I Love Regina.
I personally preferred that slogan to “Infinite Horizons” but that discussion ended back in 2010 following a $400,000 re-branding led by Winnipeg Advertising Agency, McKim Cringan George. (I had to look this up, found it on CBC’s website – Regina’s New Brand Hopes to Draw New Residents)
But that’s beside the point…. I wanted to discuss the city’s recent announcement of an upcoming update to the website and City of Regina App with a proposed budget of $1.2 million dollars over two years.
I don’t often wade into political discussion online, but I think my voice here as a Regina business owner (co-owner of a Web Design and App Building Company) and my role on the Saskatchewan Interactive Media Association’s (www.saskinteractive.com) board of directors means I need to voice my concerns.
But, to be honest – they’ve mostly been addressed.
My immediate concern when I read the headline was “Wow, that’s a big project – strange I never saw the Request For Proposal.”
However, Mayor Fougere has actually announced that there will be an RFP process following city council approving a budget for a new website and City of Regina App. So this is precisely how this should happen.
The numbers they are throwing around seem large – $1,200,000 over two years – but in my industry, (and virtually every industry I can think of) you get what you pay for.
So I refuse to comment further on the scope of the budget without seeing the scope of the work being done. I have used the City of Regina’s website, and it’s badly in need of an update. It’s also a monster – with hundreds of pages, thousands of documents, and many, many moving parts.
This is the type of website we build – online business systems – providing access to information and tools for the public, and streamlining processes for employees. Websites like this are huge, complex creatures requiring hundreds of hours of planning, building and content entry.
And that doesn’t even touch on the City of Regina App.
Speaking of – the City of Regina has an App? What does it do? I will have to check it out – and I certainly can’t comment on how much it would cost to build though we generally start our discussions on App building by framing it as a $15,000, $50,000 or $500,000 product – and admittedly, the $500,000 App is not our bread and butter.
But again, with no idea what the App does, whether it is iOs, Android, Web based, e-commerce enabled, etc… I can’t even begin to guess at the cost.
So from a Technical Perspective, I think the City of Regina is following the right process:
Look at what others have done. Set a budget. Request Proposals and evaluate the best options.
I will even go so far and say that from a Political/Timing perspective – I strongly feel a well run website and a good App can mean significant savings for a business.
We’ve worked with clients in tight financial times who are looking for ways to get more out of their budget – and a good website can really help.
We’re talking about a huge “business” – the City of Regina – and if a good website can make them more efficient, if a well built App can generate revenue or reduce costs – then it could definitely be a good investment and a good time for investing in cost savings and revenue generation is right now.
So while a website through OmniOnline normally starts at $4500 – if you’d like to know what YOUR website would cost, I’d be happy to sit down and discuss what you need it to do. We would then provide a proposal / estimate and outline how a good website and a powerful App can help lower costs, raise revenue – and project the proper public image.
Hint, Hint, Mr. Fougere…. As a Regina Web Design company, OmniOnline is really looking forward to examining that RFP.
And if you need a list of other great Web Design and App Development Companies, you can find them at the SaskInteractive.com website. Our members are Saskatchewan based companies eager to showcase their talent and experience.
Paul Burch
Co-Owner, OmniOnline