Federation of Cocoa Commerce website
Federation of Cocoa Commerce website
Migrating a global membership to a modern web solution
Migrating a global membership to a modern web solution
The client
The Federation of Cocoa Commerce (FCC) is a membership organisation which provides a framework that represents all sectors of the cocoa trade and industry. Their global membership spans more than 40 countries, with the aim of delivering sustainable benefits to all members, allowing them to provide high quality services to their customers.
The opportunity
FCC approached us with the task of modernising their website with a new front end and back end, providing not just an improved experience for users but also a more flexible and scalable solution for FCC staff to manage members and member benefits.
As a specialist in CMS migrations, we knew that this was a task we could take on with confidence. The existing website was using a custom but outdated Content Management System which was no longer capable of serving the needs of FCC and its members. We recommended Craft CMS, which offers an intuitive admin interface, a strong security model to protect member details, and a rich plugin ecosystem to help with some of the key elements of the website, including application forms and event management.
Our goal was to deliver a smooth migration which would improve the website’s visual identity while providing an enhanced user experience for both members and staff alike.
The solution
A fresh design
We wanted the design to present a modern and professional image of the FCC while also being accessible and engaging to new visitors. We set out to accomplish this with an initial set of designs which took some existing design elements, such as colours and typefaces, and put them into a simpler, less cluttered page layout. The natural greens and browns of the cocoa industry were complemented by graphics of cocoa beans and cocoa pods to create a website which feels rooted in the trade it represents.
Content elements were designed in a way that would fit nicely into the modular infrastructure of Craft CMS, allowing admins to build new pages and edit old ones with ease.
Application process
The FCC were still using paper-based application forms which had to be downloaded from the website, printed, filled out, scanned and sent by the applicant, then presented to the FCC council and committee for review and approval. We knew that we could significantly streamline this process by leveraging the Formie plugin for Craft CMS.
Formie allows users to build modular forms by dragging and dropping fields into place, offering a user-friendly experience that anyone can learn easily. Features such as required fields and conditional fields, which can easily cause confusion on a paper form, were easy to implement, enabling us to guide the user through the forms, ensuring all necessary information was provided and minimising errors.
However, filling out and submitting these forms is just the start of a multi-stage application process which requires approval from multiple parties.
We built a new custom module to handle the application process, including sending emails to the correct parties and a secure area for admins to review and take action on applications. This also includes options to download application details as a PDF, or edit applications in the admin system.
With five different application forms across two languages, this process had to be watertight to ensure all checks were done correctly, as the review process differs for different forms. Thanks to Formie’s easy-to-use interface and the complex functionality enabled by the custom module, this process is now much smoother and faster for all parties involved.
Member area
Perhaps the most important part of the FCC website is the member area, which allows members to access the benefits to which they are entitled as part of their membership. We replicated the current experience of viewing member communications, guidelines, and committee documents, but we also added some brand new self-service features to give members more control over their user experience:
Your details
Gives users the ability to edit their own membership details, reducing reliance on admins to make updates.
Company details
Allows lead users to update their company details, which then appear on the FCC member page.
Add colleagues
Allows lead users to add their colleagues as users who will then receive an invitation to create an account on the website.
Superintendents scheme
Allows members to apply for the FCC Superintendents Scheme or, if they are already part of the scheme, add their colleagues as new superintendents.
The challenges
A complex launch
The launch of the new website was more complicated than expected. It transpired that a Cloudflare zone set up by a previous developer had been re-activated when the new website went live on Servd, which also uses Cloudflare technology.
This delayed the launch by two days, but by liaising with multiple parties including Servd, Cloudflare, the previous developer, FCC’s helpdesk agency and FCC themselves, we were able to get the troublesome zone removed and the website live with minimal disruption to FCC’s normal operations.
A multilingual multisite
FCC caters for its global user base by providing all application forms and some key documents in both English and French. On the old system, with the paper-based application forms, they simply provided two links to each application form, one in each language, and applicants filled out the correct one and submitted it. The online application forms would require a different approach.
We created a multi-site in Craft CMS, containing two distinct sites: one in English and one in French. The questionnaire page, which helps applicants to determine the correct form for them, is available in both languages, but rather than creating two separate templates, we created a translations config file which automatically translates the page content into French when viewing it on the French site.
For the application forms themselves, we had to create each form twice in Formie, and present the correct one to the user based on the URL. The complexity didn’t stop there, as the full application journey - not just forms, but email notifications and the application review portal as well - had to be available in both languages. We tested this thoroughly to ensure that the application journey was smooth and consistent regardless of language.
The multisite structure means that it will be simple to add more French pages to the website in future as and when required, and further sites can be added if other languages are required, allowing FCC to serve their growing membership.
Intuitive authoring experience
A much more flexible and user-friendly interface for FCC staff to create new pages, keep existing content up-to-date, and manage events.
Improved security & performance
The transition to Craft CMS improved website security and resulted in significant improvements to website speed and optimisation.
Modernised application process
Paper-based application forms were digitised for a smoother, simpler process from start to finish.
Expanded member benefits
More control and access for users, with the potential for further growth in future.
Scalable
foundation
The new platform provides the groundwork for future improvements to the website, such as new sections or more expansive French subsite.
