New web site is the result of intensive collaboration

At the end of 2009 Eekels had a quickscan made of the web site it had at the time. The conclusion was clear: there were numerous aspects of the web site that could be improved - technically, visually and the content. Last year Eekels decided to really get to grips with the web site. Or, as sales manager Danny Stolk put it: ‘You do it right, or you don’t do it at all.’ Instead of ‘renovating’ the old web site, Eekels therefore chose to build a new, extended web site with five language versions.

The web site you are now looking at is based on a new technical platform, equipped with a user-friendly content management system (CMS), linked to a new database and enriched with a transparent layout, more legible text and more information. On July 25 this year, the intensive development process was completed and the new web site went live. The first reactions have been nothing but positive.

Intensive collaboration

The new web site is the impressive result of an intensive collaborative process between Eekels, its advertising agency TEM Communicatie in Etten-Leur and internet bureau (link) Netvlies (link to www.netvlies.nl) in Breda. Danny Stolk: ‘Our advertising agency – small, but with a versatile network of specialists – brought about the contact between us and Netvlies. Things clicked really quickly. After a few orientational discussions we made the decision to partner with Netvlies, with TEM as support. We thus found ourselves dealing directly with experts and were assured of reliable input in the area of text and layout. We are delighted with this three-way collaboration.’

Key criteria

Eekels formulated a number of vital key criteria for its new web site. Director Jochem Vlemmix of Netvlies: ‘The old CMS was complex, clumsy to use and not very flexible. We therefore installed the user-friendly CMS from Netvlies and implemented it in such a way that it offers a maximum of functionality and is a perfect fit for the specific requirements of Eekels, such as being easily able to manage 5 language versions. Another important criterion was the presentation of the wide range of products in a clear way. To this end, among other things, we developed two ‘wizards’ with Eekels with which a visitor can select the right type from among hundreds of pumps in a few simple steps. Moreover, it’s possible to create a datasheet of technical information for each type of pump in a split second. This can then be downloaded, printed or e-mailed. In addition, thought was given to the most efficient way to manage products using the CMS, and with success. That makes the new Eekels web site extremely user-friendly, both for visitors and the site administrators.’

Dedication

To make these functionalities possible, the web site is linked to an extensive database. Vlemmix: ‘We had another major job building this for Eekels because the database contains an enormous amount of data.  But, it was wonderful to experience with how much dedication and energy a number of Eekels employees set themselves to tackling this job. As an internet agency we are ultimately still dependent on support from the client and in this project we certainly had nothing to complain about. So I think that Eekels can rightly be proud of the result achieved!’