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SmartLinx
Going beyond technology to optimize human potential.
Using brand as a catalyst for category expansion and corporate culture
SmartLinx first approached Monigle to help evolve its brand purpose and visual and verbal expression. Coinciding with a new release of its workforce management product (think HR, timeclock, employee tracking, scheduling) and category expansion, the brand needed to create a new brand platform, logo and design system that would propel future growth. While the organization had developed a best-in-class reputation and product solution for the long-term care category, its branding wasn’t fully developed and its identity didn’t reflect the spirit and ambition of the organization. “We realized that our brand needed a refresh in order to truly represent the core of what we do and the value we provide to our customers,” said Marina Aslanyan, CEO of SmartLinx.
Our mandate was to create a brand that would expand beyond its legacy category while reflecting a more defendable, differentiated value proposition.
The power of a purpose
Monigle positioned the project as the identification of a greater purpose—one that employees, executive leadership and clients could be inspired by. We focused on uncovering an empowering, ownable “why” to ensure a foundation that was distinct and compelling. We encouraged a shift of the company’s internal perspective first: from delivering a practical, functional product to being a purpose-driven, emotional brand that creates new value in the category. With this vision set, we could credibly change the value equation among customers and category.
Our visioning work session focused on articulating the “why” versus only focusing on all the stuff the company does well, resulting in much richer territories for verbal and visual exploration. We grounded our exercises and ideation in the user journey, framing how customers engage with the brand across pre-sale, sale and on an ongoing basis to further cement how the brand needs to be both human- and technology-focused.
Reframing our category value
Our strategic breakthrough came quickly after. We received almost instant alignment with key leaders when we reframed the conversation: What we do goes beyond workforce management—the brand’s greater purpose and stake in the ground is that it optimizes human potential. The idea resonated both internally and externally, becoming a powerful rallying cry for the SmartLinx culture and our client team.
Optimizing human potential as a big idea was easily translated both verbally and visually in a compelling way that’s not typical of the software category, much less within the highly functional world of workforce management. Voice and messaging by key audience segments brought to life our role as the brains behind the operation, the voice that cuts through the clutter to simplify the complex for our clients. In tandem, our creative process was in equal parts human- and technology-centered, resulting in a visual expression that’s elegantly simple, versatile and pulls SmartLinx apart from everything you typically see in the software industry.
The result of our work together is an invigorated internal culture focused on disrupting the status quo and establishing greater value around its products.
630,000 employees served
The SmartLinx solution suite helps manage the people and processes of over 4,300 organizations nationwide.
6 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service
In 2018 SmartLinx won a Stevie Award for every entry it submitted. The awards recognize excellence in customer service, contact center, business development and sales.
2000 The year SmartLinx was founded
During a time when software startups are a dime a dozen, SmartLinx has proven serious staying power.
1 extraordinary purpose
Optimizing human potential is the thing that unites everything SmartLinx does—from product development to customer support to engaging with customers pre-sale.
