Web Developers on Steroids

AbsoluteBusiness becomes one-stop shop for Web development 

By Brian Sharkey
The Business Journal 

After designing Web sites for four years, Stephen Neils, president of AbsoluteBusiness L.L.C. of Milwaukee, realized that his company's service had the ability to grow and that its former name, Power Presentations, no longer described the work offered by his company.

As the potential of the Internet has expanded, so too has AbsoluteBusiness, which has become the closest thing to a one-stop shop for Web site development for businesses. 

Not only does Neils handle the design of Web sites, but he also works as an Internet strategist, consulting with companies and helping them get the most out of their sites. 

"We began as a Web site design team, and now we are seen as Web developers on steroids," Neils says. 

AbsoluteBusiness is one of 26 Milwaukee-area technology companies named "Technical Knockouts" by a panel of experts selected by eInnovate.org, a professional organization for high-tech entrepreneurs and businesses. 

Being able to increase revenue and customer service or reduce costs for its customers through a Web site is a main focus of AbsoluteBusiness, Neils says. In addition to designing a Web site, the company will host them as well as the Internet applications needed to run the sites using the network architecture it has built. 

Through its partnership with IBM Corp. and Brand Finance, a London-based consultancy, AbsoluteBusiness can integrate strategic advice with traditional marketing and financial disciplines. 

As part of the service it offers, the business incorporates three criteria - design, technology and content - into each Web site analysis it performs. 

Neils says that a company's site needs to look good, load fast and tell a story to build a commercial presence on the Web. 

"Corporate America never told a story in an interactive media- now it can," Neils said. 

EASE OF USE 

AbsoluteBusiness handles customers whose annual revenue ranges from $20 million to $1 billion. But being in Milwaukee, Neils has also tried to work closely with the health care and manufacturing industries. 

Medical Associates Health Care, Menomonee Falls, has used AbsoluteBusiness to develop Web-based databases to serve the health care company’s customers. 

"Using the software supplied by AbsoluteBusiness, patients can get questions answered and receive recommendations quickly over the Internet," says Alex Grahovac, director of information systems and telecommunications for Medical Associates. 

“There are a lot of options when designing a user-friendly site,” Grahovac says. “What we chose was based on it being easy to use.” 

With AbsoluteBusiness also maintaining the Web site on its server, inquiries to the site are easily tabulated, Grahovac says. 

Neils uses one of his first tasks, creating a Web interface program for different phone companies, to describe similar services he offers to help businesses get better use out of their Web sites.

FILL HOLES 

Phone companies wanted to cut down on the number of calls they received from customers with questions regarding service, so Neils looked at the reasons for the calls and made the sites capable of answering the questions once posed over the phone. 

“We were able to fill holes in the information on the Web sites, which were the reasons for calls,” Neils says. “It cut a lot of time and saved money.” 

Creating Web interface programs like these, which once took two years to complete, can now be turned out in an average of 90 days or less because the procedure the company can be replicated to apply to any number of clients, Neils says. 

“Time is not a luxury for us,” Neils said. 

AbsoluteBusiness has not completed its first full year in business, but Neils estimates the company’s revenue will reach seven figures after a year.

COMPLETE ADVANTAGE 

As the company takes complete advantage of the capabilities of the Web, Neils says AbsoluteBusiness will double its work force to 24 full-time employees in the next year. 

With the addition of a dozen new employees, the cost of adding computer equipment and updating existing equipment adds up to $10,000 a person, Neils says. 

With the added personnel, AbsoluteBusiness is expanding its headquarters and will occupy two floors of the office complex at 785 N. Jefferson St. 

The casual atmosphere adds to the team development that AbsoluteBusiness emphasizes. Neils says incorporating customers into all phases of a Web site’s development and getting away from the cubicle-style office has helped his company succeed.

“We want to help customers understand how they can use the Internet to sell business,” he says. “If our explosive growth during our first year is any indication, our vision of how to effectively utilize the Internet for business-to-business will ensure our growth and our clients’ along with us.”.

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