The end of life of Drupal 7, set for 5 January 2025, marks the end of an era for this robust CMS launched in 2011. Plan your migration to Drupal 10 today.
The official end-of-life date for Drupal 7 is now 5 January 2025. This announcement marks the end of a long adventure that began on 5 January 2011, underlining the robustness and durability of this CMS, which has powered some of the world's biggest websites. Initially scheduled for 2021, this deadline has been pushed back several times due to the large number of sites still running Drupal 7.
The end of extended support for Drupal 7 offers a few more months' reprieve. However, it is imperative to start planning now for the migration to Drupal 10, a version that has been tried and tested and stable since its release. This extra time will allow you to prepare for the transition in a calm and considered way.
Why migrate to Drupal 10?
Migrating to Drupal 10 represents a strategic opportunity for your organisation. It is essential to analyse the user experience (back and front), reassess the total cost of ownership (TCO) and review your functional requirements. Migration is a project that can generate significant added value and optimise the performance of your site.
The benefits of Drupal 10 :
- User needs and UX/UI design: Improve your site's user experience and interface.
- SEO performance: Optimise your site's visibility on search engines.
- Modern architecture: Benefit from a more robust and flexible infrastructure.
Smile, Europe's leading Drupal integrator, is ready to support you in this transition. Our experts and consultants will guide you to make the best decisions and deliver an exceptional digital experience. We can also design an eco-responsible version of your new digital identity, reinforcing your commitment to social responsibility.
The consequences of the end of support for Drupal 7
The end of support for Drupal 7 will have major consequences. After 5 January 2025, there will be no more new modules or bug fixes for existing modules. The Drupal community is now concentrating its efforts on versions 10 and beyond.
The big news since Drupal 8
With the introduction of Drupal 8, you'll no longer have to perform major version upgrades. The Drupal community has made it a point of honour to ensure that the transition from one major version to the next is seamless. This means that it will no longer be necessary to completely overhaul your site with each major update, facilitating ongoing, progressive management of your digital platform.
What strategy should you adopt?
At this point, we hope we've convinced you that it's urgent to prepare for the end of Drupal 7 support and that the latest version of Drupal offers major advances and is an excellent option for looking to the future with peace of mind. You now have two options.
The first is to turn this constraint into an opportunity and take advantage of the imposed redesign schedule to launch a more ambitious project by transforming your showcase site into a genuine DXP (Digital eXperience Platform).
On the other hand, if this end of support, which has been postponed several times, comes at the wrong time and your energy is focused on other matters, we can help you to control the schedule and costs of the redesign.
First strategy: seize the opportunity to deploy a DXP
Today, it would be a shame to be content with a showcase site when a DXP (Digital eXperience Platform) can take the effectiveness of your digital marketing to the next level. In 2024, a DXP is based on 3 pillars that need to be balanced to reveal their full potential:
- Content: The basic functions of a CMS.
The challenge is to have a critical mass of content ((industrialisation, autonomy, design system, IA gen), a critical mass of visits (SEO), omnichannel capability (API), in a multi-country/language/brand context.... - Customer knowledge: Data from a customer base, users, members, newsletter subscribers, etc.
In a regulatory context (RGPD) in which DMPs (Data Management Platforms), based on third-party cookies, are disappearing, we need to consider the deployment of a CDP (Customer Data Platform), capable of aggregating various sources and creating segments, possibly thanks to machine learning-type AI. - Activation: Tools for sending newsletters, personalising a website, marketing on social networks, etc.
It's all about delivering the right content, to the right segment, on the right channel, at the right time. The use of predictive AI is possible.
Deploying this type of platform while upgrading to a more recent version of Drupal is possible: our partner, Acquia, founded by the creator of Drupal, has the full range of solutions to make it possible.
Second strategy: a successful redesign at a controlled cost
To help you establish a controlled migration strategy, both in terms of budget and schedule, Smile can support you every step of the way, from needs analysis to technical implementation, including training your teams.
For a successful and cost-effective transition to a stable version, discover Sobki, our no-code Drupal solution. Sobki lets you benefit from the power and security of new versions of Drupal in a version that's user-friendly for your teams and up-to-date in terms of visitor experience, while keeping your budget and redesign schedule under control. To find out more, read our article on Sobki.
Sobki, the ideal solution for redesigning your website
Sobki is our no-code solution for Drupal, enabling you to build and manage powerful websites without the need for advanced technical skills. With Sobki, you can exploit the full potential of Drupal while reducing development costs and timescales. Find out how Sobki can transform the way you manage your website in our dedicated article.
Conclusion
Migration to Drupal 10 is an investment in the future. It not only guarantees the continuity of your site, but also improves its performance and user experience. Whatever your strategy, it's time to embark on the adventure and take advantage of the benefits offered by this new version. Contact us today to plan your transition and ensure the success of your digital project.
Vous vous demandez si Drupal est adapté à votre projet ? Consultez notre livre blanc !
