Seamless CMS Migration from Ektron to Optimizely CMS

Client
Our client is a top-tier U.S.-based educational institution serving over 24,000 students with a diverse portfolio of 140+ online and on-campus degree and certification programs. The university required a robust digital platform to better support prospective students, streamline content management, and future-proof its online presence.
The Challenge
The university’s existing CMS, Ektron, had become outdated, limiting scalability and content flexibility. The client needed a modern, scalable, and intuitive platform that would support:
- A growing number of degree programs
- A more user-friendly content editing experience
- Improved performance and maintainability
Goal: Execute a seamless “lift-and-shift” migration from Ektron to Optimizely without disrupting ongoing university operations.
Our Solution
First Line Software executed a full-cycle CMS migration that covered everything from initial discovery to post-launch support:
Discovery & Planning
- Analyzed the legacy website structure and page hierarchy.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to define the new Optimizely site architecture.
Development & Testing
- Rebuilt site components and templates in C# on Optimizely.
- Carried out rigorous QA to ensure performance, usability, and compliance.
Stabilization & Support
- Resolved pre-launch issues quickly during the stabilization phase.
- Provided post-launch support, implementing iterative improvements based on user feedback.
The Team
A dedicated cross-functional team of 6 experts:
- Project Manager
- Backend Developers
- QA Engineers
- Technical Writer
Technologies Used
- Optimizely CMS
- C# / .NET
- Redmine (for agile project tracking and collaboration)