Sigma
Validation
Since 1978,
Sigma Validation has been providing services to the marketing
research community that help monitor and measure adherence to
research standards. Many consumer product manufacturers, research
suppliers and data collection agencies now use Sigma Validation's
Duplicate Number® Search as a standard validation technique. They
provide services that help ensure and maintain quality research
standards in North America. Their web site is intended to be viewed
by marketing research professionals only. A pass code is required
to view this web site in its entirety.
Web Objective:
To create an on-line presence that would promote the company and
its services while being a functional resource for consumer product
manufacturers, research suppliers and data collection agencies.
The
Challenge: Sigma Validation knew that their clients
were not comfortable sending confidential information via e-mail.
They needed an extremely user-friendly method for securing this
data during transmission without inconveniencing their clients
by making them uniformly install a software program just to do
business through the web site. Another issue that arose was the
fact that the reporting for the Duplicate Number Search and the
Name Bank were filled with a great deal of information and that
new clients sometimes needed assistance in interpreting all the
data. This created a challenge for the creative
minds at BLAZE inter.NET.
The
BLAZE inter. NET Solution:
During the initial meetings with Ms. Lisa Elrod, the BLAZE
inter.NET team did its best to understand Sigma Validation's business
and to assess the needs of both Sigma Validation and its clients.
It was through these meetings that the issue of
secure transmission
of data was discussed as well as the issue of report interpretation
and Sigma's need to have their web site password protected. These
needs all came to the surface after asking many questions in order
to provide Sigma Validation a custom solution and not just a web
site.
First,
BLAZE inter.NET password protected only the areas of the site
requested by Sigma Validation. Existing clients that have their
password can immediately login to the site. Those visitors who
do not have a password are prompted to complete a registration
questionnaire. The questionnaire is an e-mail reply form that
asks the visitor to enter pertinent information on their company
so that Sigma Validation can qualify the visitor before allowing
admission to the information within.
Then,
in regard to the secure data send, BLAZE inter.NET created an
area within the site where clients could FTP documents through
SSL using 128 bit encryption directly to the Sigma Validation
server. Sigma Validation would then be notified by e-mail that
information was waiting for them on the server and they would
use the same 128-bit encryption to download the document. In this
manner, the document is never exposed outside of the secure link
up.
 Within
the site are samples of each of the reports generated by the Sigma
Validation services. BLAZE inter.NET set up the sample reports
within a framed page. When the user mousses over a section of
the report, its explanation appears at the bottom of the screen
within a frame and changes when the next area of the sample report
is chosen.
Another feature
of the site is the updateable FAQ page. The staff can go to a
hidden administration page and with no programming or HTML knowledge
edit existing questions, add new or delete old ones. This feature
allows Sigma Validation the flexibility to cater the information
to the feedback being received from the users of the site.
This web site
is a true resource for Sigma Validation's clients, supplying needed
information and interacting with the users. When it comes to choosing
between a company that supplies information to its clients from
9 am to 5 pm or a company that can provide a resource twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week, the choice is clear.
Visit
the Sigma Validation Web site
View
Sigma Validation Vice President Lisa Elrod's
comments on her experience with BLAZE inter.NET
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