We had the opportunity to work with Go Construct, who provide information around careers in the construction sector in England, Scotland, and Wales, to re-platform and migrate their website from an unsupported version of EpiServer to the latest version of the open source CMS, Umbraco.
The objective was to create a new website that was more cost effective, user-friendly, accessible, and future-proofed, allowing Go Construct to better showcase their services, resources, and events. To achieve this, we used our pragmatic Agile approach that prioritizes collaboration, flexibility, and efficiency.
Our team conducted a full content audit and analysis to understand the scope and quality of the existing content, as well as the gaps and opportunities. We also reviewed the website's architecture, design, functionality, and performance, and identified areas for improvement.
Based on this analysis, we developed a comprehensive re-platforming and migration plan involving several key steps. We created new Umbraco components to ensure all content could be migrated to the new platform without losing quality or functionality. We also redesigned and redeveloped bespoke items such as website tools and digital services to work within Umbraco to ensure the site provided the same user experience and engagement mechanisms.
In addition, we reintegrated with Go Construct backend systems via APIs to ensure seamless data transfer and synchronization between the website, digital services and other systems. We also ensured the site met the latest WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines for accessibility and usability, which involved rigorous testing and optimization of various elements such as colours, fonts, images, videos, forms, and navigation.
Finally, we set up a new Umbraco hosting instance on Umbraco Cloud for better performance and scalability, and provided ongoing support and maintenance to ensure the Go Construct site remains up-to-date, secure, and reliable. Throughout the project, we worked closely with the client's stakeholders and IT team to ensure a smooth and successful delivery.
What we did:
- Conducted a full content audit and analysis to understand the scope and quality of the existing content.
- Created new Umbraco components to ensure all content could be migrated to the new platform.
- Redesigned and redeveloped bespoke functionality to work with Umbraco.
- Reintegrated with Go Construct backend systems via APIs to ensure seamless data transfer.
- Ensured the site met the latest WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines for accessibility and usability.
- Set up a new Umbraco hosting instance on Umbraco Cloud for better performance and scalability.
- Used a pragmatic Agile approach to meet tight timescales and ensure quality delivery.
In conclusion, re-platforming and migrating a website from an unsupported version of EpiServer to the latest version of Umbraco is a complex and challenging project that requires a high level of expertise, experience, and collaboration. We are proud to have successfully completed this project for Go Construct, and to have delivered a new website that meets their needs, goals, and expectations. Our team’s approach ensured the project was delivered on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the client.
