RICS partners with Jadu to establish a web platform for global roll-out

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced a partnership with Jadu to deliver a global web platform capable of delivering a world class digital experience to users initially within the UK. This will be followed by a global roll-out with services customised to locality and user need.

In redeveloping the main flagship RICS site, using a Jadu platform, the key objectives were to:

  • Maximise availability of the knowledge base and improve findability of information for the enormous number of RICS professional users.
  • Broaden the range of services provided to users
  • Improve the user experience through greater personalisation of the site

RICS went through an in-depth evaluation to select Jadu, evaluating all the major providers of web content management systems.

The importance of maintaining agility of systems is heavily embedded in the RICS IT strategy and this was a key factor in the selection of Jadu as global roll-out partner. Additional factors in Jadu's selection were their knowledge and capability to provide innovative products that deliver an edge" and their ability to challenge and change established thinking and approaches, to add value to the end solution.

"We have established a partnership with Jadu that goes beyond the traditional customer supplier relationship. It's not all about applying successful technology. Jadu has also upgraded our thinking - and continually adds value through their contribution to the future direction debate." says Steve Howells, Director of Programme Management and Technology for RICS.

RICS main flagship web site is using the Jadu CMS 1.7.Net web platform for content management and Jadu RUPA and GSA for improved search. Jadu has also worked with the RICS team to improve accessibility and content of the site and on a number of bespoke developments. Jadu designers have also provided a more modern, contemporary and cleaner design to improve the online member experience.

"The primary drivers for the rics.org re-development was to radically improve search and navigation. With Jadu Rupa for Google Search appliance, we"ve implemented a global search over all core RICS websites, providing users with a single global search." Says Suraj Kika, Chief Executive of Jadu.

"Coupled with this we have moved the RICS websites to our new highly resilient hosting service with our partners Rackspace - which will provide 24/7 global content." The hosting of all RICS sites has been outsourced to Jadu who have built a virtual "cloud like" infrastructure in partnership with Rackspace.

A number of government departments using Jadu web technology also use the Jadu virtual cloud service to host their mission critical corporate sites and Intranets.

The redevelopment of the RICS flagship web site (previously developed using Microsoft CMS) is the third RICS web site to be redeveloped using the Jadu platform.

All utilise member authentication via integration with internally managed systems. The first Jadu implementation to support the RICS knowledge base - isurv used Jadu CMS to enable property professional to access a vast range of knowledge and information on legislative and guidance materials. Jadu also developed the RICS Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) web site, which provides cost information, research and consultancy to the public and private sector.

RICS operates out of 146 countries to maintain and regulate standards and to provide impartial advice to government and policy makers and is the largest organisation of its kind in the World. It also provides services to a diverse range of professional users in property, construction, land and the environment. The next stage of development is therefore to provide a "personalised web experience" to all users across the globe.

"We are now working with Jadu to embed their knowledge and experience across the whole RICS organisation. However, there is not one size that fits all. We need to generate the look and feel of each locality backed up by the punch of a global organisation." says Steve Howells, Director of Programme Management and Technology for RICS.

Published: 24th September 2009