Case Study - RIS Swiss Section
Details
- www.ris-swiss-section.org
Clients
- RIS Swiss Section Deutschsprachige Schule Bangkok
Location
- Bangkok, Thailand
Involvement
- Custom Website Design
- Live Chat Integration
- Inquiry Forms Development
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Integration
RIS Swiss Section – German Speaking School Bangkok is a leading international school that offers a comprehensive education based on the Swiss and German curricula. With a diverse community of parents, students, and educators, the school required a website that reflected its high standards and commitment to delivering exceptional education while providing a smooth and engaging user experience.
Project Overview: The objective was to design and develop a modern, responsive website that showcases the school’s values, academic offerings, and vibrant community. We sought to create a digital platform that not only serves as an information hub for prospective and current students but also strengthens the school’s brand presence online. The new website needed to offer intuitive navigation, facilitate easy communication, and provide a seamless user experience across devices.
Challenges:
- Showcasing a Dual Identity: The school operates in both English and German, catering to local and international families. The challenge was to design a bilingual website that offers a smooth transition between languages without disrupting the user experience.
- Improving User Engagement: The website needed to encourage interaction, from prospective students submitting inquiries to parents finding key information easily.
- Complex Admissions Process: The admissions process required streamlined forms and clear communication to capture leads efficiently while maintaining a personalized experience.
- Integration with Internal Systems: The website had to integrate with the school’s existing CRM system to automate lead management and communication with prospective families.
Solution:
1. Creative Design Approach:
Bespoke Design: We crafted a modern, clean, and professional design that reflects the prestige of RIS Swiss Section while maintaining user-friendliness. The website layout was designed to emphasize the school’s unique features, including its academic offerings, community events, and student success stories.
Bilingual Experience: The website was developed with a seamless toggle between English and German, allowing users to effortlessly switch between the two languages without losing context or flow. We ensured that both versions of the site offered a consistent user experience in terms of navigation and content.
2. Enhanced User Experience:
Intuitive Navigation: We restructured the website to offer clear, easy-to-follow navigation paths. Key sections such as admissions, academic programs, and contact details were made prominent, allowing users to quickly find relevant information.
Responsive Design: Given the varied audience, including parents and educators accessing the site via mobile devices, the website was developed to be fully responsive, offering a consistent experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
3. Engaging Communication Features:
Real-time Engagement: To enhance user interaction, we implemented a live chat option, enabling visitors to ask questions in real-time. This feature is especially valuable for prospective students and parents seeking quick responses about admissions or other inquiries.
Streamlined Inquiry Forms: Custom-designed inquiry forms were strategically placed throughout the website to capture interest from potential students. These forms used conditional logic to guide users, making the process simpler and more engaging.
4. Technology and Integrations:
Lead Management Integration: The inquiry forms were integrated with the school’s CRM system, automating the process of capturing and categorizing leads. This ensured that inquiries were routed to the correct department, streamlining the admissions process and improving response times.
Privacy and Compliance: We incorporated a comprehensive cookie management system and GDPR compliance framework to protect user data, ensuring that the website met European Union privacy standards. This includes cookie consent banners and privacy policy pages that are easily accessible and clearly communicated.
5. Additional Features:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): We optimized the website for search engines to enhance visibility. This included keyword optimization, metadata implementation, and image alt tags, allowing the website to rank better on search engines like Google.
Performance Optimization: Using caching mechanisms, image optimization, and a content delivery network (CDN), we ensured fast loading times, even for users accessing the site from international locations.
Security: We implemented SSL encryption to secure user data and interactions, particularly during form submissions, providing peace of mind for users and enhancing the website’s credibility.
Results:
Improved Engagement: The new website significantly improved user engagement. The live chat and inquiry forms made it easier for prospective families to connect with the school, resulting in a higher volume of inquiries and faster response times.
Seamless User Experience: The bilingual website design allowed for a smooth user experience in both English and German, catering to a diverse audience without compromising usability.
Efficient Lead Management: CRM integration enabled automated lead capturing and tracking, reducing the manual workload for the admissions team and improving overall efficiency in managing inquiries.
Compliance and Security: The website’s compliance with GDPR and the implementation of robust security features built trust with users, ensuring that their data is protected and handled responsibly.
Enhanced Performance: Optimizations in speed, security, and SEO helped increase traffic to the website, with faster load times and improved search engine rankings leading to better visibility online.
Conclusion:
The RIS Swiss Section website redesign successfully delivered a modern, user-centric platform that reflects the school’s prestige and commitment to excellence. By combining intuitive design, engaging features, and seamless integration with internal systems, the website now serves as a valuable digital asset that supports the school’s goals of attracting new students, engaging with the community, and building a stronger online presence.