Challenge
3Dconnexion needed an experienced contractor to rebuild an important part of their website where customers could find and download the latest drivers and software for their 3Dconnexion devices. Why was it necessary to rebuild this part of the website? Originally, it was simply a list of applications compatible with 3Dconnexion hardware. By adding sub-pages for each application, 3Dconnexion would be able to provide their customers with instructions, case studies and detailed descriptions of the software. Expanding the site’s capabilities also required a complex search engine. The client had a concept for the overall solution in mind but was unsure how to implement it. They wanted to avoid complicating an already complex and large project and ensure that their content editors could easily manage the site using their CMS.
3Dconnexion needed an experienced contractor to rebuild an important part of their website where customers could find and download the latest drivers and software for their 3Dconnexion devices. Why was it necessary to rebuild this part of the website? Originally, it was simply a list of applications compatible with 3Dconnexion hardware. By adding sub-pages for each application, 3Dconnexion would be able to provide their customers with instructions, case studies and detailed descriptions of the software. Expanding the site’s capabilities also required a complex search engine. The client had a concept for the overall solution in mind but was unsure how to implement it. They wanted to avoid complicating an already complex and large project and ensure that their content editors could easily manage the site using their CMS.
Solution
3Dconnexion required a WordPress-based system that would allow them to build a large database of applications compatible with their hardware. This database had to be managed using a huge, 56-page multi-site. On the front end, there was a need for a complex search engine that would allow users to search for compatible applications and learn about the integration between them and their hardware. However, this system had to be based on existing solutions within the 3Dconnexion site, with a specialized module, which was responsible for migrating content between sites. 3Dconnexion came to us with a very detailed vision of the end result. Our first challenge was to understand their requirements and simplify them in some places to make the project scope of the project achievable. We focused on identifying the key requirements and proposed an MVP that could be developed with additional functionality at a later stage. This solution was based on the specialized module, which is essential for overseeing the entire organization’s website. Working on an existing system built by a different provider is always an added challenge, so we had to take time to learn how it works first. However, we have a lot of experience in such situations and know how to deal with them. The main challenge was to create an application search engine that would include global and local applications (depending on the page the user was on) related applications (alternative versions of the application). The client expected search results to be “instant”, so asynchronous requests could not be used.
3Dconnexion required a WordPress-based system that would allow them to build a large database of applications compatible with their hardware. This database had to be managed using a huge, 56-page multi-site. On the front end, there was a need for a complex search engine that would allow users to search for compatible applications and learn about the integration between them and their hardware. However, this system had to be based on existing solutions within the 3Dconnexion site, with a specialized module, which was responsible for migrating content between sites. 3Dconnexion came to us with a very detailed vision of the end result. Our first challenge was to understand their requirements and simplify them in some places to make the project scope of the project achievable. We focused on identifying the key requirements and proposed an MVP that could be developed with additional functionality at a later stage. This solution was based on the specialized module, which is essential for overseeing the entire organization’s website. Working on an existing system built by a different provider is always an added challenge, so we had to take time to learn how it works first. However, we have a lot of experience in such situations and know how to deal with them. The main challenge was to create an application search engine that would include global and local applications (depending on the page the user was on) related applications (alternative versions of the application). The client expected search results to be “instant”, so asynchronous requests could not be used.
Results
The final solution involved a new, main software page with a search engine based on individual application pages. To make searching and navigating easier for the customers, the search engine scans these pages and displays a lot of information in the results. Subpages for specific applications in the form of two linked tabs that are closely linked to the search engine, allowing users to navigate from the search engine to different tabs on a specific application page. Developing an easy-to-use CMS panel for managing applications globally and locally for over 50 pages within the multisite. Ultimately, our approach significantly relied on a specialized WordPress extension enabling seamless content distribution across a multisite network. Additionally, we centralized application management through a global hub within the ‘Network Admin’. The main challenge for us was to develop a solution that would allow our client to create a global master page that would be accessible to each of the 55 pages in the multisite. We used the specialized module to create a copy of the master and set up a link between them. Thanks to this link, any content changes made to the master are also applied to the ‘copies’. If a local version of an application page is needed, the link to the master page can be broken and the page can be edited separately.
The final solution involved a new, main software page with a search engine based on individual application pages. To make searching and navigating easier for the customers, the search engine scans these pages and displays a lot of information in the results. Subpages for specific applications in the form of two linked tabs that are closely linked to the search engine, allowing users to navigate from the search engine to different tabs on a specific application page. Developing an easy-to-use CMS panel for managing applications globally and locally for over 50 pages within the multisite. Ultimately, our approach significantly relied on a specialized WordPress extension enabling seamless content distribution across a multisite network. Additionally, we centralized application management through a global hub within the ‘Network Admin’. The main challenge for us was to develop a solution that would allow our client to create a global master page that would be accessible to each of the 55 pages in the multisite. We used the specialized module to create a copy of the master and set up a link between them. Thanks to this link, any content changes made to the master are also applied to the ‘copies’. If a local version of an application page is needed, the link to the master page can be broken and the page can be edited separately.
