EMI CMG Distribution was founded in 1994, and serves as the main sales and distribution outlet for EMI CMG. Their website from 2002 was in need of an update that reflected their goals for showcasing their vast product catalog and dedication to customer service, in a way that uses the latest technology in a user-friendly manner.
The EMI CMG Distribution website must serve as a central location for their audience to learn more about the company, browse the massive product lineup, as well as manage account activity and place orders through the secure website. Highland Software needed to find a way to build a strong user experience with an informational dynamic site, a site that would also work seamlessly with the EMI CMG internally-built secure pages.
The existing EMI CMG Distribution website was functional but severely outdated. Several of the website areas were in need of upgrades, and others were no longer used or working properly. EMI CMG Distribution had simply outgrown its current web presence and needed a big upgrade.
In order to more fully understand the client's needs, Highland Software teamed up with a handful of EMI CMG Distribution contacts and researched the current site's functionality. Together we formed a new site structure over a couple of months of careful planning and research. The new website would need to include existing tools that the site users expected, but take them to the next level - as well as add newer, more exciting features as well.
The new site would be powered by the client's existing backend system, giving the client the ability to keep its online catalog up-to-date and keeping the client in full control of all the featured content. It would also need to interact seamlessly with the secure pages built by the EMI CMG IT department so that the site user would get the most comprehensive web experience possible.
In addition to the technical and programming needs, EMI CMG Distribution also desired to put a fresh face on the site through an updated design. The look and feel would need to incorporate the Distribution logo and branding, but in a good-looking and usable interface. Highland worked with Distribution to formulate a creative direction based on research of peer sites, aesthetic preferences, and functionality requirements. The final approved design is a reflection of the balance between a modern, widescreen design and the need to feed a ton of content to the user without overwhelming the eye.
Highland Software stepped through the design phase, production phase, and programming phase of the project through collaboration with EMI CMG IT and the Distribution team. The results of several months of hard work paid off with the successful launch of a powerful, multimedia website that delivers a huge amount of content to the site users. Distribution customers can visit the site daily to be greeted by fresh content features, a full product catalog, streaming video, and direct access to their account information with just a few clicks.
The EMI CMG Distribution website meets the client's need for a robust website that reflects their business goal to be the leader in the distribution of Christian music and video worldwide. Highland is working with Distribution to continue to add features to the ever-growing site since original launch.
"Can I just tell you that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the distribution website!!! I’m not over-exaggerating when I say that it’s an amazingly beautiful and functional site and an extremely useful tool for me these days. I open it up everyday at the top of the morning and reference it all throughout the day. The content, the layout, the ease of use, it’s all just very well done. I’m so thankful for this tool." - site user
Check out the results here.