B2B Professional Services Firm content management system modernization and user experience enhancements.
BACKGROUND
EAB is a consulting firm specializing in education institutions and serves 2,500 schools, colleges and universities. EAB’s mission is to make education smarter and our communities stronger.
THE CHALLENGE
EAB faced significant challenges with a content management system designed around a highly customized software component. This architecture led to inconsistency across the website and a publishing system that was both rigid and performance-impairing due to excessive database storage. EAB's primary goals were to reduce the complexity for content creators and improve the system's overall performance and user experience. Urban Insight was brought in midstream to rescue the project, taking over development from a previous agency that was unable to perform these tasks. This required not only overseeing a complex content migration but also reimagining the design to align with EAB's vision. Our team faced the challenge of maintaining stability during the transition while implementing a more efficient, scalable, and user-friendly solution.
THE SOLUTION
Urban Insight focused on addressing the existing challenges and enhancing the system's capabilities through strategic improvements and rigorous management. Key accomplishments include:
Project Management Excellence: Urban Insight implemented a highly structured and technical project management approach, focusing on clear communication and efficient process management. As we stepped in midstream and had to get up to speed on the project at the same time, the team effectively coordinated with EAB's internal teams, ensuring that all parties were consistently informed and aligned throughout the project. This methodical approach facilitated the timely resolution of issues and maintained project momentum, ultimately delivering a successful solution that met EAB's needs.
Technical Oversight and System Optimization: Amid the constraints of the inherited system, Urban Insight maintained strict quality control and introduced technical optimizations to improve performance. This included detailed database reindexing and cleanup to enhance site responsiveness and load times.
Comprehensive Data Migration: We migrated thousands of posts to new, more efficient post types and taxonomies, involving complex data transformation rules. This meticulous process was pivotal in streamlining the content structure and enhancing the site’s overall navigability.
User Experience and Design Refinement: Prior to launch, Urban Insight undertook a final round of design revisions to address and improve upon the preliminary designs received from the previous agency. This included adding a visual polish and resolving user experience issues to ensure an intuitive and engaging interface.
Functional Enhancements: Urban Insight was able to enhance functionality while refining some legacy components through strategic additions such as normalized data imports and optimized content visibility controls.
Continuous Support and Strategic Partnership: Post-launch, Urban Insight has not only continued to support EAB but also provided strategic guidance to ensure long-term success. This ongoing partnership underscores our commitment to not just meeting but exceeding project expectations.
Visit EAB
“From the ashes of a project mishandled by our original vendor, Urban Insight emerged as the beacon of hope and excellence we desperately needed. Entrusted with the colossal task of launching our massive B2B website, they not only accepted the challenge but soared beyond our highest expectations."
