News and Media
Biznet Solutions – Providing World Class e-Services and Solutions for Tourism Ireland
Wednesday 20 October 2004
In January 2003 after a stringent European wide tender and selection process, Tourism Ireland engaged the expertise of Biznet-Solutions, to help implement their e-marketing strategy.
The organisation employs over 140 staff in offices located in Dublin, Coleraine and in 20 overseas markets. In its Corporate Plan 2002-2004, Tourism Ireland committed to developing cutting edge e-marketing capabilities, to maximise the tourism industry's conversion of leads to sales. This was the challenge and the opportunity presented to Biznet Solutions.
Over a 12-month period, Biznet Solutions worked with the Tourism Ireland Project Board, and Market Office representatives to develop a leading edge, online web portal suitable for all markets, which could be easily adapted to embrace market-specific functionality and language. By utilising an iteractive development approach, Biznet was able to deliver this initial phase of the project (www.tourismireland.com), in manageable amounts for both Tourism Ireland and the Biznet development team.
In March 2004, at the formal Project Review, Biznet and Tourism Ireland agreed on an ambitious plan to roll out the remaining 18 market specific web sites, over a 4 month period. During June-August 2004 Biznet managed the development, deployment and associated training, in relation to the new market office sites.
Content Management critical to success
Central to Tourism Ireland's requirements has been the need for comprehensive Content Management facilities, allowing Market Offices across the world to manage and maintain their own web site content, while allowing Tourism Ireland's central Internet Unit, to manage generic content such as imagery and branding collateral. Biznet have developed a bespoke Enterprise wide Content Management System for Tourism Ireland, based on Biznet Solutions Fingerprint enterprise wide portal management tool set. With 20 market offices (including GB, France, USA, and The Netherlands), utilising 11 spoken languages, the project required a truly multi-lingual approach.
Results
The project to date has been a major factor in a multi-million pound Marketing campaign and a huge success for Tourism Ireland with increased visitor traffic to www.tourismireland.com from around the globe as well as increased interest from across the Irish tourism industry.
The popularity of the portal has also ensured that Tourism Ireland have been able to publicise over 500 special offers within the site, on behalf of over 300 operators. Tourism Ireland continue to get Return on Investment, a factor at the very centre of Biznet-Solution's mission.
"A good web management system is essential to any company that wants to maintain high-quality content, keep the site relevant and prevent any disruptions to business across the Web. Biznet's Fingerprint provides a content management system that enables Tourism Ireland to publish different versions of its website in its different markets across the world. We can take into account local preferences or indeed language and feature links to locally based agents who sell flights, ferry tickets or bedrooms in Ireland....."
Aubrey Irwin
Operations Manager, Tourism Ireland, www.tourismireland.com
The success of the project is reflected in the rewarding relationship, which Biznet Solutions has with Tourism Ireland. The relationship continues to grow with Biznet winning the contracts to develop the organisations world wide Intranet/Extranet, new corporate web portal and the development of a customised web-enabled market analysis tool set.
"Biznet Solutions empowers and enables Tourism Ireland around the world by giving them complete control, autonomy and responsibility for all updates and management of their multi-lingual web portal solution. Biznet are proud to be the company of choice delivering e-Services and Solutions for Tourism Ireland and to be part of their world wide team"
Adrian Bradley
Managing Director of Business and Government
Major work also continues with clients across the UK, ROI, and the USA. Locally and globally Biznet Solutions continues to take on IT and e-Consulting goliaths, and the slingshot is fully loaded for the future.
To find out more please visit www.biznet-solutions.com and www.tourismireland.com