Metlink’s Efficient Asset Creation With Somar

"The Poster Builder tool transforms managing critical communications. It reduces manual effort and replaces that with a streamlined process, showcasing how technology can empower teams and improve efficiency across the board."

Shaun Hunter

Head of Innovation, Somar Digital

Poster and Flyer Builder

Somar Digital’s solution was to develop the Poster and Flyer Builder, an interactive web application that empowers Metlink administrators to efficiently produce posters, flyers, and brochures that automatically align with brand standards and integrate GTFS data.

Standardised Layouts

Utilises predefined templates that align design identity, iconography and information hierarchy across various outputs, ensuring consistency regardless of the administrator involved.

Adding Efficiencies for Metlink Admin

Metlink staff can generate professional-grade assets with customised maps using existing GTFS data without needing to import, screenshot or duplicate stop and route data. PDF and image download options expedite the printing process, reducing time of delivery to customers.

Integrating with Metlink Data

Integrates with Metlink’s GTFS data allowing for display of route information and route maps without the need for the user to re-draw lines on a map or ensure that the correct route colours were used. All the data comes from the source of truth, and automatically updates when new GTFS data is published.

Reduce Dependency on External Resources

The builder not only optimises the dissemination of essential transit information but also significantly reduces dependency on external resources, marking a substantial step forward in Metlink's operational efficiency.

Outcomes

Automatic Brand-alignment and Quality

Responsive templates with built in brand elements ensured that everything customers see fits with the brand, and gets automatically updated if brand elements change.

Reduced Reliance on Design Teams for BAU

Enabling staff to create their own standard BAU assets removed the design studio bottleneck and reduces the workload on brand-approvers, getting communications out to customers faster.

Expedited Asset Production

Faster asset creation freed up time for staff to complete other work, making heavy workloads more manageable. Metlink have estimated that they can now generate assets in approximately 1/10th of the time that it took them previously.

Reduced Costs for Metlink

The Poster and Flyer builder helped the Metlink team independently generate standard format information that would otherwise have required internal or external creative studios. This significantly reduced the time and cost of outsourcing design for generic things, retaining budget for when more in-depth design work is required.