The team at Paddle worked extremely hard last year to revamp and improve their central CMS platform. The new version in Drupal 9 is now in full use by local governments, non-profit and government-related organizations. "With our new Paddle CMS Platform, customers can go even further than before and have their website evolve smoothly according to their growth ambitions," echoed CEO Wouter Rummens.

The Paddle CMS Platform is a central content management system. This means that each module - for example web forms or UiTinVlaanderen and a search function with filters - that Paddle builds is immediately made available to each customer. All these modules are in the central Paddle Community which means that they are available for every website that uses the Paddle CMS Platform. No individual bells and whistles. A central system where everyone benefits from the new developments.

We want our customers to grow together. Through our central community, this is possible.

That said, Paddle listens very carefully to its customers. "We consult with them about any new features or possibilities. If one customer has an idea and we know that others are also interested in it, we build that module so that it is usable and easily deployable by the whole community," Rummens points out. It's Paddle's philosophy in action: "We want our customers to grow together," adds marketing manager Mauro Vanderstraeten. "And this central system makes that possible because people can use the building blocks we provide when it suits them. If their needs change, the website can easily change with them. It's just a matter of switching one module on or another off."
 

For organizations with big ambitions

The new Paddle CMS Platform goes one step further. With extensions and improvements to the functionality of the entire content management system - from layout builder to specific modules - customers can now do even more. Not only is there a convenient workflow, but there are also now more than ninety modules in the central platform. "Many new modules tailored to our target audience, but also older ones that we have redeveloped and made better," confirms Vanderstraeten. "This allows customers to set up even more ambitious websites."

This also applies to clients who have a small team or budget, Rummens believes. "Our customer base includes agencies and departments of the Flemish and federal governments. But also a lot of local governments, inter-municipal cooperations, non-profit organizations and schools. They sometimes have to work with a limited annual budget. With Paddle, they can still make great plans for their site, thanks to our low and predictable operating costs."

Customers don't have to call in their own IT team for every little tweak, because Paddle provides a complete technical unburdening. Vanderstraeten: "We often work together with the communication team of an organization. With this new platform, we have ensured that the CMS works even easier and faster. Can't the customer work something out? Then our helpdesk is always ready."

Monthly upgrades

Extensive customization options, plenty of choice of new modules and flexibility at its best: if you have little time, you don't have to think small with Paddle. And a lot of those possibilities happen neatly behind the scenes. Since Paddle works with government-related agencies, they know better than anyone the rules around accessibility, security and GDPR. "Whoever builds with Paddle is safe in that respect. For example, our system automatically deletes personal information," says Vanderstraeten.

"And," he immediately adds, "we also perform a full upgrade monthly for the entire Paddle community. So every website is automatically updated without our customers having to do anything. It all happens under the radar, but it does make a huge difference. This way, Paddle's websites are safe from hackers." So citizens' data won't be thrown out onto the virtual street, the automatic updates ensure that the loopholes that hackers look for remain pot-holed. A must for public organizations, because: "You can't make it today that your website is not safe", is what Paddle says.

The benefits of the new Paddle CMS Platform

That accessibility, by the way, is equally important for public organizations. "Government agencies must also equip their physical buildings for visitors with disabilities. Wheelchair entrances, Braille on elevator buttons, things like that. The same goes for a website," says Rummens. "You have to make sure that the website colors don't clash for the visually impaired or that the elderly can easily find what they are looking for on the website. In addition, accessibility also has a positive influence on the SEO of the website. Because Google also has to find its way to the website smoothly."

Communication-mindset

The fact that Paddle collaborates so often with communication services and also sees itself as a communication agency rather than an IT company is generating new ideas and plans within the Paddle team itself. "We launched our new content planner, a standalone tool that can also work with Paddle websites".

We want people to do more with the same amount of energy

This allows communication services to work together even better and to coordinate content planning. From news on the website to flyers that need to be mailed out: you can arrange it all in the planner," says Vanderstraeten. "The idea? To let people do more with the same amount of energy. That's what we want to achieve with our websites, and now also with this new content planner."

Are you a non-profit, local government or government-related agency and want a website that is secure, accessible and that you can easily modify yourself? Check out the possibilities of the Paddle CMS Platform.