Question 1

What is a Drupal development company?

Accepted Answer

Drupal development company is a specialized agency that builds custom websites and applications on the content management system (CMS) Drupal, empowering clients on their digital transformation journey. It provides businesses with intuitive, user-friendly, secure, and high-performing web solutions aligned with their unique operational needs.

As an open-source web management platform written in PHP, Drupal has gained global prominence on the account of its security and flexibility. Despite its many benefits, Drupal agencies may encounter challenges unique to the platform:

Advanced technical knowledge: While Drupal is highly configurable, building and maintaining a site can be complex, requiring proficiency in PHP, JavaScript, SQL, jQuery, and CSS, among others.
Module compatibility: Software modules aren’t always compatible, prompting businesses to seek an experienced Drupal developer specialized in modifying modules so they can operate cohesively.
Website updates: Updating Drupal core and associated modules can be a significant undertaking, particularly for sites with numerous customizations. This process can be labor-intensive, as it involves updating all the website’s codes.
System integration: Because Drupal requires a specific skill set that is not commonly present across the general workforce, many businesses endure a considerably extended adoption period with this CMS architecture.
Critical resource allocation: Since Drupal has fewer pre-built themes and modules compared to other CMSs, businesses are required to allocate more resources to create features, plugins, APIs, and themes from scratch.
Version upgrades: Transitioning from one major Drupal version to another (e.g., Drupal 9 to Drupal 10) can be as complex as a complete site rebuild, requiring significant planning and development resources.

Drupal is a popular choice among small and large organizations alike, as they can deploy it freely without vendor lock-in hindrances. The open-source platform entails low implementation costs due to the abundance of freely available community code and robust and flexible architecture.

According to BuiltWith, 9.4% of the top 10,000 websites on the internet use Drupal, or a total of 1,670,496 Drupal websites worldwide. Notable companies harnessing Drupal across their websites include NASA, the National Institute of Health (NIH), Oxford University, and Tesla, to name a few.

The advantages of employing Drupal development company are reflected in Skynet Technologies’ project:

An EdTech company tasked Skynet Technologies to conduct Drupal 6.x to Drupal 7.x migration that required additional effort as the migration path couldn’t be automated. Skynet Technologies compiled a list of all website elements that needed to be migrated and updated to the new site, including all custom web forms, content types, and user roles. The team replaced the eCommerce module with Drupal Commerce, integrated it with the Quiz module, and customized the user access permission and login flow.

As a result, the client’s website recorded greater performance, usability, and security, complemented with a mobile-friendly option, which stimulated its customers and sales growth.

Question 2

What do Drupal development companies do?

Accepted Answer

Drupal development companies build, optimize, and maintain Drupal website assets and applications, assisting clients in crafting website strategies, modifying modules and themes, and optimizing the website for search engine algorithms.

Here are some Drupal services that companies pursue to reconfigure their websites’ content structure:

Custom website design and development: Crafting unique, tailor-made websites that align with specific client’s needs and brand identity
Hosting and security: Providing reliable hosting services and implementing robust security measures to protect the website from potential threats. This includes applying for an SSL certificate, performing regular site updates and backups, and following the latest best practices
Module development: Building custom modules from scratch and configuring existing ones to create functionalities aligned with the client's request
Theme development: Modifying core or contributed Drupal themes to match the client’s branding and enhance user experience
System migration: Moving existing websites from another platform or a previous version of Drupal, ensuring data integrity, security, and a seamless transition
Platform integration: Integrating Drupal with other systems and platforms, such as customer relationship management (CRM), Google Analytics, and a payment processing system
Search engine optimization (SEO): Enhancing the website's visibility and ranking on search engines through optimized content, structure, and performance
Quality assurance and testing: Conducting tests to identify and fix bugs, enabling websites to operate smoothly across different devices and browsers
Maintenance and support: Providing ongoing technical support, updates, and troubleshooting to keep the website running efficiently
Employee training: Educating client staff on how to manage and operate their Drupal website, ensuring they utilize the full extent of the features and functions

With the right Drupal development company, businesses can access services that make their websites powerful and help drive revenue. A notable example of that is the collaboration between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Specbee.

Originally using Plone for its website, IEEE struggled with complex UI/UX designs and updating and managing content, especially video content. To solve this, Specbee moved the client’s website to Drupal 9, integrated third-party apps to allow single sign-in, and designed the website according to the client’s branding. Specbee leveraged Drupal Groups to further elevate the user experience and Elasticsearch for agile searchability.

As a result, IEEE could effectively manage and search video content, update its website, and improve content management. The website was strengthened with greater security and stability, strongly impacting IEEE's website visitors.

Question 3

How much do Drupal development agencies charge for their services?

Accepted Answer

Drupal development agencies charge between $200,000 and $450,000 per project, depending on the project's complexity, timeline, scope, and additional services. Here is a brief breakdown of Drupal development associated costs:

Hosting, domain name, and SSL certificate: $20,000-$100,000
UI/UX design: $30,000
Graphic design and illustration: $30,000
Backend and frontend development: $100,000-$400,000
QA testing: $20,000-$40,000
Website maintenance: $5,000-$50,000

Below is a list of Drupal rates per region for company website development:

North America: $20,000-$43,750
Western Europe: $12,000-$25,000
Eastern Europe: $6,000-$12,500
Asia and Pacific: $2,000-$7,500

The top 50 Drupal development agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $52 per hour. 13% of Drupal developers on DesignRush accept projects with a minimum budget of $1,000 per project, while only 3% accept projects with a $50,000 minimum budget.

Question 4

Why should I hire a Drupal development company?

Accepted Answer

You should hire a Drupal development company because it has the expertise and experience to tailor the platform to your business objectives. At the same time, it helps ensure that your website is up-to-date, secure, and running optimally by offering continuous support and maintenance. These qualities secure a well-functioning website, simultaneously increasing brand visibility and credibility, attracting high-quality leads, and improving conversion rates.

Here are some compelling reasons as to why you should hire a Drupal development agency:

Highly customized solutions: While Drupal offers over 25,000 themes and 40,000 modules, you still need a thorough knowledge of PHP, command line interface (CLI), database management, and web development to modify these to your business needs. A Drupal developer can also help you create modules, themes, features, APIs, and other website elements from scratch.
Focus on core business activities: Drupal is a highly technical platform with a steep learning curve. This means that you will need to allocate a lot of time to master the platform if you plan to build a website in-house. In that regard, a Drupal development company can relieve you of this strenuous task, allowing you to focus on core business operations.
Optimized performance: A significant fraction, i.e., 12.8% of the top 10,000 performing websites use Drupal, including over 2,000 government websites. A Drupal development agency can help you elevate your performance by providing clean codes, responsive and intuitive user interface (UI)/user experience (UX), and optimized graphics, among other things.
Elevated security: Drupal is known to be among the most secure open-source CMSs. Notably, the platform has experienced less than 100 vulnerability issues since 2014, with only three reported in 2023. A Drupal developer will further improve the security of your website by following industry best practices, such as securing SSL certificates and credible hosting services.
Seamless website upgrades: Older-to-newer version Drupal migrations can be complex and arduous. A reliable Drupal development company keeps itself updated with the latest news and developments of the platform, offering a streamlined website migration process.
Multilingual capabilities: Drupal is available in over 100 languages, making it easy for businesses to adopt the platform.
Readily available support team: As Drupal is an open-source system, there is no support team or company that you can contact whenever you encounter an issue. In that regard, a Drupal development company will provide continuous maintenance and support, helping you fix your website before an issue arises.

Here’s a case study to better illustrate the benefits of hiring a Drupal developer.

An educational publishing house approached Value Bound to develop a Drupal-based learning management system (LMS) that can connect with the LMSs of other education institutions, thus serving as a unified learning platform.

Deploying an agile approach, the agency developed a live interactive ed-tech solution with LMS integration and assistive learning features. The system evolved to empower teachers to deliver content interactively and archive it for student access, transitioning from a custom Drupal-based LMS to a WebRTC-based platform for real-time audio-visual communication and broadcasting at scale.

As a result, the LMS reached over 2 million learners across 250 educational centers around the globe, helping educators process over 3,000 grades per minute and teach 500 students simultaneously using the LIVE video platform.

Question 5

How do I choose the best Drupal agency for my business?

Accepted Answer

You can choose the best Drupal agency for your business by following these steps:

Understand your organization’s needs: Outline your business’ short- and long-term project goals and research the different types of Drupal services that can accommodate them.
Set your budget: While Drupal is free, other parts of the website are not, including website hosting, third-party integrations, SEO optimization, and SSL certification.
Define your project scope: Determine the project timeline, objectives. Remember to keep your project requirements specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely (SMART).
Research potential agency partners: Check directories like DesignRush, listings, Drupal community platforms, and marketplaces for Drupal web development companies. Note down agencies who have won awards and recognition for their Drupal skills.
Look for referrals: Contact business partners, friends, and industry peers to find agencies with a good track record.
Verify their technical competence: Look for agencies that are Drupal-certified partners and hold Acquia certifications. Look into their Drupal community contributions in terms of modules, plugins, and release notes – this is a good indicator of their proficiency in the platform’s specific features.
Review their previous works: Read case studies, client testimonies, reviews, and portfolios. Observe their problem-solving skills, innovativeness, and development strategies, and prioritize those with experience in your industry.
Draft a request for proposal (RFP): Outline your project scope, budget, and requirements and send it with your RFP. It also helps to provide a list of websites that meet your vision for your company’s website.
Interview potential agencies: Schedule a meeting with your shortlisted companies to evaluate their compatibility with your organization and determine how they align with your values, vision, and culture.
Assess their communication skills: Observe how an agency replies to your follow-up questions and messages, including their response time and the quality of their explanations. Their attentiveness and clarity in communication are key indicators of their professionalism and customer service.
Choose your agency: Once you have selected your agency, negotiate the payment terms, contract, and project management with them. To safeguard against breaches, be sure to also include stipulations on confidentiality, security, and privacy.

Want a tailored list of Drupal development companies? Contact us, and we’ll help you choose the best agencies based on your project needs at no cost. Visit the DesignRush Marketplace for more information.

Question 6

How do I find the best Drupal developer on DesignRush that fits my budget?

Accepted Answer

You can find the best Drupal developer on DesignRush that fits your budget by using our website filters. You can personalize your search based on hourly rates, minimum budgets, agency region, company size, and client type.

Here are five Drupal developers on DesignRush who accept a minimum project budget of $1,000:

Webby Central
Aaalpha
Quadra Digital Solutions
Soharon Infotech
Gtechwebindia

Question 7

What questions do I ask Drupal agencies before hiring one?

Accepted Answer

Before hiring one, you can ask Drupal agencies the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for you:

Its Relevant Background

Have you worked on a project or scope similar to ours?
Can you share examples of similar Drupal projects and client references?
What Drupal certifications do your developers have?
Are you and your team members involved in the Drupal community? What is your level of involvement?
What version of Drupal are you most familiar with?
How do you stay updated with the latest Drupal updates and best practices?

Its Services and Processes

What is your development process like? Do you conduct peer reviews or static analysis?
What is your process for adding new modules to a live website?
Do you offer module customization?
What is your standard operating procedure (SOP) every time Drupal releases a new version?
What services do you outsource?

Related to Your Project

What are the most common technical issues or errors you have encountered when upgrading your clients’ websites? How do you resolve these issues?
Who will be on the team working on my project? What are their qualifications and certifications?
How often do you provide project progress?
Do you provide API integrations? How will you integrate my new website into my current tech stack?
How do you ensure that my website is scalable and can accommodate my future business needs?
Do you accommodate changes in project scope and requirements? If so, how do you adjust your service rates?
What is your emergency contingency plan? How do you handle cyber threats, hacks, and other issues on my website?
How do you perform quality assurance? How do you ensure that standards are met and maintained?

Question 8

What are the best Drupal development companies in the US?

Accepted Answer

The best Drupal development companies in the US are the following:

HTML Panda
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (25 reviews)
- 3.7 stars on Google (3 reviews)
- Top clients: Intel, Unilever, Hewlett Packard, Philips
Skynet Technologies
- 4.5 stars on DesignRush (2 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (5 reviews)
- Top clients: Barons Market, KB Dental, PDH Library, PCB Assembly
Webby Central
- 4.7 stars on DesignRush (31 reviews)
- 4.7 stars on Google (3 reviews)
- Top clients: PWC, Sony, BBC Media Action, Mastercard
CSSChopper
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (21 reviews)
- Top clients: Hewlett Packard, Coca Cola, Duracell, Necco
Door3
- 5 stars on Google (12 reviews)
- Top clients: Pepsi Co, Johnson & Johnson, Elsevier, First Mid Bank & Trust

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