As you know, a new email editor is on the way! Today, we invite you to meet the people behind this great adventure. Norman and Thierry are the key duo. What are their roles, what are the main stages, and above all, where does your new email builder stand? We’ll tell you everything!
Who are the key players behind the email builder?
Two roles are essential: product manager and developer.
The first builds the functional brief, selects the players to benchmark and makes the decisions (not always easy). The second brings the technical skills needed to shape the tool: from architecture to design and development, Thierry is the one who created your email builder!
Let us introduce them to you!
You probably know Norman, CEO of Webmecanik and an active member of the open source Mautic community. He is leading this project masterfully.
Thierry, on the other hand, joined us for this adventure. An entrepreneur and web and mobile developer, he is a front-end expert and even a trainer. After years of experience, he expanded his skills to design, UX, and application architecture. As a fun fact, this isn’t Thierry’s first email builder!
What are the major stages of creation?
1. Planning
Before making its way into your Webmecanik Automation interface, the email builder had to go through several stages.
To begin with, Norman took the time to review customer needs and requests. He also took a close look at what is being done, observed the market to understand its strengths and weaknesses, and then summarized everything in a brief. Then it was necessary to find a team to successfully carry out this project. Some of the technologies used are different from those we usually use at Webmecanik. It was necessary to carefully choose both the technologies and the people with the magic touch to handle them.
2. Design
This is where Thierry takes over. He started by drawing up the plans, like a true architect, for a simple interface. His goal was to offer you the maximum number of options with unfailing ease of use.
Then, he chose MJML technology to generate the code inserted into the emails sent so as to display an email faithful to your creation. At this stage, it was also necessary to think through and find solutions to various issues. For example, how can we let you use tokens or dynamic content? Spoiler alert: he succeeded.
3. Testing
Norman then set about the various tests of the tool to check that the brief had been followed and that Brick met all your expectations! This long period of testing and QA is essential to ensure a top-notch email builder as soon as it is released. To fine-tune it, the Webmecanik teams and a few clients were brought in on a beta version.
4. Implementation
Norman then set about the various tests of the tool to check that the brief had been followed and that Brick met all your expectations! This long period of testing and QA is essential to ensure a top-notch email builder as soon as it is released. To fine-tune it, the Webmecanik teams and a few clients were brought in on a beta version.
The final stage, and not the least important, is integrating the email builder into the heart of Webmecanik Automation. This is the stage currently being finalized!
What challenges were encountered?
This isn’t our first attempt at this new feature. The challenge that stood out for Norman was the decision to set the first version aside.
For Thierry, the challenge came later: bringing the ability to use tokens/variants into the brand-new builder! Fortunately, his experience in designing email builders enabled him to avoid many difficulties.
A highlight of this adventure?
The whole creation of your email builder was a great adventure!
While the moment when the MJML rendering appeared in real time in the browser was a great success, it was the meeting that left the greatest mark on the duo!
Norman and Thierry were delighted to see that their ideas and aspirations were aligned. One thing is certain: they were a great match, and their collaboration is a success.
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