Ann Hofmans

Forkliftaction Media has launched a major upgrade to its global materials handling website and news service.

According to Forkliftaction CEO Ann Hofmans, "the upgrade involves a comprehensive rebuild of 19 years' worth of applications, features, design and code".

Although it retains its breadth of information and resources, the website has undergone a number of improvements and new features designed to provide "a more accessible, engaging and locally relevant user experience". These include a responsive and modern design, improved navigation and menus, geographically defined content, and an extended run of special editorial content, industry blogs and most-read news articles.

Forkliftaction's focus on quality news and practical resources will remain at the website's core, Hofmans explains. "We will continue to offer people who sell, manage, buy and work with materials handling products a complete source that allows them to stay informed, connect with industry colleagues, source or sell their equipment and develop leads for their business."

Forkliftaction News, distributed to over 72,000 subscribers, has become a consistent voice within the materials handling industry, delivering independent news stories week after week for almost 20 years.

"Visitors to the new website will see our respected journalists better showcased, with their unique industry insights and market analysis highlighted in new and interesting ways," she adds.
Newsletter readers will also find the news stories for their region shown at the top of the news in a separate column, both in the news mailing as well as on the website.

"We are very excited to promote local coverage to our readers around the world," Hofmans says: "For many, local information is most relevant to their business, so being able to find their targeted news at the top of their weekly news is a real plus.

"It is our hope that members of the materials handling community will continue to submit their company news to help us fill these local columns, so we can offer a broad spread of coverage from across the globe."

According to Hofmans, Forkliftaction has come a long way since the era of dial-up modems and limited corporate websites in which it was conceived. The upgrade caters to the evolving expectations of business audiences who now consume news media at an accelerated pace and have an abundance of online resources from which to choose.

Hofmans says: "We have created a crisp and responsive website for a more user-friendly experience. Improvements to the website navigation and menus will also enhance usability and make our content more accessible for industry professionals on the go.

"Our members utilise the website daily for a multitude of tasks, so it is important to us that they are able to consult our news and resources on the job, in transit, and at home - seamlessly, across any device."