New online media library for Coltène

Coltène uses the crossbase media service to centralize images and documents and make them available worldwide. Partners and employees have direct access to current media content and can use it for various applications. This increases the efficiency of product communication and provides uniform material.
 
 

With the new Media Library, we can provide all media from the PIM system – authorization-controlled, around the clock and in the required format. The time-consuming manual response to such requests can thus be completely eliminated.

Michael Riener
Creative Director & Manager DTP, Coltène/Whaledent AG

Initial situation

Coltène already had a website implemented with TYPO 3 that had a simple online catalog. This was operated via an API interface from crossbase. However, there was a strong desire for a centralized system, so the modern media service from crossbase was set up.

Procedure

Coltène introduced a new web-based media library, a modern portal specifically designed to provide a wide range of media for specific target groups. The platform is available in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, and adapts seamlessly to different devices such as desktop PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Media files such as images, videos and documents are accessible via the Media Library and such requests to the company no longer need to be answered manually. Users can quickly find these files using a full-text search with auto-complete function, categorizing structures and various filters such as categories and keywords. The filters adapt dynamically to the search results to ensure that only relevant results are displayed. This means that at least one hit is always returned for every filter search. For each media item, there is detailed information and available formats that can be viewed or downloaded directly in the browser. Users can also add files to a watch list for later use or download them together in a ZIP archive.

Registered users receive additional permissions after verification by Coltène, granting them access to additional media files and allowing them to share content from their watchlist with non-members.

By using three external servers to provide the media library, optimum availability and load distribution can be achieved. As two self-sufficient database servers are used, connected via a reverse proxy, data updates as well as software and operating system updates can be carried out without downtime. Even a hardware defect on one of the database servers is intercepted by the second system, thus ensuring high availability without interruptions. If one system fails, the second system seamlessly takes over the active session, guaranteeing continuous access to the media library.

Advantages

• • Integrated system, no interface to another system
  • High availability and reliability
  • Target group-oriented provision of media
  • Wide range of functions
  • Responsive design enables access from different end devices
  • Broad international user base thanks to language variants
  • Advanced search functions and intelligent filters
  • Direct playback of media or download
  • Individual access rights can be controlled
  • Time saving

Result

Coltène's Online Media Library offers an optimized, cross-device display and multilingual support that enables targeted media distribution worldwide. Advanced search and filter functions and high system availability improve the user experience and ensure reliable access to media resources.