With an aim to demonstrate the gaining prominence of team building in the organizations which is imperative to enforce cohesion amongst the employees, an exercise was carried out that, in the true sense, builds a positive approach in understanding other’s view and fosters ‘team spirit’ within the team. This exercise was carried out on Saturday, the 6th of June with all the Web Development Team lead by Siddharth participating with great enthusiasm and vigor for the team work seminar conducted in the conference room.

As a prelude, a conventional method of introducing the team members and understanding each other from an individual and organizational perspective was carried out, by taking an example of the role of a pen in the daily life, which enabled expression of individual’s preferences in the general continuum. Since teamwork is strongly related to trust, our next challenge was the walk of trust. In order to develop the relationship amongst the team members, an activity was arranged where the whole team was divided into groups of two of which one of the team member would be blindfolded and assigned a specific task which needs to be accomplished with his/her acquaintance’s help who steers him/her through the obstacles and overcoming adversity using verbal or nonverbal instructions to achieve the task specified. With several variations in the specified tasks, all the groups performed the activity.  Fortunately nobody was hurt and we could continue with some theoretical output.  All the questions – like What is feedback? How do we give feedback? How do we receive feedback? What is the Feedback burger? – had been answered and explained before the lunch break.

The team was divided into two groups in the post-lunch session and was assigned a task to build a protection for an egg which will be dropped from about 1.5 meter height and also think of a name and a slogan for this product within 15 minutes. Material consisting of 20 plastic straws, a pair of scissors and a sticky tape has been provided to execute this exercise.

Two groups namely, ‘Egg I’ and the ‘Spidernest’ were created and were indulged in preparing a structure that protects the egg from cracking.  All that was needed was creativity, good design and team work to prepare a structure that withstands such fall.  After preparation, the structures were collected and in the dramatic finale the structures were dropped from the initially mentioned height and then were inspected to see if the eggs survived.

As a last exercise we gave us feedback about “protect the egg” exercise and used our knowledge we have learned from the session before lunch.  At this stage a positive approach was already developed amongst the team members in understanding each other’s limitations and capabilities while assigning jobs apart from developing an open approach to other’s view and opinions.

Kalanjali, launched by the Ramoji Group, is a tribute to Art, and a celebration of beauty. Kalanjali is India’s first fully functional E-Mall for arts and crafts. It showcases the rich Indian tradition, history and culture, through beautiful, rare and exquisite pottery, metal ware, woodcrafts, paintings, textiles and more.

In seeking to revitalize its existing website, Kalanjali had a two-pronged objective. Firstly, through its external face, it wanted to reach newer markets, both domestic and global. And this could be done by providing a rich and easy-to-use platform to market an exclusive portfolio of products, and offer high-quality and personalized service to customers. The platform would have to be conceived of as an e-commerce one, allowing an efficient shopping cart management, smooth payment transaction and perfect order status tracking.

For the internal customers, Kalanjali sought to provide a suitable interface to manage the administration of the site, and smooth integration with the Land Application. The objective here was to provide the flexibility and ability to integrate various marketing tools and tie-ups in the future, including statistical and analytical reports of website activity.

Kalanjali chose iridium Interactive (ii) as its partner in creating and preserving this bit of Indian heritage online.

ii commenced the engagement by defining the scope of work in terms of technology, design and development. The website was designed to have a rich look and feel, with an easy-to-se interface. For the customer, ii created a payment gateway integration system comprising a secure mechanism for online payment through credit cards. The design and information structure of the site was revitalized to truly reflect the beauty of the artifacts being advertised.

For the internal team, a Self Administered Module was developed, functioning as the admin login to monitor activities, respond to queries and feedback and maintain a client database. Also included was a Catalog Management System to facilitate easy navigation through products, categories and other links on the site and to allow for efficient capture of client information, like history of purchase. Finally, the back-office of the website used a Content Management System (CMS) that could be easily operated by a non-technical person. A CMS also offers various exciting possibilities to enhance the richness and creativity of a website.

All leading to easy shopping cart management, smooth payment options and reliable order tracking.

India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti, was launching a new scheme allows NRIs to gift a Maruti car to a person in India. The scheme would offer NRIs special prices, payment options and home delivery services.

Objective
iridium Interactive (ii) has a long standing e-business and Internet solutions relationship with Maruti Udyog, and this new project only strengthened it further.
ii was required to create an online, web-based, transparent mechanism enabling NRIs to gift a car to a loved one in India. This scheme would not only create a new revenue stream for the client, but also enhance customer loyalty, and give a fillip Maruti’s branding efforts.

Solution
Working with the briefest of instructions provided, iridium created a micro-site for this project, within the Maruti mother site. The look and feel of the micro-site was kept consistent with the main site in order to maintain brand integrity. ii designed the site in a simple manner, providing straightforward navigation around the site. The whole process of buying and ordering was kept open and transparent to the visitor: from getting a quote, making a choice (on model, color, etc), and ordering a car, to paying for the purchase and keeping a track of the order. The forms were designed to capture important information in a non-intrusive manner.
The site provides the buyer with three different options for online payment: Credit Card, Swift Money Transfer or installments through Citibank. As a part of the assignment, ii also integrated the website with that of credit card companies and the bank’s payment systems.

Results
The sheer simplicity of choosing, ordering and purchasing a Maruti car online and paying through the Internet has captured the NRI imagination. The possession of a car in India is still a status- defining possession. So the simple and real possibility of gifting loved ones something as special as a car without the usual hassles has brought in some very tangible returns for the client.
Maruti is now selling cars through their innovative and evocative website. The very concept and its appeal won the company terrific goodwill, extended its customer base and branding mileage, while increasing customer loyalty.
The website is truly interactive, simple and easy to navigate. It is transparent and straightforward. This site responds to many NRIs wishes to be emotionally connected to their loved ones in India.
About ii
iridium Interactive Limited (ii) specializes in providing online business solutions. With a presence across three continents, it has been at the forefront in integrating strategy, design and technology to build unique and robust user-centric e-business solutions. At ii, a holistic approach is adopted towards complex business problems to arrive at a complete solution. ii’s talented team has worked on a variety of disciplines for a multitude of clients drawn from various industries, and has a number of award-winning works to its credit. ii offers it services in the areas of interactive marketing, web marketing, e-learning, enterprise consulting and web accessibility initiatives.

Objective
The idea behind revamping the Numero Uno site was to maintain, and even enhance the aura that the company enjoys. It would also serve as a platform to showcase the company’s collections, and to expand the brand’s customer base. An underlying objective was to make the site a testing ground for fashion trends.

Solution
Numero Uno is associated with classy styles and a sensual attitude; this had to be reflected in its website as well. This was achieved through a vibrant portfolio section and various community building tools. ii used several flash effects: images that scrolled, faded and merged, with visuals of casually sexy models. A section was devoted to the various collections, designs and products launched by the client. The site also features an innovative movie about how a pair of jeans is created.
The ‘Fashion Forecast’ section enableS Numero Uno to test the waters of fashion trends. ii also created an online club within the site to enable Numero Uno to build a database of visitors and facilitate long-term relationship building. The site also seeks to expand the company’s audience and to create brand loyalty through the introduction of the Talent Support section. The Talent Support section is a very innovative way of bringing modeling talent to the fore by creating an in-house community of aspiring, would-be models.
The website now functions as a precursor to the company’s new collections and also as a very useful trend-spotting medium for their fashion designers.

Results
The exciting visuals and innovative design of the website mirror Numero Uno’s marketing and advertising campaigns and keeps the site aligned with the whole brand experience. The flash images, hi-definition visuals and flash effects combine to create a site that is a “must-see”. The result: the site receives numerous hits and a growing number of registered visitors. This in turn has helped extend the brand’s reach. The registered visitors get online promotional material, newsletters and information on forthcoming events, styles, and products.
The online club provides visitors with a peephole into the world of fashion. It also provides Numero Uno with an insight into the direction fashion is taking, giving it a head start in launching products to meet those trends; in short, the company’s efforts to be numero uno has been given a fillip by its online presence.
About ii
Iridium Interactive Limited (ii) specializes in providing online business solutions. With a presence across three continents, it has been at the forefront in integrating strategy, design and technology to build unique and robust user-centric e-business solutions. At ii, a holistic approach is adopted towards complex business problems to arrive at a complete solution. ii’s talented team has worked on a variety of disciplines for a multitude of clients drawn from various industries, and has a number of award-winning works to its credit. ii offers it services in the areas of interactive marketing, web marketing, e-learning, enterprise consulting and web accessibility initiatives.

Objective
Amity wanted a website that reflected their international standards. They sought to have an innovative concept and design to showcase information on Amity. They were especially keen on providing an online hi-tech learning environment with an effortless navigation structure.
Amity assigned iridium Interactive (ii) the task of creating a website to reflect the reputation and excellence one associates Amity with.

Solution
To commence the task, ii first studied in depth how exactly Amity wanted its website to look, the features they was most keen on, and their priorities for an online presence. Based on these insights, ii used a combination of flash-based links and micro-sites to concentrate all the information and create a hi-tech, interactive and learning environment. The look, feel and the architecture of the site was designed to be uncluttered and visually attractive.
Since the majority of visitors to the site would be students, prominence was given to the presentation of the Programs and Admissions sections. The Schools under the Amity banner, Campuses and Higher Education sections, were placed centrally on the home page to enable direct and easy access. Since the site would have a number of micro-sites, ii had to collate and organize a vast amount of content, information and data. The micro-sites were designed with a consistent navigation format, and the information was focused and relevant to each micro-site. ii also built in a one-on-one online counseling module to provide students and counselors easy, comfortable and confidential access to each other.

Result
Since the revamping of Amity’s website, traffic to the site has increased, with an increase in the number of information-seeking hits. Also, navigation has been simplified to ensure a pleasant and user-friendly experience to visitors. The site has become a leading source of information on Amity. A testament to the usefulness and power of the site is the fact that most of the admissions to Amity’s several institutes are now chiefly done online. Not only students, but recruiters as well find it a key source of information. This has led to a massive reduction of costs, and has increased the operating efficiencies of Amity’s establishments.

About ii
iridium Interactive Limited (ii) specializes in providing online business solutions. With a presence across three continents, it has been at the forefront in integrating strategy, design and technology to build unique and robust user-centric e-business solutions. At ii, a holistic approach is adopted towards complex business problems to arrive at a complete solution. ii’s talented team has worked on a variety of disciplines for a multitude of clients drawn from various industries, and has a number of award-winning works to its credit. ii offers it services in the areas of interactive marketing, web marketing, e-learning, enterprise consulting and web accessibility initiatives.

As one of India’s foremost names in healthcare, Moolchand has been setting standards for the past half century. Located in the heart of Delhi, it plans to develop Moolchand Medcity as Asia’s largest single site multi-specialty hospital complex (6 specialties, 1000 + beds).

Objective
People have an inane fear of hospitals and doctors, perceiving them in a negative light. In actuality, this dislike stems from a fear of disease and not the hospital per se. Moolchand is well aware of this, and hence wanted to create a hospital and healthcare environment where people could be comfortable and feel at home, putting their fears side. And what better way to ensure such an experience than ask the people themselves how they would expect the ideal hospital to be? Out of this was born the “My Dream Hospital” project. Moolchand decided to launch an innovative campaign to hear the voice of India, and to find out what patients and caregivers expect from healthcare today.

Solution
Moolchand Medcity launched its ‘My Dream Hospital campaign’ in Delhi. The idea behind it is to push the consumers for suggestions, and queries, and of course their dreams, so as to incorporate the selected ideas in the making of their dream hospital. This was implemented by building a creative and interactive website that would act as a launchpad.
iridium Interactive (ii) was chosen to carry out the task of building a website to capture the dreams and expectations the consumers have from their ‘dream hospital’. On the website, people can post their wishes, as well as view other people’s expectations in the ‘Hall of Dreams.’ Additionally, ii built the website on an interactive platform with action scripting technology, providing access to people to view their dreams taking shape through photographs and videos of the selected suggestions being implemented in Moolchand. The highlight of the website is that it is fully interactive experience. The website has an innovative and ‘fun’ look to it, as opposed to other healthcare websites that tend to be relatively clinical.
The site also uses viral marketing tool, allowing and encouraging visitors to share their experiences with their friends.

Results
ii’s efforts were very well received, offering as they did a novel experience for users. ii and Moolchand have together created a customer-focused portal where user experience and user suggestions are of the utmost priority. The website has become the perfect gateway for dreams and their making. Visitors now share and post their suggestions, recommendations and expectations they have of an ideal hospital.

About ii
iridium Interactive Limited (ii) specializes in providing online business solutions. With a presence across three continents, it has been at the forefront in integrating strategy, design and technology to build unique and robust user-centric e-business solutions. At ii, a holistic approach is adopted towards complex business problems to arrive at a complete solution. ii’s talented team has worked on a variety of disciplines for a multitude of clients drawn from various industries, and has a number of award-winning works to its credit. ii offers it services in the areas of interactive marketing, web marketing, e-learning, enterprise consulting and web accessibility initiatives.

The Indian School of Business (ISB), located in Hyderabad, is a world-class business school. ISB creates education excellence through its innovative programmes, outstanding faculty and thought leadership. It has a diverse mix of students from different industries and countries and international faculty, and offers experiential and holistic learning, and strong corporate involvement.

Objective ISB, an institution of global repute, was keen on showcasing itself through its website. It wanted to create a world-class education portal, reflecting the institution’s brand image, and in line with that of its affiliates. The website had to reflect ISB’s quality of education, range of facilities and services. It would also be used as a tool to attract students for the Executive Education and Post Graduate programs.

Solution iridium Interactive (ii) carefully studied the ISB brand and the client’s requirements before beginning the engagement. Accordingly, the sections on alumni, governing and executive bodies were prominently placed to exhibit and leverage the patronage and support the institution enjoys. ii also developed sophisticated yet accessible systems for recruitment, resumé posting and online job applications, including job notices. Sections about course details and top-flight teaching, library and residential facilities also figured on the site. All this presented in an understated and classy manner. Finally, updated and latest research materials were made easily accessible online.

Results ii created a world class education portal for ISB which serves as a window to the internal functioning of the school. ISB’s branding online reflects the quality of it’s education, the vast spectrum of facilities it offers, and it’s standing in the educational domain.

About ii
iridium Interactive Limited (ii) specializes in providing online business solutions. With a presence across three continents, it has been at the forefront in integrating strategy, design and technology to build unique and robust user-centric e-business solutions. At ii, a holistic approach is adopted towards complex business problems to arrive at a complete solution. ii’s talented team has worked on a variety of disciplines for a multitude of clients drawn from various industries, and has a number of award-winning works to its credit. ii offers it services in the areas of interactive marketing, web marketing, e-learning, enterprise consulting and web accessibility initiatives.

Though Biological E Ltd. is an industry leader it needed to meet the rapidly changing world head on and present a vibrant new face. “Celebrating Life” – this theme is prominently and tastefully projected on every page. iridium Interactive stepped in with several fresh and innovative ideas to achieve this objective.

iridium Interactive’s treatment of the website ensured that Biological E Limited’s expanding facilities and product lines were given due prominence. Biological E’s new and exciting global vision is reflected in the partnerships section and the export line section of the site.

To maintain its leadership position Biological E has an innovative and advanced Research and Development wing in tandem with worldwide research partnerships.

This aspect of Biological E’s business is highlighted right from the home page of the site giving it the importance it deserves.

A major task was to organise the enormous amounts of information and data relating to Biological E’s business. iridium Interactive’s research and content teams reworked and organised the site in order to best handle this information into web friendly dimensions. We ensured that it informed but did not slip into the dangerous area of ‘overkill’.

We were looking to the future when we developed the skeleton and structure for a Healthcare Professionals and Patients sections that have been incorporated into the site. These sections will be focused and dedicated to their respective audiences, said Sriram Bharatram, CEO iridium Interactive. He further added, “These sections will operate like micro-sites and knowledge banks, building loyal communities and giving Biological E a foot into the future”.

The Remarkable Community section of the site has several interactive and really fun features. It has a quirky and unusual facts section, several games that are imaginatively related to health and some absolutely stunning images of Karelia – the original home of Velle Oats.

The site is designed to be interactive, personal and interesting. To achieve this, the iridium Interactive creative team had to push the envelope in order to optimise the pages, so that downloads and the games opened speedily without causing the site to hang.

“The site is a critical marketing tool for the client, directly targeting the customer. This is a refreshingly different approach that created many a head-scratching challenge. iridium Interactive’s creative and business development teams collaborative efforts on meeting the challenge ensured that client’s expectations were met”, said Mr. Manish Kumar, Practice Head, iridium Interactive.