The Bright Side Blog: Project News and Events

Canon of the Netherlands App – Learn more about Dutch history

by bsl | Feb 7, 2022

Canon of the Netherlands app

An introduction to Dutch History

Canon of the Netherlands app

The Canon of the Netherlands app is a BSL development that we designed and developed together with the “canonvannederland.nl” foundation and pedagogical consultancy firm Mediant. We’ve designed the app for use by children of all ages, using content from the Canon of the Netherlands, which describes the story of how events and people have shaped the country using 50 carefully chosen subjects. Each subject depicts one of the key historical figures, objects, or events that have contributed to the establishment of the Dutch state and culture. The Canon is an essential component when teaching Dutch history within primary and secondary schools here in the Netherlands.

Using the app (formerly known as “Entoen Nu”), children learn about the history of the Netherlands interactively. It was one of the first apps that fully meets core educational objectives within the Netherlands. We designed the app for use by children in groups 5 through 8, providing a range of different content for each age group. By entering the age of the users, the app will filter the contents accordingly.

Interactive possibilities

Firstly, children scroll through a timeline containing many historical events and figures. They can then choose individual topics like ‘Anne Frank’ or ‘Slavery’. Once they choose a subject, a new window opens. This contains a more detailed description, along with an image or video. The app expands on these basic details by offering more pictures and illustrations, online videos, links to relevant books, museum exhibitions, and more! Also, some subjects contain illustrations with hidden information. By clicking within these pictures, users can interactively discover more details.

In the full version of the app, we’ve assigned several small projects or tasks to each of the chosen subjects. So using a simple “wheel of fortune”, users can spin the wheel and receive assignments, some of which are for individuals, some for small groups, or even the whole class. Moreover, they can spin the wheel up to three times to select an assignment and group size in which to work.

Intelligent app management

We manage the contents of the Canon of the Netherlands app using a server that we link to the main Canon of the Netherlands website. So any changes to the Canon contents are immediately visible to app users, and there is no need to release an app update each time the contents change. We launched the original Canon of the Netherlands app (then known as Entoen Nu) in late 2013. Since its launch, it has been a top-rated school app, and we have released regular updates and improvements. We delivered the most recent releases of Entoen Nu in 2021 when we added support for the newly revised Canon (introduced in 2020 by the new Canon committee, led by Professor James Kennedy).

Our Canon of the Netherlands app is entirely new, developed using React Native. We released the app for iOS and Android at the start of 2022, and there are two versions available:

Canon of the Netherlands Full version

Canon of the Netherlands Lite version

The Canon of the Netherlands app is an excellent example of what we do best. Building apps for iOS and Android that access online databases. In this case, we maintain the Canon contents on our servers, and any changes are pushed to app users instantly. We develop native apps using Swift, Java and React Native, so if you are looking for an app to publish your data, or to access your databases, get in touch.

Martyn Simpson

Director, Bright Side of Life

WCC Documentation Portal, Support Centre and Download Portal

by bsl | Jul 22, 2021

WCC Documentation Portal, Support Centre
and Download Portal

All support services in one place

WCC Group Website Development

The WCC Group is a leading provider of advanced solutions for Public & Private Employment Services and ID/Security Services. Their Employment solutions enable government agencies (such as the UWV) – and large commercial Employment agencies – to quickly and expertly match jobseekers with suitable and sustainable jobs. Their ID/Security Solutions enable governments to manage large volumes of identity data to protect borders and citizens while proving legal identity for all. They are a global supplier, with sales offices in the Netherlands, Asia and the USA.

We created their new Corporate website in 2019, using WordPress and a custom DIVI theme that implements their brand. In addition, we optimised the content for SEO performance. Finally, we designed a set of Google Data Studio reports for their marketing team, making it easy to monitor the site performance. The impact has been immediate, with a 300% growth in organic traffic over the first 12 months.

Documentation Portal, Support Centre and Downloads Portal

WCC Documentation Portal

After completing the Corporate website, we turned our attention to the Documentation Portal. The Documentation Portal is an essential resource for WCC development partners and client-based development teams. As successful global solution providers, WCC relies on development teams located worldwide, and the Documentation Portal provides direct access to ELISE source code. All indexed using Solr for easy and flexible search access.

Developed using Drupal 8 (with a transition to Drupal 9 planned), the Documentation Portal also honours the WCC Corporate brand. We provide straightforward, easy to follow themes throughout the site, guiding developers in critical areas such as Architecture, Setup, Matching models and Replication. Within each theme, we include concepts, tasks, and examples. Flexible, fast and fully integrated with their Support Centre, the Documentation Portal is an important WCC resource.

WCC Documentation Portal

“We are amazingly proud of the work BSL has done for us. BSL’s team worked with us through professional, well-thought-out website design, development, and content editing processes. Their commitment to quality, technical expertise, and process discipline is inspiring. They deliver websites that meet our expectations and gets awesome feedback from our customers and investors.”

Cristina Coco

Marketing Director, WCC Group

WCC Support Centre (and Download Portal)

Last but not least, we created a new version of the WCC Support Centre and Download Portal, once more using Drupal 8 (with a transition to Drupal 9 planned). The Support Centre is the first stop for WCC clients needing assistance or access to software downloads.

WCC manages user accounts for the Support Centre and the Documentation Portal within Salesforce as part of their client relationship management. We automatically import new users and updated accounts using custom BSL modules that synchronise this information. There is also a custom interface for support managers, who can quickly and easily customise which products, documentation and downloads are available to each user. Finally, the Support Centre links directly to the Jira ticketing system to submit and monitor support requests.

At BSL, you have come to the right place for…

Experience with Drupal and WordPress

BSL can build a website entirely from scratch, using modern web development technologies ranging from Java and Javascript/CSS/HTML to React.js and other frameworks. However, there are advantages to using off-the-shelf open-source solutions, such as WordPress and Drupal. Both are flexible, you can deliver websites quickly, and our Drupal and WordPress experts can integrate them with almost any existing service. The best of both worlds, offering transparent integration with your business and easy-to-use interfaces for your Marketing teams, so they can regularly update their content.

A full range of services

Every customer – including the WCC Group – has deadlines, and it’s usually a given that clients want their new websites as soon as possible. Our specialists can handle almost every aspect of modern website development in-house, starting with modern design, wireframes, prototyping and website development. Uniquely, we can also develop custom website integrations, developing custom plugins, or integrating high-performance search services (such as SOLR or Elastic). We also have authors that can produce content (in native English / Dutch) optimised for SEO/SEA performance. And once your site is up and running, we can support you using Google services such as Adwords, Analytics, Search Console, Tag Manager and Data Studio. All essential for monitoring your web traffic and enhancing your website performance.

“Offering support to their customers is very important for WCC. The existing Support Centre and Documentation Portal had to be adapted to meet the latest requirements and honour the new Corporate branding. For each project, we set up an Agile development team to accommodate frequent changes throughout the development. The BSL team offers a complete set of services and has a lot of design and technical know-how to handle all aspects of the project in-house.”

Roderick

Front-end Developer, Bright Side of Life

1888 Information – Digital Senior Citizens Phone app

by bsl | Jun 8, 2021

1888 Information Line

Senior Citizens Phone app for Android and iOS

Senior Citizens Phone app

Because of its extensive experience in the Telecom sector, 1850 B.V. now also manages the 1888 Number Information service. The company operates in the customer service market (e-mail, chat, telephone) too, on behalf of third parties such as local authorities, webshops, and answering services. In essence, 1888 helps you find the number you need and then connects you directly. Both in the Netherlands and abroad!

1850 B.V. asked us to design and develop a new Senior Citizens Phone app for Android and iOS. That is to say, made for people who have difficulty using modern smartphones. Therefore they asked us to keep the app as simple as possible. This request is a challenge for our enthusiastic designers and developers, who naturally keep up-to-date with the latest gadgets. However, we managed to build a simple interface with which everyone is happy.

The trick is keeping it simple!

There are already phones available for technophobes. But ironically, these ‘simple’ devices are often more expensive than the latest high-tech smartphones. So what 1850 BV wanted was a Senior Citizens phone app for iOS and Android, which makes making phone calls easier. We worked with them to design a simple app designed specifically for the elderly or technically challenged.

Called the “1888 Digitale Seniorentelefoon”, this new app:

Connects to your contacts so that you can populate a simple phonebook with significant numbers (doctor, close family, neighbours) in just a few minutes
Lets you drag and drop contacts for ease-of-use
Uses icons and images for each chosen contact
Secures the phone set up so that users can’t accidentally delete or lose numbers
Offers quick and easy access to the 1888 number information service

The trick is keeping it simple!

There are already phones available for technophobes. But ironically, these ‘simple’ devices are often more expensive than the latest high-tech smartphones. So what 1850 BV wanted was a Senior Citizens phone app for iOS and Android, designed to make phone calls easier. We worked with them to design a simple app designed specifically for the elderly or technically challenged.

Called the “1888 Digitale Seniorentelefoon”, this new app:

Connects to your contacts so that you can populate a simple phonebook with significant numbers (doctor, close family, neighbours) in just a few minutes
Lets you drag and drop contacts for ease-of-use
Uses icons and images for each chosen contact
Secures the phone set up so that users can’t accidentally delete or lose numbers
Offers quick and easy access to the 1888 number information service

At BSL, you have come to the right place for…

Fast, agile development - Involving the client at every step

We moved quickly on the Senior Citizens Phone app, using Agile development methods. We initially produced designs and animations demonstrating the app interface and navigation, inviting feedback from 1850 BV. We completed the app design, and after a single sprint, delivered the first Android release. The Android app underwent a series of test cycles, making new releases available at the end of each week. As the Android app neared completion, we quickly created the iOS version from the same codebase. Once we completed the test process, we prepared the Google Playstore and Apple app store pages for the first public release.

Minimum Viable Product - Early to market

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the minimum version of your app that provides value to your users. You can satisfy them and win their loyalty. Building a well-functioning MVP ensures that you can go live and do business as soon as possible. And you can start gathering feedback and learning from your users right away. Both BSL and 1850 BV see this first release of the Senior Citizens Phone app as a Minimum Viable Product. Once we’ve released the app, we’ll work with 1850 BV to design new features. No shortage of ideas!

React Native – Fast, easy cross-platform app development

We chose to develop the app with React Native. React Native is an open-source mobile application framework that makes it easy for developers to build mobile apps that can fully use native platform capabilities. And if you need to extend the capabilities of your app, you can easily add your own code, using other languages.

React Native uses a single JavaScript codebase to deploy the app on Android and iOS with minimal changes. So React Native saves us a lot of development time – and reduces costs for our clients. Supported by a global community of developers, it’s one of the most popular open-source platforms. No matter how complex your application is, React Native makes your application lightning fast. And React Native is future-proof. The standardised components and structure mean that applications are easy to maintain and extend with new features.

“For 1888, we built a relatively simple basic app that offers room to expand later with more functionality. We chose one codebase for iOS and Android app. In terms of design, it was important that it all makes sense for older, less tech-savvy users and that everything looks good at different (accessibility) zoom levels and text sizes.”

Roderick

Front-end Developer, Bright Side of Life

Keylane – Careers Website Development

by bsl | May 1, 2019

Keylane Careers Website

A recruitment website to find new talent in Europe

Keylane Careers Website

Recruiting talent for IT software service providers is not easy. Good Web Developers / Designers and Java Developers are scarce. BSL uses our own website, LinkedIn, Indeed, recruiters and social platforms to find new talent. But when you’re a European Software supplier, recruiting across Europe, you need to (borrowing from Apple), “Think Different”.

Keylane is a leading SaaS provider in the insurance & pension industry in the Benelux, DACH & Nordics.

830+ employees.
10 offices in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Turnover of €94 million (2018).

To maintain their growth they needed new talent – quickly. For their Product Development teams they need Java Developers and Web Designers. But they also need Business Consultants, Business Analysts, Actuaries, and Implementation Specialists.

To help them boost their visibility and brand awareness, and to recruit people with the skills they need, Keylane decided to introduce a new Keylane Careers website. And they asked BSL to help.

Keylane Careers Website - An Agile project

Website Design Goals

From the start the goals were clear. It was to be International, profiling each of the countries in which Keylane operates. The Keylane brand used in the Corporate site was also a given. But the Keylane Careers website needed its own, unique identity.

Responsive

With our extensive experience of custom website development, as well as WordPress and Drupal, BSL was first asked to recommend a framework to create the site. We opted for WordPress/Divi® by Elegant Themes – a flexible, modern, responsive theme, that makes it easy for the Keylane HR team to add and update their own content.

We created a Divi “child-theme” encapsulating the Keylane house-style. So pages added to the site automatically inherit the Keylane brand. Alongside the many off-the-shelf Divi components (texts, blurbs, lists, galleries, sliders…) we designed new widgets such as footers that can be dragged and dropped into the new pages. A “Lego-like” approach, making it easy for both BSL and Keylane designers to build beautiful, fully responsive pages. So the whole site looks good on mobiles, and on computers.

Keylane prefers that people are themselves. So we’ve agreed to behave exactly the same way at work, as we do at home. Simply because it makes us happy and we believe a company is only as awesome as the people within it. That’s why we strive to bring onboard passionate people with amazing talent, and we work hard to support them in both professional and personal health and development.

Minka van den Burg

Manager Talent Acquisition Benelux & DACH, Keylane

Workable plugin for Keylane Careers Website

Keylane uses Workable to manage their recruitment process. Setting up vacancies, creating application forms, accepting and processing applications. While the new Keylane Careers website was under development, we used a “standard” Workable widget to show Keylane openings in their old site, styling the results to match their house-style. We wanted to offer more, so we developed a new Workable plugin. Our custom Workable plugin means that candidates can apply job filters, choosing the location, department, or job type in which they are interested:

Keylane Careers Website | Keylane Careers Site

Want to work in Denmark? Just choose Denmark as the location. Java Developer? Add Java to the keywords, and then browse through the available opportunities. You can also view the full job description within the Keylane Careers site, as well as submit your application and CV.

We created the Workable plugin over a couple of weeks, and fine-tuned it together with Keylane. Our experience was key to this rapid delivery. After all, we’ve built Careers websites for other clients, and plugins for other platforms, including an AFAS plugin used by the WCC Group.

At BSL, you have come to the right place for…

WordPress experience

Would you like your current WordPress website redesigned or optimised? Or do you want us to build a completely new responsive website? Our developers have a lot of experience with WordPress. But they also know the ins and outs of Drupal and Joomla too. At BSL we often use standard CMS systems to deliver interfaces to larger back-end systems. So customers can update the website contents themselves.

Workable Integration

For those unfamiliar with Workable: This is a leading hiring platform. They provide in-house recruiters and hiring teams with more ways to find more qualified candidates, and help them to identify and hire the best talent. We created a custom Workable plugin for the Keylane Careers website, so that all the vacancies can be shown automatically. Users can select jobs that interest them, using filters such as job type, location, and keywords.

Fast and Agile

This has been a fast-moving, Agile project. Both parties (Keylane / BSL) focusing on the activities in which they excel. Our Web Developers provided design advice, and delivered an initial website for Keylane to work on. We then handled the technical work such as multi-lingual content support, privacy controls and Google Tag Manager/Analytics integration. We also taught the Keylane team to use Divi. Together we were able to deliver a lightweight, modern, fast, responsive website in less than 8 weeks.

“We wanted Keylane to be able to extend the website themselves. So we choose WordPress and Divi – a framework that is easy to learn, and delivers great responsive websites quickly. We could design the site and create the basic pages. We gave Keylane access to the site on our servers, and helped build the technical features, like Workable integration, and site widgets. Once the site was ready, we could move it to a hosting provider within a couple of hours.”

Roderick

Front-end Developer, Bright Side of Life