Portfolio Skills

Delve into our background: Browse through a selection of our projects based on our skills and see some of the innovative software, applications and web services we have created for and with our clients. We develop for many platforms and work with Windows, UNIX, Linux and OS X servers.

ING – Digital Asset Management

ING – Digital Asset Management

ING Group

FRS  Image Bank 

ING Group – FRS Image Bank

The ING Group is a global financial institution of Dutch origin with 115,000 employees. They have 60 million customers in almost 60 countries. These include individuals and families as well as small and large companies, institutions and even governments. As a result, the ING Group offers a wide range of banking products and services. While banking is their core business, they excel in the field of insurance and asset management. Consequently the ING Group includes a number of leading brands, including Postbank and RVS Verzekering.

In 2002, we introduced a customized FRS MediaBank web-application within the Postbank for the management and distribution of brand images (logos, photos, PDFs). Because of the good experiences and the excellent hosting facilities offered by BSL, ING asked BSL to introduce the Image Bank within several other divisions.

 

Image Bank

Access anywhere, anytime

We delivered the ING Image Bank as a web-service, using Oracle. Since our FRS asset management software is designed for easy customisation, the Image Bank is a fully customised system. First of all, ING has a strong corporate identity, so we designed a user-friendly interface based on the ING house style. And by introducing the Image Bank, ING could immediately start managing all of their marketing material. This includes all campaign texts, PDF’s and images. As a result, ING employees and their creative partners can quickly create and distribute new material.

The entire Image Bank can be accessed using any web browser. So authorized users can access the ING Image Bank anytime and anywhere via their favorite browser. Designers, creative consultants and photographers can easily add images, page layouts and illustrations. Furthermore, the ING content managers can check and enrich the content by adding descriptions and keywords using a custom designed asset management application. And with the integrated search technology from Autonomy K2 (now HPE IDOL), all information in the database can be automatically categorized and indexed.  Due to this feature, users can find content at lightning speed.

“Modifying FRS and adapting it to the exact requirements of the ING represented a challenge. Furthermore, as other members of the ING Group adopted the image bank, they asked to introduce their individual house styles. As a result we had to create multiple interfaces using a single database. Due to our experience, we could offer a unique product to each organisation in a cost-efficient manner. Also our tried and trusted FRS multimedia modules meant that each update was delivered quickly.”

Eric

Software architect, Bright Side of Life

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

Flexibel management

Innovative BSL technology ensures that data and user management is possible from almost anywhere in the world. So ING’s business units can each individually manage their assets. And system administrators can change group and user rights, wherever they have access to the internet. As a result, the ING Image Bank offers a user-friendly way to manage a complex system, while at the same time offering enormous flexibility. Flexibility that makes it possible to share ING designs, images and campaign material with third parties, such as design bureaus, photographers and printers.

Fast search technology

By using Autonomy search technology, all information in the database can be automatically categorized and indexed. So users can find content at lightning speed. Autonomy offers many possibilities for smart search queries. As a result, users can search with so-called ‘wildcards’, or combine search terms with AND / OR / NOT. Therefore by using advanced search technologies and a user-friendly interfaces, users can quickly and easily find the desired results.

User-friendly software

At BSL, we strive to develop user-friendly applications. During the design and development of the ING Image Bank, much attention was paid to ease-of-use. And this included making it easy to customise search results for each user. For example, they can choose how many images are shown on each page. We also keep the screen displays simple, and use icons to access more information about each image.

We’ve got a great track record developing image databases, and online multimedia archives. The ING is just one example of us delivering a solution that can be easily integrated within the existing production workflow. Let us help you to manage your digital assets. Get in touch – no strings attached!

Martyn Simpson

Director, Bright Side of Life

NBD Biblion – Rotunda Digital Showcase

NBD Biblion – Rotunda Digital Showcase

NBD Biblion

Rotunda Digital Showcase

NBD Biblion – Rotunda Digital Showcase

In 2009  H2 Interactive asked BSL to help design and develop a ‘Digital Showcase’. The original concept was created by H2 Interactive. The reason? They were looking for an innovative and attractive way to present and promote books, CDs and other multimedia titles to the public.

So our software developers converted their concept into a product: the Rotunda Digital Showcase. As a result, libraries and bookstores throughout the Netherlands use Rotunda. They can create their own digital shop window – a virtual bookcase with books, DVDs, CDs and even games. Displayed on a large touchscreen, visitors can browse through virtual bookcases divided into different categories and themes. They can then find more information about each title by touching the digital cover. In addition, they can order or reserve these titles directly. Hence this unique form of presentation stimulates book sales and lending in libraries. Rotunda is sold, distributed and supported by NBD Biblion.

Rotunda digital showcase

“Rotunda is very easy to manage. You can quickly set up and add your own bookshelves. And embedding movies is easy as well. A really nice addition.”

Product Manager, NBD Biblion

NBD Biblion promotional video…

Create your own bookcase promotions

The Rotunda digital showcase runs on Windows computers connected to touchscreens. The software consists of custom web services, an Oracle database and a Content Management System (CMS). This CMS is linked to an extensive NBD Biblion media database, with a description of all the available (media) titles. So Rotunda editors can quickly and easily create their own ‘bookcases’ by selecting from the NBD database. In addition, they can add YouTube videos and other online media. The editors can send this selection via the internet to other Rotunda screens. As a result, the public can view the selections on Rotunda screens located anywhere in Holland. So an ideal way centralise the production and promotion of new / themed titles. What’s more, editors can update the selection at any time. An easy way to present up-to-date content linked to current events and campaigns. 

Create your own bookcase promotions

The Rotunda digital showcase runs on Windows computers connected to touchscreens. The software consists of custom web services, an Oracle database and a Content Management System (CMS). This CMS is linked to an extensive NBD Biblion media database, with a description of all the available (media) titles. So Rotunda editors can quickly and easily create their own ‘bookcases’ by selecting from the NBD database. In addition, they can add YouTube videos and other online media. The editors can send this selection via the internet to other Rotunda screens. As a result, the public can view the selections on Rotunda screens located anywhere in Holland. So an ideal way centralise the production and promotion of new / themed titles. What’s more, editors can update the selection at any time. An easy way to present up-to-date content linked to current events and campaigns. 

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

Software updates

Technology and internet standards have evolved since NBD Bblion released the first Rotunda digital showcase. Public libraries naturally need to follow these changes. So software applications linked to their websites must also be updated. NBD Biblion therefore asked BSL to work on a number of updates. Their aim? To fully integrate Rotunda with the websites and catalogs used by libraries. As a result, we  recently launched a completely new version. Our engineers first updated the software so that it can be used on new versions of Windows. Secondly we improved the performance, designing the software for a new generation of processors. And finally we made the communications with library services more secure.

Development of touchscreen applications

BSL has lots of experience developing touchscreen applications. This is because (multi-touch) touchscreens can be used to present products to the public in an innovative and attractive way. Most noteworthy, editors can quickly and easily update virtual bookshelves. Consequently they can be shared and reused on multiple screens. Also at multiple locations. As a result, sharing bookshelves with other users mean that a top 10 only needs to be maintained once. So other editors can simply subscribe to the shared bookshelf or bookshelves and immediately show them on their own Rotunda.

Central web management

Managing content using a central CMS has major advantages. The data is centrally available to all authorized users. They can also manage this date from any workstation with an internet connection. So Rotunda editors centrally manage the content used by Rotunda digital showcase screens. Hence the Rotunda software connects to the central database to retrieve and display the data. When editors modify the data in the CMS, Rotundas throughout the country automatically update their contents to display the latest data. 

This is a unique solution, combining new touch-screen technology with content that was already available within NBD. Combining existing resources with new technology is one of the quickest ways to develop new products, and adding value. If you’ve got ideas for making your content available, within mobile apps or online, please get in touch! We’ll show you how.

 

Martyn Simpson

Director, Bright Side of Life

Contact BSL
Contact BSL