Game changer for a leading pharmaceutical company
The Schwabe Group turned to 1xINTERNET to overcome inconsistencies, save costs, and achieve synergies in maintenance and support by using a multisite platform. In just three months, a Drupal multisite platform was successfully launched, on which all new websites can be created and centrally managed. The first brand sites went live in March 2021, and today there are almost 20, with nearly 35 websites planned by the end of 2022. The new platform makes it easy for the SCHWABE GROUP to ensure a consistent look and feel without taking away each brand's independence. Using PIM and DAM systems and taking into account the specified corporate identity guidelines, editors can flexibly create individual content. The website is optimized for high performance and search engines. It enables consolidated tracking of key figures such as brand awareness and visibility.
When the Schwabe Group approached 1xINTERNET, its websites were inconsistent. They had been created at different times, by different teams, using different technologies, different designs, and very different budgets. There were many inconsistencies between the websites, and it was virtually impossible for the markets to exchange information with each other.
The Schwabe Group commissioned 1xINTERNET to set up a new web CMS platform in order to overcome inconsistencies, save costs, and achieve synergies in maintenance and support through the use of a multisite platform. In just three months, 1xINTERNET succeeded in introducing a Drupal multisite platform on which all new websites can be created and centrally managed. The first brand sites went live in March 2021 (including www.lasea.ch and www.umckaloabo.ch), and today there are over 15, with around 35 websites planned by the end of 2022.
The centrally managed platform is easy on the budget and enables timely and reliable updates to be carried out and legal requirements and data protection to be monitored. Using DAM and PIM, the new SCHWABE GROUP platform makes it easier to respond to customer needs. The central PIM provides relevant mandatory texts for all products, and the comprehensive DAM centrally manages and optimizes images and videos for the entire group.
To this end, the corporate design of the individual brands was broken down to see how it could be reflected in a design system. With the help of Storybook, a design system was created for all necessary components that could be shared by all of the company's websites.
The solution ensures a consistent corporate design for all future websites. The code is managed centrally in a code repository. As soon as new components are developed, each website receives an update and all new features can be used immediately on all websites. The components were built using paragraphs, which gives every editor maximum flexibility when creating content. Campaign templates and demo content simplify the creation of new pages. The additional provision of corporate-compliant images and videos through the DAM system makes it possible to prepare a new page in just 15 minutes.
The Drupal-based backend technology is hosted on Site Factory by our premium partner, Acquia.
Search engine optimization of the website has led to improved brand awareness and visibility. It enables consolidated tracking of key performance indicators, allowing the offering to be tailored to the customer.
Project Goals
- CMS system that enables a uniform appearance on the one hand and a high degree of brand individuality on the other
- Uniform brand and user experience
- Flexible, scalable, and expandable system
- Improved cost-effectiveness
- Efficient code maintenance through a uniform code repository
- Security and control through centralization
- Quick and easy launch of a new website
- Direct and intuitive front-end editing
- Automatic content checks in accordance with corporate guidelines
- PIM - System-wide text templates and demo content
- DAM - Centralized assets, images, and videos
- Web tracking and the ability to address customers individually
- Increased visibility and brand awareness as well as more traffic and leads
Here you can find a video about the project
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges was ensuring security and compliance. Websites were hosted on different platforms, and updates had to be carried out manually on each individual platform.
For the Schwabe Group, a CMS system that enables a uniform appearance on the one hand and a high degree of brand individuality on the other is essential for growth in a highly competitive market.
For daily use, it was important to ensure that corporate guidelines were adhered to at every location and by every editor, and that new pages could be created internally and within a very short time.
Conclusion
The project went live after only three months. The project is a good example of Drupal's secure and scalable features: DRUPAL was chosen for its flexibility as an open-source solution combined with enterprise-grade security, scalability, and availability.
The project is a good example of Drupal's flexibility in connecting various third-party solutions:
We used our Drupal-based 1xDXP Multisite Management System, which offers all the features of a robust system and can be easily integrated into third-party solutions via flexible APIs. For example, the central design system was set up with STORYBOOK according to the requirements of the Schwabe Group.
The project shows how well PIM and DAM can be implemented in Drupal: All assets are optimized and made available for all markets. The project shows how web tracking can be used effectively: The evaluated data makes it possible to offer information tailored to the customer.
