Materialise

Materialise partnered with us to create a customer-centric web experience using a composable architecture.

Creating a customer-centric web experience for Materialise using composable architecture

Materialise incorporates more than 25 years of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services, which together form the backbone of the 3D printing industry. Materialise’s open and flexible solutions enable players in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods, to build innovative 3D printing applications that aim to make the world a better and healthier place.

Results of this partnership

Less downtime

94%

Faster creation of content pages

10x

Automatic updates

100%

The challenge

Person looking at computer with Materialise website

The task at hand was to modernize the existing Materialise website using a more customer-centric approach and to build a platform that was future-proof and scalable.

The current website was using outdated technology and had an overload of information, which made it challenging for users to find the information they needed. This in addition to the fact that the website experienced a lot of downtime and dealt with very long loading times due to excessive content.

Also, for security reasons, Materialise wanted to move away from the monolithic system in PHP and move to a cloud-based solution.

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Strategic partner might be the right way to describe The Reference. A partner who doesn't simply execute but keeps an eye on the future and thinks along the way. Having worked closely with them, I have found them to be communicative, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

Jelle Van der Linden, Operational Marketing Manager at Materialise

The solution

The new website needed to be content-oriented with a particular emphasis on visually engaging images. We believed that by leveraging the existing materials as a foundation and integrating certain front-end functionalities, we could build a site that would meet the needs of the Materialise customers.

Starting with an architectural vision, we chose to build a website using a composable or MACH-based framework. This resulted in a modular and flexible system that can easily be adapted and scaled to meet changing needs. As building blocks, we chose to work with the headless CMS Kontent.ai, Next.js for the front end, and Algolia as a search engine.

To ensure the continued success of the website, we also implemented a monthly maintenance program. This program allows us to monitor the performance of the website, make minor changes and fix bugs on a continuous basis.

How we made this work

Composable architecture

Materialise opted for digital innovation with a composable technology architecture. At the core of this architecture is Kontent.ai, a modular cloud-based content platform that facilitates the creation, organization, and reuse of valuable content. By using a composable technology architecture, Materialise can swiftly integrate new technologies and adapt to changing needs. This all while being compliant with regulations such as SOX compliance and MDR (medical device regulations).

Pragmatic approach

We went for a pragmatic approach and used the existing materials as the foundation for the new website. This allowed us to save time and resources while still achieving our desired outcome.

Co-development

Co-development was also an important factor during this project, as Materialise wanted a partner who could collaborate with their developers. Open communication and a clear understanding of each other’s goals were therefore very important.

It is a pleasure working with the Materialise team. Close communication lines, finding solutions together and essentially working as one team to reach a common goal. A true example of partnership!

Dieter Weyne, Project Manager at The Reference