Global marketing and communication platform

An important step in a new digital strategy: As one of the largest manufacturers of construction materials with about 60,000 employees at 3,000 work sites on five continents, HeidelbergCement is a global player that is totally committed to operating locally. That’s why in its international target group communications, the company was set on establishing a global web platform technically based on the Drupal framework and content management system.

Global platform with stand-alone satellite websites

The Drupal based web platform functions according to the building block principle that allows the company’s subordinate web presences and theme websites to be autonomously implemented. The editors in the countries involved can utilize the application to work with content flexibly and independently. To assist them in this task, a powerful asset management tool and download center has been put at their disposal. All participants can access the central elements, such as a job platform for internal recruiting and a global reference database for the exchange between the various country subsidiaries regarding new projects and application procedures.

Usability and rollout

In order to guarantee efficient collaboration, we have customized the platform into an individualized solution that meets the needs of the users. To accomplish this, we simulated real-world usage behavior by means of use cases, then we drafted a well-founded stocktaking situation review and defined the concrete requirements. Already at an early stage of development, we test user-friendliness and responsive behavior with the help of wireframes.

For purposes of user introduction, we have established our own training procedure: a step-by-step alternation between self-training and web tutorials or workshops. This method permits employees at all the various work sites to rapidly and economically familiarize themselves.