A strategic migration from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 to improve accessibility and functionality before end-of-life.
Client: MS Trust • Industry: Charity • Duration: 6 months
The Challenge
MS Trust needed to migrate their website from Drupal 7 before its sunset in October 2022 while enhancing accessibility to Grade AA standards, improving navigation, and optimising performance across devices.
Our Solution
We conducted user persona surveys, performed accessibility testing, migrated to Drupal 9, improved site navigation, addressed accessibility issues like colour contrast, and developed responsive designs for all devices.
Results
- Increased User Satisfaction: Improved user experience through better navigation and accessibility
- Core Web Vitals Success: Passed all Google Core Web Vitals performance tests
- SEO & Traffic Growth: Enhanced search engine optimization and increased organic traffic
- Flexible Content Management: Modern Drupal 9 platform with improved editorial capabilities
- Enhanced Digital Experience: Comprehensive accessibility improvements to Grade AA standards
- Mobile Optimization: Improved mobile experience for 60% of website traffic
Key Metrics
100% — Accessibility compliance: Achieved Grade AA accessibility standards
60% — Mobile traffic: Optimized experience for majority mobile users
6 months — Migration timeline: Completed before Drupal 7 end-of-life
Right from the beginning Versantus were hands on. They kept our goals at the forefront of the project.
— Jamie Sheldon, Digital Manager, MS Trust
MS Trust Website Migration
Project Overview
The Multiple Sclerosis Trust (MS Trust) needed to migrate their website from Drupal 7 to Drupal 9 before the Drupal 7 end-of-life in October 2022. The project focused on improving accessibility, functionality, and user experience while ensuring the new site met modern web standards.
The Challenge
MS Trust faced several challenges with their existing website:
- Urgent need to migrate before Drupal 7 sunset in October 2022
- Need to enhance interactive tools and improve site navigation
- Requirement to achieve Grade AA accessibility standards
- Performance issues across different devices
- Need to optimise Core Web Vitals metrics
Our Solution
We implemented a comprehensive migration strategy:
User Research and Planning
- Conducted user persona surveys to understand audience needs
- Performed extensive accessibility testing using Ay11 and AXE tools
- Created a detailed migration plan with minimal disruption
Technical Implementation
- Successfully migrated to the Drupal 9 platform
- Improved site navigation and user interface
- Addressed accessibility issues including colour contrast and form labels
- Implemented responsive designs for mobile and tablet users
Optimisation
- Enhanced website performance across all devices
- Optimised for Core Web Vitals metrics
- Improved SEO elements for better organic visibility
- Created a more flexible content management system
The Results
The migration delivered significant benefits:
- Increased user satisfaction with improved navigation and functionality
- Passed Google Core Web Vitals tests, improving search visibility
- Enhanced SEO resulting in improved organic traffic
- Provided more flexible content management for the MS Trust team
- Delivered an enhanced digital experience for website users
Long-term Impact
Beyond the immediate improvements, our solutions provided MS Trust with:
- A modern, future-proofed website platform
- Improved accessibility helping them reach more users
- Better tools for content management and publishing
- Enhanced ability to serve their community effectively
- A solid foundation for future digital initiatives
Visit the site: MS Trust