The Challenge
Campus visits are an important step in converting prospective applicants into admitted Mavericks. However, booking a daily, graduate, group, or academic tour through the legacy portal presented several friction points:
- Visual Complexity: The scheduling views displayed an overwhelming matrix of dates, times, and tour classifications simultaneously.
- Static Layouts: Mobile users were forced to navigate cumbersome desktop-centric tables to secure a reservation.
- Friction-Heavy Registrations: The lack of dynamic, conditional rules resulted in visitors attempting to register for dates and session times that were already filled or inapplicable to their academic standing.
The UX Redesign Strategy
The project involved a complete logical rebuild of the Slate CRM front-end presentation. We consolidated and sorted event data using structured, conditional tabs:
Segmented Registration Tiers
Constructed targeted workflows for Daily Tours, Graduate Visits, Specialized Academic Sessions, and Self-Guided options.
Automated Dynamic Availability
Employed backend database mapping to hide fully booked sessions dynamically, preventing registration errors.
Technical Implementation
Implementing this dynamic scheduling layout within Slate required a combination of template files, backend query manipulation, and Slate's Liquid markup language.
We parsed tour registration availability in real time and displayed custom data blocks based on user-selected criteria:
{% if tour.available_slots > 0 %}
<div class="tour-status open-spot">
<span>{{ tour.available_slots }} Seats Remaining</span>
<button class="btn-select" data-id="{{ tour.id }}">Register</button>
</div>
{% else %}
<div class="tour-status filled">
<span class="text-muted">Waitlist Only</span>
</div>
{% endif %}Additionally, the client-side selection UI was optimized to dynamically adjust form fields (such as parking garage validation and physical accessibility accommodation inquiries) based on whether the registrant selected a standard walking tour or a large group session.
Impact & Outcome
The updated platform provides a seamless booking experience for prospective students. Outcomes include:
- Reduced Support Volume: A measurable reduction in email and telephone inquiries seeking assistance with tour registration issues.
- Higher Engagement Rates: Streamlined mobile forms and clear parking guidance helped increase overall check-in rates at the Dan Dipert University Welcome Center.
Project Details
- Platform: Slate CRM
- Role: UI/UX & Slate Specialist
- Target: Undergrad & Grad Visitors
- Integrations: Liquid Markup, JSON