Our client, an e-commerce company focusing on gift card distribution, sought a robust technology stack that could facilitate long-term business growth while accommodating new features and high traffic loads. Their priority was to ensure seamless communication between the backend (BE) and frontend (FE), thereby preventing costly integration headaches and guaranteeing a smooth user experience. However, the client’s existing platform, built on Drupal 7, was rapidly approaching end-of-life and lacked many modern features essential for competitive e-commerce operations. They needed a full migration to Drupal 10, not just a simple upgrade, requiring a complete rewrite of underlying code and strict adherence to testing protocols for quality assurance.
Beyond the migration, the company required custom logging and authorization mechanisms to maintain system transparency and security. Integration with multiple payment gateways was essential to handle diverse customer needs and streamline financial transactions. At the same time, the platform had to support advanced search capabilities and real-time data fetching. Ultimately, the goal was to empower the business with a flexible and future-proof architecture—one that could drive higher sales conversions, withstand increased user traffic, and remain stable under continual expansion.
E-commerce trade company
Drupal, React, Apollo server, GraphQL, Drupal e-commerce, ElasticSearch
Amsterdam, Netherlands
17 January 2023
We conducted a comprehensive migration from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10, rewriting the system from the ground up to leverage the latest security patches and performance improvements. This included implementing GraphQL for more efficient data fetching and facilitating smoother communication between the frontend and backend. On top of that, Elasticsearch was integrated into the backend to enhance site search capabilities, enabling users to find products quickly and accurately.
We also designed and built custom logging and authorization flows, ensuring robust security measures while offering insights into user activities and potential system bottlenecks. Payment gateway integrations were added to accommodate a variety of transaction methods, simplifying the checkout process for customers worldwide. To uphold code quality, our team wrote both integration and unit tests, reinforcing reliability and speeding up future development cycles.
- Achieved a 25% site speed boost, lowering bounce rates by ~20%
- Secured a scalable e-commerce foundation for future growth
- Expanded payment gateway options, raising checkout conversions by 20%
- Enhanced developer efficiency, eliminating project delays
- Introduced new processes that improved backend team collaboration
- Freed up 25% more developer capacity through streamlined CI/CD pipelines
From the outset, our approach was heavily informed by the client’s ambitious scaling plans. Rewriting the entire code base during the migration to Drupal 10 allowed us to address existing bottlenecks head-on, such as outdated database structures and inefficient API endpoints. Embracing GraphQL for data queries provided a smoother, more predictable approach to handling the constant flow of product, pricing, and inventory information between various front-facing applications. This shift also simplified maintenance, since developers could build or modify data queries without repeatedly updating backend endpoints.
Elasticsearch became another core component, granting users speedy, relevant search results. This enhancement proved invaluable in boosting conversions, as customers could locate specific gift cards or categories in seconds. Additionally, we tackled security by creating a custom authorization flow that incorporated robust logging. This approach not only shielded sensitive user data but also offered real-time analytics for diagnosing potential issues, ensuring the platform stayed ahead of vulnerabilities.
By introducing new rules and processes for backend communication, we shortened development sprints and promoted a culture of proactive problem-solving among team members. The subsequent performance gains were tangible: a 25% site speed increase significantly impacted user satisfaction and played a part in reducing bounce rates by roughly 20%. As traffic continued to rise, the improved system architecture easily scaled to handle spikes, cutting the likelihood of slowdowns or outages.
Looking ahead, the newly refactored codebase positions the client to seamlessly roll out future features—from advanced promotions to loyalty programs—without worrying about major structural overhauls. By focusing on robust testing during development, we assured a stable environment for quick iterations and guaranteed that any upcoming expansions would integrate smoothly. Overall, the project embodies a prime example of how a well-planned migration and modernization effort can transform an aging platform into a high-performance, future-ready solution that boosts sales, streamlines user experience, and supports rapid business growth.