For years now, we’ve managed the majority of our client websites using our own proprietary Content Management System (CMS), built on the ASP.NET framework. After leveraging this platform to power and update our sites, we are now beginning a considered sunsetting process as we transition to WordPress for new and redeveloped projects where it offers the best fit.
The Legacy of Our Proprietary CMS
This wasn't a decision we took lightly. Our custom CMS has a special place in our hearts, especially after seeing so many clients successfully manage their websites with it over the last two decades. When we built our CMS, it was done to solve a very real problem.
At the time, WordPress was still reasonably new and was commonly known more as a blogging platform, and for a client new to building or managing a website, the early versions of WordPress had a steep learning curve. The backend could be confusing, and making simple design or content changes often required a developer's touch or a deep dive into code.
We created our own CMS to work seamlessly around each individual client's site, focusing purely on the essential content-editing tasks. Being bespoke and working around a design, it was designed to be intuitive, allowing people to easily update content and add images, without the fear of breaking the site.
For organisations with unusual structures, specialist requirements or highly tailored workflows, this approach has continued as will continue to serve them exceptionally well.
The Websites of Today
Fast forward to today and WordPress has evolved to offer the same, if not far greater, ease-of-use that we set out to achieve with our bespoke option, especially with the many page builders on the market that allow many of our clients to have a more modular, drag-and-drop way of editing, making it even more effortless for them to manage their sites.
As a business, we’ve reached a point where the balance has tipped.
Whilst WordPress offers a vast library of powerful plugins for almost every business need, we always treat it as a canvas for our professional expertise. From simple solutions to more complex, bespoke sites, we ensure that every project takes into consideration the user journey and visual identity to be as unique and functional as our proprietary system has always been.
Note:
For clients that rely on our proprietary CMS due to specialist needs, including those on OpenDebate, we will continue to provide full support and maintenance to ensure your sites remain secure and high performing for the long term, and there is no requirement to move across unless it genuinely benefits you.
Our Experience Beyond the CMS
While WordPress is our preferred platform for many websites built today, our expertise extends far beyond a single CMS. Our team maintains a deep proficiency in a wide range of custom-coded technologies and bespoke frameworks, so we are always equipped to create the best possible solution for your business's unique requirements.