We created a new version of the Asset Library for The Body Shop. It offers significant improvements right now and also makes any future modifications and expansions easier to implement.
Marcel Braakman, Principal Consultant at Capital ID, is excited about the new version:
“We started this project for purely technical reasons; Microsoft no longer supported the versions of Windows Server and SQL Server that were being used. The time was right for a new design and an update to the latest version of ID Manager. As a result, the much-used Asset Library not only looks better, it also offers an optimised user experience – even on tablets. Furthermore, The Body Shop now has access to a whole host of new features from ID Manager 4.03. Our client is very satisfied with the results.”
The Body Shop has more than 3,000 stores in over 60 countries. The Asset Library is filled with advertising, promotional, in-store, PR and training content (at the moment, more than 50,000 assets are available) and is used to distribute this material. The platform is used by thousands of people from all over the world every year.
Vanilla flavour UX
The Body Shop deliberately opted for ID Manager’s Vanilla Interface. Vanilla Interface offers an interface concept in which the most common user interactions have already been optimised, while also leaving room to implement the client’s own look & feel. “An ID Manager environment with the logo, colours and fonts used by The Body Shop. The Asset Library’s new look will be familiar to its users. This interface concept also makes it easier to roll out new versions of ID Manager. The Vanilla Interface offers an optimal user experience. We do not have to spend a lot of extra time on that during client projects.”
ID Manager 4.03
Some of the advantages for The Body Shop of upgrading to ID Manager 4.03 included an improved “global search” feature, the new media bank filters and a significant performance boost. The integration of LBAC (authorisation based on the visitor’s position in the address book) gives The Body Shop the option to assign permissions based on the visitor’s location. That is an important and valuable feature for The Body Shop, because certain products have to be displayed in a slightly different manner or are not available at all in some countries. Using LBAC allows The Body Shop to differentiate which product editions to display based on country.
EPS Pack Shot and Upload Manager
Another new feature for The Body Shop is the EPS Pack Shot conversion functionality. Users only have to upload EPS files, which are then automatically made available in the Asset Library in various file formats for various target audiences and applications. In the past, the pack shots were compiled manually using Adobe software. Now, ID Manager has taken over that task, which has resulted in significant savings of both time and money. The file conversion not only makes it possible to reduce the file size of images, but also to change their colour space (from RGB (digital) to CMYK (print)) and to apply colour profiles. This safeguards the quality of visual material for all applications.
The Upload Manager allows large quantities of files (assets) to be uploaded, including all associated data (meta-data). Right before the launch of a new product line, hundreds of assets can be added to the Asset Library at once with a single press of a button. This method takes a substantial amount of work out of the hands of the content management team in London and significantly shortens the time-to-market.