The New Balance Product Testing Team manages the administration, distribution, reporting, collection and storage of over of ten thousand pairs of shoes a year across all of the New Balance brands. As part of a 2007 initiative, to increase efficiency, New Balance decided to convert the paper and spreadsheet system into a more easily managed online application.
The conversion of this program, required an in depth analysis of the program features, current business processes and desired goals. Digital Evolution Group met with a variety of users who are influenced by the Wear Test program to develop and deploy a custom application allowing New Balance to accept online tester applications, create unique feedback forms on the fly and easily review feedback from testers.
After analyzing the needs of each specific set of User four specific projects were defined:
Public Website: The Public facing website need to provide an overview of what the Wear Test program and more importantly allow Adult and Junior Applicants to apply online.
Tester Extranet: Once an applicant is accepted into the program and receives a pair of shoes to test, they are able to go online to complete their feedback. This ensures that New Balance receives the feedback quickly and can begin to review the feedback prior to receiving the worn shoes.
Wear Test Intranet: The Wear Test Intranet is the most involved of the four pieces, allowing Administrators to control the public site, create feedback forms, select testers, review feedback after a test and run repots on information gathered.
New Balance Intranet: New Balance designers and engineers now have an online form to request a test from the Wear Test program. They may also utilize this Intranet to track the progress and feedback for any shoes they have in testing. The quick receipt of feedback allows them to make decisions faster and to recognize any major problems with a product.
Digital Evolution Group utilized .ASP to develop an online platform that allows New Balance to control all facets of their testing process, from the initial request to the final feedback.