London Borough
of Merton
The clientanchor
Founded in 1965, the London Borough of Merton stands as a prominent outer London borough to the south-west of the capital. Boasting a population exceeding 200,000 residents across 80,000 households and a thriving ecosystem of 7,000 businesses, Merton covers an area of approximately 14.7 square miles. Its five principal town centers—Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden, Raynes Park, and Colliers Wood—paint a vibrant picture of diversity and activity. Notably, Merton houses the esteemed All England Lawn Tennis Club, renowned for hosting the annual Wimbledon Championships that draw half a million visitors. The borough's historical significance is evident through milestones like the 13th-century Statutes of Merton, which laid the groundwork for English common law, and its role as an industrial hub in the 19th century, attracting illustrious names like Arthur Liberty and William Morris along the River Wandle. The council site facilitates essential services like council tax payments, birth registrations, and handling various citizen inquiries, including reporting missed bin collections.
The challengeanchor
The primary challenge facing the London Borough of Merton was the urgent need for a swift yet cost-effective digital solution. With the dynamic requirements of a council site serving a diverse population, efficiency and affordability were paramount in addressing Merton's digital needs. The solution had to be implemented rapidly without compromising quality or reliability, given the dynamic nature of citizen services. So we designed a streamlined development and deployment process to minimise disruption to ongoing operations.
On top of this, Merton were looking for a digital transformation strategy that not only addressed immediate needs but also paved the way for future growth and innovation.
The solutionanchor
With our extensive experience in creating council sites, we drew on insights from past projects, and user research, to tailor a solution specifically for Merton. A pivotal aspect of our approach was the development of a bespoke Drupal distribution for council sites. This distribution included a comprehensive suite of features essential for council platforms, ensuring seamless integration and scalability for future enhancements. For context, a Drupal distribution comprises Drupal Core alongside supplementary software like themes, modules, libraries, and installation profiles, culminating in a holistic solution tailored to specific use cases. This distribution model meant we could streamline development timelines and costs, and quickly deploy key functions while accommodating bespoke requirements unique to Merton's digital landscape.
The modular architecture of Drupal, enabled us to easily adapt and extend features, from presenting council services and integrating payment gateways, to mapping public facilities and services. The Drupal distribution provided a robust foundation, giving Merton a versatile and user-centric, digital platform. This continued development approach makes ongoing improvements easier, and means that Merton's digital presence remains responsive to evolving citizen needs and technological advancements
In conclusion, our collaboration with the London Borough of Merton shows how combining strategic foresight, technological innovation, and client-centricity can deliver impactful digital solutions. Through a harmonious blend of experience, research, and technological prowess, we've not only addressed immediate challenges but also laid a scalable foundation for Merton's digital journey, reinforcing its commitment to serving citizens effectively in the digital age.
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