Drupal 9 to 10 Migration: Concerns and Strategies to Address Them

Drupal 10 is unarguably the most advanced version of Drupal CMS. It was released on December 14, 2022, and its cutting-edge modules, themes, and features make it irresistible for organizations from all industrial domains. However, despite possessing a strong desire to avail of Drupal migration services to upgrade to Drupal 10, a majority of companies refrain from doing so. This is because they are bothered by some challenges and concerns related to the process. 

This blog sheds light on the various challenges and concerns associated with Drupal 9 to 10 migration and ways to overcome them. Once you know how to slew every Drupal 9 to 10 migration challenge that comes your way, you can fearlessly upgrade to Drupal 10. 

Drupal 9 to 10 Migration: The Associated Concerns and Ways to Overcome Them  

Some organizations continue sticking to Drupal 9 to mitigate the whiplashes of the challenges associated with migrating to Drupal 10. However, this is not a good solution as Drupal 9 will reach its end of life in November 2023. Relying on outdated software can expose your business website to cyberattacks and other issues. Hence, it is imperative to be proactive and upgrade to Drupal 10 on time. 

1. Compatibility with certain themes and modules

Compatibility is a major issue that may bother you as you plan to upgrade to Drupal 10. Your Drupal 9 site relies on certain themes and modules for its seamless functioning and captivating design aesthetics. 

Drupal 10 may not be compatible with some of these modules and themes. This implies that as you upgrade to Drupal 10 your website may lose compatibility with the modules and themes that currently serve as its life force. 

No doubt, this can lead to awful consequences, but you don’t have to think about all this when there are effective ways to overcome this challenge. 

Action plan to mitigate the issue of compatibility: 

● In-depth evaluation

Evaluate the modules and themes you have integrated into your Drupal 9 website. This awareness will act as a foundation for identifying and understanding any compatibility issues you might face while upgrading to Drupal 10.

● Contact proficient Drupal developers

Skilled Drupal developers who render Drupal migration services know what compatibility issues a Drupal 9 site can face when upgrading to Drupal 10. 

Hence, it is imperative to consult them to identify the potential compatibility issues your site may suffer with Drupal 10 migration.

● Heed the advice of experts

Trust the guidance of the Drupal experts you hire. They may suggest alternative modules or perform some updates to ensure a seamless upgrade to Drupal 10. 

Whatever their advice, it is best to follow it. Remember that you’ll be able to place your confidence in their advice only if you hire a proficient team. So, do not compromise with the quality of the team when hiring a Drupal migration company. 

2. The amount of time and resources required for Drupal 10 migration

Drupal migration requires a significant amount of time and resources. This is one of the biggest issues that bother business owners like you. Even if they feel comfortable in utilizing their resources, the thought of potential website downtime scares them to the core. As a result, they halt their progressive steps and decide to stick to Drupal 9. 

However, this isn’t a long-term solution as you’ll ultimately have to upgrade to Drupal 10 one day. So, why not do it now and gain a significant competitive advantage by switching to the most advanced version of the CMS?

Action plan to mitigate the issue of time and resource expenditure

1. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis

It is advisable to conduct a thorough Drupal 10 cost-benefit analysis. Through it, you can weigh the advantages of migrating to Drupal 10 against the resources you’ll have to utilize. 

As you go deeper into the analysis, the amount of resources required will fade in comparison to the incredible benefits of Drupal 10 such as cutting-edge security features and the availability of phenomenal tools such as CKEditor 5 and Claro and Olivero themes. 

This will encourage you to avail of Drupal migration services and upgrade to Drupal 10 at the earliest. 

2. Get in touch with an eminent Drupal development company

Reputed Drupal development companies possess a team of skilled Drupal developers who are adept at performing Drupal migrations. The presence of an experienced Drupal migration team can significantly reduce any associated downtime. Besides, experts can also ensure an effective and hassle-free migration process.

3. Doubts about the reliability and stability of Drupal 10

As Drupal 10 is the latest version of the CMS, it is natural for you to doubt its reliability and stability. As your website’s performance depends largely on your CMS, obviously you cannot afford to switch to an unstable one. So, if you feel anxious about the transition and aspire to take carefully measured steps, you are not alone. Every business website owner struggles with the same. 

But, what you need to know is that there are websites that have already switched to Drupal 10 and are delivering better performance than ever. Still, to alleviate all your worries, given below are some steps you can take.

Action plan to overcome worries about the performance of Drupal 10

● Get in touch with the Drupal community

The Drupal community is an active community of developers from across the world who make valuable contributions to the CMS. By engaging with it through forums and discussions you can learn about the various measures that have been taken to ensure Drupal 10’s stability and top-notch performance. 

You can also read the stories of those who have already successfully migrated to Drupal 10. All these things will help you overcome your anxiety and upgrade to Drupal 10 confidently.

● Contact Drupal developers proficient in Drupal 10

You can contact a proficient team of Drupal developers to learn about how reliable and stable Drupal 10 is. As they are well-versed with every nook and corner of the CMS, their guidance can address your concerns and make you feel confident about the migration process. 

3. Anxiety about potential disruptions in site functionality

Anxiety about potential disruptions in site functionality is a major issue business owners face when planning to upgrade to Drupal 10. User experience is a direct function of website functionality. This implies that any disruption in website functionality can lead to poor user experience, and contribute to lost customers and market reputation. So, this anxiety along with the resistance to migrating to Drupal 10 is natural. 

However, it is crucial to understand that you cannot stick to Drupal 9 forever. You’ll have to overcome this anxiety one day and muster the courage to avail Drupal migration services and upgrade to Drupal 10. If this has to happen, why not make it happen early on and bask in the benefits of the cutting-edge CMS version? 

Action plan to overcome any anxiety related to disruptions in site functionality 

● Conduct rigorous testing before deploying the updated website

Meticulous and in-depth testing before deploying your updated website is the best way to prevent any disruptions in its functionality. It will help you discover any potential issues that may downgrade your site’s performance and help you address them beforehand. 

● Hire a Drupal development agency with prompt customer support

When looking for a Drupal development agency to avail of Drupal migration services, try to hire one with prompt customer support. In case your site suffers any issues, this will ensure you get a quick resolution. 

4. Lack of thorough understanding of why to migrate

Lack of awareness about the incredible benefits of Drupal 10 is another factor that plays a significant role in preventing business owners from migrating to it. When you don’t know exactly why you should invest your time and resources into the migration process, you are likely to avoid it as long as possible. 

However, once you thoroughly understand how bearing the pangs of Drupal migration can be enormously beneficial for your organization, you won’t be able to rest until you upgrade to Drupal 10. If you feel that you do not yet understand why Drupal 10 is causing a huge sensation worldwide, given below is exactly what you need to do.

Action plan to learn in-depth about Drupal 10

● Expand your knowledge through blogs and webinars

You can take a deep plunge into the phenomenal benefits of Drupal 10 by attending webinars and reading blogs related to the advanced version. These enlightening experiences can help you understand how migrating to Drupal 10 can take your company on an upward spiral of growth. 

Further, it is advisable to take notes while attending webinars or reading blogs as you can consult them later on while discussing the subject with your team.

● Contact Drupal 10 experts and tap into their enormous knowledge

When you visit a new city or country no one can guide you better about the best places to visit than a local resident. The same is true for Drupal 10. No one can guide you better about the benefits of the top-notch CMS other than those who interact with it daily. 

So, you can contact Drupal 10 experts and tap into their valuable knowledge to understand how the advanced version can be beneficial for your organization. 

Let’s Wrap Up

In a nutshell, upgrading to Drupal 10 may raise some challenges and concerns but it is possible to overcome them all with in-depth knowledge, effective practices, and strategies. Throughout the blog, we discussed the issues that bother business owners like you and discourage them from migrating to Drupal 10 along with how they can be dealt with. Hiring an experienced Drupal development company is unarguably a common solution for all of them. 

If you have decided to upgrade to Drupal 10, LN Webworks, a reliable Drupal development company can be your trusted companion. Our Drupal 9 to 10 migration experts will address all your concerns with immense glee and help you perform the upgrade confidently.