P&O Ferries has recently selected Percussion Software’s Web Content Management system, Rhythmyx, to improve the publishing of time critical information throughout its consumer website. The use of Rhythmyx has reduced the publishing time to a matter of hours and allows P&O Ferries to communicate up to the minute travel updates and schedules. The site has been made available initially in four languages - French, German, English and Dutch.

P&O Ferries manages routes for passengers, cars and freight to France, Belgium, Holland and Spain.  Throughout the last 160 years it has been a premier British shipping company and one of the largest and most varied in the world. Today, the company’s website accounts for a significant proportion of its consumer business and is regarded as one of the key communication channels.

Hayden Sutherland, Head of e-Business explains: “We needed to redevelop the site and provide four different language versions.  The new web content management system needed to ensure brand and layout consistency across site.  We were looking for a solution which could be used by non-IT staff throughout the organisation, but which would also have a strong workflow management capability. Our IT department is now free to focus on more strategic issues whilst also having the confidence that content is being updated and published in the right way. We are now publishing information quicker which has allowed us to extend the online services we offer.”
Rhythmyx 6 is the newest version of Percussion’s award-winning enterprise-ready WCM System.  Rhythmyx 6 extends the company’s leadership position in the WCM market by providing a robust platform for more easily managing customer-centric content across multiple sites, multiple channels and multiple lines of business. Tailored for organisations that require seamless support for multiple Web properties combined with easy content reuse, Rhythmyx 6 enables enterprises to build Web sites with frequently updated, persuasive content that is engaging to multiple audiences.
Hayden Sutherland continues: “We used Forrester to identify four leading vendors and were impressed by Percussion from the outset because the company already has a proven track record in the travel sector.”

By delivering a range of pre-built application functionality through Rhythmyx FastForward for Web Content Management (WCM), Rhythmyx allows organisations to implement the functionality they need today whilst ensuring that they can meet tomorrow’s needs with an extensible, standards-based architecture.  P&O can solve the key content management challenges of enabling true content reuse and cost-effective multi-channel delivery.

This announcement reinforces the success that Percussion Software enjoys within the online travel sector. Other Percussion customers include: Thrifty Car Rental, National Express, Vegas.com and Cheapflights.com - all of which demand fast publishing of accurate content to support their twenty four hour businesses.

Pete Atkinson, Managing Director, European Operations, Percussion Software: “Travel companies need to publish information to multiple sites quickly and cost effectively. Rhythmyx is the perfect solution for any online travel brand which demands a high performing content management solution which provides the right content at the right time.”

——-