Project Description

School Choice International (SCI) is an independent organization that helps families make the best educational choice possible when relocating their children abroad. They understand and account for the fact that each situation, child, and family is different. SCI takes pride in being able to offer the most complete high quality information available to their clients.

The Challenge

SCI engaged Chateaux Software to provide technology-driven tools for effectively organizing data and providing information to their clients in an efficient manner. Prior to this changeover, there was no centralized data management system in place to qualify and sort data and they lacked the ability to handle client subscriptions. This process involved a complete shift from a paper-based system to a well-integrated online management tool.

The biggest challenge was the development of a complex system their administrators could easily maintain on their own. Doing so gave them the ability to focus on their business objectives and eliminate unnecessary, time-consuming processes, which the former paper-based system required.

An initial consultation with the client provided their vision for the new system. Based on the findings, Chateaux chose to design and build an integrated website from the ground up utilizing the Lotus Designer/Domino collaborative software, thereby placing all executive elements of the website into one user-friendly interface.

The project began with the site map conceptualization, created with the client team’s input. The collective strategy now in place, Chateaux determined the tactical implementation behind each key objective.

One key objective identified during this process was the delivery of a technological solution to support SCI’s new web-specific subscriber initiative. Constructing a searchable database within the website met this objective; it allows specific data sets to be displayed based on targeted criteria determined by the individual end user, with the level of access to this information determined by the subscriber’s level. This was a significant change as all requests had previously been handled on a client-by-client basis.

Other key elements of this process included the creation of HTML templates for simple content and creative management, enabling the client to expand as needed, and the creation of an online payment system to streamline the subscription process.

Chateaux created the Global Education Explorer, a complete web-based resource, which includes a searchable database and subscription program for end-users. Fully aligned with SCI’s business goals, Chateaux’s website provides the capacity to segment online subscriptions and information for both corporate and individual end-users. Country specific educational data is now available and tailored to each subscriber’s specific needs. All of SCI’s research is now accessible in a centralized location. With this new user interface, Chateaux opened SCI’s business up to more complex and substantial growth opportunities while freeing up client time and resources.

On the administrative end, SCI can now add HTML content without third party assistance, manage their subscription database, capture leads, and oversee document flow in an efficient manner. These features provide the administrative staff with much greater quality control, enabling more consistent messaging by the end-users as they are also instrumental to all future business development efforts. The bottom-line result: School Choice International now has the technological infrastructure to handle a growing business, while maintaining data integrity.