User Support Platform For a World-Leading Premium Cars Manufacturer

How implementing a web-based support system with a single content repository and unlimited access to training materials enabled Mercedes-Benz Group AG to accelerate employee education and improve the usage of their new procurement solution by 93%.

Challenge

Mercedes-Benz Group AG new global buying system GLOBUS has provided the company with an efficient organization of procurement processes all over the world.

In order to ensure fast and comprehensive education and ongoing support of the system users, Mercedes-Benz Group AG decided to develop and implement a special user support system. The main requirements to the system were its transparent structure and easy-touse interface which would allow users in various countries to use materials describing GLOBUS functioning. Besides, the system had to be compatible with the technology which GLOBUS itself was built.

When looking on the other side of the process, it was necessary to organize a proper environment for multiple global content creators and translators which would streamline timely, consistent and reliable creation and delivery of the information.

Approach

It was decided that the solution would be built on the pre-packaged CMS version of *instinctools’ GateOne framework which meets all the requirements in the best way:

  • Web-oriented which offers independence from time and place
  • J2EE compliant which makes it compatible with GLOBUS
  • DocBook or DITA standard which helps to properly structure and create documents according to international standards
  • WYSIWYG user interface which makes it easy-to-use for content editors, and at the same time it offers required flexibility and scalability to encounter future needs of a global roll-out.

 

The *instinctools team analyzed required document structures, discussed them with the Mercedes-Benz Group AG team to ensure proper understanding and implemented it in the selected CMS.

From the beginning it was clear that the system would have to serve a distributed international community, therefore analysis had to be focused on localization strategy in order to provide proper possibilities for content localization into multiple languages and in multi-country environment.

As Mercedes-Benz Group AG editors had already started creating documentation, *instinctools helped to migrate already existing parts of the user manual into the CMS-based help and support platform.

quote-icon

Mercedes-Benz Group AG new Global Buying System GLOBUS has now an effective web-based help function and user support. We have chosen *instinctools’ innovative GateOne solution because it satisfied our needs in terms of multilingual content, flexibility and scalability.

Uwe Funk Manager ITM/PSE – Procurement Systems Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Results

After 5 months of the intense cooperation with Mercedes-Benz Group AG teams, *instinctools introduced the required Help and Support System to the GLOBUS user community. The final solution covered all main aspects of editing and authoring processes by providing an efficient and comfortable environment for the content creators, editors and publishers:

DC656DA8-7B5C-42E1-BE1A-D909012739EACreated with sketchtool.

a single sourcing content repository and separationof the content from its layout and freed authors and editors from unnecessary activities

6ACB931C-8675-455F-96F2-D3D8412405BECreated with sketchtool.

well structured workflows enhanced real-time collaboration of global teams and simplified processes of content creation and localization The new architecture insures that localized content is consistent and is conveyed the information as originally intended

59094339-9F1E-4D67-B435-81E9D052EE27Created with sketchtool.

transparent structure of the existing content decreased information redundancy and improved content consistency

CC6CF90A-2A57-47FC-A53C-AE7161B00FA8Created with sketchtool.

appliance to corporate standards ensure the presentation of the information is similar in all types of published media

On the other hand, GLOBUS users were provided with a comfortable and easy-to-use help-system which streamlined efficiency of their operations:

7E94CA2D-586C-4B48-9AD6-2175C4EE906FCreated with sketchtool.

training materials become easily accessible from any place at any time

5DA264BC-2FDC-40E5-849B-9DAF84BCC081Created with sketchtool.

easy and effective search functions offer easy search and retrieval of the existing information

900A84CD-F078-4C8A-919D-ED74AF05FAA4Created with sketchtool.

web-based system allows asking questions on-line and getting fast replies

99E40118-0321-41E0-B63B-5D9953F715F5Created with sketchtool.

content-sensitive help functions provides users with complete and timely information by a simple F1 clicking

33BB4A23-5959-4848-8A22-D66ACF56E80FCreated with sketchtool.

automated publishing allows converting the content into any preferable digital format without any sophisticated technical knowledge

088C2E74-E916-4C76-9A9E-128501C728A4Created with sketchtool.

easy search and decreases dependency on the availability of the system expert made users more willing to use available materials

Do you have a similar project idea?

Anna Vasilevskaya
Anna Vasilevskaya Account Executive

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