In Part I, I provided an overview of dynamic content management and key implementation ingredients. Now I’d like to share the stories of two recently-launched examples from NLC’s portfolio. Both projects make extensive use of metadata-driven dynamic content in different ways.
Case Study A | Personalized content
Client A came to NLC with the goal of mapping out and implementing a personalization strategy for their newly redesigned extranet site. The site would be used by diverse groups of users with individual permissions, and would need to expose Client A’s rich content repository while limiting access based on those permissions.
NLC proposed a dynamic, personalization-centric solution that effectively addresses all the organization’s information needs while leaving “growing room” for new features and functionality.
Our solution included the following elements:
- CMS layer (Reddot CMS)
- Pages and documents tagged with security and descriptive metadata as well as security-based constraints that will be executed in the presentation layer
- Content authors select metadata from pre-defined keyword categories
- Special usability features were added to the content authoring interface to make tagging easier, such as display of assigned keywords
- Presentation layer (Reddot Liveserver)
- User profiles and logins managed by Liveserver
- Personalized content served on each page via real-time evaluation of security constraints against user permissions
- Session management integrated with Client A’s proprietary single-sign-on system
- Site search respects page and document security constraints
Outcome
The new site provides users with a personalized experience and seamless access to various applications.
Case Study B | Faceted navigation
Client B approached NLC to develop a RedDot CMS-driven custom solution for their informational website, which they wanted to transform into an accessible and searchable online format. The original site was not scalable and poor site performance meant that use of online resources by the public was steadily decreasing.
NLC proposed a solution that included a dynamic presentation layer, featuring customized, faceted navigation and faceted search technology. This much-improved incarnation of the site also preserves Client B’s day-to-day business processes in Reddot CMS.
Our solution included the following elements:
- CMS layer (Reddot CMS)
- Individual information resources are authored and tagged with metadata via a specially designed interface
- Resources are then published as XML files to an intermediate location
- A limited number of CMS-managed webpages publish directly to the presentation layer (these are pages over which the client wanted direct control)
- XML Indexer (ASP.NET/SQL Server)
- Published XML files are parsed into and synchronized with the presentation layer database
- Presentation layer (ASP.NET/SQL Server)
- Content is served dynamically from the presentation layer database based on faceted navigation selections
- A sophisticated caching scheme ensures superior site performance
Outcome
The site’s new architecture has resulted in improved efficiency of up to 1000%. In some cases, page load times have gone from 9 seconds to milliseconds. The re-jigged site is easy to maintain, allows use of many plug-and-play functions and provides an intuitive, convenient navigation for users on the front end. Internally, the client can now add new features and extend the functionality of their site, as needed.