Toshiba Consumer Products Launches EPiServer-based Website with State-of-the-Art Product Selector
London, 12th May 2009: Toshiba Consumer Products, a division of Toshiba Information Systems (UK), has launched a new website for its television and DVD product ranges based on the award-winning EPiServer web content management platform. The website, at
http://www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk, replaces an earlier site based upon Lotus Notes and features an innovative, fresh, clean design providing an excellent user experience while conveying comprehensive product information.
The site incorporates a state-of-the-art product selector and comparison tool built using Flash and AJAX technologies. The comparison tool is available on any page where products are listed – users simply click on “Add to Compare” for each product listed and a “Compare Products” panel appears to which more products can be added or changed. Once two or more are available, the user can click “Compare Products” to see a side-by-side comparison.
Early indications are that this functionality is the single most used part of the Toshiba website and is aiding the customer selection process. Competitor tools do not add as much to the customer journey and Toshiba is already looking to expand the use of this tool into other areas of the company.
Toshiba has also launched a “Take a Closer Look” element to the site as well as key glossary items at all levels within the site. By better educating the consumer, Toshiba is able to showcase its key technologies in easy-to-understand terms and differentiate itself from the competition.
The new site enhances the Toshiba brand, and has been well-received by users. The site is search engine optimised and W3C-compliant, and the site structure, purpose and content management system are set to be used as a benchmark within the company. The site is deemed to achieve all of its key customer drivers, as well as compliance with the brand, and has been showcased by Toshiba at a European level and proudly presented as the ideal for other Toshiba divisions.
The use of EPiServer CMS enables far lower costs in updating product information and other content. Rapid introduction of new features is now possible thanks to the open API and overall flexibility of the content management platform. In addition, marketing costs have been reduced due to superb search engine optimisation and resulting high natural search engine rankings. This has delivered a lower cost of customer acquisition, less site support due to in-house maintenance by Toshiba and far better presentation and showcasing of products to portray Toshiba’s market-leading product set.
The site was developed by IS Solutions Plc, a UK-based Internet design and software development company that has a long-standing relationship with Toshiba as well as a strong EPiServer delivery capability. IS Solutions delivered the web site to meet demanding timescales and the site development, combined with ease-of-use for administrators within the EPiServer content management system, has contributed greatly to the partnership between the three organisations.
Commenting on the new site, Chris Scott, E-Business Marketing Manager for Toshiba Information Systems (UK), said: “From the time IS Solutions was awarded the contract to develop the Consumer Product Division website, their competency in delivering what we were after was never in doubt. EPiServer was the correct choice from a pool of possible CMS solutions, with flexibility to ensure that ever-changing user requirements are effortlessly achieved.”
Site Features:
• Product listings by series and by screen size (for televisions).
• Multi-tab product information including Flash-based product viewer for high-resolution images.
• Comprehensive product selector.
• State-of-the-art comparison tool.
• Secure contact form.
• News and reviews categorised by type.
• Site search.
