Website Platform Migration

Over time technology changes and the online world moves on pretty quickly, so it’s no surprise that your website from a few years ago is now seen as ‘old’ or ‘out of date’. You can keep updating the content and refreshing the information to keep it relevant, but the platform running behind the website also needs to be kept up to date.

Your website platform is the core of your site, most websites are built on open-source platforms such as WordPress, Drupal or Joomla, which are widely supported and used by thousands of developers around the world. However, some websites are built on proprietary software, which means it has been custom built and only a limited number of developers will be able to work on it. A lot of website owners find that one day their web developer closes their business or moves away and they are then left with a website which can no longer be maintained.

A website built on an open-source platform such as WordPress or Drupal, can be worked on by different developers which means that you are not tied to one company. With so many developers globally working on the platform and contributing to its development, there’s a vast amount of additional functionality available.

Over time platforms (similar to Windows operating systems) become so old that the original supplier stops any support for this platform and no longer releases any further updates. This can cause a number of problems including:

Issue with an out of date website platform:

Security

Important security updates may not have been performed as they are no longer available, leaving your website and your customers data vulnerable. The security of your website is critical, especially if you are operating an e-commerce website

Functionality

Additional functionality may not be applied to a site if it is on a platform that is no longer supported or only a limited number of people are able to work on it. This can leave a website looking out of date compared to its competitors

Usability

If a platform is not kept up to date and updates aren’t performed, over time certain website features may stop working or not perform in the same way they did before. This can also make it difficult for a website owner to manage

The internet has changed a lot in recent years, with Google having a strong influence over how websites should behave and other factors such as social media now have an impact on what should be on a website. Migrating to a new website platform has many additional benefits which can help to improve a businesses overall position online and to open up new opportunities for expansion:

Benefits of migrating to a new platform:

New Look

New Functionality

Additional functionality or enhancements may not be applied to a site as it is on a platform which is no longer supported and/or only a limited number of people are able to work on it. This can leave a website looking out of date compared to its competitors.

Improved Security

Responsive

You’ll hear a lot about Responsive/Mobile Friendly websites, especially since Google’s updates. If your website was built years ago, it’s probably not mobile friendly and could be having a negative impact on your SEO and mobile usability.

Support

Migrating to a newer platform, especially if it is an open-source platform such as WordPress, it means that you will be more widely supported and you will receive greater support and assistance from your website developer.

User Friendly

More recent website platforms are easier for the website owner to manage and maintain by themselves. Improved user interfaces and simpler processes make it easier to work on.

If you’re considering a migration of your website to a new platform, talk to us – we’ll be more than happy to help you assess whether it is necessary and what can be done to ensure a smooth transition. If you’d like to find out more about available platforms and why using a content managed website is best, you can read more here