infonews.co.nz
INDEX
TECHNOLOGY

Pattern's Web Development Work for Coastguard NZ Boosts its Online Presence

Wednesday 28 August 2019, 6:34PM

By Beckie Wright

403 views

Software company Pattern’s work on marine charity Coastguard’s web development has helped increase membership and re-engagment with their base. Coastguard exists to keep people safe on the coastal waters and lakes of New Zealand. Their mission is to be the 'Go to' people for marine safety, education and search and rescue services.

While its search and rescue services are well known and respected, the organisation felt that it needed to lift its game in terms of safety and accident prevention to gain wider appeal for its membership services. Pattern’s involvement with Coastguard involved examining the site, identifying users and their goals, building information architecture and content.

Pattern plan, design and build customised software solutions that help drive the business. Coastguard's web presence has content covering the full range of their operations. This ranges from information on safety, to membership, to education course, fundraising, volunteering and much more. Coastguard needed a way to focus on membership acquisition and retention, the lifeblood of funding for the organisation. Coastguard membership is for boaties that entitles them to free mechanical assistance.

Coastguard not only wanted to increase membership, they also wanted to change the nature of their relationship with boaties. Their search and rescue credentials are without reproach, however they felt that they could do an even better job by connecting with boaties well before trouble hit, and wanted to use Coastguard membership as the vehicle for that. With Coastguard, Pattern created the Boatie's Best Mate website to focus on membership acquisition and retention, as well as connect with boaties. 

Pattern started with an UX workshop that helped identify key users and their goals on the site. From there they built out the information architecture and then started work creating content to fill out the site. The site is content managed using Umbraco, with hosting in Microsoft Azure. The membership acquisition features were integrated directly with Microsoft Dynamics via API. Pattern delivered the site on time and under budget.

Pattern’s web development work for Coastguard helps communicate with multiple stakeholders including sponsors, volunteers and members. Operating a charity means understanding the various needs of a number of important audiences. They helped Coastguard with audience analysis, information architecture, and in the build of acquisition and retention sites.

For more information on custom software development company, software company Auckland, app development Auckland and more, visit https://www.pattern.co.nz/ .