Agile content management and a highly efficient creation process:
modern content management systems make the work of technical writers much easier. However, finding a system that best fits the specific requirements of your own editorial team is not that easy.
In a joint project, we were able to successfully support Continental Automotive Aftermarket in their mission to find a system solution.
The initial situation
As a leading automotive supplier and tyre manufacturer, Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility. With the Continental Automotive Aftermarket business segment, the global player offers its customers a broad portfolio of products and services in the open market – from spare and repair parts for brake systems and vehicle electronics to workshop equipment. In view of increasing content volumes and new, process-related requirements, Continental Aftermarket & Services GmbH was faced with the task of introducing a content management system in the technical editorial department.
The task
Shifting away from writing in large, monolithic documents and moving towards flexible and module-based content creation: this idea of efficiency was the main reason for the Continental team to switch from the classic file-based tool to a modern content management system.
In order for this to succeed, the new system would have to prove itself in the following areas, in particular:
- Improved foreign language management in translation
The translation process can be initiated directly from the new content management system. The translated modules can in turn be easily imported back and managed in the content management system. - Simple version management
Each image, each module, and each document has its own status and version to ensure a completely transparent history. - Optimum reuse
Increase efficiency, reduce costs: selective reuse of content is an important factor when creating documentation and must therefore be flexible and easy to implement. - Dynamic layout customisation
Individual layouts at the touch of a button: this is only possible if you can develop and store your own style sheets to match your corporate design. - Improved review processes
Who does what? The processes surrounding previews, reviews and approvals in the technical editorial department are often multi-level and therefore very complex. The new content management system needs to be able to correctly map and partially automate these tasks and processes.
Clearing a path through the system jungle
In order to find a system that optimally suits its own requirements, Continental Automotive Aftermarket commissioned kothes as a neutral consultant and partner.
The procedure
Kick-off and content analysis
Which individual use cases will the future content management system have to cover? Which functions are crucial?
In order to determine the specific requirements for the new system, we first examined the Continental Aftermarket editorial team’s editorial processes and workflows in an on-site workshop.
Requirements list and tool presentations
Based on this, we drew up a list of the most important requirements for the new system and made a pre-selection of three suitable systems, which were then presented to the Continental Aftermarket editorial team. These live presentations were a perfect opportunity to get to know the preferred systems better and get an impression of how well the systems meet the requirements of Continental Aftermarket. Another advantage: using concrete work steps from everyday editorial work, the Continental Aftermarket team was able to test in practice how the systems would perform in coping with critical requirements.
Final system selection
In the decision phase, the kothes team acted as a critical and vendor-neutral consultant, able to clarify complicated detailed questions with the system providers where necessary.
In the end, the editorial team at Continental Aftermarket opted for SCHEMA ST4 from Quanos – a modern and powerful content management system for professional creation of technical documentation.
The benefits for Continental
Streamlined processes, high efficiency and improved content management:
for the Continental Aftermarket team, switching from file-based word processing to the SCHEMA ST4 content management system was a real stroke of luck. Today, the system is used successfully in live operation – and plays a significant role in ensuring that the documentation for Continental Aftermarket products is even more efficient.
Frank Schmidt, Head of Technical Service at Continental Automotive Aftermarket, looks back positively on the cooperation with kothes: “We were particularly impressed by kothes’ technical know-how and many years of industry experience in the field of content management systems for technical documentation. We received ideal advice throughout the entire selection phase and were finally able to find a system that precisely fits our processes and requirements.”
