Our client, a rapidly expanding e-commerce company, set an ambitious goal of becoming a market leader in digital product and gift card sales. To support this objective, they needed to modernize and scale a high-load platform that was running on outdated Drupal 7 infrastructure. Frequent performance bottlenecks and communication gaps between frontend (FE) and backend (BE) components led to suboptimal user experiences, especially during peak traffic periods. The outdated architecture not only hindered site speed but also made it challenging to introduce new features efficiently, risking a loss of competitive edge.
Beyond performance issues, the client required constant full-time support to ensure 24/7 uptime and seamless customer experiences. Additionally, they needed an end-to-end migration from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10. This involved rewriting the entire codebase to leverage a modern technology stack—while maintaining all existing business logic and ensuring backward compatibility where necessary. The project also called for building custom logging and authorization functionalities, establishing secure integration with multiple payment gateways, and unifying data flows through GraphQL. Finally, extensive test coverage was essential to guarantee system stability and a smooth deployment of new features. Altogether, the project aimed to create a stable, scalable, and future-proof e-commerce platform that would handle massive traffic while delivering excellent performance and user satisfaction.
E-commerce Company
React, Drupal, Flutter, AWS
Brooklyn, USA
20 December 2024
First, our team orchestrated a complete overhaul of the client’s Drupal 7 environment, migrating all core components and rewriting custom modules to align with Drupal 10’s best practices. This new foundation minimized legacy constraints and opened the door to advanced optimizations. We introduced GraphQL to streamline the flow of data between the React-based frontend and the PHP/Drupal backend, reducing load times and improving overall responsiveness.
Next, we implemented multiple payment gateway integrations, ensuring that end-users had fast and secure options at checkout. Custom logging and authorization protocols were developed to enhance visibility into user activities and to secure sensitive data. Throughout each phase, we wrote both unit and integration tests, safeguarding against regressions and preserving platform integrity. Finally, we maintained continuous, full-time support, monitoring the high-traffic site to quickly address issues and guarantee uninterrupted service.
- Improved site speed by 35%, cutting bounce rates by 25%
- Increased checkout conversions by offering multiple payment gateways
- Successfully scaled a high-load e-commerce platform to handle peak traffic
- Streamlined backend-frontend communication using GraphQL, reducing data bottlenecks
- Implemented new developer workflows that reduced deployment time and eliminated delays
- Established a robust testing framework, minimizing post-launch bugs and downtime
One of the core challenges of this high-load project was ensuring the platform could handle significant surges in traffic without compromising user experience. Our migration strategy addressed this by not only updating the code from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10, but also rethinking the way data was managed and served. Rewriting custom modules for Drupal 10 allowed us to adopt best practices for caching and request handling, which directly contributed to more consistent performance, even under heavy user loads.
By integrating GraphQL into the backend, we established a more flexible and efficient data exchange mechanism. This approach enabled the React frontend to fetch exactly the information it needed, eliminating bulky, one-size-fits-all responses that could slow page loads. The move to GraphQL also made it easier to introduce new features, as developers could create or modify queries without overhauling backend endpoints.
Custom logging and authorization were equally critical. These tools provided deep insights into system performance and user behavior, making it possible to detect suspicious activities in real time and maintain a high level of security. For the client, it meant greater transparency and swift troubleshooting—key advantages when dealing with an expanding global user base that relies on dependable service. Meanwhile, the multi-payment gateway setup further boosted customer satisfaction, offering flexible checkout paths for various regions and payment preferences.
Throughout the project, we enforced a rigorous testing strategy—covering both unit tests for individual modules and integration tests to verify end-to-end flows. This commitment to quality control reduced the chances of post-deployment errors and improved overall developer efficiency, as fewer surprises emerged during release cycles.
In conclusion, our focused efforts to scale a high-traffic platform paid off by improving site stability, boosting site speed, and refining user experience. By adopting modern technologies—Drupal 10, PHP, GraphQL, Apollo, and React—and implementing robust workflows, we successfully positioned the client to expand its e-commerce footprint. This foundation now supports rapid iterations and an influx of new features, enabling the business to stay competitive and continue growing in a demanding marketplace