When CDS designs a Web site, we follow a prescribed, 8 step process. Take a moment to look through our process. You'll find that we work diligently to offer our clients a fully thought out solution to their internet requirements.
Step 1: Request For Proposal - In order to provide the highest quality web site design services, we ask that you provide a detailed Request For Proposal (RFP). We use your response to the RFP to analyze your goals, requirements and expectations. This allows us to develop a specific quote to be used as the foundation of your development project. In the event you have not prepared an internal RFP, we have provided the CDS Online RFP form.
The CDS Online RFP is a four part questionnaire that may require input from people in several areas of your company.
Step 2: Analysis and Quote - The Analysis and Quote phase is triggered when you submit a Request For Proposal (RFP) or use the CDS Online RFP form (below). The CDS technical team responds point-by-point to the information you provide in your RFP. This way, we can address all of the design, functional, and technical aspects that are most important to you.
Once you accept the quote we provide, with or without modifications, it becomes the framework for your development project. We use the information in the quote to create a Technical Design Document, as well as a detailed Project Management timeline with project milestones, deadlines, and goals. It is from this foundation that we can measure our ongoing progress and, ultimately, our success in completing your project on time and within budget.
Step 3: Technical Design Document - CDS develops the Technical Design Document using information you provide via a Request For Proposal (RFP) or by using the CDS Online RFP form (below). It is here that the layout and pages of the site are mapped. Along with this, we specify functionalities like site purpose (i.e., eCommerce) and navigation strategies. All of these choices will influence both the server-side and client-side programming languages and technologies that we will use to fulfill the goals of your site.
During this phase, our creative and art directors finalize the look and feel of your site so that , with your approval, we can begin the production of the graphics and pages that will become the interface to the more technical aspects of your site.
The direct result of the Technical Design Document is a roadmap for success from which we can build a Project Management timeline to ensure that our progress meets your expectations with the goal of bringing your development project in on time and within budget.
Step 4: Project Management - We take the management of your project very seriously. It is only through good and clear communication that we can ensure the delivery of your site on time and within budget.
To this end, we assign an account manager, a project manager, an art director, and a technical director to your project. The account manager is responsible for making sure that contractual and promissory obligations are being met by all parties. You can rely on the account manager to see that you are happy at all times with the progress of your development project.
The project manager is, as the first lieutenant of the account manager, your single point of contact with CDS. Our project managers handle the day-to-day tasks that make up so much of a typical development project. It is the project manager's responsibility to interface directly with our clients and our design, technical, and production people to see that milestones are being met by all.
In addition to a single point of contact person on the CDS staff, we provide a project management web site that you may utilize 24 hours a day, seven days a week to check up on the status of your project. This way, you can always stay apprised of your project's progress, even when our offices are closed.
Step 5: Project Development - Detailed project development requirements are derived from the Technical Design Document and incorporated into the Project Management timetable. The bulk of the development effort concentrates on the design, functional, and technical dynamics outlined in the Technical Design Document so that the goals, approach, system specifications, design, navigation, programming and testing that make up your Web site development project are clearly defined.
In many instances, projects are developed in phases or stages. Regardless of the size of your project, be assured that we will never sacrifice our high standards and we will always strive to develop your project according to the goals, milestones, and deadlines that we agree upon. We constantly strive to deliver your projects on time and within budget.
Step 6: In-house Testing - CDS will not deploy a Web site until it has been thoroughly tested by our designers, programmers, project managers, and in-house testing staff. Continual testing is applied throughout the entire development phase, eliminating most bugs in the project during development. Additionally, a fully mature testing regimen is followed upon completion of your project to ensure that your Web site is free of bugs and navigational snafus.
We will not deploy until we are sure that your Web site is 100% bug free!
Step 7: Deployment - Once testing has been completed and we are satisfied that your Web site is 100% bug free, we deploy your site by following three simple steps:
-
User training: We have not successfully delivered the product until your entire staff is comfortable with the usability of the site.
-
Technical training: It may surprise you that one of our main goals is to work ourselves out of a job! Our attitude is, "If the customer is happy and we can help them keep costs down by teaching them to handle some of the technical aspects of their site, who are they going to call the next time they need help?" That's right, us!
-
Publication to the internet (or, if appropriate, your intranet): Until we take the site live, we are in production mode. This often means that we are on a production Web server that does not have access to the Web or does not sit in your domain. Once we are ready to deploy, we move all files and install programs on the Web server to get your project up and running in no time.
If you have chosen to take advantage of our internet marketing experts, deployment can also mean worldwide advertising and registration with search engine sites and reciprocal linking to other relevant sites (among other tactics). Our marketers have helped increase revenues as much as 2,000% on sites within a few short weeks, Let our experts show you how!
Step 8: Ongoing Site Management - Today's dynamic Web sites can require nearly as much ongoing management as you experienced during the initial development phase. Our designers, programmers, and project managers are always ready to help maintain your Web site in whatever capacity and at whatever level you choose.
It is our firm belief that, once we have delivered and deployed your Web site, our relationship is only just beginning. We offer flexible plans with contract or time-based billing terms. rest assured that we are here to help with the ongoing management tasks of your Web site.