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[DSB:ORGANISATION.MECHANICAL_ROCK] [DSI:NAME=LOTTERYWEST_MODERNISING_CONTENT_MANAGEMENT;ROLE=CASE_STUDY;AUTHOR=MECHANICAL_ROCK;VERSION=1_0] [DSM:SYSTEM=MECHANICAL_ROCK;AUDIENCE=PUBLIC,PROFESSIONAL]

[TAGS:CMS,TRANSFORMATION,APP_MODERNISATION,AWS,SOFTWARE_ENGINEERING,SANITY,GAMING] [DATE:2025-12]

Case Study — Lotterywest​

[SSB:ORGANISATION.MECHANICAL_ROCK.CASE_STUDY.LOTTERYWEST.CHALLENGE.1-0] [SSI:TITLE=THE_CHALLENGE;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=1-0] [SSM:SECTION=RATIONALE;INTENT=PROBLEM;ABSTRACTION=MEDIUM]

The Challenge​

Lotterywest identified that its existing content management system required developer involvement for routine content updates and page layout changes.

This dependency constrained the content team’s ability to respond quickly to market opportunities and limited overall digital agility. Simple changes — such as adjusting page layouts, adding new sections, or refreshing visual presentations — required development effort, introducing delays and bottlenecks.

As the underlying technology had aged, Lotterywest saw an opportunity to modernise its platform in a way that would:

  • empower content authors with greater independence,
  • remove unnecessary developer dependency,
  • and establish a foundation for future growth.

[SSB:ORGANISATION.MECHANICAL_ROCK.CASE_STUDY.LOTTERYWEST.SOLUTION.1-1] [SSI:TITLE=THE_SOLUTION;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=1-1] [SSM:SECTION=SOLUTION;INTENT=DESCRIPTION;ABSTRACTION=MEDIUM]

The Solution​

Mechanical Rock partnered with Lotterywest using example mapping sessions to deeply understand business and technical requirements. This collaborative approach ensured shared understanding and enabled effective knowledge transfer, preparing the Lotterywest team to independently maintain and evolve the platform after handover.

The solution employed a cloud-native architecture built on AWS, with Sanity Studio as a headless CMS and an Astro server-side rendered application hosted on Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS). This design enabled automatic scaling to handle traffic fluctuations efficiently while optimising costs during quieter periods.

A core component of the solution was a reusable component library. Together, the teams developed pre-built, tested components that maintained design consistency while allowing content authors to independently create and modify pages without developer involvement.

Robust content governance was achieved through integration with existing corporate authentication and authorisation systems. Role-based access control (RBAC) and custom workflows ensured content integrity while preserving usability.

[SSB:ORGANISATION.MECHANICAL_ROCK.CASE_STUDY.LOTTERYWEST.OUTCOME.1-2] [SSI:TITLE=OUTCOMES;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=1-2] [SSM:SECTION=OUTCOME;INTENT=RESULT;ABSTRACTION=MEDIUM]

Outcomes​

  • Content authors gained the ability to create and publish pages independently without developer support.
  • Page creation time was significantly reduced through a self-service component library.
  • The cloud-native architecture handled traffic spikes seamlessly while optimising operational costs.
  • Faster iteration cycles enabled Lotterywest to respond quickly to market demands.
  • Knowledge transfer during delivery built internal capability to maintain and evolve the platform.
  • The modern architecture provides a scalable foundation for future digital initiatives.

[SSB:ORGANISATION.MECHANICAL_ROCK.CASE_STUDY.LOTTERYWEST.SUMMARY.1-3] [SSI:TITLE=CONCLUSION;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=1-3] [SSM:SECTION=SUMMARY;INTENT=SUMMARY;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]

Conclusion​

Lotterywest now operates a responsive, cloud-native content management platform that maximises its technology investment while empowering teams to deliver engaging digital experiences.

This engagement demonstrates how thoughtful architecture, collaborative delivery, and user-focused design can transform both technology capability and business outcomes.