ULOKC had a website that was built over ten years prior but had certain issues. For the administrators, technical issues made things very difficult when adding or editing content. There were usability issues for the end user that made it difficult for them to find the information they were looking for. Content was hidden behind a series of submenus and users had to know exactly what they were looking for and how it would be categorized to be able to find it. With assistance programs and events that require registration on constant offer this was less than ideal.

The website was based on proprietary software, a Content Management System that they were locked into and forced to pay for monthly. In our view this ran contrary to their need to be able to dedicate more of their budget towards the communities they serve.

The proprietary system was limited in how it allowed ULOKC to add and edit content, with certain elements completely non-editable without contacting the provider.

It did not respond well to mobile visitors and would even display a reduced-content version of the website in these cases. Ideally, whenever a website is visited, on any device, the same pertinent information is displayed and accessible because the design responds and adapts to the limitations of the device being used.

Just as importantly for an organization looking to interact with their audience, the means of interaction – namely the ability for people to sign up for programs or for sponsors to signup and pay for events – was flawed. Creating forms and managing submissions were both incredibly difficult. The forms were often overwhelmed by spambots, making sorting through submissions ever more complicated.

The lack of interoperability, access for an outside developer to modify functionality in the CRM or the ability to replace components with better ones was a huge concern. It meant things could never be fixed or improved and is what ultimately forced ULOKC to reach out for our help.