jic.cz: a new website full of innovations

The basic idea from the phone call sounded as follows: 

• Our new presentation website should attract more people. 
• We want to offer improved features and easier navigation on the website to both new and existing clients. 
• At the same time, we want to provide them with the option to sign up for services, events, newsletters, and user accounts. 
• And allow ourselves to inform clients about ecosystem projects that we are developing long-term at JIC (KUMST, FabLab, …)

After the initial workshop with the client, where we thoroughly discussed their ideas, expectations, and the issues they face with their current website, we began to formulate our first opinions:

Build a new website on Kentico Xperience

The old website JIC.cz could be found on their own administrative interface, which JIC had custom-built a long time ago. The problem was that it had long outgrown it. And since we have the best experience with Kentico, we proposed this CMS to the client. It offers many functionalities that JIC was interested in:

• A/B testing,
• content personalization, 
• newsletter sending,
• content editing,
• integration with third-party systems
• and more.

There were quite a few requirements, so we also acted as a partner to JIC in selecting those functionalities. We helped them set priorities and recommended what they truly needed for their work. 

Prototype

Before creating a detailed technical specification, our UX web designer Peter began working on the prototype of the website. It was not an easy task. The presentation website JIC.cz is not only very complex in content but also has a wide base of target groups. Just take a look…

• Students
• People with a desire to start a business or aspiring entrepreneurs
• Business owners
• Founders
• The public
• International professional community

After two months of fine-tuning, a finished prototype was born. It then went to the graphic studio Steezy, which JIC selected as the web design provider.

Now let's take a look at the elements that helped us speed up the website and enhance the experience for both visitors and JIC employees while working.

Kentico 12 and Editability

The original JIC website operated on a custom-built administrative interface – and as we hinted above, it no longer met the client's needs. In particular, it lacked the ability to edit all content as required, at any time. Therefore, they had to contact the supplier each time to implement necessary changes. 

The choice fell on MVC Kentico 12, and JIC finally realized that they no longer had to deal with:

• No more tasking the supplier.
• No more waiting for changes to be made.
• No more worries about checking published content. 
• No additional costs associated with the regular operation of the website.

From now on, everything will be handled by JIC themselves. We created all the widgets tailored to their needs that they will require for their work. They can finally edit articles, create new pages, insert images, photos, videos at any time – in short, they have complete freedom in what and when to add to the website.

Specific requirements that Kentico excels at are content personalization and A/B testing – which the client was very keen on. With this functionality, they can create, for example, two versions of a page and test what will be better for visitors: button colors, different headlines, other images, and additional elements.

Content Import

The new editorial system also meant a complete migration of content from the old website. This involved transferring 450 magazine articles, 200 articles for the PRESS section, and all profiles of hundreds of individuals and companies registered on JIC+. Manually transferring such a large amount of content would have taken hundreds of hours of work. 

At PUXdesign, we therefore involved developers. They designed an importer through which all this content – including photographs – was transferred to Kentico. All of this took them a total of 40 hours.

Integration of Third-Party Services

What Kentico cannot do on its own, we solved by connecting to a third-party service. Integration thus played a crucial role in this project. 

We connected a range of third-party services to the client's website, which now significantly eases their work:

1. User section for user login

Visitors can only see articles, event calendars, and other elements on the website after logging in, which are not visible to other users who are not logged in. Only employees of the South Moravian Innovation Center can register users, who will create the data in the CRM and subsequently send it to the interested parties. Therefore, you will not find any registration system on the website.

After logging in, you will also find a list of (new) jic+ members and a benefits page to connect with companies and entrepreneurs. The user section also includes advertisements – if you are looking for a person or company with specific skills, just add an ad.

2. Five types of forms connected to Microsoft Exchange

Step forms allow users to reserve a meeting room, laboratory, or hall. We connect the forms to Microsoft Exchange, through which users can monitor the availability of rooms or make a reservation if the calendar does not have a booking by someone else. Currently, only one form for meeting room reservations is connected.

3. To CRM

Through the CRM, the client manages event planning – the CRM monitors event availability, stores all information, and registers people. It also manages users in the JIC+ section.

4. ERP K2 

Some events at JIC are paid, and it is necessary to issue an invoice or delivery note. Once a visitor pays for an event, ERP K2 automatically sends them an invoice or credit note.

5. COMGATE payment gateway

We all know what a typical payment gateway looks like for e-shops. However, this is not the case for this project. We have also tailored this element to fit the JIC. For paid scheduled events, we set a condition that the interested party must first fill out an order form and submit it. Subsequently, JIC evaluates whether there are still available spots for the event, and a payment link is sent to the interested party's email address.

However, they are not planning to rest at JIC. They plan to launch a registration zone for the newly renovated coworking spaces or for renting spaces in the JIC building in the Technology Park. Last but not least, they are also eyeing the transition of the KUMST website (creative HUB in Brno – www.kumst.cz) to all other websites from the JIC family on the Kentico CMS.