Manufacturing a Digital Future

How CMA’s revitalized NJMEP’s online presence, user experience and operational efficiency with a new website platform

CHALLENGE

The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) is the Garden State’s leader in supporting and improving manufacturing and STEM-related industries.

But they felt their website didn’t always show that.

Their online home had grown too big and cumbersome to use. It was also difficult to maintain and not fully integrated with essential business platforms, which caused inefficiencies in data management and customer engagement. Staff often had to input the same data four times to move forward: once for class registration, once for Salesforce, a cloud-based CRM, once for billing and once for membership.

NJMEP needed a robust solution to enhance the user interface, improve ADA compliance and streamline its internal processes to prevent repetitive data entry across multiple platforms.

SOLUTION

CMA proposed a holistic approach to redesigning the NJMEP website using the WordPress platform, focusing on functionality, user experience and automation. Here’s what the strategy included:

• Redesign the Web Interface: Develop a fully responsive website that supports all devices, ensuring a seamless user experience whether accessed via desktop, tablet or mobile phone.

• Improve Navigation and Usability: Re-architect the site to offer easier navigation and intuitive user interactions, making information and resources readily accessible.

• Automate Data Entry and Calendar Updates: Allow for the automatic upload of contact information to Salesforce as leads/contacts following any transaction submission and populate the calendar with new classes and events as they are created.

• Improve Accessibility and Search Enhancement: Implement ADA compliance and enhance the site search functionality for better user accessibility and efficiency.

• Integrate Registration and Accounting: Utilize an eCommerce solution in WordPress to process membership subscriptions, class registrations and event sign-ups directly on the website, and synchronize with QuickBooks as needed for consistent data management and improved billing processes.

• Optimize Resources: Streamline resource downloads by standardizing forms, synchronizing contact updates with Salesforce and organizing documents hierarchically for easier updates and maintenance.

• Enhance Content Management: Migrate and reorganize content to enhance accessibility and maintenance and add features for automatic updates of contact information and management of subscriptions and registrations.

• Reduce Plugins: The strategy included reducing the number of plugins and eliminating outdated ones to enhance site performance and maintainability.

RESULTS

Much better—visually, operationally and systematically. That was NJMEP’s response at the finished redesigned.

The digital transformation seamlessly integrated their brand across all touchpoints, quickly yielding a modern, efficient, and user-friendly platform that underscored their leadership in manufacturing and STEM. Here are a few key improvements:

• Operational and Cost Reduction: System automation and integration reduced manual data entry by 35% and eliminated redundant processes, cutting operational costs and freeing up resources for other strategic activities.

• Cost Efficiency and Payment Flexibility: By discontinuing Cvent, which the prior website used, training costs were cut while adding an e-commerce solution for instant payments or invoicing enhanced cash flow.

• Increased User Engagement: The responsive design and improved navigation significantly increased user engagement. Members found the website easier to use, leading to higher session times and more frequent interactions with content.

• Enhanced Usability: The updated layout and design have simplified site navigation and class enrollment for members while providing the NJMEP team with improved analytics and data management tools.

The project’s success solidified NJMEP’s partnership with CMA. The continuous feedback loop and performance monitoring have set the stage for ongoing enhancements, ensuring the website remains at the forefront of technological advancements.