We sat down with Claire Fell and Geoff Scott from Liverpool John Moores University to discuss the positive impact of adding Silktide to their web management workflow.
The challenge
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) faced several challenges in managing their vast web content and ensuring accessibility. With multiple contributors and editors across departments, it was labour intensive to identify and fix accessibility and content quality issues. The web content team, led by Claire Fell, needed a solution that would allow them to efficiently manage and improve the accessibility of their growing website, which supports over 2,000 staff and 26,000 students.
When trying to pinpoint issues on their website, the lack of a single structured tool made it difficult to manage accessibility and content quality issues efficiently. This led to a slower workflow, and it became clear they needed a more comprehensive solution to manage the university’s web presence effectively.
The solution
LJMU implemented Silktide to address these issues and saw immediate improvements in their ability to manage and improve their website. The platform enabled the web content team to pinpoint accessibility and content issues quickly, assign them to the appropriate team members, and set realistic deadlines. Claire emphasized that “after Silktide, it’s easier to pinpoint issues, allocate them, and project how long it will take to complete them”.
With Silktide, it’s easier to pinpoint issues, allocate them, and project how long it will take to complete them.
Liverpool John Moores University
Ease of use and cultural impact
The simplicity and intuitiveness of Silktide’s platform played a crucial role in its successful adoption across the university. Claire’s team found it user-friendly, allowing contributors to engage more easily with the platform. This was particularly important given the variety of contributors across departments. Geoff praised the platform, noting how “very user-friendly” and “intuitive” it was, even for those without extensive IT knowledge.
In addition to solving technical issues, the implementation of Silktide also had a broader cultural impact within the university. Claire mentioned that the conversations around web accessibility had shifted. “Culturally within the university, we’re no longer having those conversations explaining what accessibility is. People have a general understanding of its importance,” she said, highlighting the significant shift in awareness and commitment to accessibility across the institution.
Silktide has been very user-friendly and intuitive, even for those without extensive IT knowledge.
Liverpool John Moores University
The results
The results were impressive. When they first started using Silktide, the university’s accessibility score was around 67%, placing them 124th in the index. Since then, they have seen a significant jump, with their score increasing to 94%, and their ranking improving to 11th. Claire expressed pride in these results, noting that they were now well-positioned to maintain and further improve accessibility compliance across their web platforms.
When we first started using Silktide, our accessibility score was around 67%. Now, it’s up to 94%, and we’ve climbed to 11th place in the Silktide Index.
Liverpool John Moores University
A transformative tool
For LJMU, Silktide has been a transformative tool, enabling them to address web accessibility challenges efficiently and foster a more accessibility-conscious culture within the institution. The platform has allowed the team to manage their web content more effectively, making it easier to pinpoint, prioritize, and resolve issues. As a result, the university has not only improved its accessibility compliance but has also streamlined its web management processes, setting a strong foundation for future success.
Silktide transformed our ability to manage web accessibility and quality, making it easier to engage non-technical contributors across departments.
Liverpool John Moores University
Ready to get started?
Request a demo