One NZ Warriors ‣ Partner Portal: Building an online self-service platform for partners and sponsors
Project overview
Business context
The One New Zealand Warriors compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership - they are well-established as one of New Zealand's most powerful sporting brands competing in the NRL (National Rugby League).
This project was commissioned by the team's Lead Partnerships Manager. Their role (among many other things) is to manage relationships with primary sponsors and partners to ensure contracted benefits and obligations are delivered and sponsor objectives are met.
The challenge
Sponsors and partners of the One NZ Warriors require substantial club and NRL-specific context, information, and rules throughout the season. There was no centralised repository for critical information, creating a significant burden on the partnerships manager who was attempting to provide a high level of service to just under 40 sponsors.
The goal
Design and develop a self-service website that serves as a single source of truth for all key sponsors. This digital platform will house all pertinent information in an easily accessible and comprehensible format. If successful, the platform will reduce bottlenecks and free the partnerships team up to focus their efforts on delivering a high level of service.
Problems + Opportunities
Current state
During the initial discovery phase, the client highlighted several pain points in their current process:
A single partnerships manager was attempting to service just under 40 sponsors.
Inefficient onboarding of new partners and communication with existing ones.
Multiple assets and information needed consolidation and easy accessibility.
Excessive time spent in one-on-one meetings providing information about each partner's assets, processes, rules, and regulations.
Lack of a centralised source for partnership-related imagery, documents, and artefacts.
Information was typically conveyed verbally or via email, often requiring repeated communication due to the absence of a reference point.
Potential for miscommunication or misinterpretation of contracted assets, especially regarding deadlines.
Requirements gathering
We kicked of the project with a canvas and requirements mapping workshop to identify key product requirements:
Password protection to safeguard sensitive information, including emails and contact details.
Intuitive navigation for partners to easily locate assets.
Integration with image services and Dropbox for access to a large volume of downloadable photos, player imagery, and logos.
Capability to host downloadable files (PDFs, ZIPs, spreadsheets).
A design aligned with both the Warriors brand and NRL web standards to create a professional first impression for sponsors.
Collaborated with the client in mapping information architecture and identified key product requirements.
Output
Implementation
I built and deployed the site on Webflow using Finsuite's client-first development standard, implementing key features such as:
Functioning Content Management System (CMS)
Accessible colour system
Landing page
Sidebar navigation
Simple password entry
Dropbox integration
Downloadable assets
Season draw collections
Mobile responsive
Brand guidelines
Landing page
Simple password entry
Dropbox integration
Downloadable sponsorship assets
Season draw collection with filter tags
Mobile responsive
Digitising brand guidelines
Outcomes + Impact
Feedback
After one season of operation, the Portal proved to be a resounding success. It significantly improved operational efficiency by providing partners with consistent, self-service access to vital information. The project has enabled the sponsorship manager to leverage the project's success to inform and restructure the club's approach to onboarding and servicing commercial partnerships.
Significantly reduced time spent by the partnerships manager on routine inquiries
Streamlined onboarding process for new sponsors
Provided a scalable solution that can accommodate future growth
Feedback from the Partnerships Manager
"I was able to respond to emails much faster. Instead of writing out answers, I could simply link to a section on the portal or screenshot and send it through."
"When onboarding new Warriors staff, it provides a wealth of information for in-house staff orientation."
Next iteration
Looking ahead, I will be collaborating with the client during the off-season to review the platform's performance and identify potential improvements and efficiencies.
Reflections
A client with a clear vision
This project highlighted the value of a well-prepared client with clear problem identification and vision. Their readiness streamlined the whole process - this meant really really quick alignment on requirements and solutions.
This isn't always the case.
This experience showed me the importance of understanding a client's discovery stage and involving key stakeholders who deeply understand business processes and customer needs. Whether these stakeholders are our primary contacts or not, their input is crucial for aligning the solution with real-world needs and business objectives.
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