Blog - Marshall Innovative Solutions

April 22, 2025April 22, 2025 Carl Marshall Uncategorized, Consultancy, Web Development

From Search Box to Strategy: My Journey with Search Appliances and What I Learned

Early in my consulting career, I had the unique opportunity to serve as the Google Search Administrator(GSA) for a large public health agency. I was supporting an ecosystem of 26 CIOs and over 230 programs, all looking to better search, find, and make sense of the vast amount of data being crawled and indexed across our digital infrastructure.

I still remember meeting a brilliant colleague @Melvin Crum who had been the GSA admin before me. He walked me through the intricacies of the tool how to fine-tune relevance, scale with performance in mind, and push the GSA beyond its out-of-the-box capabilities. Melvin mentorship laid the foundation for what became one of the most impactful parts of my role: helping teams across the agency extract insights from content that was once hidden in plain sight.

What is a Search Appliance?

A search appliance is a purpose-built system—hardware or software—that indexes content across an organization and delivers fast, relevant search results. Think of it as a “Google-in-a-box” for your data, helping users find what they need, when they need it.

Search appliances are especially valuable for:

Federated search across document repositories
Compliance and audit workflows
Content-rich environments like government, healthcare, and legal

⚔️ Google Search Appliance (GSA) vs. Solr Appliance

🟡 Google Search Appliance (GSA) (Discontinued in 2018)

GSA was Google’s hardware-based search product. Plug it into your network, point it to your content, and enjoy Google-grade indexing. It was prized for:

🔍 Out-of-the-box relevance tuning
⚙️ Plug-and-play ease
🔐 Secure search for enterprise environments

BUT… it was proprietary, limited in customization, and sunsetted by Google in 2018. Many orgs were left scrambling for alternatives.

🔵 Solr Appliance

Apache Solr, on the other hand, is an open-source search platform built on Apache Lucene—deployed by enterprises like Netflix, eBay, and NASA. When packaged as an appliance (on-prem or cloud), it offers:

🎯 Highly customizable relevance scoring
🧱 Modular architecture (boost search with NLP, ML, custom ranking)
📈 Real-time indexing and analytics
🌐 Community-driven innovation

Solr requires more hands-on tuning, but gives you complete control—ideal for teams that want to fine-tune search logic or integrate AI/ML into their ranking models.

🏢 On-Premise vs. ☁️ Cloud Deployment

Feature	On-Premise	Cloud-Hosted (e.g., SolrCloud, AWS, Azure)
Control	Full control over data & tuning	Managed infrastructure with less ops overhead
Security	Fits strict compliance needs	Secure but subject to third-party governance
Scalability	Hardware-dependent	Auto-scale on demand
Maintenance	Your team owns updates, patches	Handled by provider (if using managed services)
Cost	Higher upfront cost	Pay-as-you-go, more flexible

For regulated industries or air-gapped environments, on-prem makes sense. For agile product teams or SaaS platforms, cloud-first is the future.

📊 Relevance: How Do GSA and Solr Compare?

When it comes to relevance, both GSA and Solr delivered—just in different ways:

GSA used Google’s proprietary algorithms—great out-of-the-box, but less transparent and hard to customize.
Solr requires manual tuning of relevancy signals—like boosting by recency, field weight, or user behavior—but offers full visibility and flexibility.

🔁 In real-world comparisons:

GSA performed better initially, with less setup.
Solr improved over time, especially when paired with user feedback loops, synonyms, and machine learning models.

🧠 Final Thoughts: What Should Your Team Choose?

If your organization needs speed, control, and long-term scalability, a modern Solr-based solution—whether on-prem or cloud—is a future-proof bet.

✔️ For Technical Leads: Solr’s flexibility means you can evolve with your data

✔️ For Product Managers & Owners: More control = better user experience

✔️ For Senior Leadership: Investing in an open, extensible platform drives long-term ROI

🔎 Search is more than a box—it’s a strategy.

Choose the tool that puts your users, content, and vision at the center.

#EnterpriseSearch #Solr #ApacheSolr #SearchTechnology #ProductManagement #DigitalTransformation #SearchRelevance #TechnicalLeadership #UserExperience #SearchStrategy

April 19, 2025April 19, 2025 Carl Marshall Accessibility, Digital, Web Development

Advancing Digital Inclusion: Accessibility Testing with the Axe Dev Tools Chrome Extension

In the era of digital-first services, ensuring that applications and websites are accessible to all users—including those with disabilities is not just a legal mandate but a moral imperative. As organizations strive for compliance with standards like WCAG, Section 508, and ADA, integrating accessibility testing into development workflows is essential. Among the tools that make this goal attainable is the Axe Dev Tools Chrome Extension, a powerful utility from Deque Systems.

This article explores the features, benefits, limitations, and strategic importance of incorporating Axe DevTools into accessibility testing programs, particularly for accessibility SMEs, health communication experts, technical SMEs, and senior leadership seeking to champion inclusive digital experiences.

Understanding Axe DevTools

Axe DevTools is a browser extension for Chrome and Edge that enables developers and testers to identify accessibility issues directly within the browser. Built on the open-source axe-core library, the tool provides fast, reliable, and actionable insights into accessibility violations.

Key Features:

Automated Scanning: One-click scans identify common accessibility violations across your page, categorized by severity.
Element Highlighting: Issues are visually indicated in the DOM with clear annotations and descriptions.
Guided Testing (Pro Version): Step-by-step manual testing instructions for complex interactions such as keyboard navigation and screen reader behavior.
WCAG Compliance Mapping: Each issue is linked to relevant WCAG success criteria, making it easy to align findings with compliance frameworks.
Exportable Reports: Generate shareable reports for documentation, triage, and stakeholder communication.

Benefits of Axe DevTools for Technical and Accessibility Teams

1. Improves Developer Empathy and Awareness

By surfacing accessibility issues in the developer’s natural workflow, Axe DevTools helps bridge the gap between code and lived user experience.

2. Speeds Up Issue Identification

The tool enables real-time feedback, helping teams catch and fix issues early in the development cycle before they reach QA or production.

3. Supports Shift-Left Testing

Axe DevTools encourages the integration of accessibility checks earlier in the software lifecycle, minimizing technical debt and reducing the cost of remediation.

4. Enhances Team Collaboration

Clear, well-documented issue reports facilitate collaboration among designers, developers, testers, and accessibility SMEs.

5. Integrates with CI/CD Workflows

Although the Chrome extension is primarily for manual testing, Axe’s broader ecosystem includes CLI tools and APIs that can be used to automate accessibility testing in CI/CD pipelines.

Strategic Importance: Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Inclusion

Why Accessibility Testing Matters:

Legal Compliance: Organizations in healthcare, education, government, and commerce are required to meet standards such as WCAG 2.1 and Section 508. Non-compliance can result in lawsuits, fines, and reputational damage.
Digital Equity: In health communication, accessible content ensures that critical information reaches all populations, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.
Operational Efficiency: Early testing reduces downstream development and QA costs by addressing issues before they proliferate.
Brand Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility enhances brand perception and aligns with DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals.

Pros and Cons of Axe DevTools

✅ Pros:

Intuitive user interface with minimal learning curve
Based on the widely trusted axe-core engine
WCAG-compliant issue categorization
Exportable reports for traceability and documentation
Supported by a strong community and documentation base

❌ Cons and Drawbacks:

Limited to Chrome and Edge (no Firefox/Safari support)
Free version covers only automated testing; advanced guided testing requires a Pro license
Does not replace the need for full manual and assistive technology testing (e.g., screen reader audits)
May produce false positives or overlook contextual issues that require human judgment

Incorporating Accessibility into CI/CD Pipelines

While the browser extension is a great entry point, a mature accessibility strategy incorporates automation into CI/CD pipelines using the axe CLI, axe-linter, or integration with tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps.

Best Practices:

Run automated accessibility scans on every build
Gate releases based on severity of accessibility violations
Combine automated checks with manual testing cycles
Include accessibility status in release dashboards for visibility

Conclusion

For organizations committed to digital inclusion, the Axe DevTools Chrome Extension is a vital instrument in the accessibility testing toolkit. It empowers developers to act early, supports compliance efforts, and enhances collaboration across technical and non-technical teams.

By integrating accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines and aligning with best practices in health communication, product development, and enterprise governance, teams can ensure that their digital experiences are not only functional but universally usable.

Recommendation for Leadership and SMEs: Treat accessibility not as a checklist item but as a continuous practice embedded into your development culture. Axe DevTools is an accessible entry point toward achieving that mission.

April 19, 2025April 19, 2025 Carl Marshall Digital, Cloud, UI/UX

Harnessing SharePoint Out-of-the-Box Features for Cross-Functional Collaboration and Tracking

In an age where collaboration, transparency, and agility are essential for delivering business value, Microsoft SharePoint stands as a mature and versatile platform that empowers teams to work smarter, not harder. When deployed thoughtfully, SharePoint’s out-of-the-box (OOB) capabilities can become a powerful hub for cross-functional coordination, project tracking, and centralized knowledge management. This post explores how SharePoint Lists and Custom Views, along with Microsoft’s guidance on design and integration, can elevate enterprise collaboration. We also explore how SharePoint naturally complements the broader Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem.

Leveraging SharePoint Lists and Custom Views

One of SharePoint’s most robust and accessible features is the SharePoint List. Lists are essentially dynamic, customizable tables that can track everything from tasks and issues to project milestones and asset inventories.

Key Benefits of SharePoint Lists:

No-code customization: Product managers and business analysts can configure list columns, validation rules, and views without developer involvement.
Versioning and history tracking: Track changes over time and ensure auditability.
Integration with Power Automate: Trigger notifications, approvals, and workflows seamlessly.
Permissions and roles: Manage access at the list or item level.

Custom Views for Tracking and Visibility

Custom Views allow teams to tailor the display of data based on filters, grouping, and formatting. For example:

Kanban-style board views for task management
Calendar views for project planning
Gantt chart-style views (via integration)
Conditional formatting for flagging overdue tasks or priority items

These tools empower cross-functional teams to stay aligned while reducing overhead and friction in status reporting.

Microsoft Style Guide and Look Book for Site Design

Microsoft provides a robust Style Guide and the SharePoint Look Book to ensure visual consistency and brand alignment across SharePoint experiences. These resources are invaluable for teams aiming to build purposeful and aesthetically aligned sites without extensive design resources.

Site Templates Include:

Team Sites: Best suited for departmental and agile teams with shared document libraries, task lists, and communication threads.
Communication Sites: Ideal for broadcasting information broadly across the organization, such as leadership updates or program overviews.
Project Management Sites: Purpose-built for managing scope, timelines, resources, and risks, often integrated with Planner and Microsoft Project.

These templates align with best practices for UX and accessibility, enabling teams to create visually polished experiences with minimal customization.

SharePoint in the Power Platform Ecosystem

SharePoint is not an isolated tool; it is a strategic component of the broader Microsoft Power Platform, which includes:

Power Apps: Build tailored applications that write to and read from SharePoint Lists.
Power Automate: Automate tasks like notifications, document approvals, or reminders based on list activity.
Power BI: Visualize list data to create dashboards and reports for operational insights.

Together, these tools allow organizations to move beyond static document repositories and into the realm of data-driven collaboration. With low-code capabilities, technical leads and business users alike can prototype, deploy, and iterate on solutions that enhance team productivity.

Governance and Strategic Alignment

For leadership and technical governance teams, aligning SharePoint implementations with organizational strategy is paramount. SharePoint allows for scalable governance models, including:

Information architecture standardization
Security and compliance controls
Site provisioning automation
Template reuse for onboarding and project kickoff

When well-structured, SharePoint supports federated team environments while enabling centralized oversight.

Conclusion

SharePoint’s out-of-the-box features, especially Lists and Custom Views, are more than functional conveniences—they are foundational tools for building transparency, collaboration, and accountability across teams. When coupled with Microsoft’s design guidance and integrated with the Power Platform, SharePoint becomes a comprehensive solution for modern work management.

Recommendation for Product Managers and Technical Leads: Start by evaluating where manual coordination or siloed communication exists. A well-configured SharePoint site could be the bridge that brings data, people, and process together into a shared, governed space.

With the right implementation, SharePoint can be a catalyst for operational excellence and digital transformation.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025 Carl Marshall Cloud

Leveraging Digital Ocean’s IaaS Capabilities for Development and Deployment

In the modern cloud computing landscape, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platforms play a critical role in enabling agile, scalable, and cost-effective development environments. DigitalOcean has emerged as a prominent IaaS provider, particularly favored by startups, SMBs, and technical teams seeking simplicity without compromising on power. This blog post explores how organizations can leverage DigitalOcean’s IaaS offerings—particularly Droplets, managed databases, and emerging AI/ML capabilities—to streamline development and deployment efforts.

Why Digital Ocean? A Focused IaaS Approach

DigitalOcean positions itself as a developer-friendly, cost-effective alternative to larger cloud providers like AWS, Azure, or GCP. Its value proposition lies in its simplicity, predictable pricing, and ease of use—attributes that resonate with technical teams focused on speed, cost control, and minimal administrative overhead.

Key Features for Development and Deployment

1. Droplets (Virtual Machines)

DigitalOcean Droplets are lightweight Linux-based virtual machines that can be spun up in seconds. They come in a range of configurations including:

Basic Droplets for general-purpose workloads
CPU-Optimized Droplets for compute-intensive applications
Memory-Optimized Droplets for in-memory databases and caching

Use Case: Ideal for running web servers, CI/CD pipelines, microservices, containerized workloads, and development environments.

2. Managed Databases

DigitalOcean offers fully-managed database services for:

PostgreSQL
MySQL
Redis
MongoDB

These managed solutions include automated backups, high availability, read-only replicas, and effortless scaling—all with minimal configuration.

Use Case: Backend data persistence for SaaS platforms, content management systems, analytics engines, and more.

3. App Platform (PaaS Layer)

While primarily an IaaS provider, DigitalOcean also offers App Platform, a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution for rapid deployment of web applications using Git integrations and auto-scaling.

Use Case: Great for teams that want to abstract server management without losing visibility into runtime behavior.

4. AI/ML Capabilities

Recently, DigitalOcean has begun investing in AI/ML services through partnerships and acquisitions (e.g., Paperspace). Teams can now access GPU-enabled Droplets and tools for training, inference, and deployment of machine learning models.

Use Case: Building and deploying generative AI models, computer vision applications, or natural language processing pipelines.

5. Scalable Storage Solutions

DigitalOcean provides flexible storage options, including:

Block Storage: Attachable SSD volumes for persistent storage
Object Storage (Spaces): S3-compatible solution for storing unstructured data
Volumes with Automated Backups: Ideal for data resilience

Use Case: Media storage, backups, logs, and static asset hosting.

Pros of Using DigitalOcean

✅ Simplicity and Developer Experience
The UI/UX and API are intuitive, making it easy for development teams to get started quickly.

✅ Predictable Pricing
Flat-rate pricing helps avoid unpredictable billing common in hyperscale clouds.

✅ Fast Provisioning
Droplets can be deployed in under a minute, enabling rapid prototyping and testing.

✅ Robust API and CLI Support
Teams can automate deployment pipelines and infrastructure provisioning via Terraform, Ansible, and other tools.

✅ Global Data Centers
DigitalOcean offers 14+ data center regions across North America, Europe, and Asia for low-latency experiences.

Cons and Drawbacks

❌ Limited Enterprise-Grade Offerings
DigitalOcean lacks the breadth of services found in AWS or Azure (e.g., advanced networking, enterprise support, serverless functions, etc.).

❌ Compliance & Security Certifications
While secure by default, DigitalOcean may fall short on compliance standards (HIPAA, FedRAMP, etc.) required by regulated industries.

❌ Less Mature Ecosystem for AI
Compared to platforms like GCP with Vertex AI or AWS SageMaker, DigitalOcean’s AI offerings are emerging but still early-stage.

❌ Scaling Complexity
For large-scale enterprises, workload orchestration and observability tools are not as integrated or mature.

When to Choose DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is a strong candidate for:

Startups and small teams with limited DevOps resources
Mid-sized enterprises looking to reduce cloud costs
Development teams that value speed, simplicity, and clear pricing
Projects that don’t require highly specialized enterprise compliance or vendor lock-in

Leadership Considerations

For technical leads, product managers, and executive stakeholders, DigitalOcean provides a compelling middle ground lower cost and complexity than hyperscalers, but with enough robustness to support modern application lifecycles. However, leaders should evaluate the trade-offs in long-term scalability, compliance, and feature richness depending on business goals.

Conclusion

DigitalOcean continues to evolve as a practical, developer-focused IaaS provider with a growing ecosystem of capabilities. While it may not match the breadth of AWS or Azure, its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and developer-first design make it a worthy contender for many organizations seeking efficient development and deployment strategies.

Recommendation: Use DigitalOcean for MVPs, test environments, and moderately scaled production workloads, while keeping an eye on AI and compliance capabilities as the platform matures.

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Carl Marshall Digital, Web Development

Boosting Efficiency with Workflow Automation: A Guide for Small Businesses, Tech Startups, and Entrepreneurs

In the fast-paced world of modern business, efficiency isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity. For small businesses, tech startups, and entrepreneurs striving to scale and compete, streamlining workflows can mean the difference between success and stagnation.

Enter workflow automation: a game-changing approach to replacing manual, time-consuming processes with digital efficiency.

But what tools make this transformation possible? For many businesses, the magic lies in tech stacks like LAMP, MEAN, and MERN. These powerful frameworks offer the backbone for creating tailored solutions to simplify workflows, boost productivity, and cut costs.

Let’s dive into what these stacks are and how they can revolutionize your operations.

The Power of Workflow Automation

Workflow automation replaces repetitive manual tasks with automated processes, reducing errors and freeing up time for more strategic activities. Whether it’s managing customer inquiries, processing orders, or handling data synchronization, automation tools can:

Save Time: Automate routine processes, allowing teams to focus on high-value work.
Enhance Accuracy: Eliminate human errors common in repetitive tasks.
Boost Scalability: Handle increasing workloads without a proportional rise in costs or staff.
Improve Collaboration: Streamline communication and ensure team members stay aligned.

LAMP, MEAN, and MERN: Foundations of Automation

Workflow automation doesn’t happen by magic. It requires robust frameworks to build applications and integrate processes effectively. That’s where LAMP, MEAN, and MERN come in.

1. LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

The LAMP stack is a tried-and-true framework that has powered countless web applications. It’s especially valuable for small businesses looking for reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Linux: Provides a stable, open-source operating system.
Apache: Handles web server duties for hosting applications.
MySQL: Manages databases, enabling efficient storage and retrieval of information.
PHP: Offers flexibility in coding server-side scripts.

Use Case: Automating a customer feedback system. LAMP can power a web-based application that collects feedback, organizes it in a database, and triggers automated follow-ups or analytics dashboards.

2. MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js)

The MEAN stack is a modern, JavaScript-based framework ideal for creating dynamic, cloud-ready applications. Its versatility makes it a favorite among tech startups.

MongoDB: A NoSQL database for flexible, scalable data storage.
Express.js: Simplifies backend development with robust middleware.
Angular: Builds dynamic, user-friendly frontends.
Node.js: Ensures high-speed server-side operations.

Use Case: Automating inventory management. A MEAN stack application can track stock levels in real time, send alerts for low inventory, and sync data with sales systems.

3. MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js)

Similar to MEAN, the MERN stack swaps Angular for React, a popular library for building highly interactive user interfaces. MERN is perfect for businesses prioritizing seamless user experiences.

React: Enables developers to create fast, responsive interfaces.

Use Case: Automating client onboarding. A MERN stack application can guide clients through a self-service onboarding process, integrating with CRM tools for automatic data entry.

Why These Stacks Matter for Small Businesses and Startups

Cost Efficiency: Open-source components keep development costs low.
Scalability: Easily handle growing workloads as your business expands.
Customizability: Tailor solutions to your unique needs, ensuring relevance and usability.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connect with third-party tools and APIs, such as payment gateways, marketing platforms, and analytics tools.

Getting Started with Workflow Automation

Implementing workflow automation might feel daunting, but these steps can guide you:

Identify Bottlenecks: Analyze existing workflows to pinpoint inefficiencies.
Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with automation (e.g., faster processing, better accuracy).
Choose the Right Tools: Select the stack that aligns with your business needs and technical expertise.
Develop and Test: Work with developers to build and test your automation solutions.
Monitor and Optimize: Continuously refine workflows to ensure maximum efficiency.

Final Thoughts

In today’s competitive landscape, workflow automation isn’t optional — it’s essential. With frameworks like LAMP, MEAN, and MERN, small businesses, tech startups, and entrepreneurs can unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation. By embracing these tools, you’re not just streamlining processes; you’re building a foundation for sustainable growth.

So, what’s holding you back? Dive into workflow automation today and watch your business transform.

1 2 Next page