Setting a high bar for premium real estate websites.
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty partnered with DNA to transform its digital platform, align it with its international brand and deliver a premium real estate experience.
Overview
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty is recognised as the world’s largest and most prestigious luxury real estate brand. Sotheby’s partnered with DNA to transform its digital platform, align it with its international brand and deliver a premium real estate experience. We redesigned their web platform completely, integrating a headless CMS with their existing CRM system for a seamless, visually captivating and effective user experience.
Challenge.
Sotheby’s International Realty, a premium real estate company with locations across New Zealand, was facing challenges with its existing digital platform, which was not aligned with the business and brand aspirations. The platform needed to support modern real estate operations and integrate effectively with their current CRM system. Sotheby’s sought a complete web platform redesign to address these challenges, enhance the digital experience and elevate its brand presence.
Sotheby’s International Realty, a premium real estate company with locations across New Zealand, was facing challenges with its existing digital platform, which was not aligned with the business and brand aspirations. The platform needed to support modern real estate operations and integrate effectively with their current CRM system. Sotheby’s sought a complete web platform redesign to address these challenges, enhance the digital experience and elevate its brand presence.
Opportunity.
The redesign presented an opportunity to create a premium digital experience that aligned with Sotheby’s global brand and better enabled the company to operate as a modern digital real estate network. By integrating its existing CRM system and considering future marketing automation, Sotheby’s aimed to streamline its operations, improve lead management and enhance customer engagement.
The redesign presented an opportunity to create a premium digital experience that aligned with Sotheby’s global brand and better enabled the company to operate as a modern digital real estate network. By integrating its existing CRM system and considering future marketing automation, Sotheby’s aimed to streamline its operations, improve lead management and enhance customer engagement.
Approach.
We adopted a collaborative approach to tackle complex requirements and achieve the desired outcomes. Working closely with Sotheby’s team and their content strategist from Big on Writing, we defined a digital experience framework and visual design system.
This collaborative effort ensured that the solution would meet the programme and business objectives while capturing the essence of Sotheby’s brand.
We also focused on selecting the right technologies and tools to create a performant and robust solution, considering the integration with their existing CRM platform.
We adopted a collaborative approach to tackle complex requirements and achieve the desired outcomes. Working closely with Sotheby’s team and their content strategist from Big on Writing, we defined a digital experience framework and visual design system.
This collaborative effort ensured that the solution would meet the programme and business objectives while capturing the essence of Sotheby’s brand.
We also focused on selecting the right technologies and tools to create a performant and robust solution, considering the integration with their existing CRM platform.
Solution.
The selected technical solution involved utilising the Directus framework, developing a front-end application and implementing a cloud-based headless CMS. This approach enabled us to build a scalable and adaptable platform that seamlessly integrates with the existing CRM system and other essential business tools.
The detailed UX/UI design process prioritised optimising critical digital flows and experiences, delivering essential features and functionality in the initial release while considering future enhancements.
The final solution successfully delivered a consistent and visually appealing user experience, supported efficient CRM integration, and aligned with Sotheby’s global brand identity.
The selected technical solution involved utilising the Directus framework, developing a front-end application and implementing a cloud-based headless CMS. This approach enabled us to build a scalable and adaptable platform that seamlessly integrates with the existing CRM system and other essential business tools.
The detailed UX/UI design process prioritised optimising critical digital flows and experiences, delivering essential features and functionality in the initial release while considering future enhancements.
The final solution successfully delivered a consistent and visually appealing user experience, supported efficient CRM integration, and aligned with Sotheby’s global brand identity.
Design system and implementation.
Design components were developed across responsive breakpoints to enable a digital platform that will work across desktop and mobile screens. The components combined with a documented design system helped accelerate the build of the platform’s front end. Extensive effort was required to align CRM data to the intended experience.
Outcomes and impact.
The comprehensive redesign of the Sotheby’s International Realty web platform yielded an enhanced digital experience and improved the quality of the sales funnel, enabling more efficient lead management and nurturing.
The platform’s integration with the existing CRM system facilitates seamless data exchange, streamlining operations and enhancing customer relationship management.
By aligning the digital experience with the global Sotheby’s brand and creating stronger connections between agents and locations, the platform reinforces the company’s position as a premium real estate provider. The successful implementation of the solution positions Sotheby’s for continued growth and success in the competitive real estate market.
Through a collaborative approach, meticulous UX/UI design, and the development of a comprehensive and modern technical solution, we successfully addressed the challenges faced by Sotheby’s International Realty.
As Sotheby’s continues to expand and evolve, its new digital platform will serve as a powerful tool for driving growth, enhancing brand reputation, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
You can learn more about how the new digital platform drives better outcomes on New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty website, or you can watch the launch video.
Client: New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty
Project: Digital Platform
Deliverable: Digital Experience Framework / UX / UI / Build
Timeline: 9 Months
Platform: Directus Headless CMS / NuxtJS / Elastic Search / CRM integration