Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 Website and on-site integration

Introduction

GTECH collaborated with Black Engineering and Talents to design and develop the official website for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 in Jeddah, KSA. The goal was to create an engaging and user-friendly platform that showcased the rich Islamic arts and culture while facilitating seamless event registration, check-in and reporting.

There was also on-site integration with a gate barrier system for seamless access control and efficient management of entry and exit points during the event, ensuring a smooth and secure event experience.

Leveraging a combination of frontend and backend technologies, GTECH delivered a robust and visually stunning website that effectively catered to both the English and Arabic-speaking audiences.

Design Objectives

User Experience: The primary focus was to create an intuitive user experience that allowed visitors to easily explore and navigate the website’s content, including information about the biennale, featured artists, events, and registration details.

Bilingual Support: Given the international nature of the event, the website was designed to support both English and Arabic languages, ensuring a seamless experience for users from diverse backgrounds.

Registration Systems: GTECH implemented two distinct registration systems – one for the general public and another specifically for programs. This allowed for efficient management of attendees and ensured a smooth registration process for different user groups.

Technologies behind IAB2023

GTECH used HTML, CSS, and jQuery technologies to create an engaging and interactive frontend experience for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 website. For the backend, GTECH utilized a combination of PHP, Laravel Framework, MySQL, and Redis for the website’s backend development, providing a robust and efficient foundation for managing data and server-side operations.

Admin Panel and Payment:

1. Laravel Backpack: GTECH integrated Laravel Backpack, a user-friendly admin panel package, to facilitate efficient content management, event scheduling, and attendee administration, empowering the Islamic Arts Biennale team to have full control over the website’s backend operations.
2. Stripe: For secure online payments, GTECH integrated Stripe, a widely-used payment gateway, enabling attendees to register for the biennale and purchase tickets seamlessly.

Hosting Platform:

GTECH chose Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) as the hosting platform for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 website for hosting the web application in Jeddah, KSA. OCI is a next-generation cloud infrastructure platform designed to provide a secure and high-performance environment for running various applications.

OCI offers a wide range of cloud services that cater to the needs of modern web applications. By hosting the website on OCI, GTECH ensured that the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 website would benefit from the platform’s robust infrastructure, scalability, and reliability.

Group/Corporate Booking Module:

GTECH implemented a dedicated Group/Corporate Booking module within the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 website to facilitate the seamless registration and management of group or corporate bookings for the event. This module allowed organizations or groups to register and reserve tickets or participation slots in bulk, streamlining the booking process and providing a convenient solution for larger groups.

Features of the Group/Corporate Booking Module:

1. Bulk Registration: The module allowed users representing a group or corporation to register multiple attendees in a single booking transaction. This eliminated the need for individual registrations and simplified the process for organizations handling group bookings.
2. Customized Fields: The module provided customizable fields to capture specific information required for group or corporate bookings. These fields could include organization name, group size, contact details of the group coordinator, and any additional requirements or preferences for the booking.
3. Communication and Coordination: The module facilitated effective communication between the event organizers and the group coordinator. Automated email notifications and reminders were sent to the group coordinator to ensure smooth coordination and provide any necessary updates or instructions.
4. Different Types of Programs with Different Fields to be Captured: The Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 featured various programs, each with its unique requirements and fields to capture relevant information from participants. GTECH implemented a flexible and customizable program management module to accommodate the diverse needs of these programs.

Check-in Module:

To streamline the check-in process at the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023, GTECH implemented a dedicated check-in module. This module allowed event organizers to efficiently manage attendee check-ins and ensure a smooth and organized entry for participants.

Features of the Check-in Module:

1. Attendee Verification: The module provided a system for verifying attendee registrations and tickets at the entry point. Organizers could use scanning or check-in codes to quickly validate attendees and mark their participation as checked-in.
2. Real-time Updates: The module offered real-time updates on check-in status, allowing organizers to track and monitor attendee arrivals. This helped to maintain accurate records and manage entry flow effectively.
3. On-site Registration: In cases where walk-in registrations were allowed, the check-in module could be extended to facilitate on-site registration, ensuring a seamless process for participants who had not pre-registered.

Conclusion

Through its comprehensive utilization of cutting-edge frontend and backend technologies, GTECH successfully designed and developed the official website for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023.

The website’s visually appealing design, seamless bilingual support, intuitive registration systems, and robust backend administration capabilities allowed the Islamic Arts Biennale team to effectively showcase their event and engage with a diverse audience. GTECH’s expertise and attention to detail ensured a smooth and immersive user experience, contributing to the overall success of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023.

1. 1+ million plus visitors: The website attracted over one million visitors throughout the duration of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023. 
2. 570+ programs: The Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 featured a diverse range of programs, comprising more than 570 unique events, exhibitions, workshops, and performances. 
3. 120+ days of support: The website and associated services provided continuous support for the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 for over 120 days. 
4. 12+ team members: GTECH allocated a dedicated team of more than 12 skilled professionals to design, develop, and maintain the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 website. This team consisted of web designers, developers, project managers, quality assurance specialists, and other relevant roles, collectively working towards delivering a high-quality digital solution.
5. 2000+ paid program tickets booked in the last 3 days: Within the final three days leading up to the Islamic Arts Biennale 2023, more than 2000 program tickets were booked through the website.