quickly agreed that Acumium would donate a fully functional CMS website and all supporting services. Acumium worked closely with Team MS to design a look and site map to best relay the message of Team MS. The site was built with all the latest technology in content management solutions allowing the members of Team MS to add pages to, and edit content on their site from any computer in the world.

Team MS Racing (www.teamms.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness about Multiple Sclerosis or MS. This website was designed to aid those diagnosed in finding information about MS. Along with information about approved treatments that are available today and news articles about new testing and advancing breakthroughs in the fight against MS.

Team MS was started by Jim Haraughty who was diagnosed with MS himself in the past year. Being take action kind of guy and a classic motorcycle enthusiast, Jim didn't take the new standing still - he got on his bike. Jim chose to raise money for research and spread awareness through participating in racing events across the county. Through the website you can view a list of upcoming events (racing or other MS events), personal stories from Jim on his travels, important awareness links and a photo gallery.
Team MS has also enlisted the services of Dr. Luzzio from the University of Wisconsin Hospital to answer questions site visitors may have. (Please keep in mind that some situations would best be answered by your personal doctor.)

As part of the Team MS Mission Statement and commitment to awareness, Team MS is offering a simple Team MS sticker that can be displayed to show you support for those with MS.

Omega Laboratories, Inc., located in Mogadore, Ohio, unveiled their recently redesigned website www.omegalabs.net utilizing the powerful features of the Acumium Web Content Management System (WCMS) and application framework for developing web client and thin client applications.

Above average client support and competitive pricing has been the key to Omega Lab’s success, and their latest investment in the Internet is no exception. Omega Labs has been able to dramatically improve their web presence, adding key customer self-service features and functionality with a minimal investment. Omega Labs has been able to quickly move ahead with key technology and business process advances while managing their technology cost investments due to the modular nature and competitive pricing structure of the Acumium solutions framework and attentive focused, packaged consulting services. Utilizing the integrated management features of the Acumium WCMS, Omega Labs will be able to keep the content of their site focused on the pulse of the industry and provide users with the latest industry news and information.

“The site not only looks great, but is very functional” states John Vitullo, Omega’s CEO. “Many of our customer service functions can now be handled on-line. Our clients like it because it gives them off-hours access and we like it because it frees up lab personnel for other duties. The support we have received from Acumium has been phenomenal.”

Lange Lift and Hevi Haul International, a Milwaukee based manufacturing company, launched their flag ship website recently. In an effort to better promote their line of custom made industrial lifting equipment, Lange Lift choose to develop their project utilizing the acumium Framework web content management system (WCMS). This powerful system will allow Lange Lift to better maintain their ever changing line of products and descriptions.

"Our sales team and distributors will always have the latest information for customers," says Mike Knaebe, President Lange Lift and Hevi Haul International. “Our new site has proven to be a valuable business tool.”

About Lang Lift and Hevi Haul International
Located in Milwaukee Since 1934 Lange Lift has been manufacturing high quality custom lift tables which have served industries worldwide in a variety of applications too numerous to count. Anthony Lange, founder and creative talent, proved to be ahead of his time in his ability to design and build lifting equipment. The mission of the Lange Lift Company is to create value with products that lift the world