Ocho Rios College

At Sitepact JA, we’ve had the privilege of working on numerous projects over the years, but one that stands out as particularly memorable is the website development project for Ocho Rios College. This project began all the way back in 2022 and, while not overly complex, turned out to be one of the longest and most challenging ones we’ve undertaken.

When we first received the request from Ocho Rios College, it seemed like a standard website development project. The college, known for its student-centered approach to education, wanted a website that would not only showcase its programs and services but also provide a platform for students to submit documents, register for courses, and make payments online. At Sitepact, we’re accustomed to projects like these, especially those with e-commerce capabilities. Typically, such websites can be completed within our usual seven-day project turnover. But this one, as we would soon discover, would be far from typical.

Understanding the Client’s Vision

Ocho Rios College prides itself on offering a wide range of courses—from Hospitality and Medical to Esthetics, Construction, and Business Studies. Their commitment to fostering individual growth and aspirations in their students is evident in their approach to education. This understanding set the stage for us to design a website that truly represented their values.

Our team was eager to get started and began by analyzing the college’s needs. The goal was clear: create an intuitive and functional platform where students could easily access information, submit documents, enroll in courses, and even make payments online. It sounded straightforward, and we dove into the project with the typical enthusiasm we bring to all our work.

The First Hurdles

As with many projects, the initial phase of development moved smoothly. However, midway through the process, we encountered our first challenge: communication with the main point of contact at Ocho Rios College became inconsistent. Despite our best efforts to keep the project moving, our contact was becoming unresponsive, which caused the development to stall.

In situations like these, we typically archive dormant projects after six months. However, for this particular project, something told us to keep it on our server. We had a gut feeling that the issue wasn’t with the project itself but with the assigned point of contact. We decided to hold off on archiving it and continued to monitor the situation.

The Turning Point

After a year of delays, we decided to take a more direct approach. We reached out to the principal of Ocho Rios College to discuss the project’s future. To our relief, the principal was receptive and eager to get things back on track. We resumed the development process, and our team was once again ready to move forward. But as we had learned before, challenges still lay ahead.

Overcoming Further Challenges

Despite the principal’s enthusiasm, the project continued to experience delays. The principal’s busy schedule led to slow communication, and many of the critical resources we needed to complete the website were not provided in a timely manner. It felt as though we were back at square one, and we were on the verge of giving up on the project altogether.

But just when we were ready to archive the project and move on, we received another message from the principal. This time, there was a renewed commitment to completing the project. With this renewed energy, we sent over a detailed list of the outstanding resources and information that were critical to finishing the site. To our relief, the requested materials were sent over promptly, and we were finally able to push forward.

A Successful Outcome

After months of setbacks, the project was completed, and the website was launched successfully. It was a long and sometimes frustrating journey, but the result was worth the effort. The Ocho Rios College website is now a beautiful, functional platform that showcases the college’s diverse programs and allows students to easily engage with the institution.

The process was a reminder of the importance of persistence, clear communication, and maintaining a positive relationship with clients—no matter how challenging the project may become. In the end, we were all happy with the outcome, and it was incredibly rewarding to work closely with the principal and the Ocho Rios College team to bring the vision to life.

For us at Sitepact JA, this project was more than just another website. It was a testament to the power of collaboration and the perseverance required to see a project through to completion, no matter the obstacles along the way.

Author Bio