Syensqo

Ever wondered how two distinct digital identities are born from one legacy platform? Discover how Solvay's strategic web division gave rise to Syensqo's digital presence.

Defining a New Digital Horizon

In 2023, Syensqo emerged distinctly from Solvay’s specialty chemicals division, setting its independent path in advanced materials and specialty chemicals. Operating in 30 countries and fostering innovation with over 13,000 employees, Syensqo marries sustainability with science. At the heart of its digital creation, the combined efforts of both companies to create a unique digital identity for Syensqo, separate from the essence of parent company Solvay.

Strategic web split: Improve the existing site to create two more efficient and powerful sites.

As already mentioned, Syensqo had to create its own digital identity, completely different from that of its sister Solvay. This meant that some of Solvay's content had to be transferred to this new company and platform, which had to be completely distinct and differentiable in terms of design, but with the same basic functionalities and structures. 

Moreover, as these contents were transversal to all the sites in the various countries that were part of Solvay, Syensqo had to be born multisite, adding another layer of complexity to this already complicated birth.

The Syensqo platform was created in phases and, along the way, the Solvay platform was also upgraded and redesigned:

In the first phase, a global analysis of the Solvay website was carried out: static analysis of the code, the modules being used, performance, Green It, etc. to see how the website could be improved.  This process included an audit of all the design-level components of the Solvay platform (including its 33 websites), to see which could be eliminated because they were not used much and which could be adapted to the process. The Xray Audit module was born from this need for a global analysis of the platform's architecture.

We then proceeded to address any shortcomings or areas for improvement identified in the Code during the previous comprehensive audit. A new ‘template’ was also created for Solvay: a new graphic line, expertly created by the creative agency VML and reviewed by Solvay itself, which was materialised on the website by reusing as many pre-existing graphic components as possible.

When the Solvay theme was practically created (90%), the content and code for Syensqo was split and its theme was also created, with only 4 or 5 components different from Solvay. They share the same DNA: the same code and database structure, but different presentation and content.

Finally, the new themes were adapted to the other 33 sites; it should be noted that they are designed to be able to easily include the corporate images of each of these sites on the platform, while maintaining a common base.

Enhanced legacy: functional capabilities inherited from Solvay

The heart of the project lay in expertly orchestrating a seamless web spin-off, transforming Solvay's legacy platform into Syensqo's independent digital identity. Key facets included:

1. Seamless transition: As detailed in the previous point, moving content from Solvay's chemical division to a different platform adapted to Syensqo's unique identity.
2. Multilingual and multisite management: Operating in several countries, Syensqo needed a multilingual platform that would support 33 different country-specific sites. Drupal's multisite capability offered a cohesive foundation with scalability, intuitive for managing diverse content and fully integrated with multilingual needs.
3. Component-based content strategies: A content system was designed to enable the Syensqo teams to produce rich, component-based content quickly and effectively, reflecting the brand's new innovative approach to information dissemination in a simple way.
4. Advanced search with Solr: It is vital that visitors can quickly and easily access relevant information across Syensqo's extensive platform. To this end, a search system using Solr and Drupal Views was designed and customised to meet the specific needs of these companies. Originally designed for Solvay, it now serves the independent needs of Syensqo.
5. Advanced integration: Integration with external systems are fundamental and also inherited from Solvay. By creating APIs, external DAM systems such as Keepeek and CRM systems such as Salesforce, Syensqo achieved a seamless data flow that improved operational efficiency.
6. Complex functionalities and agile workflows: With an international team working across time zones,  agile methodologies and development environment enabled continuous integration and flexible software development lifecycles.

Modules, themes and distributions: The engine of Syensqo's digital platform

In the effort to forge a distinct and dynamic digital presence for Syensqo, several key Drupal modules were integral to enhancing platform functionality, usability, and efficiency, playing crucial roles in transforming the site:

• X-ray Audit: A pivotal module in Syensqo's digital toolkit, the X-ray audit module provided invaluable insights into the site's structure and data, serving as an essential tool for developers, analysts, and administrators alike. Its functionalities were tailored to facilitate a comprehensive overview and optimization of the site’s architecture:
  • Entity and node information: By generating detailed reports on content entities, the module allowed the team to analyse node counts by content type, language and status. 
  • User and role analysis: By reporting on user roles and permissions, the module provides a clear view of their distribution and access levels, helping to streamline the management of  roles across the platform.
  • Media and vocabularies reports: Systematically reports on media types, vocabularies and associated counts, helping to assess content usage and identify optimisation opportunities.
  • Display and module configuration reports: With information on display modes, field usage and module activations, helps assess site complexity and enables informed decisions on site optimisation and architectural adjustments.
• Paragraphs and Components: This module enabled flexible content creation, allowing Syensqo's editorial teams to craft dynamic, component-based content that aligned seamlessly with their brand narrative.
• Search Api and Solr Suite: Reinforcing the site's advanced search functionalities, these modules facilitated fast and accurate information retrieval, a priority for both Solvay's legacy requirements and Syensqo's new digital landscape.
• Acquia Suite: It allowed for seamless interaction with the Acquia ecosystem, which gives these platforms greater scalability, given that the type of hosting offered by this company is designed for large organisations that need many different websites but with a common base (as is the case with Solvay and Syensqo).

By strategically employing these modules, not only was a powerful and independent digital platform created for Syensqo, but also laid the groundwork for continuous innovation and expansion.

Innovating for Community Growth: The Birth of the X-ray Audit Module

During the development of Syensqo's digital platform, not only did it address the immediate needs of the project, but it also brought an important innovation to the Drupal community with the creation of the X-ray Audit module. This tool was conceived to provide a complete view of the structure and data of Drupal sites, providing developers with powerful analysis capabilities.

Furthermore, the development of this module was based on a commitment to the open source philosophy. By introducing X-Ray Audit into the Drupal ecosystem, it not only satisfied a specific project requirement, but also provided the community at large with a tool that enhances site management capabilities across multiple projects.

Drupal: The Top Five Reasons for Syensqo's Transformation

Metadrop strategically chose Drupal as the cornerstone for Syensqo's digital transformation due to its robust capabilities that perfectly aligned with complex project needs:

• Flexibility and Customization: Drupal's modular design offered unparalleled flexibility, allowing the creation of a bespoke platform that distinguished Syensqo from Solvay while meeting specific content and design requirements.
• Scalability: Operating globally, Syensqo required a scalable platform. Drupal effortlessly supports growth, accommodating new features and users while maintaining optimal performance.
• Multilingual Support: With operations in 33 countries, Syensqo benefited from Drupal's comprehensive multilingual capabilities, enabling effective communication and tailored content delivery for each region.
• Integration Capabilities: Drupal's powerful APIs ensured seamless integration with systems like Salesforce and Keepeek, enhancing data flow and the platform’s overall functionality.
• Multisite Architecture: Drupal, with Acquia Cloud Site Factory (ACSF), facilitated a cohesive yet adaptable multisite setup, simplifying management across numerous regional sites.

Achieving New Digital Boundaries Together

The successful web-based spin-off of Solvay to Syensqo has equipped us with experience and skills in navigating complex digital transformations. This journey, which is a clear management success on the part of our client, has not only defined Syensqo's digital presence in record time but, at a business level, has enhanced our ability to create tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of our partners.

Ready to redefine your digital landscape? Contact us today: We are ready to assist you in achieving your distinctive digital vision.