About Eye Recommend
Eye Recommend is a national optometrist cooperative that supports more than 1,300 independent doctors and retail locations across Canada. Since 1985, they have helped members strengthen their practices through resources, tools, and operational support.
The Challenge
An Outdated Intranet
Their intranet, originally built around 2012, could no longer support the volume of content members needed. Navigation was cluttered, search was limited, and members struggled to find tools and updates. Staff also lacked an effective way to highlight new services or important information.
A Practice Locator That Created Friction
The Practice Locator needed a full rebuild. Users struggled with:
- A crowded map with too many points
- No easy way to filter or refine results
- A map that did not highlight the selected location
- Pages that were not mobile friendly, despite most visitors using mobile devices
The overall experience felt overwhelming and did not help visitors quickly find the right clinic.
A Digital Experience That No Longer Reflected Who They Were
Eye Recommend’s digital platforms had grown outdated and difficult to use. Their external website no longer captured the organization’s value or message, and key content was hard for users to navigate. The story of who Eye Recommend is and how they support both members and consumers was getting lost.
Our Approach
A Stronger Intranet for Members
To improve the member experience, we introduced:
- A modern theme and layout
- Streamlined navigation
- A customizable dashboard showing relevant content by location or staff role
This gave members a faster way to access resources, updates, and tools.
Clear Map Interactions
To reduce clutter and confusion, map pins were redesigned to differentiate general clinics from locations that also operate eyewear retail stores. Selecting a location became clearer, and users could quickly zoom in on the clinic they needed.
Designing with a Mobile First Lens
Because most traffic came from mobile devices, mobile UX became the foundation of the redesign. We updated the Practice Locator using standard Views and the Google Maps module to create a cleaner and more intuitive experience.
Filtering options were expanded so users could search by:
- City
- Services
- Brands
We also added support for direct booking links and email forms, making it easier for patients to connect with clinics.
Bringing the Website Up to Date
We implemented a refreshed website design, supplied by a third-party design partner, within the existing Drupal 7 framework. The new content structure better reflected Eye Recommend’s messaging and helped the organization communicate its value more clearly.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support
We continued to enhance Eye Recommend’s digital systems with:
- Updated permission roles
- Drupal and PHP security updates
- CAPTCHA for forms
- Partner directory improvements
- Bug fixes and optimization
The Results
A Better Experience for Members and Consumers
With a cleaner website, a fully rebuilt Practice Locator, and an organized intranet, Eye Recommend can now support its members more effectively. Users can quickly find what they need, and members experience fewer roadblocks when accessing important information. Early results show increased time on page and more frequent logins, reinforcing the value of a clearer, modern digital platform.
