Itron
Itron, Global Energy and Water Innovator, Advances Digital Capabilities
Protecting the planet’s resources is essential. For cities and utilities in over 100 countries, Itron is leading innovative ways to intelligently manage energy and water. The company provides an integrated, intelligent portfolio of: endpoints, like sensors and meters, that collect data; communication networks that harvest data; and software and services to turn that data into intelligence and actionable insights. With Itron’s solutions, utilities and cities can improve operational efficiency, enhance profitability, ensure system resilience, better engage consumers and keep pace with demand.
Challenges
Itron is a solution-oriented grid edge leader for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which refers to the interconnectedness of instruments, meters, software, networks, and other supportive technologies. Consistently at the forefront of tech-enabled progress in its industry, Itron recently prioritized web redevelopment efforts to maximize its brand’s digital performance and scalability. Goals for the new website solutions include transition to SaaS (software as a service) in a cloud-hosted asset environment.
The new website would help Itron establish a more sophisticated, regionalized representation of energy and water solutions throughout the world. Regionally unique websites were to be created, each with specific product catalogs, language options, and content priorities. The new multisite ecosystem would effectively create a portal experience for customers and accelerate performance within Itron’s established regions, as well as empower a consistently expanding worldwide presence.
Maximizing the capabilities of Itron internal teams was also a high priority for this redevelopment project. Optimal digital platform solutions and training would need to provide website admins and asset contributors with improved ability to confidently manage Itron websites and all day-to-day updates. New solutions would be required to limit the need for developer involvement in ongoing website management.
Solutions
Itron identified Liferay as its digital experience platform (DXP) of choice and joined forces with Americaneagle.com to lead the replatforming (i.e., cloud migration strategy) and performance-driven implementation of the new website solutions. Liferay’s unique combination of open-source versatility, intuitive content management interface, multi-site/multi-lingual scalability, integration capabilities, and overall performance within a cloud-based SaaS platform makes it the ideal choice for companies like Itron. A collaboration with Americaneagle.com was affirmed by the agency’s long track record of success with complex enterprise platform implementations with high-profile client brands.
To expedite the replatforming of extensive volumes of existing website assets, a custom conversion tool was built by Americaneagle.com. This sophisticated solution to seamlessly transition assets to the Liferay platform saved the development and production teams countless hours. This allowed the content team to focus on optimizing the new site structure, search (SEO) considerations, accessibility, and new digital strategies to serve Itron customers across the world with excellence.
Unique website solution portals were established to effectively represent Itron’s dedication to localization and unique commitments to each region they serve. Fifteen websites were set up for designated countries and regions across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Pacific Islands. Twelve websites offer user-selected language translations that combine the best of human translation and automated translation solutions. The centralized product database, currently utilizing Microsoft SharePoint as the single source of truth, fully integrates with each Liferay website. Custom data designations for each Itron product and service ensure real-time integration of regionally specific offerings and details within each website.
The intuitive editing and content management environment provided by Liferay has empowered the Itron team to effectively update and further develop digital assets. Americaneagle.com provided Itron with extensive on-site training within Liferay. Those sessions were recorded for new colleagues and ongoing reference for the current team. Americaneagle.com also continues to provide support, as needed.
Most importantly, the new websites are successfully helping visitors quickly understand who Itron is, what they do and the value they provide.
