Our Blog

BizStream and Refactored logos displayed side by side on a dark blue background with decorative circles, symbolizing their partnership or collaboration.

News ·

BizStream Expands Strategic and Digital Capabilities with Acquisition

BizStream’s acquisition of Refactored, a leading digital agency, expands its strategic capabilities to deliver innovative and scalable solutions. This partnership strengthens BizStream’s offerings with advanced marketing strategies, unparalleled expertise in Storyblok Headless CMS, and a custom Web Accelerator solution designed to simplify technology adoption, reduce costs, and minimize project risks for clients.

By Michelle Lentz//

Events ·

Join Brian McKeiver at GVSU’s Innovation Day: Celebrating 40 Years of Computing

Attend GVSU’s Innovation Day 2024 on December 6 to celebrate 40 years of computing! Hear from Brian McKeiver, proud GVSU alum and BizStream co-owner, during the Distinguished Alumni Panel.

By Michelle Lentz//

Events ·

Brian McKeiver Speaking at CodeMash 2025

Catch Brian McKeiver, co-owner and solution architect at BizStream, as he speaks at CodeMash 2025, sharing insights on developer estimates and MACH architecture for web development. Join him and other tech experts at this unique conference in Sandusky, Ohio, January 14-17.

By Michelle Lentz//

Kentico and Azure logos with a plus sign in between

Kentico ·

Enhance Kentico 13 Search Index with Azure AI Search Semantic Ranker

Learn how to enhance your Kentico 13 search index by integrating Azure AI Search with a Semantic Ranker. This guide covers setup, implementation with .NET 6 MVC, and key tips for improving your site’s search functionality, offering a more refined user experience.

By Sean Lakies//

Group photo of six BizStream team members who earned the Xperience by Kentico Sales Certification. The individuals are arranged in a grid of two rows. Each person is smiling and standing confidently against a vibrant, solid-colored background.

Kentico ·

Six BizStream Team Members Earn Xperience by Kentico Sales Certification

BizStream celebrates six team members earning the Xperience by Kentico Sales Certification, further enhancing their ability to guide clients through the digital experience landscape.

By Michelle Lentz//

Vibrant tech-themed image featuring colorful neon elements like circuits, data streams, and digital grids, representing AI, cloud computing, and search algorithms on a sleek dark background.

Kentico ·

Simple Guide for Creating an Azure AI Search Index in Xperience by Kentico

Learn how to set up an Azure AI Search index in Xperience by Kentico with this step-by-step guide. From project configuration to search strategy implementation, this post walks you through the integration process using .NET 8.0, Visual Studio, and the Kentico Xperience Azure Search NuGet package, ensuring optimized search functionality for your website.

By Parker Ovadek//

A superhero-themed digital illustration featuring a strong, confident figure with a muscular physique, wearing a blue and red suit with a unique emblem on the chest. The character is floating in a futuristic server room, holding a laptop, symbolizing technology and digital prowess. The superhero's red cape flows behind him as he moves, emphasizing action and power. The background showcases a sleek, high-tech environment with rows of servers illuminated by glowing lights, adding to the dynamic, tech-savvy atmosphere of the image.

Advice ·

Breaking the 10x Developer Hype: Your Path to Rockstar Status

Have you heard about the mythical ‘10x developer’ who’s supposedly ten times more productive than everyone else? According to our Web Developer, Will Dixon, it’s all just hype. Read on to discover what he believes truly sets great developers apart from the rest.

By Will Dixon//

Illustration of cloud computing and data storage concept, featuring cloud icons, server stacks, and arrows indicating data flow between the servers and clouds. The design includes digital and futuristic elements, representing networked data systems.

Tutorials ·

From .bak to .bacpac: Managing Azure Migrations with Non-Standard Backups

Migrating a project to Azure can come with unexpected challenges, especially when dealing with non-standard backups like .bak files instead of the expected .bacpac format. In this blog post, we share how we navigated these obstacles, providing a step-by-step guide to overcoming Azure's limitations and ensuring a smooth transition for complex database migrations.

By Courtney Klawieter//

The image showcases the Kentico Xperience dashboard with a customizable interface. The dashboard is titled "Welcome to Xperience" and displays various application icons in a grid layout, including "Marketing automation," "Email marketing," "Pages," "Media libraries," "Facebook," and more. Above the grid, there's a navigation bar with the title "Dancing Goat MVC," and in the background, there is a soft purple and blue gradient with circular ripple designs, creating a modern and clean aesthetic.

Kentico ·

Using Page Builder With Custom Routing in Xperience by Kentico

When our team encountered challenges integrating Xperience’s Page Builder with custom routing for status code pages, one of our developers resolved the issue by manually retrieving page data and initializing the context. Read on to learn how he overcame this hurdle and enabled seamless custom routing.

By Tyler Stirtz//

This image shows a large indoor event from Tech Week Grand Rapids 2023. The venue is filled with a large audience seated in front of a stage where two speakers are engaged in a discussion. The stage has a big screen displaying event information, including a prompt for submitting Q&A questions and a QR code. The lighting is focused on the stage, while the audience is dimly lit. There is also "Tech Week Grand Rapids" branding projected onto the floor near the stage. The overall atmosphere suggests a professional tech conference or summit, with a significant turnout of attendees.

Events ·

BizStream to host Grand Rapids MarTech Summit at Tech Week Grand Rapids 2024

BizStream is excited to host the Grand Rapids MarTech Summit 2024 during Tech Week Grand Rapids on September 19, 2024, featuring industry experts discussing the latest trends in digital marketing, AI, and SEO strategies.

By Michelle Lentz//

Kentico ·

Xperience by Kentico Content Querying Updates

The latest updates to Xperience by Kentico have introduced a modular, service-oriented architecture that enhances flexibility and performance for developers. With the removal of the TreeNode concept and the introduction of powerful new APIs for content querying, developers can now create more precise and efficient queries, improving both the developer experience and application performance.

By Christian Stam//

A modern project management setting with three individuals gathered around a conference table. The group is engaged in a focused discussion, with one person gesturing towards a digital tablet while another listens attentively. The room features glass walls, allowing natural light to fill the space. In the background, a digital screen displays project timelines. The scene highlights close interaction and effective communication, emphasizing the importance of clear dialogue in managing projects successfully.

Advice ·

The Power of Effective Communication in Project Management

In this blog post, project manager Brand Grace explores how effective communication can significantly impact project management and shares real-world examples and practical tips for enhancing communication within your team.

By Brad Grace//

The image depicts a modern office environment where a group of professionals is seated around a circular table, actively engaged in a collaborative discussion. Surrounding the group are various charts, graphs, gears, and communication symbols, including speech bubbles and connection lines, all representing different communication strategies and roles. The color scheme is predominantly blues, greys, and whites, creating a professional and organized atmosphere that emphasizes the importance of effective communication in project management.

Advice ·

Communication Roles: Changing Your Approach to Fit the Situation

In this blog post, we explore the importance of adapting your communication style to different situations within project management.

By Ian Hilgendorf//

A multi-device display showcasing the YouthCenter application by BizStream, visible on a smartphone, tablet, and laptop screen. The application interface includes client summaries, case information, and dashboards tailored for juvenile case management.

Tutorials ·

Generating Realistic Test Files for Secure and Comprehensive Application Testing

This blog post explores how generating realistic test files can enhance secure and comprehensive application testing, a strategy effectively utilized in BizStream’s YouthCenter product to ensure robust performance without compromising sensitive data.

By Brandon Dekker//

Culture ·

The BizStream Internship Program

Take an in-depth look at the BizStream Internship Program, offering insights into the hiring process, the unique experiences offered to interns, and the high standards that make it a rewarding opportunity for those passionate about launching their careers.

By Josh Rubino//

collage of phones and tablets with various Prevea Health pages on display

Advice ·

Transforming User Engagement: Advanced Search Functionality in Healthcare

Explore how advanced search functionality in healthcare enhances user engagement by providing quick, intuitive access to critical information. Learn best practices and see how BizStream’s work with Prevea Health improved performance and user satisfaction.

By Drew Veach//

The image shows the home dashboard of the Kentico Xperience platform. The interface is divided into several sections: Channels, Content Management, Digital Marketing, Development, and Configuration. Each section contains various clickable icons. For instance, under Channels, there is "BZS Xperience Starter." The Content Management section includes options like Content Hub, Former URLs, Media Libraries, and Preset Page Templates. The Digital Marketing section features icons for Contact Groups, Contact Management, Cross-site Tracking, Forms, Members, and Recipient Lists. The Development section has options like Event Log, Modules, and System. The Configuration section includes Channel Management, Content Types, Data Protection, Email Queue, Email Templates, Languages, License Keys, and Role Management. The design is clean and modern with a predominantly white background and purple icons.

Kentico ·

Xperience by Kentico: A Breath of Fresh Air

Xperience by Kentico stands out as a robust, modern DXP that impresses with its remarkable speed, seamless developer experience, and dynamic community support.

By Ben Buurstra//

Awards ·

BizStream Recognized on Inc. 5000 List for Second Time

BizStream is honored to have been named to the 2024 Inc. 5000 list for the second time, ranking No. 3,921 with a three-year revenue growth of 117%, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our incredible team.

By Michelle Lentz//

News ·

Brian McKeiver Speaking at Momentum Developer Conference

Join Brian McKeiver, co-owner and solution architect at BizStream, as he speaks at the Momentum Developer Conference in Ohio on Thursday, October 17.

By Michelle Lentz//

Config banner on the outside of the Moscone Center, above the main entrance.

Design ·

Five Takeaways from Config 2024

Discover the magic of Figma’s Config conference in San Francisco from the perspective of our Creative Lead, Rex Rainey.

By Rex Rainey//

Blair sitting in a room with a Tv above him and holding and looking at his laptop

Advice ·

How I Learned to Foster Growth in a Company of Brilliant Minds

In this blog post, Blair Compston shares how he navigated the challenge of fostering growth in a company of brilliant minds at BizStream. By embracing core values and sparking curiosity, Blair highlights the importance of encouraging development and passing on the excitement of learning.

By Blair Compston//

Kentico ·

Tucker Winright Achieves Kentico Xperience 13 Certification

Kudos to our talented web developer, Tucker Winright, for his success in passing the Kentico Xperience Developer Certification exam for version 13!

By Maddie Cammenga//

The image features a man with short gray hair and glasses, wearing a light blue button-up shirt. He is standing with his arms crossed, exuding a professional and confident demeanor. The background is a solid dark blue, creating a stark contrast with his light-colored shirt. To the right of the man, there is a blue oval-shaped badge with the text "MVP Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" inside it. The overall composition highlights the man's professional achievement and recognition by Microsoft.

News ·

Brian McKeiver Achieves Dual Recognition as Microsoft MVP in Cloud and AI

Our co-owner and solutions architect, Brian McKeiver, has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for the third consecutive year, this time excelling in two categories.

By Michelle Lentz//

Kontent.ai ·

Parker Ovadek Earns Kontent.ai Developer Certification

Shoutout to our talented web developer, Parker Ovadek, for achieving a major milestone! Parker has recently earned his developer certification with Kontent.ai, a top-tier content management platform.

By Maddie Cammenga//

Events ·

Brian McKeiver Speaking at DevUp 2024

Join Brian McKeiver as he speaks at the DevUp Conference, where developers and other technologists come together to learn, network, and be inspired.

By Maddie Cammenga//

Events ·

Brian McKeiver Speaking at Beer City Code 2024

Join Brian McKeiver at Beer City Code, an annual conference for software developers held in Grand Rapids, MI, also known as Beer City, USA.

By Maddie Cammenga//

Events ·

Visit BizStream & Kontent.ai at Digital Summit Minneapolis 2024

Experience Digital Summit Minneapolis with BizStream and Kontent.ai August 14-15, 2024. Rex Rainy will speak on driving website impact and traffic with a good design system.

By Michelle Lentz//

Kentico ·

Nick Kooman Achieves Kentico Xperience 13 Certification

Kudos to our talented web developer, Nick Kooman, for his success in passing the Kentico Xperience Developer Certification exam for version 13!

By Maddie Cammenga//

Illustration of devices with blue, red and white coloring

Design ·

Brand Refinement: Small Changes, Big Impact

Explore how strategic brand refinement can lead to significant improvements while keeping your brand's familiarity, offering a simpler solution to a complete rebrand.

By Rex Rainey//

Design ·

Growing a Better Brand

Working together, BizStream and Countryside Greenhouse crafted a new brand identity and visual experience that better suits who Countryside Greenhouse is as a company and resonates more strongly with their target audience.

By Rex Rainey//