Unlocking knowledge to combat leprosy and other tropical diseases
How do you enable healthcare professionals and researchers to collaborate and share knowledge worldwide in the fight against leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases?
For people in the field, it is essential to collaborate and share knowledge. However, information on leprosy and neglected tropical diseases is fragmented and scattered. Infolep & InfoNTD bring this knowledge together online to help healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide in their fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). However, the platform was in dire need of renewal, not least the outdated Drupal 7 technology. The migration to Drupal 8 was therefore a good opportunity to improve not only the technology but also the design, usability and functionality of the websites.
From migration to optimization
With 40 to 50,000 academic articles, the publication section is the heart of the multi-site, database serving the two portals. To maintain its value, we created a content and migration plan for the move from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8. We automated the migration of the bulk of the articles, migrated the remaining content pages manually and applied redirects for pages that would cease to exist. The entire section was then redesigned to improve navigation through search results and article pages.
Quickly search, filter and find with smart search functionality
With such a large amount of content, it is essential to use a database optimized for searchability. Using Elasticsearch technology, we were able to set up a fast search engine that not only displays relevant content but also makes suggestions based on searches. Improvements in the datasets such as de-duplication and the creation of improved references between different types of information made for even better findability.
Easy navigation through a logical structure
We also took another look at how to navigate through the many (sub-)pages. With careful interaction design, we then created a more logical structure and hierarchy of content that helps users find their way quickly.
Understated but modern: a clear source of valuable information
To provide a stage for the highly rated content, we created design that is uncomplicated and free of excessive visual distractions. With new fonts and colors, we were also able to update the "look and feel" and give the websites a fresh, understated and modern look.
Globally accessible and lightning fast
The minimalist design also served the requirement that the websites be featherweight. In fact, statistics showed that users come from all corners of the world. With a Google PageSpeed Insights score of 100 on desktop and over 91 on mobile, we were able to provide a fast and positive user experience, even in places where Internet speed and technology leave something to be desired. In addition, the websites have been made accessible in many languages. If no manual translation is available, a tool provides automatic translation into more than 100 languages.
For better care, everywhere
Working with Infolep and InfoNTD has been an extremely valuable experience for Unc Inc. Not only because their work makes such a big difference in people's lives but also because their mission is an extension of ours. We are therefore proud to be their digital partner and hope to contribute much more to the fight against leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases in the future.