Pantheon

Does Drupal have a Future?? An Open Letter to my Peers The Drupal economy is at a crossroads. With Drupal 7 EOL and DrupalCMS just getting off the ground, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the market. DrupalCon Atlanta at the end of March is a great catalyst to discuss this more openly. So here’s my take: yes Drupal has a future, but the real question is *as what*? For the project to thrive, I believe it needs to do two things: 1. Navigate the fact that the DXP category is crumbling, and the vendors who defined/led it for years are all stumbling badly 2. Find an identity that maximizes Drupal’s strengths, leaning in to what makes the project truly unique and special Much easier said than done, but I have some ideas on how it can happen. It’s more than will fit into just one post, but here’s the TL;DR. R.I.P. DXP Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room. The hypothesis behind the DXP category was that customers would want a one-stop-shop for all their digital needs. The hypothesis was wrong. In fact, the exact opposite thing happened. Since the category was created, rather than consolidation in the market, we saw the explosion of the Martech 10,000. All the vendors who tried to run the analyst playbook are hurting, and it’s a problem for Drupal that Acquia is one of those vendors. Drupal needs an escape from this situation. Customers need to know they made a smart investment in Drupal and that better results are within reach. Instead of doing a giant rebuild of everything, they can change their approach, and start making headway in months, not years. Lean Into Drupal’s Power Drupal’s future isn’t in a DXP, but it’s also not as a WordPress competitor for the mass market. In my opinion, there are two use-cases where Drupal uniquely shines: First, as an "agile business driver" for modern digital teams, supporting an evolving customer experience and martech stack by driving continuous improvement Second, as a way for large organizations to have "freedom within a framework" as part of their digital strategy, vs the monolithic one-size-fits-all status quo. These are the use-cases where Drupal’s modularity, robust data model, and ecosystem of integrations really pay off, and the distribution/recipe capability is a genuine game-changer. You can start fast but still customize where needed without running up too much technical debt. Most importantly, you keep moving forward. It’s not a one-and-done thing. This is what historical DXP buyers truly need, not another RFP. It also matches the goals of mid-size companies that are serious about innovative digital strategy. Drupal empowers teams to deliver with a modern approach: building out stacks of carefully selected pieces vs coping with vendor suites of slapped together acquisitions. I have a lot more more thoughts, and more detail to share on my market analysis, but this is already running a little long. Let me know in the comments where you see Drupal’s future going!

I can’t put into words how excited I am to be at #DrupalCampEngland! ?? It’s been so long since the last DrupalCamp London, and this one feels extra special. For 10 years, I called London home, and DrupalCamp England (previously #DrupalcampLondon) has always been one of my favorites. I can’t wait to catch up with the Drupal community, meet new people, and dive into some incredible talks. This time, I’m not just attending—I’m here with Pantheon as a sponsor and host. If you’re around, make sure to stop by our booth! Here’s what you can expect: ? DrupalCMS made easy – Curious about Drupal? I’ll show you just how simple it is to get up and running on Pantheon. ? AI & Drupal – Have questions about AI or how to set it up? I can share some great documentation and videos! ? Partnering with Pantheon – Our European team is growing fast, and now is the perfect time to get involved. Let’s chat! ? Any other questions? – Whether it’s about performance, workflows, or the future of web development, come say hi. Oh, and don’t forget to register your visit—we’re giving away a pair of the latest AirPods! Beyond that, I’m also here as a member of the Drupal Association Board of Directors and, as elected member, representing the voice of the community. If you have ideas, concerns, or messages for the Board ahead of our upcoming retreat in Atlanta, let’s talk! I’m particularly interested in discussions around: ?? Sustainability ?? Innovation ?? The future of the open web ?? Mental health and community support I’ll be at the booth and attending some talks—looking forward to seeing everyone in the community! See you there! NOTE: You still have time to register and attend the most important Drupal event in England for years !!!! https://lnkd.in/dPFVjJc6 #Drupal #DrupalCMS #Pantheon #DrupalCampEngland #OpenWeb #Innovation

?? Next Week: Looking to build stronger connections across your digital channels? It will take more than merely analyzing individual data points. Integrating both quantitative and qualitative insights from across your organization's touchpoints is the key to success. Join Cliff Persaud, Director of Strategy & Creative at Kanopi, and explore how connecting data from different sources can help improve engagement and satisfaction across digital channels. Topics covered include: - The power of collecting and combining data from qualitative and quantitative sources - Common pitfalls organizations face when collecting data - Efficient strategies for gathering and consolidating data from multiple sources - Examples of how shared data fosters stronger connections and achieves measurable outcomes Creating Connections with Data Analytics ?? February 26, 2025 ? 10:30 AM PST / 1:30 PM PST Register here: https://lnkd.in/gxM3PFmQ

If you're anything like me (AKA a marketer), you were probably afraid to touch Drupal with a ten-foot pole. But with the new CMS version that came out in 2025, we actually have AI agents that can hand-hold us through setting up everything right. ?? Check out what's in store in our conversation with Steve Persch from Pantheon!?? Thank you again, Steve, and a big thanks to our amazing Patchstack team: our production Mart Virkus and MC-ing Maciek Palmowski superstars, and the rest of the team for their ideas and support! ?? https://lnkd.in/eyDJyQ7u #drupal #drupalcms #pantheon #patchstack #opensource

I want to give a shout-out to?1xINTERNET?(and, of course,?Baddy Sonja Breidert) for doing an amazing job promoting?#drupal?by letting anyone take it for a test drive. Way to partner with Pantheon for this as well. I absolutely love the content and the confidence, and I think more of us at agencies should push this type of product content forward. Please check out https://lnkd.in/gS_zGz8Z and give it a try. (BTW, I'm completely unaffiliated with 1XInternet, I just think it's awesome) I'm inspired by this content and by this concept and will strive to present this to our specific market!

Calling all Pantheon Agency Partners... I'm excited about our upcoming Partner Town Hall. This one is special. It's all about empowering your agency's growth and success in 2025. During Thursday's Town Hall our SVP of Product Christian Yates will share an exclusive preview of Pantheon's product roadmap and our investment in innovation. You'll also hear from Pantheon's new CEO Sameer Kazi. Sameer will share his bold vision for partnerships and the crucial role our agencies play in Pantheon's ecosystem. Register here to attend or to receive a recording if you're unable to make it: https://lnkd.in/gXBCW6CM