Background
Is WordPress still the ideal solution for digital projects? For a specialized agency WordPress, which has been dedicated entirely to CMS for more than fifteen years, the question may seem surprising. And yet, it is essential!
As WordPress experts, we emphasize its many advantages: great flexibility, rich ecosystem, SEO compatibility, intuitive interface, and above all, its ability to adapt to the growth of companies.
But our priority remains to direct our prospects towards the best technical solution. This is why we do not hesitate to refuse projects when WordPress is not the best choice. And this happens more often than you might think!
And sometimes this question arises during the course of the project, prompting us to think about it again. This happened to us recently, and we're telling you everything.
The reality of projects: when WordPress reaches its limits
This famous project focused on a redesign combining classic editorial site and complex application of sales history. Initially, WordPress seemed to be a good option to meet these two needs, thanks to its content management possibilities and its flexibility.
But while advancing, a major challenge emerged: managing sales history involved processing a volume of data far beyond the usual WordPress capabilities. Although the CMS is powerful, it is not specially designed to handle very large databases or perform complex processing on large volumes.
We can then ask ourselves: How far can we adapt WordPress to maintain flexibility and performance?
Custom-made solutions to adapt WordPress
In response to this technical challenge, several options were considered, and our experts eventually identified the following solutions:
- Outsourcing images : Instead of overloading WordPress, we chose to store images outside CMS to lighten the database.
- Creating external data tables : Sales history has been managed in external tables instead of using WordPress native tables, allowing more efficient processing of data.
- Integration of Elasticsearch : For fluid searches in large volumes of data, we added Elasticsearch, to ensure fast navigation and quick access to information.
These adjustments made it possible to take advantage of WordPress's strengths while adding specific developments to meet precisely the needs of the project and the trades concerned. In short, exactly what we like to offer at Be API: tailor-made solutions.
But let's be honest, every technical adaptation has a cost: more time, more development. Fortunately, the project was successfully launched, but not without causing a few knots to the brain of our technical team.
A transparent approach
As mentioned earlier, even if we are passionate WordPress experts, our priority remains to find the most suitable solution for each project.
To force the use of an inappropriate tool is to risk compromising the project, the client team, our own team – a bet far too risky.
At Be API, determining whether a project is made for WordPress (and for us) is part of our daily life. This requires in-depth exchanges between our business team, our technical experts and the prospects themselves. We take the time to understand the stakes, the needs, but also the company's internal organization, to think about the site's contribution.
These transparent discussions allow us to clearly expose the strengths and possible limitations of WordPress in relation to expectations. If necessary, we do not hesitate to focus on other more suitable solutions.
Our goal is not to prove that WordPress can do anything, but to ensure that every project is based on the best technological choice. By adopting critical analysis and providing appropriate advice, we foster transparency and confidence in our collaborations.
Conclusion
This project showed us once again, the importance of questioning the choice of tools, especially when needs change or technical configurations become more complex. Each project is unique and deserves in-depth analysis to ensure that the chosen solution meets the client's expectations and constraints.
At Be API, we try to ask the right questions and stay open to developments. WordPress is, without a doubt, a remarkable solution for many projects. But every request requires careful consideration, to ensure a suitable long-term solution.
In the end, our expertise is not limited to WordPress: it also relies on our ability to assess needs, challenge technical choices, and recommend the most relevant technology for each project.
