Digital restart: Enhanced usability in the real estate sector

Digital platform with headless CMS and improved accessibility

The real estate sector is a highly competitive market that demands a strong digital presence from its participants. To remain competitive and meet the growing demands of the industry, a modern, user-friendly website is essential.

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of our client STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH, one of the seven municipal housing companies in the state of Berlin, Ergosign was commissioned to migrate its existing online presence into a modern content management system. This brief quickly evolved into a redesign of the three websites to enhance usability and modernize the digital presence.

DXP

UX Design

Visual Design

Accessibility

Development

BriefFocus on optimized usability and accessibility

The project aimed to enhance the usability and visual appeal of the websites for STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH and its subsidiaries, WOBEGE mbH and FACILITY GmbH. A modern website would prioritize the user and customer experience while establishing a unified Look & Feel to strengthen the brand identity.

The project also included the migration of over 850 URLs to a modern content management system (CMS) to improve ease of use for the corporate communications editors and streamline internal workflows. Storyblok’s headless CMS was selected for its reusable UI components and lightweight user interface, enabling seamless content design and a consistent user experience.

A central focus was achieving high accessibility standards, a critical requirement, particularly in the public sector, with the German Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (Barrier-Free Strengthening Act) coming into effect on June 28, 2025.

ApproachCollaborative efforts with a modern CMS

Throughout the project, Ergosign emphasized close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to remain flexible and deliver optimal results. Significant focus was placed on working closely with the corporate communications team during all project phases.

The process began with a comprehensive analysis of the three existing websites and the legacy CMS. Based on these insights, Ergosign’s UX team worked with the client to develop a new visual design. The use of the design tool Figma facilitated an agile and iterative approach during the design phase.

Consistent use of colors, fonts, and graphic elements ensured alignment with the corporate design. Particular attention was given to accessibility: features like high contrast, consistent keyboard focus functionality, and intuitive navigation were integrated into the design.

The redesigned websites were implemented by Ergosign’s interdisciplinary, agile team. UX designers, front-end and back-end developers, accessibility experts, and testers collaborated closely to ensure high-quality UI component creation and the timely migration to the new CMS.

Ergosign also provided training sessions to familiarize the editors of the three websites with Storyblok’s CMS. The benefits of the new CMS became immediately evident, particularly its visual editor, which offers a live preview of the pages and real time interaction with components.

OutcomeA successful relaunch for users and employees

The headless CMS enables STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH’s editors to publish available rental properties and page content independently and in real time. The optimized employee experience allows corporate communications staff to complete editorial tasks more efficiently, freeing up time for strategic planning and direct communication with external stakeholders.

The newfound flexibility and efficiency in content creation of the newly redesigned websites not only improved internal workflows but also strengthened user engagement. Additionally, the website’s search engine rankings improved significantly. A Matomo analysis revealed a doubling of visits to STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH’s websites within three months of the relaunch, alongside a substantial increase in user interactions – clear evidence of the site’s enhanced visibility and relevance.

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About the clientSTADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH

STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft mbH is one of Berlin’s largest municipal housing companies, with over a century of history. With approximately 53,100 (Status as of February 2025)own apartments, commercial units, and parking spaces, STADT UND LAND plays a key role in providing housing in the German capital. As a reliable partner for tenants, investors, and the city of Berlin, the company is committed to affordable housing and sustainable neighborhood development. Its subsidiaries, WOBEGE mbH and FACILITY GmbH, offer additional services in real estate brokerage and facility management. STADT UND LAND stands for customer-oriented services, social responsibility, and high-quality living in Berlin's residential neighborhoods.