How Co-operators reinvented its digital presence with Sitecore XM Cloud

At Sitecore Symposium 2024, Co-operators, a leading Canadian financial services co-operative, shared how they reimagined their digital landscape with Sitecore XM Cloud. Moderated by Kevin Wilson, a partner at Deloitte Canada, the session featured insights from Mike Bruno, AVP of Digital, and Niki Zahirieh, AVP of Digital Technology at Co-operators. Together, they detailed how this ambitious initiative reshaped their organization, making it future-ready for the digital age.

Co-operators’ digital transformation started with a clear challenge: their digital footprint was virtually nonexistent. Their Sitecore solution hadn’t been updated in over 13 years, leading to many problems, including outdated systems, inconsistent content, and a lack of features needed for the digital age. For a company that had always focused on face-to-face advisory services and physical locations, this change wasn’t just about upgrading technology; it was about changing the way they did business to meet the needs of today’s consumers.

Recognizing the need for a fresh start, the Co-operators team, in collaboration with Deloitte, embarked on an 18-month journey to migrate their digital operations to Sitecore XM Cloud on a managed cloud environment.

During the first phase, the team uncovered the complexities of a highly customized and deeply intertwined tech stack. They identified the company’s immediate needs, set long-term goals, and charted a clear path toward implementing Sitecore XM Cloud. The insights gained during this phase provided a roadmap for the transformation.

In the second phase, Co-operators began building a new, modern tech stack to migrate their most critical web properties, with a focus on creating a streamlined framework, simplifying content structures and layouts, and developing reusable templates and components.

The final phase, sunsetting and mobilization, concentrated on enhancing the new platform by introducing additional features and redesigning remaining web properties. The migration to the updated system was accompanied by the decommissioning of legacy platforms.

By the end of this process, Co-operators had successfully built a dynamic digital platform that aligned with their vision for a future-ready, customer-centric business.

The transformation had its challenges. From dealing with changes in scope to unearthing undocumented systems, the journey was filled with unforeseen obstacles. With support from executives and close collaboration between technology and business teams, Co-operators was able to manage these difficulties. Phase one focused on building the new platform, while phase two involved sunsetting the old systems—a process which came with risks but was executed seamlessly.

Strong governance, clear communication, and a unified vision ensured that both sides worked together effectively throughout the transformation process.

The results of this transformation were profound. Co-operators transitioned from an outdated system to a cutting-edge digital platform with significant operational and business benefits:

Beyond these metrics, the project changed the culture within Co-operators, empowering teams, streamlining collaboration, and opening doors for innovation.

As Co-operators continues to evolve its digital capabilities, its Sitecore XM Cloud solution serves as a strong foundation for future growth. By embracing modern technologies and fostering collaboration across teams, the company has transformed from a static “brochure” business to a dynamic digital storefront.

Find out more about Sitecore ΧΜ Cloud and its transformative benefits for your business.