Leeds digital agency Bolser is a Microsoft marvel

A Leeds digital agency is making waves across the Atlantic after landing a global project deal with Microsoft.
Ashley Bolser and the team at Bolser's Leeds offices.Ashley Bolser and the team at Bolser's Leeds offices.
Ashley Bolser and the team at Bolser's Leeds offices.

Holbeck-based Bolser has been appointed to redesign the computer giant’s learning and advocacy program, ExpertZone.

The agency got the nod following a competitive pitching process in the US against a number of international rivals for the contract.

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ExpertZone is a tool used by retail and contact centre staff to help build their knowledge of Microsoft products.

Key reasons given for the selection of Bolser by Microsoft included its track record in the field and its talent for gamification – the process of creating games and scoring systems to stimulate interest in online learning.

The agency’s managing director, Ashley Bolser, told Digital City: “We have an extremely experienced team of designers, developers and testers who are working on the project.

“They are using their expertise and knowledge to improve the UX on the site and introduce a new gamified journey, which creates a holistic experience for the user as they are rewarded to achieve and are driven towards a custom path to excellence.”

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He added: “We are proud to be a Leeds agency working with such a globally recognised brand and it is a great opportunity to really showcase our specialist skills.

“User experience is everything and we have built up great knowledge and expertise in this area.

“Hopefully it will also lead onto more international prospects as we continue to grow as an agency.”

Bolser is tapping into big data analytics and deep profiling information to develop a site that gives each user a personally-tailored learning experience.

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Its digital designers and marketers have also been working alongside the agency’s new psychology recruit, Hannah Drakard, on the project.

Bill Bush, evangelism experience lead at Microsoft, said Bolser was proving to be a “remarkable partner”.

He added: “They bring cutting-edge thinking, fresh ideas, and a relentless spirit of innovation.

“I have worked with, and for, numerous digital agencies and I can say my experience with Bolser has been one of the very best among these.”

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Founded in 2001, Bolser recently relocated from Yeadon to a base at Holbeck’s Marshalls Court, in the heart of the Leeds digital community and the burgeoning South Bank area.

The Yorkshire Evening Post recently launched its Digital City platform in partnership with Sky Betting & Gaming.

The platform is designed to highlight the giant strides being made by a sector that boasts around 3,000 organisations in Leeds.