Two websites enhanced by Delvinia’s design process have won International Stevie Awards in the 2011 International Business Awards. The creative refresh of the Canadian Opera Company’s website, www.coc.ca, won in the not-for-profit category and the redesign of Manulife Financial’s www.coverme.com won in the insurance category.

In both cases, Delvinia took a collaborative, customer-centric approach towards the projects, using its proprietary data and researching methods to understand its client’s customer behaviours and then developing new websites with a focus on richer visuals, interactivity and content.

“We’re here to help our clients respond to the opportunities that digital technologies bring to enhancing customer experiences,” says Delvinia CEO Adam Froman. “Digital platforms can create deeper connections between companies and their consumers. And, when you begin by listening to the voice of your customer, it makes for more rewarding experiences and greater results.”

When the Canadian Opera Company launched its new brand in early 2011, the organization called on Delvinia to complete a creative refresh of its website, which Delvinia initially designed in 2009. Based on the collection of more than two years of transactional data and behavioural insights from Delvinia’s proprietary AskingCanadians™ online research community, Delvinia redesigned the site to incorporate strategic improvements—like prominent links to purchase tickets and online subscriptions—rooted in customer behaviour.

Manulife Financial engaged Delvinia to redesign coverme.com in an effort to improve the customer experience provided through the company’s direct-to-consumer website. Delvinia designed a customer-centric experience while maintaining a product-oriented focus geared towards helping potential customers choose the appropriate insurance coverage. The strategy resulted in an increase in the number of online applications and requests for brochures and ultimately, increased conversions via the Internet. As the Internet has become an increasingly more significant channel for Manulife’s direct-to-consumer business, the enhancements continue to have an impact.

“We took a collaborative approach in both of these cases and we’re thrilled that the International Business Awards has recognized our work with the Canadian Opera Company and Manulife Financial by selecting these projects as Stevie Award winners,” says Delvinia President Steve Mast.

Recipients of International Stevie Award trophies were selected from more than 3,000 entries received from organizations and individuals in more than 40 nations. Honorees were determined through two rounds of judging by close to 200 professionals worldwide.

“Entries to the International Business Awards grew by more than 80 per cent this year, and that illustrates the increasing importance of the IBAs worldwide,” said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards, presenters of the IBAs. “We congratulate all of the honorees, and we look forward to recognizing them for their achievements at our gala event in Abu Dhabi on 11 October.”

For more information, please see our Canadian Opera Company and Manulife Financial case studies.