So you’ve decided Drupal is the right content management system for your website. Smart move! Drupal is powerful, flexible, and built to scale with your business.
But here’s the thing: migrating to Drupal isn’t something you want to wing. It’s a complex process that requires real expertise, and choosing the right agency to guide you through it can make all the difference between a smooth transition and a months-long headache.
We’ve helped plenty of clients navigate the move to latest Drupal, so let’s walk through what you should be looking for in a migration partner.
Choosing a migration partner
Proven Drupal Experience (Not just general "Web Development")
First things first: you need an agency that really knows Drupal. And we mean *really* knows it. Building a WordPress site or a custom application doesn’t automatically translate to understanding Drupal’s architecture, its quirks, or its best practices.
Ask potential agencies about their Drupal-specific experience. How many migrations have they completed? What versions of Drupal do they work with? (Spoiler: you want someone current with Drupal 10 or 11, not stuck in the Drupal 7 era.) Can they show you live examples of sites they’ve migrated? A great agency will be proud to share their portfolio and walk you through the challenges they solved along the way.
Look for contributions to the Drupal community too. These aren’t just nice-to-haves; they signal that the team is genuinely invested in the platform and stays current with its evolution.
A Thorough Discovery Process
Migration projects are complex, and the scope depends entirely on your current setup, content volume, custom functionality, integrations, and goals for the new site.
While everyone wants a quick ballpark to get things moving, the right agency will take time to understand your existing website inside and out. They’ll audit your current content, identify technical dependencies, review your third-party integrations, and talk with you about what’s working and what isn’t. They should be asking questions like: What content types do you have? What user roles and permissions exist? Are there custom modules or plugins that need to be replicated? What about SEO considerations and URL structures?
If an agency rushes through discovery or makes it feel like a checkbox exercise, that’s a red flag. This phase sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Clear Communication and Project Planning
Migrations involve a lot of moving parts, and things rarely go exactly as planned. That’s why you need an agency that communicates clearly and proactively throughout the process.
Before you sign anything, ask about their project management approach. Will you have a dedicated point of contact? How often will you receive updates? What tools do they use for collaboration and transparency? A good agency will lay out a realistic timeline with clear milestones, and they’ll be upfront about potential risks or challenges.
You should never feel left in the dark about what’s happening with your website. The best agencies treat you as a partner in the process, not just a client waiting for deliverables.
Technical Expertise Beyond Migration
Here’s something people often overlook: a Drupal migration isn’t just about moving content from point A to point B. It’s an opportunity to improve your site’s architecture, performance, security, and scalability.
The agency you choose should bring strategic thinking to the table. Are they recommending ways to restructure your content for better management? Can they optimize your site’s performance and loading speeds? Do they understand accessibility standards and modern web best practices? Will they set you up with a solid development workflow for future updates?
An agency that’s just checking boxes will get your content into Drupal, sure. But an agency that really understands what they’re doing will make your new site better than what you had before.
Post-Launch Support and Training
The migration might be complete when your new Drupal site goes live, but your relationship with the agency shouldn’t end there. In fact, the first few weeks after launch are when you’ll need the most support.
Make sure the agency offers post-launch assistance to address any bugs, user issues, or unexpected hiccups. Equally important: do they provide training for your team? Drupal has a learning curve, and your content editors and administrators will need guidance to feel confident using the new system.
Ask about ongoing maintenance and support options too. Drupal requires regular updates for security and performance, and having a trusted partner to handle that makes life a lot easier.
Cultural Fit and Collaboration Style
This might sound soft, but it matters more than you think. You’re going to be working closely with this agency for weeks or months, and probably beyond. Do their values align with yours? Do they seem genuinely interested in your success, or are they just trying to close a deal?
Pay attention to how they communicate during the sales process. Are they responsive? Do they listen to your concerns? Do they explain technical concepts in ways you can understand, or do they hide behind jargon? The vibe you get early on is usually a good indicator of what the working relationship will be like.
We always tell potential clients: if something feels off in those initial conversations, trust your gut. You want a partner who feels like an extension of your team, not an outsider you’re paying to do a job.
Realistic Pricing and Transparent Contracts
Let’s talk money. Drupal migrations aren’t cheap, and honestly, you should be skeptical of agencies that quote significantly lower than others. Migration work is time-intensive and requires specialised skills, so rock-bottom pricing usually means cut corners, offshored labor with communication challenges, or surprise costs down the line.
That said, you deserve transparency. A good agency will break down their pricing so you understand what you’re paying for. They’ll be clear about what’s included in the base project and what would be considered additional work. And they’ll put it all in writing with a contract that protects both parties.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the budget. What happens if the project takes longer than expected? Are there costs for revisions or additional rounds of testing? What about hosting and ongoing maintenance? The more clarity you have upfront, the fewer unpleasant surprises you’ll encounter later.
References and Reviews You Can Trust
Finally, don’t just take an agency’s word for it. Ask for references from past clients, especially those who’ve done similar migration projects. A confident agency will happily connect you with people who can speak to their experience.
When you talk to references, ask the real questions: Did the project stay on budget and on schedule? How did the agency handle unexpected challenges? Were they responsive when issues came up? Would you work with them again?
Online reviews matter too, but take them with a grain of salt. Look for patterns rather than individual complaints. Every agency will have the occasional unhappy client, but if you see recurring themes around poor communication, missed deadlines, or lack of support, pay attention.
Trust Your Instincts
At the end of the day, choosing an agency to migrate your website to Drupal is about finding a partner you trust. You need technical expertise, absolutely, but you also need someone who gets your vision, respects your budget, and genuinely cares about delivering a site that works for your business.
Take your time with this decision. Meet with multiple agencies, ask tough questions, and don’t settle for someone who doesn’t feel like the right fit. Your website is too important to compromise on.
And hey, if you want to chat about your migration project, we’d love to hear from you. We promise to give you straight answers, realistic expectations, and the kind of friendly, reliable service our clients keep coming back for.