University College of the North

University College of the North approached us with a challenge that most education technology providers don't have to think about: how do you deliver effective digital training to students spread across remote Northern Manitoba communities, many with unreliable or limited internet access? UCN serves a unique population — students in remote and Indigenous communities who need the same quality training and skill development as anyone else, but without the infrastructure many take for granted. Off-the-shelf learning management systems weren't cutting it. They needed a custom solution built specifically for their reality, not a corporate ideal.

We began by understanding the problem, not just the technology. What tools did students need to learn? How would they access training materials in areas with inconsistent connectivity? What would administrators need to keep content current without requiring constant technical support? The answers became the foundation: a training platform that works offline, stays accessible across devices, and empowers both learners and administrators. Once we understood the constraints and the goals, we could build something that actually solved the problem.

University College of the North Custom Solutions & Learning Platform

We developed a custom Power Apps training platform designed around accessibility and flexibility. The application includes interactive modules for essential Microsoft tools — Teams, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Power Automate, SharePoint, and Forms — with quizzes, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides built in. The key differentiator: full offline capability. Students can download materials and continue learning without internet access, removing a critical barrier to education in remote areas. For administrators, we built an intuitive backend dashboard that allows UCN staff to update content, add new modules, and manage the platform without requiring external technical support. The platform works seamlessly across mobile devices, tablets, and computers — meeting students where they are, not where we wish they were.

The end-product spoke for itself. We created a training solution that actually serves the population UCN was built to support. Students gain access to quality skill development regardless of their location or connectivity. Administrators have full control over content without ongoing dependency on external support. And UCN has a scalable foundation they can build on as training needs evolve. Great solutions start with understanding your business — not just the tools. UCN needed a partner who could build for real-world conditions, not ideal scenarios. That's the importance of custom solutions.