Software powered sustainability
How ISW and Digital Ink transformed a client concept into a nationally adopted climate action technology platform
STAGE ONeA global problem to fix
Ben Daley, formerly Head of Operations and Commercial at Tassal, Australia’s largest aquaculture company saw that existing formal carbon reduction programs were too complex and expensive for SMEs, and participation rates were abysmal. However, legislative and market changes were coming that would require huge numbers of SMEs to start participating in formal programs. A solution was required that could bring order to the chaos of decarbonisation. After 6 months of dedicated research, Ben conceptualised an initial solution, and it centered on platform technology.
STAGE TWOTranslating a Pitch into A System
Ben tapped his network for credible IT solution providers based in Tasmania. Ben first pitched his concept to Ian Warner, Managing Director at ISW. Ian’s entrepreneurial mind instantly saw a business opportunity and an ability to help solve a worldwide problem. Ian quickly mobilised his team to expedite the concept into a workable systems design. This involved system architects translating Ben’s ideas into database design, advanced programmers determining user flows, and digital designers establishing a user interface.
STAGE THREePivoting To Customers’ Needs
As ISW was advancing the system design ready for coding, Ben continued his customer interaction to ensure the product was best meeting the market needs, a market that was quickly evolving . This led to a range of additional requirements. ISW’s team was able to adapt the system design during this pivoting stage, with a well-versed internal process between the architects and programming teams. ISW also recommended a range of advanced functionalities that would future-proof the platform, such as AI and blockchain enablement.
Developing data fields and flows
White boarding the steps of the ERC Protocol
Outlining the app functions and actions
Detailing the systems components
Documenting the system APIs and data retrieval
Designing the physical system and data REST APIs
Creating a comprehensive back-end data model
Planning a ‘New Member’ process flow
STAGE FOURSystem Demonstration Pre-Coding
Once a basic data architecture was drawn up, it was important to begin creating a physical representation of the solution. Digital Ink began creating page mockups, UX/UI concepts, app logic, and basic wireframes. In collaboration with Graham, a functional prototype was created using JustInMind, which would allow the demonstration of the app functionality without using any hard code or data integration. This enabled Ben to take the ERC Protocol to customers and market analysts to collect initial feedback.
Adding membership and business details
Starting out and creating an account
Stage 3 and reducing emissions
Stage 2 and selecting carbon reduction projects
MyERC Membership area and overview
Stage 4 and transferring over to sustainable logistics
MyERC Groups and action plan overview
MyERC Member page with resources and assets
STAGE FIVeDeveloping product-market-fit
The ERC Protocol went through several iterations. The 5 protocol phases and reporting capabilities were elaborated upon, functionality was expanded, and the app processes were refined. With further app iterations, branding concepts began to develop and what once started as neutral branding and themes, started to develop into unified corporate branding. Small and continuous iterations saw the concepts, offerings, and branding mature greatly.
STAGE SIXMaturing the solution asthetics
Logos, colours, fonts, branded assets, language, and key marketing messaging all began to take definitive shape with Digital Ink. Branding began to play a more significant role in the functional prototype with app assets and UI beginning to take on additional importance. Pitch decks began to look more professional as the visuals of the app, website, and branded materials needed to meet the maturity of the offering. The ERC Protocol was now a tangible solution, one that customers could invest in.
ERC Protocol’s website icons in black, navy & white
ERC Protocol ‘Emissions Reduction Collective’ Logo
ERC Protocol’s ’Making carbon simple’ slogan
ERC Protocol’s colour palette and fonts
An ERC PowerPoint presentation title slide
The ERC Protocol member badge in white
The 5 stage ERC Protocol infographic
An ERC PowerPoint slide on ‘Decarbonisation’
STAGE SEVENexceeding customer expectations
The first round of customer feedback was concluded. A next.js front-end containerised application was built incorporating page mockups and UX/UI designs from Digital Ink, the functional flows from the JustInMind application simulation, and architecture plans from Graham Walker. Once in build, it was clear from the first customer joining that there needed to be better links to Carbon Programs, including calculating offsets. This brand-new feature was turned around in under one week, unblocking onboarding and adoption progress.
STAGE NINeonboarding early adopters
As ERC Protocol began to onboard organisations and customers, and came to the end of beta testing, another round of enhancements was made. Including QR codes and better mobile experiences, digital badges for protocol stages, stickers, and enabling payments through the app via integrations. Alongside smaller continuous improvements, ERC Protocol began to gather traction with new customers, as well as increased analyst satisfaction and investor interest. ERC Protocol Version 1.0 was ready to go out to the market.
STAGE EIGHTrapid and Agile Product development
During progressive system testing and customer feedback, ERC Protocol simplified its online forms. Initially created to produce a wealth of data for communicating plans, the forms were later reduced in complexity for easy onboarding. Then, to support one potential deal, another change was incorporated to help organisations better calculate carbon emissions by integrating with Carbonhalo. This enabled the app to provide multiple methods for calculating emissions, ranging from standard approximates, to accurate calculations.
ERC Protocol Protocol stage email signature
ERC Protocol stage badges with QR codes
ERC Protocol artwork
ERC Protocol’s full colour membership badge
ERC’s full colour stage badge with QR code
ERC Protocol’s Protocol stage badge in white
ERC Protocol’s membership badge sticker
ERC membership letter, printed plan & stickers
STAGE TENunveiling the market-ready application
The ERC Protocol application and website soft-launched. Brand new members could now join, organically, straight from the website. The ERC Protocol team focus now moved to onboarding early adopters and iterating the app constantly. ISW took the opportunity to go through the ERC Protocol itself, as a participating organisation, and after supporting carbon-reducing programs and installing solar panels in the Hobart HQ, ISW reached Stage 4 of the protocol. Having now demonstrated the ease with which the ERC Protocol helps organisations make an impact, ISW’s Emissions Reduction Plan has encouraged others to adopt the protocol.
Stage One of the protocol ‘Estimate Your Emissions’
The ERC Protocol Home Page ‘Making carbon simple’
The shareable ERC ‘Emission Reduction Plan’ PDF
Stage Four of the ERC Protocol ‘Select your project’
The ERC Member Area with membership resources
The ERC Protocol ‘Group Reporting Dashboard’
Ian Warner presenting ERC Protocol at The 1% Awards
ERC Protocol Membership Letter with QR code
taking center stagemaking decarbonisation simple
As of now, ERC Protocol has several big associations and groups joining the platform, beginning mass user onboarding. This includes tourism, wine, housing, and commerce associations. There are also new revenue streams being explored with data brokers and software consultants. With investment interest oversubscribed, ERC Protocol is primed to roll out across the entire Australian SME marketplace, and move into dedicated outreach. From here on, ISW and Digital Ink will continue to support ERC Protocol with hosting and app enhancements.
backstageaccess to a complete talent pool
ISW SERVICES:
Concept exploration/market and technology research
App development/pivoting
Back-end architecture/data flows/data integrations
Initial prototypes/JustInMind
App development/front-end
App hosting/support/enhancements
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DIGITAL INK SERVICES:
Branding/design/logos
Website/Drupal/hosting/enhancements/support
UX/UI/front-end wireframes/app graphic assets/badges/images
Video animations/explainers/media content
Digital marketing/social media/pitch decks/marketing messaging
Print collateral
Read more >
THE SOLUTION STACK:
next.js application with react front-end
Hosted on IBM Cloud
Containerised front-end
Loopback back-end, IBM-Supported
CloudFlare security
ISW CONTRIBUTORS:
Ian Warner, Managing Director
Graham Walker, Practice Lead - AI & Smarter Payments
Fiona Byrnes, Principal Technical Consultant
Nicky Tope, Practice Lead - Software Development
Craig Smith, Digital Marketing Manager
DIGITAL INK CONTRIBUTORS:
Brennan Wilson, Creative Director
Ivy Guo, Senior Web Developer
Jeff Davies, Digital Project Manager
ERC PROTOCOL CONTRIBUTORS:
Ben Daley, Founder & CEO
Daniela Ruiz Gomez, Tourism Sustainability Manager
TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR PROJECTS
Brennan Wilson
Creative Director - Digital Ink
With over 15 years experience, Brennan is a key member and leader of the Digital Ink design team. His design work spans all forms of media ranging from traditional print media design and branding to digital media including web and app interface design, motion graphics and video. Brennan has experience in an extensive range of software including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Xd, and Microsoft Office. His experience also includes an understanding of web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) for PDF documents and web design.
Brennan is driven by his passion for delivering the best possible design and functionality outcomes to meet client needs, while delivering friendly, personable and responsive customer service.