Upgrading Blue Hen Disposal’s Digital Presence
Blue Hen Disposal, a leader in waste management services in Delaware and Maryland, has been serving communities since 1972. They are known for their commitment to environmental sustainability and customer convenience, offering a range of services from residential and commercial trash collection to roll-off containers for construction projects. As a company deeply invested in maintaining operational excellence and customer satisfaction, Blue Hen Disposal recognized the need to modernize its digital platform to better align with its service standards.
To achieve this, Blue Hen Disposal partnered with Inclind to provide a comprehensive web upgrade. The project’s primary objective was to upgrade the site from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 while simultaneously refreshing the front-end experience. The goal was to update the website’s technical infrastructure and enhance usability and accessibility, ensuring that their online presence continued to reflect their commitment to innovation and customer service.
The Challenge:
The Blue Hen Disposal website had been operating on Drupal 7, an outdated content management system version that no longer met the company’s growing needs. The transition to Drupal 10 was essential to maintain security, improve performance, and access modern features. However, this upgrade presented several challenges:
- Outdated Custom Theme: The website’s custom theme was built on Bootstrap 3, which required an update to Bootstrap 5 to ensure modern styling and functionality.
- Complex Content Management: The existing content management process was cumbersome, requiring a more streamlined and simplified system to enable the Blue Hen team to manage content efficiently.
- Customer Communication: The website needed to better support customer communication, especially for alerting customers to holiday schedules or service disruptions due to weather events.
- Media Management: The site’s media management capabilities were outdated, affecting the rendering and overall user experience.
- Accessibility: Ensuring that the site met WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards was a critical requirement to serve all users effectively.
User Testing and Quality Assurance: A thorough testing process was necessary to ensure the new site was functioning flawlessly post-upgrade.
Our Solution:
At Inclind, we approached the project with a comprehensive plan to address each of Blue Hen Disposal’s needs. Here’s how we delivered on the project objectives:
- Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 Upgrade: We executed a full upgrade from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10, ensuring that Blue Hen Disposal’s website was built on the latest, most secure, and feature-rich platform. This upgrade provided the foundation for all other enhancements.
- Bootstrap 3 to 5 Theme Upgrade: We upgraded the custom Drupal theme from Bootstrap 3 to Bootstrap 5. This update modernized the front-end design, offering improved responsiveness and a more contemporary user experience.
- Content Management Simplification: We detailedly investigated the existing content management workflows and identified opportunities to streamline and simplify the process. This allowed Blue Hen’s team to manage content more efficiently, reducing the time and effort required to update the website.
- Enhanced Customer Communication: We implemented a new system for presenting site-wide alerts to improve customer awareness of holiday schedules and weather-related service disruptions. This feature ensures that important information is easily accessible to all users.
- Improved Media Management: We enhanced the site’s media management and rendering capabilities, making it easier to upload, organize, and display media content effectively.
- Accessibility Compliance: We ensured that the front-end experience met all current accessibility standards, specifically WCAG 2.2 AA. This upgrade was critical to making the site accessible to a broader audience, including individuals with disabilities.
- Thorough Testing: We conducted a rigorous quality assurance and user acceptance testing process. This testing was essential to confirm that all upgrades were implemented successfully and that the site was performing optimally across different devices and browsers.
- Analytics Implementation: We integrated Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4 to provide Blue Hen Disposal with powerful tools for tracking and analyzing user behavior on their website. This data is crucial for making informed decisions about future digital strategies.
- Budget and Timeline Alignment: We worked closely with the Blue Hen Disposal team to create a project plan that aligned with their timeline and budget. This collaboration ensured that the project was completed on time and within the allocated resources.
- Customer Portal Integration: We improved the integration with the customer portal to streamline authentication processes and simplify bill payment, enhancing overall user satisfaction.
- Content Production with ChatGPT: Leveraging ChatGPT, we assisted in producing hyper-localized and industry-targeted content. This strategy helped Blue Hen Disposal better connect its services with potential customers, driving engagement and conversions.
The Result:
The successful upgrade of Blue Hen Disposal’s website from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 resulted in a vastly improved digital experience for both the company and its customers. Key outcomes of the project included:
- Enhanced User Experience: The updated front-end design and improved media management made the website more visually appealing and user-friendly.
- Increased Operational Efficiency: Streamlined content management processes and improved customer communication tools, saved time, and reduced operational complexity.
- Better Accessibility: Compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards ensured that the website was accessible to all users, reinforcing Blue Hen Disposal’s commitment to serving its community.
- Actionable Insights: By implementing Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4, Blue Hen Disposal gained valuable insights into user behavior, enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: The enhanced customer portal integration and the ability to quickly communicate important information helped improve customer satisfaction and engagement.
Looking Forward
Through our collaboration with Blue Hen Disposal, Inclind delivered a modernized website that not only met but exceeded their expectations. By upgrading to Drupal 10 and refining the overall digital experience, we helped Blue Hen Disposal continue its legacy of reliable service and customer commitment, now supported by a state-of-the-art web platform. This project stands as a testament to our ability to provide tailored, high-quality solutions that drive real business results.
About Inclind
Inclind is a renowned agency specializing in custom web design and development. We are committed to crafting digital solutions that have a significant impact. Our focus on partnership and innovation enables us to drive growth and enhance digital interactions across various sectors. Learn more about our projects and how we can elevate your digital presence at inclind.com.