Case Study: Bay of Islands Computer Website Redesign

Client

Bay of Islands Computers is one of the trusted brands in the area when it comes to IT support and computer repair. They are a team of computing and technology specialists, with a headquarters and computer repair shop based in Kerikeri. They have several years of industry experience under their belt and have garnered a loyal following from the local community here in Kerikeri that extends throughout parts of Northland.

Challenge

We feel lucky when BOI Computers answered our inquiry when we first reached out to them. Their current website was created in 2016 and the design hasn't been updated ever since. While the old website design does not have a direct impact to their bottom line, it was a poor representation of the type of local business that they are and they aspire to be. They are also trying to reach Northland locals, computer enthusiasts, other small businesses, and home users mainly, and they want to be able to engage with them more through their website.

The request was to create a brand new site while still keeping the brand intact. The client was looking at other website designs for inspiration on how to improve the flow, categorise the services, and update it with a modern design which we were happy to help with.

Solution

We started off by working closely with the client to create a solid design brief. The client already has clear website objectives in mind, which made it easy for us to be able to create design concepts and framework for the new website.

The solution involves rethinking the current IA and content strategy. It is important for the client that the users will be able to self-serve within the website, and if the users ever need help the client is easily accessible. We ran a heuristics evaluation and identified the user tasks, and these helped us determine the users' pain points from the current site. We then used the insights from these to inform the updated IA and layout. The work also involved organising and simplifying the existing content so it aligns with the overall strategy.

Aside from this, we have also entered into a digital partnership deal with BOI Computers which enables us to have an ongoing collaborative professional relationship and to continually support them with their long-term digital needs.

Outcomes

• A bespoke and modern visual design that is true to BOI Computers' brand story
• Highlighting both residential and business IT support services
• Surfacing its Remote Tech Support offering and making sure it is more visible throughout the site
• Building trust with users by adding customer reviews
• Custom CMS platform access
• Ongoing technical support and site maintenance

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If you need guidance with your business' website or if you are looking for website design/development services within Kerikeri and throughout Northland, just send us an email at hello@softshell.nz and we will help you out.