Project Overview
YMCA of the Northwoods aimed to update its outdated WordPress website to enhance user experience, simplify content management, and integrate modern YMCA digital tools. ITCare, an experienced digital solutions provider, led the project using automation, AI-assisted content migration, and structured project management.
Challenges and Requirements
Outdated design and navigation made it difficult for users to find information efficiently.
Many links on the existing site returned 404 errors, requiring a comprehensive link mapping strategy.
Content management was cumbersome, requiring a more structured and user-friendly CMS.
The existing website contained numerous images with embedded text and PDFs, which were essentially flyers with non-editable content.
Facebook was an active social media channel, but its content was not reflected on the website.
The website needed to be aligned with YMCA branding standards and integrated with digital tools such as Daxko Y.
Solution
- AI-Assisted Content Migration & Structuring
- An audit of existing content was performed to categorize and prioritize key pages for migration.
- AI tools were leveraged to extract and format text from images and PDFs, significantly reducing manual effort.
- A structured content mapping document was created to track migration progress.
- AI-assisted migration to incorporate social media content into the site.
- Website Redesign & CMS Upgrade
- The website was transitioned from WordPress to the "Small Y" platform powered by Drupal, improving scalability and maintenance.
- A modern, user-friendly interface was designed, ensuring easy navigation and a better user experience.
Integration & Accessibility Enhancements
- Standard CKEditor was implemented for simplified content editing.
- YMCA branding guidelines were strictly followed to maintain consistency.
Benefits Delivered
Enhanced Content Management:
- AI-assisted migration streamlined content organization, saving over 100 hours of manual work.
- The new CMS allows easy updates without technical expertise.
Improved User Experience:
- The redesigned navigation structure enables visitors to quickly find relevant information.
- Optimized website performance ensures faster load times and mobile responsiveness.
Future-Ready Digital Platform:
- The website is now scalable for future YMCA initiatives and integrations.
- Prepared for potential CRM synchronization with Daxko for membership and scheduling management.
Conclusion
- AI-driven automation reduced manual effort and accelerated deployment.
- The collaborative approach ensured content accuracy and completeness.
- Flexible methodology allowed quick adaptation to project changes.
- The website is now fully optimized for future CRM integrations.
This project reinforces ITCare's ability to deliver scalable and efficient digital solutions for YMCA organizations nationwide.