Client: GlobalSpec Inc.

The Site: GlobalSpec.com is a leading specialized vertical search engine and industrial directory serving the engineering, manufacturing and technical marketplace. (See the site)

GlobalSpec approached Enervision for assistance in the redesign of its mission-critical Website, GlobalSpec.com. Company management felt the site needed an overhaul in order to take the business to the next level, but wanted to make sure any visual or structural changes were closely aligned with user needs as well as business goals.

AFter an initial needs analysis and benchmark usability study, Enervision identified key issues with the site that needed to be addressed in a redesign:

•	Identity. The existing look and feel was more like a company Website than a search engine:
•	Navigation. Numerous navigation issues were confusing users. Many were consequently "dropping out" of the site before they had a chance to explore the functionality. Tables of links such as the following were confusing to users:

Where should a user click to find products? It wasn't clear.

Additionally, a large proportion of users were first-time visitors. GlobalSpec wanted to increase the number of visitors who were repeat visitors.

Our work on the redesign of GlobalSpec included:

•	Research on search best practices, including a competitive review.
•	Design of a new user interface that presented the site as a search engine rather than “a company Website." Global tabs were eliminated altogether in favor of a persistent breadcrumb and a design that focused more on search capabilities.
•	Development of interactive prototypes to demonstrate new approaches to GlobalSpec developers.
•	Targeted redesign of key flows critical to the site's success. These were subsequently tested in usability research, also conducted by Enervision.

“Enervision’s attention to detail in the analysis, information design, usability research, and look and feel for GlobalSpec have contributed to the evolution of very high quality product,” says GlobalSpec President John Schneiter.

•	The new site showed immediate increases in lead generation. Coupled with a surge in activity levels and site usage following the redesign, the increases helped fuel new sales and business growth.
•	Since the Gen2 release, GlobalSpec has experienced close to triple digit growth every year with nearly 4 million registered users today.
•	In addition, the site has seen a 25% growth in the number of returning visitors - a key measure of success.

"Enervision's experience in user interface design and information architecture has been critical to our ability to move into the position of industry leader," says Tim Carroll, Director of Website Management for GlobalSpec.