The client initially used Sitecore XP 8.1, a version handed over by a previous partner, but they needed to transition to the latest version, 10.2. The absence of documentation made understanding the existing setup challenging. Additionally, the client’s Sitecore version was no longer supported, necessitating active support to continue operations smoothly. They aimed to introduce new functionality, but a poor solution structure and the lack of a structured deployment process left them stuck in a state of stagnation. 

There were discrepancies between what was deployed in production and the code in source control, leading to uncertainty about the current state of the codebase. Despite having analytics enabled, the overall solution was in disarray, eroding the team’s confidence. TDS (Team Development for Sitecore) was not properly synced, which led to incorrect templates being pushed, data loss, and potential site outages. 

Our first step was to thoroughly examine the existing solution. Given the client’s decision to move away from using analytics, we migrated them to Sitecore XM and synchronized all data to Sitecore 10.2, ensuring alignment with the current solution in source control. The code was upgraded and refactored according to Sitecore best practices, incorporating new features. 

We also created extensive documentation for developers, created containerized set up using Docker for repeatable local development, which simplified on-boarding of new team members, and conducted hands-on training sessions to familiarize the team with the new features. To improve deployment, we set up a fully automated build and deployment pipeline in Azure DevOps, and we transitioned from TDS to Sitecore Content Serialization (SCS), a more modern and developer Sitecore item serialization tool that also provided better and more modern support for the automated deployment processes. A structured code branching strategy and code review process were also established. Additionally, we standardized a number of other custom code modules, such as dynamic placeholders and configuration set up, enabling the use of out-of-the-box features instead of custom implementations. We also removed large amounts of unused code and technical debt, simplifying the codebase and making it easier for the teams to understand and debug. 

The updated codebase now serves as a single source of truth, providing greater confidence to the client in their system’s reliability. The use of automated deployment tools means the time to release changes has been significantly reduced, and has removed the possibility of errors due to the previous manual processes. 

With a supported version of Sitecore, the client no longer needs to pay for extended support, resulting in significant cost savings. Alongside a range of bug fixes and security improvements, the project delivered substantial performance gains and infrastructure savings. With the move from XP to XM, there was over 60% saving in infrastructure costs. 

The platform now operates in a way that aligns more closely with the client’s business needs. The client continued using Google Analytics after a thorough cleanup process and integrated an external system for email delivery, laying the groundwork for future compatibility with the external platform they use. Additionally, Sitecore Content Serialization does not require licensing, offering increased flexibility for collaboration with other development teams. 

Through our streamlined approach, the team saw considerable time savings, with deployment of fixes and changes that once took hours through a manual error prone process to now being completed automatically in just 3-4 minutes. The improved processes and training enabled any team member to address issues quickly. The clean up and streamlining of the solution now allows developers to create new components and updates to meet the changing business needs with ease. The entire project was completed 15% under budget, with the core system upgraded in less than 160 hours.