Dublin Bus
Drive forward online with biznet IIS and EPiServer – Delivering More than Content.
The Client
Dublin Bus is a member of the CIE group of companies that provides transport services throughout Ireland. It is a limited company owned by the Irish government.
In Ireland Dublin Bus is the largest public transport operator, providing services in the Greater Dublin Area. With over 3,500 employees we operate a fleet of over 1,100 buses over 150 routes across and around the Greater Dublin Area. Our services stretch into Meath, Wicklow and Kildare but our core business is the transport of commuters in and out of the city centre and its environs.
The Brief
After an extensive European wide tendering process and call to present, biznet IIS were commissioned to redesign and redevelop www.dublinbus.ie
The client brief stated:
The aim of this project is to launch a dynamic, accessible, customer-focused website that derives operational efficiencies and is capable of adapting with the organisation and supporting the full range of online channels.
The main objectives are to:
- Boost site traffic
- Build customer loyalty
- Improve efficiency
- Communicate better with stakeholders
This redevelopment is happening in the context of major changes in Dublin Bus. SMS, WAP and other mobile technologies are set to become increasingly important channels for interactive content.
A key objective across the entire redevelopment project is the minimisation of risk through compliance and good governance. Within this, accessibility is a key issue: just as Dublin Bus has to tackle accessibility issues in the physical world, it also has to take account of online accessibility issues.
The Solution
The delivered solution is based around an extremely feature rich Content Management System with custom modules developed to meet Dublin Buses specific business processes. The delivered solution encompassed;
- Improved website design aesthetic (incorporating and protecting the new brand identity)
- Improved website Information Architecture (IA) and presentation of website content
- Website Accessibility Conformance to WAI Level AA (Browser, Platform, Disability)
- A user-friendly and feature rich enterprise level Content Management System
- A user friendly custom timetabling publication tool
- Multi-Channel Web Content Publication facilities (Online, Mobile Services, Email Marketing, Web Services)
- Effective Project Management, Training, Support & Maintenance
- Close partnership with the Dublin Bus Web Team and ongoing strategic advice
One of the most notable achievements of the project was to enable Dublin Bus to efficiently update the website with complex content and timetabling information whilst ensuring that the presentation of this content was extremely user friendly and intuitive to the end user.
Key Functions
The key functions delivered may be summarised as follows:
Website User Interface:
- Accessible, Intuitive Website Concept design;
- Multi-lingual content;
- Site Search and dedicated timetable searches;
- Content (page) subscriptions, SMS & email marketing subscriptions;
- Timetable display & download options;
- Online Careers applications.
Enterprise Content Management System (EPiServer):
- Enterprise Level CMS (EPiServer) for website content editing;
- Secure access and permissions;
- Workflow, Versioning (split screen) and Auditing;
- In the browser (front end) editing;
- Advertising Banner Management;
- Comprehensive Timetable Editing System;
- Web Service Management – Auto Publication to Adobe In Design;
- Email Marketing;
- Flash Banner Creation and Management;
- Extensive reporting.
The Innovation Factor
A key element of the Dublin Bus website is the seamless integration with Adobe In Design. This facility was proposed by biznet IIS and has created substantial efficiencies in the creation and population of on street publishing. Dublin Bus print team currently maintain in excess of 3000 on street publication points where timetables for multiple routes must be displayed. When any update is made to a timetable, this timetable must be updated on each relevant publication point.
The delivered system creates and XML file when any timetable is updated and confirmed by a member of the web editing team (with appropriate permissions). This XML file contains all relevant data pertaining to the timetable. It is FTP delivered to a specified section of the server and an email notification is sent to the print department. They must then open the appropriate template, import the XML file and run a Script which formats the timetable information within the timetable in preparation for print.
This innovation not only reduces the risk of data input error but significantly reduces the number of man hours required for updating on street publications.
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