The Challenge:
Overcoming an Administrative Nightmare
In a government agency setting, forms and documentation are necessary evils that no one necessarily wants to deal with. As a grant-funded rehabilitator and revitalizer of local properties, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie (RACE) has its hands more than full in the recordkeeping department.
Before seeking out Epic Web Studios, RACE kept tabs on available properties, contractor bids, program applicants, and project statuses the old-fashioned way – filing cabinets, folders, and lots of paperwork. A unified, streamlined, digitized solution to intake and processing was sorely needed to bring RACE up to speed.
- Front end of website provided limited information on programs, with no means to submit applications or inquiries.
- Back end of website did not allow administrators to edit or update information.
- Need for a modern client management system to eliminate archaic forms and documentation processes.
The Solution
Developing an Integrated Solution
Make it make sense. Although the idea sounds simple, the execution can at times be tricky. Epic’s design, content, and development teams combined their talents to make the RACE experience more intuitive, both upfront and behind the scenes.
Streamlined Content and User Experience
The revamped homepage was designed and written to use its real estate economically, quickly identifying the Redevelopment Authority, spelling out its offerings, and presenting two visually distinct user paths: action-oriented (CTA blocks just below the fold) and educational (Programs & Initiatives summary cards above the footer).
Custom-Built Content Management System
The freshly implemented epicPlatform content management system gave RACE administration the ability to share available properties and projects while also monitoring incoming applications.
Custom-Built Administrative Portal
Epic’s development team built RACE administrators a custom dashboard to easily manage, sort, and reference applications – a virtual “to-do” list to streamline workflow and productivity.
The Result:
Game-Changing Efficiency
- The front end of the website accomplished what it set out to do – since the 2023 launch, it has processed 1300+ applications to RACE programs
- The portal has helped RACE employees virtually eliminate paper recordkeeping and cut time spent on administrative tasks nearly in half.
I appreciate the Epic team and the improvements that have been made so far. This is a great step forward, and it was great to see Holly excited about the portal again. Keep up the great work.
