Why we are unique
Clients choose to work with Bowen Craggs because of the unique perspective, constantly refined over 10 years, that we can bring to their online operations.
The quality of our judgement flows directly from our six core strengths of web expertise, business expertise, independence, global outlook, diligence and imagination.
Web expertise
We draw on a resource that makes us extremely rare – a continuous close monitoring of the web since its very earliest days. During 1993, before the first graphic-based browser was launched, David Bowen wrote a book called ‘Multimedia: Now and down the line’. It contained the word ‘internet’ just once, but it also described a broadband world, with mobile devices, massive multiplayer online games, virtual conferences and so on.
Bowen and his colleagues have since followed the ebbs and flows of the commercial and organisational internet as closely as anyone, analysing thousands of sites and watching trends as they came, went, and came back again. They have also kept a close eye on related digital developments that are likely to have an impact on business – Bowen’s two-weekly column in the Financial Times, running since 1998, has provided an extra outlet and also a forum to discuss all these issues. Since 2003 we have also produced the unique twice-weekly BC Tips – nuggets that come from a constant trawl for new, successful and unsuccessful practice right across the web.
Business expertise
David Bowen and Keith Craggs have backgrounds in business journalism. This has several advantages. First, we follow the commercial world closely and understand both the broad sweep and detail of business developments, as well as trends in management theory. Second, we are familiar with the structures, stresses and strains of large organisations that mean they can rarely be thought of as single united bodies. Third, we are trained to ask the right questions, to give us a true insight into an organisation’s needs. Fourth, we are communicators: our clients appreciate the clear, jargon-free language in which we present our findings and recommendations. Note that of these, only the first is specific to business: we have successfully applied the others to the benefit of public and non-governmental organisations.
Independence
Bowen Craggs does not build web sites; its judgement is thus unaffected by any commercial interest in creating work for itself. This means we are able to work continuously for a client without the conflict of interest. And it allows us to take a usefully detached view: we can often see what those too closely involved cannot.
Global outlook
Bowen Craggs is based in London, but has a determinedly international view. Much of our work involves helping organisations create truly global websites. We have worked with clients in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.
Diligence
Our reports are in a class of their own for the sheer depth of work that goes into them. Although we produce high-level recommendations and easily-accessible scoresheets, the supporting material will invariably run into substantial documents of detailed analysis. Often, our clients are happy to convert these into work sheets, saving themselves untold amounts of labour.
Imagination
The web is still a young medium; the opportunities to experiment are huge for forward-thinking organisations. We keep a close eye on latest developments on the web – many of which we have seen before under different names. We work out which can be exploited, which are likely to fade away, and make practical recommendations that give clients the ability to leapfrog the competition.