European-based drone company Parrot partnered with digital agency BeyondCurious, to migrate their in-house JSON-built content management solution to one that is more manageable by both technical and non-technical users. The agency selected Contentstack, a headless CMS, to solve their dilemma, meet their requirements, and deliver the project in time.
THE CHALLENGE
Parrot relied on a JSON CMS that was cobbled together in-house. Although it maintained standard functionality, Parrot relied heavily on outside developers to implement even the simplest of changes. With constant releases in a wide range of new products, the team often struggled to make timely content updates and meet deadlines.
When a digital agency, BeyondCurious, was tasked with implementing Parrot’s new mobile application, Parrot Trainer, in just a few weeks' time, they quickly realized major limitations with Parrot’s in-house CMS.
To ensure Parrot stayed ahead of the curve in the competitive IoT space, BeyondCurious began sourcing a lightweight, API-first, cloud-based CMS that would suit the drone company's needs – particularly the need for a user-friendly interface that would allow Parrot to make realtime changes to the app without the help of a developer – a key structural component that would enable the long-term scalability.
The difference is night at day. Before, content was run through JSON. The only way to update anything was to have a developer touch it. The process was difficult to say the least. We wanted to migrate the Parrot app to Contentstack because the interface is so simple anyone can make updates, quickly and easily.
Efren ToscanoProject ManagerBeyondCuriousTHE SOLUTION
Contentstack content management solution is API-first and separates code from content. It has an intuitive interface that enables business users to manage content without going into the code, which perfectly served Parrot’s business and technical requirements.
After assessing Contenstack, BeyondCurious decided the best long-term solution would be to use the headless CMS to build Parrot’s mobile app. With minimal training, BeyondCurious was able to ensure the transition was seamless so the Parrot team could take over post-migration and easily make updates to their app without technical support.
By leveraging Contentstack, Parrot’s platform improved in the following ways:
- Ease of use — Contentstack enables the Parrot team to use the tool with no in-house technical support.
- Efficiency — The new system allows Parrot to make changes to its platform quickly.
- Simplicity and control — The integration of the new system was easy and intuitive.
Being prepared for new technology is incredibly important to Parrot. Contentstack makes it possible to point content to mobile and to any other screen, IoT device, or other need that comes up in the future.
Efren ToscanoProject ManagerBeyondCuriousIN SUMMARY
The Parrot team describes the difference between its new and old system as night and day. The team can now easily manage content and make realtime updates without the need for coding or hiring a third-party agency. Although the application’s original focus was to assist store representatives with sales, customers soon began downloading it for personal use. This led to Parrot splitting the app into two sections; one for sales reps and one for customers. Contentstack allowed Parrot to easily make the updates required for this shift in use, and the once exclusively sales-oriented tool quickly expanded to include notifications and automated support for Parrot customers. “The ability to pivot, be agile, and listen to data is crucial for businesses. Contentstack helps our clients do just that,” says Toscano.
In addition to meeting Parrot’s content management goals, Contentstack also met the agency goals of BeyondCurious: To help Parrot make a smooth transition to a headless CMS and eliminate the need for excessive technical support and training on the new system. This new user-friendly CMS has given Parrot the ability to scale long term, save on resources, and take control over their content.
The team behind Contentstack is amazing to work with. We had the assurance that no matter what challenges were going to come during this transition, we would be able to meet them.
Efren ToscanoProject ManagerBeyondCurious