Planning a visit to any of Ster-Kinekor`s 46 movie theatres across the country just became easier with the launch of its improved Web site, www.sterkinekor.com.
Ster-Kinekor Theatres has selected Hetzner`s Managed Dedicated Server solution to host its redesigned Web site.
Hetzner (Pty) Ltd, SA`s leading provider of specialist Web hosting services, is hosting the cinema group`s Web site in its Johannesburg Gallo Manor Data Centre.
The Web site is hosted on a three server load balanced configuration. One server is dedicated to the database. All site content displayed within the framework of the new and improved site layout is stored in and retrieved from this database. The additional two servers deliver the content directly to the browsing user.
Hetzner is committed to open source software and as such the Web servers hosting the Ster-Kinekor site run on a Linux operating system, as do all of Hetzner`s managed servers. The database engine used is the open source, and widely popular, MySQL.
Commenting on the reason for selecting Hetzner as a suitable service provider, Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres, says: "We were impressed with Hetzner`s product offering, support and maintenance as well as their ability to expand and grow dynamically with our requirements."
Database replication was used as scalability, robustness and redundancy were highlighted as important deliverables for Ster-Kinekor. An up-to-date copy of the database is always available on a secondary server. A quick failover procedure exists should a server in the cluster fail.
Prezence, a leading-edge Web design company based in Cape Town and one of Hetzner`s key resellers, was asked to create an intuitive and visually appealing Web site that would allow visitors to quickly and easily find the information they were looking for. Since the launch of the new site, customer feedback around accessibility and speed has been positive. Whereas the previous site was limited due to bandwidth and design issues, the new design and configuration allows Ster-Kinekor to add functionality, such as trailers, to its Web site.
"Ster-Kinekor is about providing our customers with an experience beyond the movie. The new Web site is a significant step in this direction as it is a key initial point in the customers` journey," comments Mahomed.
Future enhancements to the site will be launched in the coming months. These enhancements will make it possible for visitors to customise the content they wish to receive, with the ability to create online profiles. They will also be able to book more than one movie at a time. A recent soft campaign to evaluate the new site indicated an acceptable increase in bookings of approximately 15%.
Hans Wencke, managing director of Hetzner, said the company was delighted to welcome Ster-Kinekor as a client.
"Our Managed Dedicated hosting service offers companies a totally outsourced solution, enabling them to connect with customers with an immediate, high-quality service. We are excited by our growth and focused business model that enables us to service clients of Ster-Kinekor`s calibre. It`s an exciting time for us and we remain confident that we can meet the needs of our customers, providing a dependable service at a reasonable cost," concludes Wencke.
Hetzner`s client base also includes several other well-known companies such as e-TV, MyADSL, Sony BMG, Intelligence Publishing, AA Travel, Struik Publishing and Rawson Properties.
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