Some may argue that 2016 was not the greatest year. It’s been one that many probably just want to be over. But as we count down to 2017, we reflect on what the past 12 months have brought and realize that, in some respects, 2016 wasn’t all that bad. Here at KDG, we got to work and delivered some of our company’s most successful tech projects.

It was a busy year of philanthropic crowdfunding campaigns, nonprofit website redesigns, custom development projects for businesses, and plenty of infrastructure projects by our IT team. In terms of the amount of projects we’ve completed, the amount of clients we’ve partnered with, and the amount of strong relationships we’ve forged, we hope that 2016 is a year that finds itself being repeated again and again.

Before we join our friends and families, gather around the television, watch the ball drop in Times Square, and bid adieu to 2016 for good, we at KDG wanted to take a look back.

Drexel’s Record-Breaking Day of Giving

Perhaps our most successful project in terms of higher education was Drexel University’s record-breaking giving campaign back in May. Even though the school is nearly 125 years old, it was the university’s very first Day of Giving. And, after its overwhelming success, it surely won’t be the last.

In the campaign, the school’s mascot, Mario the Dragon, went missing and it was up to students, alumni, and others to find him. KDG created a donation site specially for the campaign that revealed clues as to the dragon’s whereabouts with every donation made. However, Mario wasn’t missing for long. The spy-themed site developed by KDG excited donors (or, as they were called during the campaign, secret agents) so much, Mario was found only hours into the campaign!

In addition to the engaging theme, KDG’s implementation of social media sharing, Google API statistics, and referral capability into the the site helped encourage competition amongst donors. Drexel raised over $700,000 in only 24 hours!

“We talked about our theme, and the team really ran with it and built a site that was creative, cool, and highly functional,” said Ivy Lane, director of strategy and analytics at Drexel.

Helping Area Colleges Collaborate through LVAIC

KDG didn’t only help colleges raise more money through crowdfunding. We also helped colleges raise more awareness in regards to special causes. LVAIC, a partnership between the Lehigh Valley’s most prestigious, private institutions, came to KDG when it needed its outdated website redesigned to fit its growing organization and important mission.

LVAIC is all about bringing students and educators together. However, it was hard for them to successfully do that with their old site. Our team of UI/UX web design experts took LVAIC’s old desktop design and optimized it for mobile. KDG also made it easier for students to cross-register for classes at the institutions and for faculty and staff to register for different events, seminars, and conferences.

The redesigned site was well-received by LVAIC, which has been striving to improve communications between the involved colleges and universities for over 50 years. “We really needed a partner who understood our mission, our needs, and our brand,” said Dana Yurgosky, marketing and communications manager of LVAIC. Even though the mission of LVAIC has remained strong for half a century, with KDG’s help, LVAIC was able to transform it for 21st century users.

The Arc’s New and Improved Website

Our developers came together and helped The Arc develop a new website with improved functionalities. The Arc assists more than 1,500 families in and around the Lehigh Valley by providing support for both children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With so many lives touched by the good deeds of The Arc, the nonprofit needed a site that could keep up.

A user-friendly WordPress site was developed that has all of the resources a user would need, including an account registration portal so users can register and view upcoming events and easily make recurring donations to the organization. A new iPad-based system was also installed so more donations could smoothly be gathered at in-person events. We wanted to make sure it was easier for The Arc to bring awareness and support to its very important mission.

Improving Customer Experience for RP Field Services with Zoho

Here at KDG, we have a team of Zoho Creator Certified developers who work tirelessly on developing custom sites for our clients. In 2016, they designed a customer-facing system for RP Field Services, a limited liability company that provides coverage for more than 20 states. For a company like RP Field Services, it is essential that customers not only have instant access to their important files, but also that those digital files remain safe and secure.

With Zoho Creator, KDG’s developers created a customer portal to meet the needs of the company’s many clients. Through the portal, clients can login, complete applications, and access their personal files. All crucial data was stored in one place where it could easily be accessed, saved, and managed. With KDG’s help, the new system in Zoho not only makes the lives of customers easier, it also improves the workflow of the busy men and women at RP Field Services.

Casilio Concrete’s IT Upgrade

KDG is always happy to work with small and medium-size businesses who keep the local community thriving with their hard work. Casilio Concrete, a fourth generation family-owned business in the Lehigh Valley, is one of those businesses that turned to us in 2016 for  IT and infrastructure support.

The multitalented IT experts at KDG not only manage the company’s internal IT systems and Office 365 Exchange Email services, but they also provide help desk support. In addition, major upgrades were performed to keep systems up-to-date and running smoothly. New networking hardware was deployed while old PCs and laptops were replaced. With multiple Casilio locations and two other subsidiary locations, Concrete Décor Studio and Crushcrete, our IT team is very busy helping Casilio manage its network and support its site. With the help, it is easier for the company to spend more time serving its customers, both individual homeowners and even major highways, throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

What is your New Year’s resolution for your small or medium-size business, nonprofit, or higher educational institution? Does it involve expanding your online presence and acquiring new customers through a cutting-edge website? Are you planning to bring more attention to your volunteering and charity efforts? Are you hoping to raise donations for a new campus building or engage more of your successful alumni?

No matter the tech solutions you’ll need in 2017, KDG can help. For over 15 years, KDG has been the leading tech provider for higher educational institutions, small and medium-size businesses, and nonprofits. If you are one of the many who cannot wait to ring out 2016, contact us today and let KDG help you make 2017 a better year.