Proprietary Website Migration for Orange County, CA

Takeaway: When Orange County, California embarked on a massive website migration project, they faced a common challenge in the public sector: how to break free from costly proprietary systems and create a flexible, user-friendly web presence. Here you'll find Orange County's journey from vendor lock-in to open-source freedom, showcasing the power of Drupal and Promet Source's innovative Provus® platform.

I recently attended and had the honor to serve as both a panelist and a presenter at the Experience Acquia 2022 in Washington, D.C.

In that event, I shared a success story completing a proprietary website migration for Orange County, California that resulted in a transformation to a Drupal CMS that can flex and bend with the evolving needs of site owners from 41 separately managed sites—a common issue among government institutions. 

Below are excerpts from my Q&A presentation with Lynne Boudreau from Acquia.

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The challenge: Escaping proprietary constraints

Orange County's previous website, built on proprietary software, had become:

• Unnecessarily costly
• Difficult to manage
• Lacking crucial upgrades and support

As the vendor announced the software's impending end-of-life status, county stakeholders realized the true cost of relying on proprietary web solutions. It was time for a change.

The solution: A comprehensive website migration project

Orange County chose to migrate to Drupal, an open-source CMS, with the help of our great team at Promet Source. The project's ambitious scope included:

• Migration of 41 separate county sites to Drupal 9
• Implementation within an 18-month timeframe
• Creation of a consistent user interface across all microsites
• Empowerment of non-technical content editors in 41 departments

Key objectives of the Orange County CMS website design

1. Consistent navigation menus and user interface across 41 microsites
2. Engaging information architecture for diverse user groups
3. User-friendly CMS for non-technical staff
4. Mobile responsiveness and consistent cross-device experience
5. Robust search functionality
6. Clean, modern design aligned with user expectations

Provus®: The game-changer in government website design

At the heart of this successful proprietary website migration was Provus®, our company's Drupal website builder. Provus® played a pivotal role by:

• Driving high development efficiency
• Providing a robust library of content editing components
• Empowering 100+ content editors with no-code, drag-and-drop editing capabilities
• Leveraging Drupal Layout Builder for flexible, guideline-compliant designs

Related: Provus® Frequently Asked Questions

With Provus®, Orange County gained:

• Easy-to-use layout options using component-based design
• The ability to mix and match components while maintaining brand consistency
• A cohesive design language across 41 distinct department sites

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The open-source advantage: No more vendor lock-in

By choosing Drupal—an open-source platform—Orange County liberated itself from the constraints of proprietary software. Benefits include:

1. Ownership of the site's code
2. Access to upgrades and new releases from the Drupal community
3. Elimination of vendor licensing fees
4. Significant cost savings is estimated at $100,000 annually
5. Scalable infrastructure through Acquia Cloud hosting

Related: Scaling Government: Open Source vs Proprietary CMS

Results: Efficiency, savings, and empowered users

The proprietary website migration project delivered impressive outcomes:

1. Cost Reduction: Over $100,000 saved annually on licensing and hosting.
2. Improved Content Management: 100+ non-technical staff easily update and create pages.
3. Enhanced User Experience: Consistent navigation and powerful search across 41 sites.
4. Future-Proof Solution: Scalable, open-source platform ensures long-term viability.
5. Efficient Development: Post-launch projects are completed in a fraction of the expected time.

Lessons from this proprietary website migration

1. Open Source Eliminates Vendor Lock-In: Choose platforms that give you control and flexibility.
2. Empower Your Team: The right CMS, like Drupal with Provus®, lets non-technical staff manage content effectively.
3. Invest in Scalability: Open-source solutions grow with your needs without increasing licensing costs.
4. Prioritize User Experience: Consistent design and navigation across departments improves public engagement.
5. Consider Long-Term Savings: While migration requires upfront investment, the long-term savings are substantial.
6. Get a Vendor that Puts You First: Choose a proprietary website migration partner like Promet Source that won't lock you in a platform you can't control.

Are you facing similar challenges with your government websites? Let's discuss how we can help you achieve comparable results with a proprietary website migration to Drupal, enhanced by the power of Provus®. Contact us to start the conversation about your website migration project.

SEE HOW PROVUS® CAN MAKE MANAGING YOUR WEB CONTENT EASIER