Replatforming

Replatforming websites and web applications

Move your website, web application or browser-based software off an ageing or unsuitable platform onto the one that suits it best, without losing your data or search rankings.

When it’s time for a better platform

Quick answer: replatforming means moving a website, web application or browser-based software system from one platform to another, for example from Drupal 6 to Laravel, from custom PHP to WordPress, or from a traditional CMS to a headless or static setup. Your content, users and data come with you, old URLs are redirected to protect your search rankings, and you end up on a modern, supported platform that suits how you work now.

Websites and systems outgrow their platforms. A CMS that made sense ten years ago might now be unsupported, too complex for your team, or too limited for what the site needs to do. The same goes for portals, SaaS products and internal business systems built on code that’s now hard to maintain or secure. We’ve moved sites off Drupal 6 and 7, legacy custom PHP, old CakePHP applications and WordPress, and we’re not wedded to any one destination. WordPress, Drupal, Laravel, headless or static: we choose whatever gives the best result for the site and the people who run it.

Replatforming is also far more affordable than it used to be. AI-assisted development means migrating content, rebuilding features and modernising old code takes a fraction of the time it once did, so moving to the right platform is often within reach even when budgets are tight.

For more detail, read our guide to replatforming websites and web applications.

Why replatform

Signs you've outgrown your platform

When patching the old system costs more than moving on.

Unsupported

Your platform or framework no longer gets security updates.

Hard to edit

Simple content changes need a developer.

Costly to change

Every new feature is a battle with old code.

Hard to find help

Few developers still work with your platform.

Outgrown your CMS

Your site now behaves more like an application than a website.

Locked in

You're tied to a proprietary system or a single vendor.

Common migrations

From any platform, to the right one

We choose the destination to suit the site, not the other way round.

Whatever platform suits you best

We’re not tied to one destination. Drupal might move to Laravel, WordPress to Laravel, custom PHP to WordPress, a CMS to a static or headless setup, or a web app into iOS and Android apps. We look at what your site or system needs to do, who uses it and where it’s heading, then recommend the platform that gives the best outcome.

Websites and CMSs

Moving between content management systems, such as Drupal 6 or 7 to WordPress for simpler editing, old Drupal to current Drupal (see platform upgrades), or off Wix, Squarespace or a proprietary CMS you’ve outgrown.

Web applications and browser-based systems

Portals, SaaS products, intranets and internal business systems that run in the browser can be replatformed too. We move them onto a modern, supported stack, usually Laravel, while keeping users, records, permissions and integrations intact. See custom web applications.

Legacy code and older frameworks

Ageing custom PHP systems and older frameworks such as CakePHP rebuilt on a modern framework, keeping your data and business rules while making the code secure and maintainable. WordPress or Drupal sites that have grown into applications can make the same move.

Static and headless

For content that doesn’t need a traditional CMS on the front end, a static or headless setup can be faster, more secure and cheaper to run, with content managed separately and published to a lightweight front end.

Web apps to mobile apps

Browser-based systems can be extended or replatformed into iOS and Android apps, sharing the same data and back end. If you already have an app on just one platform, iOS or Android only, we can rebuild it in Flutter so a single codebase runs on both. See mobile app design & development.

Protecting your data and search rankings

Every migration includes careful data migration and testing, plus a redirect map from old URLs to new ones. We carry across titles, metadata and structured data, so your users, records and search traffic all follow you to the new platform.

FAQs

Replatforming questions

More FAQs

What is replatforming?

Replatforming is moving a website or web application from one platform to another, such as Drupal to Laravel, custom PHP to WordPress, or a traditional CMS to a headless or static setup. Your content and data are migrated, and old URLs are redirected to their new homes.

Will we lose our search rankings if we change platforms?

Not if the migration is done properly. We map every important old URL to its new page with 301 redirects and carry across titles and metadata, so search engines can pass your rankings on to the new site.

Should we upgrade our current platform or move to a new one?

If your platform still suits your site and your team, upgrading is usually simpler. If it’s unsupported, hard to use or limiting what you can do, replatforming is often the better long-term investment. We’ll recommend whichever makes more sense for you.

Can you migrate from very old systems like Drupal 6 or custom PHP?

Yes. We regularly work with old Drupal versions, custom PHP and older frameworks such as CakePHP. The older the system, the more planning is involved, but content and data can almost always be brought across.

How much does replatforming cost?

It depends on the size of the site, how much content and data needs moving, and how much custom functionality has to be rebuilt. AI-assisted development has made replatforming far more affordable than it used to be, and we’ll give you a clear estimate once we understand your site.