Challenges

Inorbital was selected for their deep expertise with Kentico and their proven success in migrating Kentico websites, having already deployed around 15 MVC solutions. Migrating from a portal to MVC architecture involves significant considerations due to the differences in coding frameworks. This transition often requires rewriting code and redeveloping the site to function seamlessly in MVC. The project was particularly complex, as it involved custom-coded modules and several integrations that needed to be adapted.  

Goals were to: 

• Successfully upgrade and rebuild NorQuest’s portal websites as fully functional MVC sites.
• Maintain the existing front-end user experience and design. Enhance flexibility in content creation. 
• Transition NorQuest’s website backend to a fully supported CMS platform for long-term reliability.

Solutions

The project faced significant challenges, requiring a well-structured process and realistic work plan. NorQuest College needed to complete the upgrade to the latest Kentico version by June 2024, giving Inorbital a nine-month window in which to rebuild, migrate, test, and deploy their websites as fully functional MVC sites.
 
Inorbital conducted a detailed content audit, mapping structured data where possible and developing new MVC-equivalent widgets, page types, and controls for areas needing redevelopment. The team leveraged all that the latest version of Kentico had to offer while also keeping the user experience similar and intuitive for the Norquest content editors.

• Leveraging MVC enhancements: Kentico advanced features allowed Inorbital to streamline form controls and reduce the number of page types and widgets. This resulted in a more efficient, highly functional setup that increased flexibility for content editors. 
• Custom content editing experience: They redesigned the content editor controls to take full advantage of the platform, offering a more intuitive experience. Older templates were consolidated into flexible, customizable options using page-level custom fields, widgets, and section types. 
• Web part-to-widget conversion: With Kentico’s move away from web parts, we converted these into customizable widgets, allowing content editors greater control over page layouts and item display, while minimizing redundancy. 
• Repurposing custom APIs: NorQuest’s custom APIs, originally built for older versions of .NET, were repurposed or replaced to work seamlessly with .NET 8. Adjustments were also made to accommodate session state requirements. 
• Content migration: The migration of 4,000+ pages was achieved through a combination of automated processes and manual intervention. Structured content was mapped and dynamically generated, while newly developed widgets were populated with content manually.  

The team also successfully leveraged Kentico to connect to Moneris for registrations and PeopleSoft for displaying courses and programs dynamically.  

Results 

Inorbital successfully upgraded NorQuest College’s websites with the latest version of Kentico, completing the project ahead of the June 30th deadline. 
 
The new site has been widely praised by college staff, with content administrators particularly appreciative of its user-friendly, intuitive design. Kentico’s customizable visual Page Builder has streamlined the page-building process for marketers, eliminating the need for numerous ad-hoc templates and reducing frustration. This upgrade has significantly enhanced their ability to update and manage site content efficiently.
 
One of the most used features on the site, the program search, is now 3.5 times faster, vastly improving the user experience for prospective and current students alike. The website’s overall Lighthouse performance score has also risen dramatically, now exceeding 92—up from a previous score below 70. This performance boost reflects an optimized, seamless experience for users and content creators alike.

Statistics

• 3.5 times faster program search functionality  

• Over 22 points gained in overall Lighthouse performance score

Testimonial