Drupal 8 to 10 Upgrade: SonoPath

Problem Statement

SonoPath faced significant challenges in managing large volumes of dynamic user data and complex workflows, including:

1. User and Role Management: Efficient creation, approval, and permission-based content display for various user types.
2. File Management: Seamless upload, processing, and organization of large medical files, ensuring fast access and data protection.
3. Dynamic Case Management: Implementing a robust system to support multiple user types, automate specialist doctor notifications, and manage case workflows effectively.
4. Performance and User Experience: Addressing slow response times and enhancing the platform’s usability across devices.
5. Conditional Workflows: Managing complex field dependencies and dynamically updating forms based on user inputs.
    

Project Objectives

1. Develop a Robust Case Management System:
   • Create a fast, user-friendly platform to streamline complex workflows, allowing efficient case creation, specialist assignment, and automated notifications.
2. Optimize User Management:
   • Implement secure, role-based access controls to manage dynamic user types, approvals, and permissions seamlessly.
3. Enhance File Management:
   • Provide a scalable solution for uploading, organizing, and retrieving large volumes of files securely, ensuring fast access and efficient handling of medical scans and documents.
4. Improve Performance and Responsiveness: 
   • Optimize the platform for fast loading times and smooth operation across multiple devices, delivering a lag-free experience for all users.
5. Upgrade UI/UX Design:
   • Redesign the interface for an intuitive user experience, making the platform easy to navigate and interact with while maintaining modern design standards.
6. Automate Communication Workflows:
   • Implement conditional email functionality to notify doctors based on their availability and case type, streamlining communication processes.
      

Approach

The team undertook a structured approach to address the challenges faced by SonoPath's existing platform and develop a secure, scalable, and efficient solution. The focus was on implementing modern technologies, streamlining workflows, and ensuring a seamless user experience while integrating AWS services and Node.js for advanced functionalities.

Key Steps in the Planning Phase:

1. Discovery and Analysis:
   • Conducted an in-depth review of the existing system to identify bottlenecks in user management, file handling, and case workflows.
   • Evaluated the inefficiencies in handling dynamic user roles, form dependencies, and file uploads, identifying opportunities for optimization.
   • Analyzed the technical requirements for integrating AWS services and Node.js with Drupal to streamline file processing and data workflows.
   • Identified UI/UX issues that hindered user interaction and outlined a plan to enhance usability and responsiveness.
2. Strategic Solutions:
   • Designed a modular architecture using Drupal 10, allowing flexibility in content workflows and user management.
   • Selected AWS services (S3, EC2, Lambda) for secure and efficient file uploads, processing, and metadata management.
   • Developed custom modules to handle specialist notifications, dynamic workflows, and role-based permissions.
   • Created an intuitive UI/UX design, ensuring the platform delivers a smooth experience across devices.
   • Implemented Conditional Fields and dynamic workflows to manage field dependencies and streamline case creation processes.
3. High-Level Goals:
   • Ensure secure handling of large file uploads and data workflows using AWS and Node.js integration.
   • Develop a user-friendly platform with a focus on scalability, responsiveness, and performance.
   • Enhance both administrator and end-user experience through intuitive design and robust functionalities.
   • Build a future-proof architecture that supports dynamic workflows and modern content management requirements.
      

Implementation

The implementation phase focused on translating the strategic plan into precise actions to meet SonoPath’s objectives. The team ensured all processes were streamlined and robust, incorporating modern technologies to build a secure and scalable platform.

Key Highlights of Execution:

1. Page and Workflow Development:
   • Designed inner pages using content types, views, and blocks to create reusable templates, ensuring streamlined content creation and consistency for users.
2. UI/UX Enhancements:
   • Implemented a fresh, modern theme aligned with Figma-based designs, delivering a responsive and intuitive user interface.
   • Enhanced user engagement by integrating social feeds and interactive elements, improving content accessibility.
3. AWS Integration:
   • Established secure file upload workflows using AWS S3 for storage and Lambda functions for metadata processing.
   • Integrated AWS EC2 and Node.js for efficient file processing, including compression, organization, and secure downloads.
4. Role-Based Access Control:
   • Developed custom workflows for user creation, approval, and permissions management using Drupal’s User Permissions by Field module.
   • Ensured smooth and conditional access control for diverse user types across the platform.
      

Process Details

The implementation was guided by a structured workflow and rigorous quality assurance practices to ensure smooth execution and high performance.

Key Process Details:

1. Workflow Management:
   • Divided the project into actionable milestones and tracked progress against a detailed migration and development roadmap.
   • Ran migration and development in parallel to reduce project timelines without compromising quality.
2. Optimized Data Structures:
   • Restructured taxonomies and field configurations to improve data organization, searchability, and site performance.
   • Enhanced file organization by linking uploads to case numbers, dates, and metadata.
3. Testing and Quality Assurance:
   • Conducted iterative testing to verify the accuracy of data migration, integrity of workflows, and stability of the platform.
   • Ensured the site’s layout, responsiveness, and functionality met the highest standards through end-to-end testing.
4. Progress Tracking:
   • Used project management tools and regular status meetings to identify and mitigate risks or delays, ensuring all goals were met on time.