Comment function for the Eppendorf Group with Webforms Analytics

Webforms Analytics presents user generated content for the first time. For the Eppendorf Group, we developed a comment system fully compliant with data protection regulations, which employees all over the world can now use to comment on blog posts, news items and even whole-page articles on the intranet. Comments are shown after review and approval by the editorial staff.

Since 2019, the Eppendorf Group has enjoyed the benefits of a modern intranet platform based on FirstSpirit, which helps to drive dialog among its roughly 4,500 employees and leverage the expertise held at its many global sites. The Eppendorf Group is a leading life sciences company that develops and distributes equipment, consumables and services for liquid handling, sampling handling and cell handling for use in laboratories all over the world.

When the project was launched two years ago, it was clear that the new intranet should be more than a simple platform for sharing information. One key focus for project implementation work was usability, with a dedicated full-text search tool deployed to ensure content could be found quickly and easily.

A second and equally important goal was to increase employee interaction with the intranet. This has been achieved with a new management blog, which also allows staff to comment on posts. Nor is commenting restricted to the blog itself: employees can also express their opinions on other pages and topics on the intranet.

Webforms Analytics is the central component for handling personal data. Stored here in full compliance with data protection legislation, the data can be read, erased or anonymised as required. Acting as the repository for user generated content in the comment system, the data integration platform is also being used for the first time to actually present form data on a website.

Our innovative solution makes use of a React component that provides the comment function to site visitors. When an employee wants to write a comment, the component accesses a Webforms form: this happens asynchronously in the background and therefore invisibly to the user. As a result, a central Webforms forms is shown as an input component, accompanied by the comments already made – taken from Webforms Analytics – which are shown hierarchically underneath the page content. If the visitor now posts a new comment, the CMS Editorial Team is notified by email. This email contains a direct link to the new comment in Analytics, where all of the comment details can be viewed and reviewed. As a last step, the editor approves the comment, so that it becomes visible to all site visitors.

“The new comment system for our intranet gives our employees in 28 countries worldwide the opportunity to engage in discussions about platform content. Thanks to support from Monday Consulting and the use of Webforms Analytics, the project was completed in record time.”

Christiane Klebig, Senior Manager Digital Communications

By basing the new comment system on the standard Webforms Analytics component, we were able to meet all the requirements in full after less than three weeks from start to go-live. Another key advantage was the fact that the infrastructure was already in place, which meant that no new tools or databases had to be deployed.

At Monday, optimizing Webforms and Webforms Analytics for our customers while also adding new functionality is all part of our day-to-day work. We currently offer Webforms in three editions, each with a specific feature set. A handy comparison tool is available on our product website, which provides you with full details of each Edition. In-depth feature videos are also included, which show how the form manager is used to access the many options offered by Monday Webforms.