Aston University & Advanced Services Group
E-commerce, Web Design, Wordpress
Client: Aston University & Advanced Services Group
Links: advancedservicesgroup.co.uk
Aston University based in the heart of Birmingham city centre is an innovative and entrepreneurial focused institution, reflected in its accolade of ‘Outstanding Entrepreneurial University’ (THE awards 2020). Two very different areas of the university approached us to deliver online solutions.
The Advanced Services Group, a B2B function of Aston Business School, help manufacturing companies and technology innovators develop service-led strategies to transform their businesses. The second project request came from Aston University Imaging, a research-led facility that provides high quality imaging to patients across the Midlands, using their £2.8m 3T Siemens MRI scanner launched in 2022.
The Challenge
When we first met The Advanced Services Group, their website was not fit for purpose. Created on a basic self-serve platform, the site didn’t reflect the reputation of the group amongst peers, competitors and most importantly amongst their global clients. They urgently required improved functionality including an easy-to-use online shop and a fully accessible website.
Aston University Imaging had a similar issue with reputation not reflecting usability. Their internal process for medical professionals to refer patients for MRI scans was paper and phone based, out of date compared with all of their competitors’ online processes. The services available via the new 3T scanner required a digital booking process to complement its technology.
The Solution
For both projects we started by facilitating discovery sessions, detailing steps during the user journey, documenting the journey using Adobe XD. This section requires the most time investment to ensure that the user experience is agreed and designed accordingly. During these sessions Aston University Imaging identified further internal process changes whilst The Advanced Services Group refined their online value proposition to reach new clients more effectively.
With approved wireframes our team built the new website and online booking portal using WordPress, adhering to university brand guidelines and working with both teams to test before launch.
“Web Orchard has brought with them not only clarity of process and insightful project management but with it understated appreciation of their client’s needs. They are quite clearly experts in their field.”
Wendy Prideaux Engagement Operations Lead, Aston University
The Result
The Advanced Services Group website is now fully fit for purpose, hosting multiple resources, white papers and an online store situated on an engaging, responsive and fully accessible site for all users.
Aston University Imaging have transformed their manual booking process to a self-serve online booking portal that is quick and easy to use for busy medical professionals, whilst streamlining their own internal processes to increase efficiencies.
“Web Orchard delivered creative and functional design for our website. We’re very pleased with how the final website turned out. Beyond how it looks, it is a key tool to help us achieve our lead generation goals.”
Kristina Anders, Marketing Manager, ASG Ltd