Summary
ScholarRx engaged Virtina to upgrade its mission-critical education platform from Drupal 8 to Drupal 10. The initiative required a full-scale digital transformation spanning CMS architecture, user experience, and backend workflows. Virtina delivered a robust, secure, and scalable platform without disrupting business continuity through a structured approach involving reverse engineering and custom module redevelopment.
Business Requirement
With Drupal 8 reaching end-of-life, ScholarRx faced increasing security, compliance, and performance risks. The organization needed to migrate to a future-ready Drupal 10 environment while preserving complex, custom workflows, enhancing platform speed, and improving usability for administrators and end-users. The overarching objective was to modernize the platform and lay the groundwork for continuous innovation in digital medical education.
The Challenge
At the project's core was the need to address the limitations of an outdated CMS. Drupal 8 had reached end-of-life, exposing ScholarRx to security vulnerabilities and stability concerns. Compounding the issue, the platform relied heavily on custom-built modules incompatible with newer Drupal versions, necessitating a full redevelopment effort. Many third-party modules integrated into the system had either been deprecated or lacked direct upgrade paths, requiring careful evaluation and replacement. Additionally, the site’s front-end architecture, which was based on legacy theming methods, could not support Drupal 10. The client also needed the entire migration completed within a tight three-month timeline without affecting user access, platform uptime, or ongoing learning experiences.
Our Approach
Virtina began with a comprehensive technical discovery process, auditing the system to identify dependencies, undocumented workflows, and high-risk components. With a clear roadmap, the team implemented a phased upgrade strategy, migrating the site from Drupal 8 to 9 to resolve compatibility issues and transitioning to Drupal 10. Each phase underwent rigorous testing to ensure data integrity, system stability, and compliance with best practices. Simultaneously, the front-end theme was reimagined, delivering a mobile-responsive, accessible, and modern user experience.
Key Outcomes
The project delivered significant results across multiple dimensions. Most importantly, the entire migration was completed without any data loss or platform downtime, ensuring uninterrupted access for all users. The codebase was fully modernized, with custom modules refactored to meet Drupal 10 standards, enabling better scalability and reduced technical debt. We helped them improve usability and accessibility across devices, resulting in faster load times and a more intuitive experience for students and administrators alike. Operational efficiency improved as administrators gained access to cleaner dashboards, more streamlined content workflows, and role-specific permissions that made day-to-day management easier. Ultimately, ScholarRx’s platform is now positioned for future innovation, with a flexible and scalable foundation that supports long-term growth, seamless integration of new features, and evolving educational needs.
Conclusion
Virtina successfully modernized ScholarRx’s digital platform, transforming it from a legacy system into a secure, future-proof solution built on Drupal 10. This project demonstrates Virtina’s deep technical expertise and precision in managing complex CMS migrations under time-sensitive conditions. Organizations operating on outdated or heavily customized platforms can confidently rely on Virtina to deliver seamless upgrades that preserve critical workflows and enhance long-term strategic value.
