Independent Business Association of WI Improves Member Services

IBAW wanted to improve available information to current members while trying to gain new members. The website was to be used as an education tool with the most up-to-date information so IBAW needed to be able to update the information themselves.
For over 32 years, the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin (IBAW) has been a leading voice for small and independent businesses in the state of 'Wisconsin. IBAW represents over 500 small business owners who employ more than 150,000 Wisconsin workers.

Acumium met with IBAW leadership and determined the following e-business goals:
  • Improve access to key information and customer service for its members;
  • Attract new IBAW members;
  • Support the mission of the organization by providing informational, educational, and collaborative tools for all site visitors;
  • Greatly increase awareness and understanding of IBAW and its activities;
  • Strengthen corporate identity with professional graphic design that strongly reflects its existing collateral;
  • Present information to target audiences in a format and structure that is easier for them to navigate;
  • Automate administrative functions of IBAW staff;
  • Provide a site architecture that is flexible enough to enable self-administration by IBAW staff and adaptable enough for upgrades in the future;
  • Move from the primary use of printed medium to the website to reduce communication costs, and more interactive communication;
  • Enable online payment for membership dues and event fees.

The Acumium Solution

The Acumium Framework, Web Content Management System (WCMS) and ecommerce components helped deliver a finely tuned, easy to manage e-business solution that helped IBAW reach its goals. Features of this dynamic website include:
  • Web based content management so IBAW staff can change text, graphics, photos and other plug-ins in real time with no programming skills needed;
  • A secure, searchable directory that can be managed online and self-administered by authorized IBAW staff;
  • An online newsletter publishing module with online sign up, subscriber database, web based newsletter building tools, and sending tools;
  • A media manager for performing web-based uploading and management of online content, like PDFs, audio, and video files;
  • Searchable, easy to find, database archives for news articles, press releases, newsletters, and annual reports;
  • Full text keyword site searching;
  • Web-based data entry forms;
  • Secure, password-protected site administration area.