To remedy this issue, we built the ‘Partner Portal’ – an online platform that would deliver a significant upgrade to INTO’s application process and reduce the time and resources consumed by dealing with handwritten applications.
Paper applications were replaced with a single online form that promoted an intuitive user experience (UX) through simple information architecture and clean visual graphics. Included in this refresh was the ability for agents to shortlist their students’ preferred universities and courses, and receive news updates regarding these choices throughout the application process.
In addition to streamlining the initial application process, the Partner Portal allows all applications to be monitored, reviewed and amended after submission, enabling INTO agents to instantly provide up-to-date information to students.
To further restructure the application process, we custom-built an infinitely flexible workflow engine that ensures all applications are reviewed by the correct person at the correct time, an invaluable feature to an organisation as large and organisationally complex as INTO. Having designed a system that would allow agents across the world to create, track, and manage applications, we used the same technology to open the process to secondary schools. Secondary schools’ careers and guidance counsellors play a significant role in the university application process for prospective higher education students. Therefore, by making the INTO Partner Portal open to students, they were able to tap into a large market.