Background
Before engaging NB in 2023, Rettie's website was powered by a "Software as a Service" platform for real-estate businesses. Although the platform provided a range of useful features and functions, it could not give the flexibility that Rettie required. Furthermore, some aspects of overall site performance were below the levels Rettie sought, with the platform’s support team unable to provide the required assistance to resolve these issues.
NB pitched a clever approach, based on re-platforming to NB's preferred CMS ProcessWire offering superior flexibility, scalability and performance. This proposition appealed to Rettie, leading them to contract NB for the project.
Challenge
The Rettie website is large and depends on a complex integration with the Reapit property management system. We proposed developing a bespoke integration with Reapit that would efficiently fetch property details via API calls, and cache them on the website server.
Rettie specified the need for a scalable hosting solution. We therefore completed a rigorous scoping and trialling procedure to create a proof-of-concept approach that used multiple database servers and load balancers.
We were also conscious of the risk of losing search engine rankings following re-launch, a hugely important aspect given the prominence of Rettie’s SEO strategy. We therefore collaborated with another agency whose specific remit focused on SEO.
Solution
NB started the project by preparing a strategic delivery plan detailing the innovative approach, while simultaneously re-coding all page types in lean frameworks that would optimise performance. We also updated design elements to eradicate accessibility or usability issues that could impact search engine presence and user experience.
The property functionality is complex, requiring integration with the Reapit property system and a search feature with auto-suggestions, hundreds of regions and areas, and filtering by attributes such as price, type and bedrooms. We sought to learn from Rettie’s previous experience and draw inspiration from primary competitor sites to ensure that Rettie could match the level of experience, functionality and performance.