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Drupal-to-Webflow migration represents one of the more complex CMS transitions enterprises undertake due to Drupal's sophisticated content architecture and heavily customized implementations common in enterprise deployments. Understanding what migrates seamlessly versus requiring reconstruction determines realistic timeline and budget expectations.
Content types and structured data form the migration foundation. Drupal's content type system defines custom structures with specific field configurations, Articles with featured images and author fields, Events with date and location fields, Team Members with biography and photo fields. Webflow Collections provide equivalent functionality where each Collection type replicates a Drupal content type. Migration teams map Drupal content types to Webflow Collections, then transfer content systematically.
Standard pages and blog posts migrate most straightforwardly. Export Drupal content through native export tools or specialized migration plugins generating CSV or JSON files containing all content data. Clean exported data removing Drupal-specific formatting, validate field structures, then import into Webflow Collections using CSV import tools. For sites with hundreds or thousands of entries, automated scripts accelerate bulk import while maintaining data integrity.
Media assets including images, documents, and videos transfer with careful attention to file paths and references. Drupal stores media with specific directory structures and database references. Export all media files, upload to Webflow Assets library or external hosting, then update content references pointing to new asset locations. Image optimization during migration, compression, format conversion to WebP, responsive sizing, improves performance immediately without requiring post-launch optimization.
Metadata preservation maintains SEO equity. Drupal sites accumulate metadata through SEO modules like Metatag or Yoast, title tags, meta descriptions, open graph tags, schema markup. Export all metadata alongside content, ensuring Webflow pages receive identical or improved SEO elements. Custom schema markup implemented in Drupal through modules requires manual recreation in Webflow using custom code in page settings or site-wide header.
Taxonomies and categorization systems translate with planning. Drupal's taxonomy vocabulary defining categories, tags, and classifications maps to Webflow's multi-reference fields and category structures. A Drupal blog using Categories and Tags vocabularies translates to Webflow Blog Collection with Category and Tag reference fields linking to separate Category and Tag Collections. This structure preserves content relationships and filtering capabilities.
URL structure decisions significantly impact migration complexity and SEO risk. Ideally, preserve existing URL patterns to minimize redirect requirements, if Drupal uses /blog/post-title patterns, configure Webflow Collections generating identical structures. URL structure changes necessitate comprehensive redirect mapping documented in spreadsheets mapping every existing URL to Webflow equivalents, then implemented through Webflow's redirect settings.
Custom functionality built through Drupal modules requires evaluation and potential rebuilding. Drupal's extensive module ecosystem enables sophisticated features, advanced search, complex workflows, user dashboards, custom integrations. Webflow lacks direct equivalents for many modules, requiring alternative approaches: native Webflow features replacing some module functionality, third-party integrations through Zapier or Make connecting external services, custom code implementing specific functionality, or accepting feature elimination if usage data shows minimal value.
User authentication and membership features present particular challenges. Drupal sites with user registration, roles, and permissions require rebuilding through Webflow's User Accounts feature or third-party services like Memberstack. Simple membership scenarios transfer reasonably, but complex permission systems or custom user workflows may require significant custom development.
Multi-language support transitions through Webflow Localization. Drupal multilingual sites using content translation export content per language, then import into appropriate Webflow locale versions. Ensure URL structures per language migrate correctly and hreflang tags implement properly.
Migration timeline expectations vary dramatically by complexity. Small Drupal sites under 100 pages with standard content types complete in 4-6 weeks. Medium implementations with 100-500 pages and moderate customization require 6-10 weeks. Large complex Drupal sites with 500-2,000+ pages, custom modules, and sophisticated workflows extend to 10-16 weeks. Enterprise migrations with multiple thousand pages may require phased approaches spanning several months.
StreamNative, a data streaming technology company, migrated over 400 published pages from Jumstack (their previous CMS) to Webflow through comprehensive content restructuring. The project required technical expertise mapping complex content types, meticulous redirect planning preserving SEO equity, and coordinated team effort across design, development, and content teams. The migration enhanced online visibility while providing StreamNative's team improved content management capabilities compared to their previous rigid system. The multi-week process demonstrated that large-scale migrations succeed through systematic planning, clear content mapping, and thorough testing before launch.
Flowout conducts Drupal migration assessments analyzing content architecture complexity, custom functionality dependencies, and optimal Webflow structure designs, providing detailed migration roadmaps with realistic timelines and cost projections before work begins, schedule a migration assessment to understand your Drupal-to-Webflow transition requirements.
Custom modules don't migrate directly. Evaluate each module's purpose, some functionality exists natively in Webflow, others require third-party integrations, and some need custom development. Expect significant effort replicating complex custom functionality.
Webflow Collections support multi-reference fields creating relationships between content types. Map Drupal's entity references to Webflow reference fields, preserving most relationship structures though some complex many-to-many relationships may require simplification.
Before migration. Audit existing Drupal content, archive or delete obsolete pages, consolidate thin content, and improve quality before export. Migrating only valuable content reduces migration scope, improves site quality, and simplifies Webflow CMS management.
Yes, Webflow Collections allow custom URL configurations. Configure slug patterns matching existing Drupal URLs, eliminating redirect requirements and preserving SEO value. Only change URLs if strategic information architecture improvements justify redirect complexity.
User accounts don't migrate automatically. Rebuild user systems using Webflow User Accounts or Memberstack based on requirements. Simple membership scenarios transfer reasonably; complex permission systems require significant redesign or custom development.
