Site Overhaul and Upgrade Project July 29, 2009

The Site Overhaul and Upgrade Project (SOUP) is an 18 month effort that will touch all the systems that power TechSoup.org.

How will SOUP improve the experience of the users who come to our site?

The cleaner, more modern look allows users to focus on the reasons they visit: Access to impactful technology donations in a learning environment.

How will SOUP improve our ability to deliver technology product donations and related information?

Up-to-date technology will provide us with an opportunity to streamline our processes, take advantage of additional marketing and promotion features, and increase overall site security and stability.

What gets delivered? Phase 2 Donation Processing Technical Operational Phase 3 Migrate Content to New platform Phase 1 Search Initial security improvements Infrastructure Home Page

While there is much that we want to share, this deck focuses on Phase 1.

Currently in process, Phase 1 lays the groundwork for the future.

New server hardware Web server software Database Content management system Modern application development language Improved and increased firewalls

New server hardware

Web server software

Database

Content management system

Modern application development language

Improved and increased firewalls

The public launch of Phase 1 is currently scheduled for August 22.

Today, the TechSoup home page looks like this:

Current Home Page

On August 22, if everything goes right, it will look like this:

Today, the TechSoup search results page looks like this:

On August 22, if everything goes right, it will look like this:

Today, article and product pages looks like this:

And this:

On August 22, if everything goes right, they will still look like this:

And this:

In Phase 1, key pages will change, but the majority of the site will retain its current look and feel.

Why, you might ask, are we doing a site redesign this way?

We are emphasizing an approach that brings value to our users as soon as we can deliver.

This allows us to include the feedback of our 400,000 monthly visitors throughout the entire effort.

How will user feedback drive us forward?

Editorial Board Users TechSoup.org Product Manager TechSoup.org site Web analytics & other feedback UI/UX design Development priorities Thematic content Actual behavior, Forums, Get Satisfaction widget, Call feedback (via CSR’s)

UI/UX design

Development priorities

So, when will the changes impact the rest of the site?

Jan 2009 April 2009 July 2009 Oct 2009 Jan 2010 April 2010 July 2010

We would not have been able to undertake this project without the generous support of Microsoft and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Questions? Just ask us.

And, like the bonus you get when you watch some movie credits to the very end, here’s a sneak peek at Phase 2:

Phase 2 – Changes to donation processing have extensive technical & operational impact. Donation Processing Payment processing Order fulfillment Catalog Mgmt Registration/qualification Restrictions Mgmt Product maintenance Inventory Management Reporting

The deliverables in Phase 2 will help us gain more flexibility in the way we are able to implement and manage donation programs.

The main benefits of Phase 2 are targeted for delivery in July 2010.