From Open CMS to Drupal Headless: The Switch Story

Overloaded website and need for technical modernization

Switch had already been a Unic customer from 2005 to 2015. In 2023, the nine-year-old website, which was overloaded with content, was to be replaced by a leaner platform. As part of a comprehensive rebranding with a new logo and purpose, the company needed a solution that was consistently geared toward its main target groups. After earlier offers from other agencies failed to impress, Yves Ettounsi, DevOps Engineer & Product Owner at Switch, remembered the successful previous collaboration and approached Unic.

The initial/one-time request was as follows:

• A proposal for a modern CMS based on a catalog of requirements

• Installation and configuration of the CMS

• Theming – creation of templates, page types, content components

In addition, Unic was also to take over hosting and maintenance of the CMS, including software updates and situational adjustments to new requirements.

Headless architecture with real-time preview and modern cloud infrastructure

Unic subsequently proposed a Drupal headless architecture. The approach combined a lean UX review with efficient technical implementation:

• We reviewed the existing UX concepts, clarified open questions, and finalized the project scope.

• We then developed a customized headless suite for Drupal for Switch, combining backend, frontend, and hosting technologies.

• Features were implemented iteratively in close consultation with Switch, with joint prioritization and early testing.

• Continuous backlog maintenance ensured a seamless transition to further development.

The technical solution includes:

• Drupal backend with integrated real-time preview of all changes

• Pre-rendering of content via GraphQL gateway, build system, and storage system

• Responsive Nuxt frontend with static site generation for optimal performance

• Container-based hosting (Azure Kubernetes Services, AKS)

For those who want to know more:

The headless architecture combines the strengths of a powerful Drupal CMS with a high-performance Nuxt frontend:

• Multilingual content with flexible layout system and modular structure

• Optimized overview pages for events, blog, and jobs

• Accessibility optimizations

• Server-side redirects and SEO optimization

• Taxonomy system for efficient content organization

Static content is automatically regenerated when changes are made, which significantly reduces loading times. For dynamic content, a server-side fallback with cache function is used. The search function is based on Apache Solr for fast and accurate results.

Efficient editing and optimal brand positioning

The new digital platform has enabled Switch to significantly modernize its brand image. The website now perfectly reflects the company's new purpose: “Together with the educational institutions, Switch realises the potential of digitalisation for teaching and research and strengthens Switzerland's digital sovereignty.”

The main advantages include:

• A streamlined, modern corporate website with clear user navigation

• Improved comprehensibility with a focus on the specific customer benefits of the various Switch services

• Clear presentation of core competencies: cyber security, cloud services, digital identity, legal & procurement, research network, registry

• Optimized contact options and effective employer branding

• Future-proof technical basis with improved scalability and flexibility

The editors particularly appreciate the intuitive drag-and-drop functionality with flexible layout modules, which greatly simplifies content creation.

The successful relaunch underscores our commitment to making digital technology human through a user-oriented, high-performance, and future-proof solution that optimally supports Switch's important role for Switzerland as a center of education and research.