Grand Rapids' Atomic Object can't sit still – new business model brings 7 new knowledge jobs

Deborah Johnson Wood

Grand Rapids-based Atomic Object is a software development firm that just can't sit still – and doesn't want to. In the last 12 months, the company became employee-owned, added software design to its mix of services, created seven new knowledge jobs and became one of the 2010 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch.

"We have a new emphasis on product development, not just software development, and that helps our clients," says Carl Erickson, president and founder. "If they need design, programming, hosting, need to understand their pricing better or how to attract and retain customers, we can do it all for them."

For instance, Atomic Object recently created a mobile app for Priority Health to make healthcare easier for their customers.

"Our designers needed to know who it was for, the needs it served, what it should look like, how to design it," Erickson says. "All that comes after a lot of other work, and our growth has been driven off getting the right people in position to do that other work and broadening what we bring to clients."

The company used to collaborate with outside design firms, which was successful but had limitations.

"One limitation was that everything became very linear, and that meant we couldn't apply agile design," Erickson says.

In the last year, Atomic Object has created seven jobs, hiring two interaction designers, a communications coordinator and filling five other technical positions, bringing the number of employees to 28.

The company also works with apprentices, some of whom they hire after the apprenticeship is completed. This summer, three apprentices are on board, bringing the total number of apprentices the company has worked with since 2001 to 29.

Erickson says 2009 revenues were flat at $3.4 million, but predicts that 2010 will come in at about $3.9 million.

Source: Carl Erickson, Atomic Object

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].