We were asked by National Highways to collaborate and work to future-proof their online presence by helping to upgrade their existing Umbraco 8 site to the latest version, Umbraco13.
This crucial upgrade not only ensures continued feature and security enhancements from Umbraco, but also means National Highways can use the latest CMS features, setting the stage for their enhanced digital experience roadmap.
Research and development (R&D) phase
Recognising the fundamental shift from .Net framework to .Net core in Umbraco 13, we initiated a meticulous research and development (R&D) phase. During this phase, our team catalogued all files requiring code updates for Umbraco 13 compatibility. Additionally, we conducted a thorough mock upgrade of the database and codebase to identify and address potential issues. This phase not only ensured a robust and cost-effective upgrade path for National Highways but also allowed us to anticipate future changes in the Umbraco roadmap, minimizing rework for upcoming upgrades.
Upgrade process
With insights from the R&D phase, we transitioned from Umbraco 8 to 13. This involved an upgrade path through Umbraco 9 before reaching the desired Umbraco 13. The key difference between Umbraco 8 and 13 lies in the underlying technology shift from .Netframe work to .Net core. This shift not only ensures that the upgraded site adheres to the latest technology standards but also lays the groundwork for future enhancements and advantages offered from .Net core.
During the transition, we worked with the 3rd party hosting provider to ensure careful attention to minimizing downtime and disruptions after conducting a comprehensive User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase to ensure the integrity of the upgraded site.
What we did
- Conducted a thorough Research and Development (R&D) phase to assess the site's current state and plan the upgrade path.
- Catalogued files requiring code updates and performed a mock upgrade to address potential issues.
- Suggested a robust and cost-effective upgrade strategy, considering future Umbraco roadmap changes.
- Executed a seamless transition from Umbraco 8 to 13, including conversion to .Net core and meticulous migration of site files.
- Conducted a rigorous UAT phase and successfully launched the upgraded site.
Conclusion
The successful upgrade of National Highways' site to Umbraco 13 not only ensures continued support from Umbraco but also equips National Highways with the latest features for an enhanced digital presence. We're proud to contribute to our clients' digital evolution and look forward to more collaborative work in their enhanced digital experience roadmap.
Take a look at nationalhighways.co.uk
