Challenge
The Steam Packet Company operates ferry services between the Isle of Man and Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin. Bookings could be made via call centres and ticket outlets; however, the inability to sell tickets via the web was limiting sales. Steam Packet wanted to offer customers an online solution that would integrate with the pre-existing ticketing system. In addition, staff needed to be able to frequently update information relating to timetables, ports and forthcoming events.
Solution
Communiqué 360 undertook an analysis of Steam Packet’s current booking engine and submitted a proposal for an integrated web application. This highlighted the need for a middleware software package (Casablanca) that would integrate the web front-end with their existing booking mechanism. Once the proposal was approved, Communiqué 360 created site designs and partnered with Gresham Computing to develop the online booking application. The site utilises Microsoft Content Management System, allowing content to be easily updated by Steam Packet staff without any knowledge of html.
Results
Each month, www.steam-packet.com draws over 150,000 visitors, records 1,800,000 page views and processes more than 9,000 online bookings. The website has also been developed for use by the booking kiosks located at the ferry ports, and delivers up-to-the-minute information about sailings.
