East Lothian Council has selected Jadu, a leading UK content management solutions (CMS) provider, to meet the need for enhanced e-services and increased online transactions being generated by the general public.
East Lothian Council has selected Jadu to meet the need for enhanced e-services and increased online transactions being generated by the general public.
The Council's e-Business Framework provided the driving force for this new initiative, which will see the launch of a new website for the local authority by the end of this year. This identified major new opportunities for new services, better services and smarter services through the effective application of new web based technologies. East Lothian Council was also keen to adopt standards specifically developed for Scottish Councils, in particular the Scottish Services List (SSL) and the Scottish Navigation List (SNL).
The new web site will make a big difference to users and fits in well with our plans to improve our customer service where there is a significant emphasis on improved communication.
Jim Lamond - Head of Policy and Business Management - East Lothian Council
The existing web content management system used by the Council was no longer seen as providing a platform to support its e-Government strategy. Poor usability constrained the ability to provide the 'positive customer experience' desired. Limitations in the architecture also made it difficult to update and change.
Jadu CMS was selected after a rigorous evaluation of potential solutions. A key factor in the decision to adopt Jadu was the company's extensive experience of the local authority market in England. The new website development is one of a number of initiatives that see a transformation in service delivery for the Council.
Suraj Kika, CEO of Jadu re-affirmed Jadu's commitment to both web and e-government standards: "East Lothian was looking for a system that would support standards as they are established and Jadu has always been strong in our commitment to both web standards and emerging government standards - we are really excited about delivering East Lothian intelligent, accessible and modern websites."
These standards mean that councils can work towards a common A-Z listing and 'Frequently asked Questions' (FAQ) structure and assist in the Scottish Executive's overall goal of '75% of citizens enquiries being answered at the first point of contact'.
East Lothian Council selected Jadu CMS to provide the main web site and Jadu Intranet 2.0 to increase efficiency of internal communication. It is intended to launch the new site towards the end of 2008 and the Intranet in early 2009.
The Council will also be taking advantage of the newly formed partnership between Jadu and AbilityNet, the national charity for web accessibility testing. AblityNet will be performing highly focussed, real-world accessibility testing for the site before it is launched later this year.
ENDS
About Jadu
Jadu helps businesses and public sector organisations to create and manage their online channel quickly, simply and cost effectively. Jadu was formed in 2001 to provide Content Management Systems (CMS) for government organisations. Since its first major implementation for BERR in 2002, Jadu has evolved further and been implemented for hundreds of private and public sector organisations across the UK.
Providing a refreshing approach to Enterprise Content Management, Jadu offers ground-breaking functionality including integrated Online forms, Google searches, user intelligence and full statistical reporting, full standards compliance, product and catalogue management with a host of other web productivity tools and unparalleled support service.
About East Lothian Council
For further information on East Lothian Council visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk
Contact David Russell, Corporate Communications Manager
Tel. 01620 827655
