Case Study
SEI
Modernizing a financial powerhouse’s digital foundation
Overview
SEI partnered with Spark to modernize seic.com by migrating from a legacy homegrown CMS to a robust Drupal platform. The initiative aimed to enhance content governance, improve security and compliance, and create a scalable foundation that could support the evolving needs of a leading financial services institution.
Services
- Technical audits
- Content audits
- Security requirements
- Taxonomy design
- Copywriting
- UX/UI design
- Front-end development
- Back-end development
- CMS development (Drupal)
- Third-party integrations
- Performance testing
- User validation
Technologies
- Drupal
- CDN integration
- Marketing automation platforms
- Document management systems
- Enterprise security controls
- Audit logging systems
Timeframe
- 12 months
Visit
Challenge
Breaking free from legacy constraints
SEI’s website operated on an aging homegrown CMS that had become increasingly difficult to maintain and scale. The platform struggled to meet modern content governance requirements, lacked the flexibility needed for complex financial content structures, and couldn’t adequately support the stringent security and compliance demands of the financial services industry. The institution needed a modern, enterprise-grade solution that would provide robust content management capabilities while meeting regulatory requirements and integrating seamlessly with existing business systems.
Process
Engineering a compliant, scalable platform
Deep dive into the details. Spark began with a thorough evaluation of SEI’s existing system, meticulously documenting content structures, workflows, user roles, and critical integration points. We architected a custom Drupal solution tailored to the financial industry’s requirements, designing content types, taxonomies, and modules to address SEI’s complex governance needs.
Migration without the risk. A phased approach ensured the safe transfer of thousands of pages, financial documents, and digital assets while preserving SEO value and content integrity. We implemented enterprise-grade security controls, comprehensive audit logging, and compliance features that met financial industry regulations.
Connecting the ecosystem. Critical integrations were established to connect Drupal with SEI’s customer portals, document management systems, and marketing automation platforms. Performance optimization through strategic caching, CDN integration, and database tuning ensured the platform could handle high-traffic loads.
Built for speed and scale. Strategic performance optimization through caching strategies, CDN integration, and database tuning ensured the platform could handle the high-traffic loads typical of financial institution websites without compromising user experience.
Setting teams up to succeed. Comprehensive training programs prepared content authors, editors, and administrators for the transition, while ongoing support and iterative improvements ensured the platform continued to meet evolving business needs post-launch.
Solution
A secure foundation for digital growth
The modernized platform gives SEI a powerful, compliant content management system that scales with their business needs. The custom Drupal architecture provides the flexibility to manage complex financial content while maintaining rigorous governance and security standards. Seamless enterprise integrations create a unified digital ecosystem, and optimized performance ensures reliable access for clients and partners. The result is a future-ready platform that empowers SEI’s teams to manage content efficiently while meeting the highest standards of security and compliance in the financial services industry.
