South Lanarkshire Council invests in new technology from Jadu to upgrade web services

South Lanarkshire Council's aim is to provide excellent web services for its residents and business customers and to encourage online interaction through this service. To deliver this, the Council has selected Jadu to replace the existing web infrastructure and 'future proof' this investment.

"We have been consistently working to improve our website.  However, web technology, design, functionality and accessibility standards have all moved on significantly in the last few years and our current web development products have not kept pace - as a result we are replacing our web infrastructure," explained Andrew Proctor, Project Manager for South Lanarkshire Council.

"We are greatly looking forward to working with South Lanarkshire. The new web infrastructure will provide a robust platform that will enable the Council to modernise its online services and keep pace with the rapidly changing Social web,"  says Suraj Kika, CEO of Jadu.

The Council entered into a competitive tendering process in June 2009 to replace its Content Management System.  A Project Steering Group was established comprising web developers, content managers, Corporate Communications, security and networks managers, service delivery managers and Data Base Administration teams. The group met fortnightly to discuss technical, business and infrastructure requirements.

The group devised a pre-qualification questionnaire which was uploaded to the Delta Procurement website on 1 May 2009. Thirty-five interested companies downloaded the PQQ, 12 responses were received and seven companies were subsequently invited to tender. Four detailed tender responses received by the closing date of 20 July 2009. 

"The quality of tenders was very high and we invited all four companies to deliver presentations to the steering group. After scoring, Jadu was recommended as best solution for us," says Andrew Proctor.

Jadu will be working with South Lanarkshire over the next few years to address a number of areas including:

  • Implementation of a new web infrastructure and content management system
  • Migration of the Board of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's web site as part of the implementation
  • Development of  new sites for Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board
  • Development of new Council website and intranet
  • Development of a range of new web sites including  South Lanarkshire Leisure, International Children's Games
  • Integration of the Council web site with the National Citizens Account system, initially for pre-population of forms
  • Integration of additional back office systems with web and promotion of the web as a service delivery channel

"Moving to Jadu CMS will allow us to build a website which meets the needs of our residents. It is also built on technologies that will 'future proof' our website which will support our performance in professional web reviews, such as SOCITM. There were many features that came with Jadu, out the box that will allow us to develop our use of Web 2.0 technologies and encourage our citizens to give feedback we can build on." Says Andrew Proctor.

About South Lanarkshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council provides services for 308,000 people in central and southern Scotland. Its larger towns include East Kilbride, Scotland's first and most successful new town, the burghs of Cambuslang and Rutherglen and the county town of Hamilton where the Council has its headquarters. Their large rural area includes the Clyde Valley and the market towns of Lanark, Carluke and Biggar.  The South Lanarkshire Council website averages around 81,000 visitors a month, many of whom transact online.

Published: 22nd October 2009