Where did the idea for Identia Online come from?

Some time ago I was challenged by the blunt-spoken CEO of a company with whom I was negotiating a strategic partnership to answer a simple question:

He asked: What do we need you for?

The question was confrontational and provocative. It nagged at me during my flight back to Boston and forced me to figure out what our company had that was of real value in the marketplace. In a surprisingly short time I concluded that the most valuable asset we possess is a clear understanding of the process by which architectural sign programs are designed and implemented. A review of this process reveals a characteristic common to all sign programs: multiple stakeholders have a need to create, share, and review loads of information. Stakeholders include building owners, sign companies, architects, designers, general contractors, and product manufacturers. The information includes drawings, sign messages schedules, location plans, specifications, and so on. It was pretty easy to jump from a need to share information to the concept of a website that would facilitate and organize the storage and exchange of that information.

The moral of this little story is not about insight or creativity. It is about the importance of listening carefully to questions, even when they are a little hostile. It is also about trying hard to answer questions honestly. Reflecting back, I have wondered why the concept did not occur to me years ago. I am sure that without the question, Identia Online would not exist today.

Welcome to the Identia blog!

This is the blog for Identia. In this blog, we will cover topics about the Identia Sign System and the Identia Online application. Stay tuned for more updates!