The Client

Solmar Villas specialises in providing visitors with stress-free, enjoyable trips by offering a simple booking process for magnificent villas with private pools. The organisation has over 2,000 villas spread throughout 30+ places, providing extraordinary diversity to meet the demands of every traveler. Guests can relax, reunite with loved ones, and make lasting memories in idyllic surroundings.

Solmar Villas was founded in 1994 out of a family desire to make villa holidays more affordable and pleasurable. Over the years, it has grown into a team of 97 devoted experts who ensure that every detail is carefully handled. What differentiates Solmar Villas is its dedication to personalised service. Guests can rest assured during their visit because villa managers are nearby, and there is 24-hour phone support.

The Challenge

The website was running on an outdated Drupal version with legacy PHP, MySQL, and Elastic Search configurations. These outdated setups can severely impact performance, compatibility, and security. A detailed analysis revealed several key issues affecting the site's efficiency and maintainability. These include outdated dependencies, which prevent the utilisation of modern features and improvements in newer PHP, MySQL, and Elastic Search versions.

The codebase is unoptimised and does not follow current best practices, leading to inefficiencies and potential scalability issues. Additionally, non-standard Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) practices make the code harder to maintain and extend. Performance bottlenecks result from a mix of code flaws and outdated configurations, ultimately diminishing user experience and system stability. To ensure long-term efficiency and scalability, a comprehensive modernisation strategy is essential to address these challenges.

The Solution

To guarantee a smooth Drupal update, Dotsquares started by separating between useful and unnecessary code/modules in the system. This first step was critical for streamlining the process and reducing potential complications throughout the update. The framework was simplified by removing unneeded modules and old code, resulting in a cleaner environment for the update.

Our efficient team did a tremendous job by upgrading it in stages, from Drupal 8.9 to 9.5 and finally to 10.3. By taking a gradual approach, we ensured compatibility and resolved any issues that surfaced at each level. Following the upgrade, we concentrated on replacing deprecated code to ensure that it met the criteria of the most recent version. In addition, we combined functions and optimised their calls, which reduced redundancy and improved maintainability.

This method improved system efficiency while also making the codebase more approachable for future changes. By removing inefficiencies and exploiting Drupal 10.3's advanced capabilities, we secured the platform's dependability, scalability, and preparedness for future development requirements. These strategies demonstrate how a planned update can change an obsolete system into a simplified, efficient, and future-proof solution.

The Results

The newly renovated Solmar Villa website sets a standard for functionality and user control, demonstrating our dedication to innovation and excellence. The platform's innovative technology ensures a more seamless and efficient experience for both administrators and users. The improved interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it simple to apply improvements with little effort. This upgrade not only improves scalability, but also prepares the website to react to new trends and requirements.

Moreover, the upgraded backend management system enables quick changes, content additions, and the seamless integration of new features, saving time and resources. The redesigned website provides visitors with faster loading times, improved navigation, and a more engaging user experience. It has been created to suit modern standards, assuring device compatibility and providing a constant, polished appearance.

This improvement is a step closer to fulfilling our aim of providing an advanced digital presence that is both dynamic and easy to manage. With this upgraded platform, we can easily embrace new updates, assuring continual growth and innovation.