2024: Our Year in Review
As we close out another year at Koben Digital, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to the clients, partners, and vendors who have supported us. Your trust and collaboration have helped us navigate a challenging economic landscape, and we’re proud of where we stand as we prepare to step confidently into 2025.
A Year of Challenges and Growth
The year began under a cloud of uncertainty for many agencies. Many businesses looked offshore to cut costs, but we made the conscious choice to retain our team intact and stay true to our values. This decision allowed us to remain flexible, resilient, and responsive and maintain the same high quality delivery our clients expect and appreciate. As the months rolled on, momentum built steadily, and by year’s end we found ourselves stronger, more focused, and ready to tackle the opportunities that await.
Welcoming New Faces and Bidding Farewell
In the natural cycle of growth, we said goodbye to a few familiar faces as some team members moved on in their journeys. At the same time, we welcomed several new talents into the Koben family. Abraham joined our development team, and we’re already seeing the positive impact of his skill and creativity.
Lily’s story will go down in company lore: on her very first day, she took a tumble down the office stairs, breaking her ankle in three places. After a challenging recovery, she’s now firmly on board and already making her mark.
Kirsty came aboard to lead our marketing efforts, and her immediate focus has been coordinating the UDUF conference and driving the next phase of our Umbraco website.
We’re also excited to announce that Kallen will join our development team in the new year, adding fresh energy and expertise.
Adventures Abroad and Fresh Inspiration
Our co-founders Peter and Cherie ventured to Chicago for the Umbraco US Festival in September, reconnecting with the global Umbraco community and old colleagues from their time in the Umbraco HQ.
The excitement and exchange of ideas at the festival provided renewed motivation to bring back the Umbraco Down Under Festival (UDUF) to Australia, which returns this April (visit uduf.net for details). Working alongside other agencies, we’ve secured an impressive lineup of international speakers, including Umbraco’s new CEO, ensuring this will be an event not to miss.
Peter and Cherie also met with Queensland Trade and Enterprise in San Francisco to discuss expanding “Thumsters Parenting” — a solution incubated here at Koben —into the U.S. market. And in a fitting conclusion to their trip, they embraced a spur-of-the-moment decision to see Deadmau5 live before embarking on a 30-hour return journey to Australia. If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that inspiration can come from unexpected places.
Team Updates and Travels
This year saw Chris, our Lead Developer, return to Australia after working remotely in the UK for over eight months, reconnecting in person with the team and our clients. Florian also rejoined us on-site after spending nearly six months traveling in Germany and Brazil. Their experiences abroad have infused our team with fresh perspectives and insights.
Umbraco Upgrades, Achievements and Partnerships
Umbraco upgrades were a recurring theme in 2024, as organisations prepared for Umbraco 8’s End of Life slated for February 2025. We’ve been assisting clients in navigating these upgrades smoothly, ensuring that their digital platforms remain secure, high-performing, and future-ready.
One of the year’s standout achievements was our work on the BCNA website, which began in June 2023. The site earned a Good Design Award in the Web Design and Development category, a testament to our commitment to exceptional user experiences, intentional implementation of design, and robust technology.
We’re also proud to announce that Koben has become an Umbraco Platinum Partner. This new level of partnership not only recognises our expertise in the platform but reinforces our dedication to delivering the best possible solutions to our clients.
Looking Ahead: Innovation and Security
As we enter the coming year, we’re focusing on releasing a solution specifically tailored to Non-For-Profits (NFPs). This new offering will bring together the essential features that NFPs need—integrations with leading CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot, seamless connections to donation platforms like Raisely and Funraisin, and a best-of-breed digital experience platform (DXP) ecosystem.
Our goal is to democratise digital solutions, simplifying complex technology so organisations can focus on their mission and empowering the individuals and communities they support. We’re also proud to announce our partnership with Vanta as we pursue SOC 2 compliance. This move demonstrates our ongoing commitment to security and compliance, providing peace of mind to the organisations we serve.
Thank you - and Onwards to 2025!
This year has been one of building momentum, strengthening relationships, and laying down a strategic foundation for the future. We thank every individual, every client, and every partner who has been part of this journey. Together, we’ve navigated uncertainty, embraced change, and emerged stronger. Here’s to a bright 2025 — full of innovation, collaboration, and new possibilities!
Our Koben office will be closed for the holiday season from COB Friday 20 December 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025.
While our team will be enjoying the holiday season with their families and friends, we will also be available to our support clients for any emergencies that may arise.
Want to know more information about our support agreements? Get in touch! We'd love to talk through your specific needs with you.
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