A Year in Review: 2023

Happy New Year to all! We are incredibly excited to walk through the highlights of the past year at Kanuka Digital and warmly welcome the exciting prospects of 2024.

This past year has been marked by significant events, milestones and dynamic collaborations that have further strengthened our resolve to create innovative digital narratives. Let’s look back at some of the key highlights from our year in review for 2023.

Highlights

Celebrating customer success

Over the past year, we have been working hard to deliver high-quality solutions for our clients’ complex requirements. Every project, regardless of its scope, presented opportunities for innovation, growth, and success.

Our newly published case studies this year shine a light on various successes we’ve achieved for our clients.

The Hallgarten Wines collaboration is one of several projects we’ve completed this year that demonstrates the potential of eLearning to deliver scalable training programs that are both engaging and effective, while also being cost-effective.

The WineSure training program gives service staff the knowledge they need to guide customers in selecting wine and serve it with confidence.

We worked closely with the Hallgarten Wines training manager and wider team to develop extensive course materials incorporating numerous custom blocks. These tools help students learn more effectively, making the learning experience both fun and informative.

The WineSure training program is a great example of how eLearning can be used to train channel partners in product usage. Our learning solutions page provides more information about our eLearning offering and how it can be used.

WordCamp Europe 2023

Our team recently attended WordCamp Europe 2023, a major conference that annually brings together WordPress enthusiasts from around the globe.

WordCamp Europe 2023 was hosted in the beautiful city of Athens. The event showcased an impressive lineup of 102 speakers from 29 countries, presenting a diverse range of sessions over two days.

Beyond the talks and workshops, we connected with fellow WordPress users, explored the city’s iconic landmarks, and engaged with sponsors including the teams from WooCommerce and WPML.

For a more detailed look at the talks, sessions, and unique experiences we encountered, head over to our complete blog post.

Certified Platinum WooExperts

We are thrilled to share that 2023 marked the year we elevated our partnership with WooCommerce, achieving Platinum Certified WooExpert status.

As one of only three UK-based Platinum partners, we are recognised by WooCommerce for our specialised expertise in the design, development, and deployment of complex eCommerce projects that drive business growth.

The Platinum Partner status provides us with access to exclusive resources and support from WooCommerce, enabling us to better serve our clients.

We are proud to be part of the WooExpert community and look forward to helping more businesses achieve their online goals in 2024.

Recognised at the EU WooExpert Awards

We were delighted to be named a finalist for The Innovator Award at the inaugural EU WooExpert Awards. These awards aim to celebrate the achievements of the European WooCommerce community and highlight the innovation that drives the industry forward.

Our shortlisted project, developed for a valued music industry client, pushed the boundaries of WooCommerce by providing a seamless user experience with release-based browsing and track previews. This led to increased revenue and improved customer satisfaction.

While we didn’t clinch the Innovator Award, we appreciate the recognition and enjoyed connecting with fellow WooExpert partners. We are excited to take on challenging problems and explore new possibilities in 2024!

Certified LearnDash Experts

In 2023, we became the first UK-based agency to be receive Certified LearnDash Expert status. Our Certified Expert status validates our LearnDash proficiency, ensuring that when clients partner with us, they can be confident that our skills and expertise have been endorsed by the platform’s developers.

Understanding the specific needs and nuances of each organisation, we design, create, and deliver eLearning solutions aligned with our clients’ objectives, regardless of whether they are aimed at onboarding new hires, upskilling existing personnel, or educating partners about products.

We take pride in joining the LearnDash Experts community, and we’re eager to support more businesses in advancing their eLearning initiatives in 2024.

Staffs Web Meetup

The long standing meet up event sponsored by Kanuka Digital returned this year following a hiatus caused by, well, the unavoidable disruption to in-person events that we’re all familiar with.

Originally founded and organised by a couple of our team members back in 2014, the meet up brings together local designers, developers and those involved in technology-based industries for a host of talks, networking and a generous helping of drinks and pizza.

For more information on how to get involved, check out Meetup or visit the Staffs Web Meetup website.

Speaking at WooSesh

Phil spoke at WooSesh, the annual conference for WooCommerce store builders. Speaking alongside Brian Richards and Brad Williams, our talk focused on “How to Rescue Disgruntled Clients.”

During the discussion session, we shared valuable insights and strategies on how to turn difficult client scenarios into success stories.

Thanks to everyone who attended the talk, and a special shoutout for the lively discussion on Slack and comments of appreciation.

Do the Woo Podcast appearance

We were featured on the Do the Woo Agency Chat podcast.

Ian delved into the evolution and story of Kanuka Digital and our parent company, iWeb, covering our early years serving the music industry, writing propriety systems. We then transitioned to open source, where we have thrived ever since.

Phil spoke about the importance of, and our role in, the WordPress community—from open-source contributions to WordCamp sponsorships and our role in organising a local meetup group.

Ian’s reflections on his own experiences as an agency owner provided interesting insights into the realities of running an agency, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it takes to manage one.

A huge shoutout to Robbie and Robert for extending their warm invitation! We had a great time recording the episode and sharing our story.

Looking ahead

Upcoming events

We will continue to support the wider WordPress and tech community by organising, speaking at, and attending events.

We’re next speaking at an upcoming WordPress Orlando Meetup Group event. Our senior developer Laura will be delivering a talk on LearnDash—sharing our first-hand experiences and successful implementations, showcasing the LMS’s potential.

We are especially excited about the WordCamp Europe conference, which will be held in Torino, Italy this June. As always, it promises to be a lively exchange of ideas and insights.

We are thrilled to announce that iWeb Live, our hugely successful eCommerce focused event, will return again in 2024. We’re very excited about putting together our largest and most impressive event yet!

A step for mental health

We are proud to spotlight the extraordinary initiative being undertaken by one of our team members, Andy, for a cause that is close to their heart.

Combining their love for outdoor exploration with a purposeful cause, they’re setting off on an ambitious hike from Stafford to the summit of Snowdon.

Spanning an impressive 160 miles, and an elevation climb akin to the height of Mount Everest—over 29,500ft—the nine-day hike is no small feat.

With every step, he aim’s to raise awareness and funds for Mind, a leading mental health charity. Turning their passion for nature into a powerful tool for change.

We are incredibly proud of Andy for taking on this challenge and supporting such an important cause.

To learn more about Andy’s journey and support him along the way, visit his Stafford2Snowdon fundraising page.

Wrapping things up

As we reflect on an eventful 2023, we’re gearing up for what promises to be an even busier, more vibrant 2024.

With our strong track record in designing and developing high-performing eCommerce stores, effective learning solutions, and robust lead generation websites, we’re ready to keep shaping digital narratives and experiences in the year ahead.

As Digital Experience Experts, we’re excited to continue our work with leading enterprise brands in 2024. We remain committed to serving clients who, like us, are passionate about creating experiences that drive engagement and growth.

You can follow along on social media, where we’ll be sharing updates and insights from our team. We look forward to another year of growth and collaboration with you!