There's something special about Drupal. It's not just a tool; it’s the backbone that lets us create websites tailored to the unique needs of each of our clients. Let's dive into why Drupal is our number one choice and how we utilize its strengths to deliver exceptional projects.

Before anything else, we need to talk about when Drupal transitioned from version 7 to version 8, as it marked a significant leap forward. Drupal 7 was designed in a way that allowed non-developers to create functional sites using modules and views. This ease was, in a way, both a strength and a weakness. It allowed contractors to build websites without requiring any coding knowledge, but it also meant that many sites relied heavily on contributed modules. If these modules were no longer supported, the websites built on them faced potential critical issues. Site builders would not be able to fix the site on their own, the sites would become unusable, the architecture would become impossible to maintain and tools were used in ways they were not initially intended for, ultimately creating instances of what we like to call “gambiarras”. Very unfortunately, this practice was widespread enough to give Drupal a bad reputation for being too complicated.

When Drupal 8 was released, the platform matured into a full-fledged enterprise-level DXP (Digital Experience Platform). The shift to a Symfony-based architecture and the adoption of modern web development practices meant that Drupal 8 required a more sophisticated understanding of coding. This included the use of Composer, a dependency manager for PHP, which streamlines the management of libraries and modules, and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles, which enhance code reusability, scalability, and maintainability. This transition made it harder for non-developers to work on Drupal sites independently, but gave the power to developers to create more robust, scalable, and secure applications.

This change, while beneficial for the long-term capabilities of the platform, did leave site builders who were not developers in a tough spot. They could no longer rely on a patchwork of modules and simple configurations; instead, they needed skilled developers to build and maintain their sites. This evolution made Drupal a more powerful tool but also highlighted the importance of having a knowledgeable team to make use of its full potential.

That’s where we come in.

Drupal has always been known for its incredible flexibility. Whether you’re looking to build a simple blog to talk about your latest chocolate chip recipe that integrates with your social media or a complex enterprise site to manage the assessment of your supply chain, Drupal’s modular architecture allows us to create features that fit perfectly with your requirements. Unlike other platforms that force you to bend your project to fit their mold, Drupal adapts to your needs. This flexibility is key for projects that demand custom solutions and advanced functionality.

With a good team like ours, your vision for a website or application becomes reality. We understand the intricacies of Drupal’s extensive capabilities and harness them to meet our client’s exact needs. And that is the magic behind it! Our team of developers are not just coding experts; we are solution architects and business analysts who ensure that our clients' websites are built for the long term. This means the websites are easier to maintain for updates and upgrades, while also being ready to be augmented with new functionalities as new business needs emerge. 

And that's exactly why we choose Drupal. It's not only about what Drupal can do—it's about what we can do with Drupal. It allows us to deliver customized web applications without having to re-invent the wheel. Useful, out-of-the-box, core functionalities are generally ready to be deployed, such as user roles and permissions, WYSIWYG, shopping cart, admin moderation and more, while allowing for extensive customization. All the tools are in place to develop elements unique to your needs and business rules.

Drupal doesn't just support our work; it boosts it, enabling us to produce not just websites, but also web services and experiences tailored to the needs of higher education institutions, e-commerce businesses, documentation libraries, tourism institutions, and more. Some of those solutions include integrating an e-commerce solution with a new fulfillment center for the American Library Association, rebuilding and automating CERIU’s course inscription application, and integrating the Tourinsoft API with Tourism Montreal, among others, which can be consulted on our accomplishment page. 

Many organizations across various industries, such as Tesla, NASA, and the NCAA, just to name a few, choose Drupal for this very reason, relying on its robust capabilities and the expertise of teams like ours to achieve their digital ambitions.

Contact us to discuss what Drupal can do for your project.