Broadband Infraco continues innovation drive with new web portal
Broadband Infraco is the new state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the
telecommunications sector established to improve market efficiency in the
long distance connectivity segment by increasing available long distance network
infrastructure and capacity to stimulate private sector development and innovation
in telecommunications services and content offerings, as well as to provide long
distance national and international connectivity to previously underserviced areas.
As part of its national launch and go-to-market strategy,
Broadband Infraco selected Microsoft SharePoint 2010 as its content management platform for its new website.
Business Needs
Broadband Infraco was established as a new entrant in the telecommunications and connectivity market in South Africa and required a website that would relay its corporate image and content to the general public.
After careful evaluation; Broadband Infraco selected SharePointKonsult and the Microsoft SharePoint 2010 platform to deliver its website.
The company required the website to be delivered within a short space of time and the go-live date coincided with the launch date of the Broadband Infraco service to the South African market.
The company required an extendable web platform that would be able to grow with the organization.
“The website plays a pivotal role in our communication strategy,” says Elliot Naka, IT Manager for Broadband Infraco, “as a state-owned entity, we cannot delay media releases and fresh content.”
Amidst some public criticism and with the telecoms industry keeping a close eye on the progress of the company and its launch, Broadband Infraco had a highly successful launch in Sandton Johannesburg, on the 18th of November 2010.
SharePointKonsult brought a strong user interface design component to the table and delivered an online brand that compliments the corporate image of the company.
SharePointKonsult delivered a smooth and streamlined content publishing process in order to publish content from various locations with the necessary workflows to approve content and automatically update the website.
Solution
Broadband Infraco chose the Microsoft SharePoint 2010 platform as its web content management system as well as its Intranet platform.
The design process was a collaboration between Broadband Infraco’s marketing and communications department and SharePointKonsult’s New Media team.
The content publishing workflows were a combination of MS InfoPath forms and standard out-of-the-box SharePoint workflows and notifications.
Content approvers and contributors were defined within the organization in order to include other divisions in content creation, thus adding further value to the website.
Benefits
Microsoft SharePoint 2010 with its rapid deployment capabilities not only enabled Broadband Infraco to launch their web presence on time, but the product also added the following benefits:
Web Content Management
With SharePoint 2010, Broadband Infraco was able to define a stringent and robust content taxonomy.
This enabled the client to establish the content shortfalls. Working closely with the Broadband communications team, SharePointKonsult mapped out all content areas with a simple and effective architecture.
Once the content taxonomy was clearly defined, content contributors and subject matter experts were identified in the business.
“Managing the content of the website was a key concern for us,” says Elliot Naka, IT Manager for Broadband Infraco ,“but we feel much more at ease now that it has been well defined and planned”
Enhanced Search
The powerful search capabilities of Microsoft SharePoint 2010 enable users to easily find information, search for contacts and even find related content that may not necessarily reside within the website content.
This richer search means that users do not have to leave the site in order to find what they are looking for.
Summary
With Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Broadband Infraco was able to rapidly launch its website whilst prescribing to a best-practices content methodology, thus paving the road for greater things to come.
The web site plays a key role in the greater content management strategy for the company as they roll out their Intranet on the SharePoint 2010 platform as well.
For more information on this project, feel free to contact Manager for Business Development, Nizaam Karjieker at info@smcenterprise.co.za
Website:
www.infraco.co.za
