Andrews & Partners launches new website
UK independent property specialists, Andrews & Partners, has launched its new website with the aim of placing user experience at the forefront.
Launched at a special event at Reading’s Madejski Stadium, the company has said that the site combines the best technology from other industries and claims to put all the information and control at customers’ fingertips, with the aim of making it more interactive.
Wednesday’s launch event marked the culmination of two years’ extensive customer research, carried out by Andrews to create a website with a number of features, including the ability to book valuations, viewings and make an offer online in real-time, local community and neighbourhood information and a bespoke back-office system, developed to provide optimum opportunity for two-way interaction online.
The design and architecture of the site was devised by Bristol creative digital agency, 3Sixty.
“3Sixty’s challenge was to create an online experience for Andrews that exceeded the already high expectations around customer service,” said Jon Waring, the creative director at 3Sixty.
“Our user experience research and design process unearthed valuable insight into how people use online to buy, sell, rent and let homes,” he continued.
Andy Ferrington, IT director of Andrews, explained that over 80% of the company’s current search engine traffic comes from people searching for its name or agents in a particular area, meaning that SEO development was a key focus throughout the build.
“By changing the architecture of the site, this ensures that a customer searching via a portal for something specific in an area in which we have a branch will be directed to the relevant page within the Andrews site,” said Ferrington.
“Similarly, the technology attached to the website allows us to build up a profile of our customers, by accurately recording information, interests and the property history of our customers to ensure that, as a business, we can sell products and services based on actual consumer behaviour”.
“The new site plays a major role in our long term strategy of integrating technology to enhance the service that we offer to our customers, by providing greater levels of interactivity,” he concluded.