Custom Web Development & Maintenance
Better for users. Superior workflows and editing experience for your team. We plan architectures, build platforms, and keep them reliable.
Comprehensive development solutions
iFactory is one of the few higher education web agencies that is genuinely platform-agnostic. Most agencies are locked into one CMS and recommend it regardless of fit. We work across Drupal, WordPress, and the leading higher education SaaS CMS platforms, including Modern Campus, Cascade CMS, TERMINALFOUR, and Squiz. Our advice is driven by your governance model, team capabilities, and total cost of ownership.
iFactory’s development team works alongside our strategists, content specialists, accessibility experts, and designers throughout every engagement. Development doesn’t happen in a silo. Every technical decision is informed by the strategy, content, and design work that precedes it.
iFactory folks have contributed to the Drupal community by providing support, writing blog posts, authoring books, attending and presenting at camps and conferences, and contributing and maintaining modules.
This team of talented, attentive individuals led us in the creation of a modern, clean, user-friendly website in a timely and efficient fashion... We felt like we were the only client throughout the process.
Process
Open-Source CMS Development
Open-Source CMS Development
Drupal Development. Drupal is our deepest area of CMS expertise and remains the strongest choice for large, complex university websites. iFactory team members are active Drupal community contributors, module authors, and conference presenters. We’ve built Drupal sites for institutions ranging from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities with 50,000+ page inventories. Learn more about our Drupal expertise →
WordPress Development. WordPress offers a gentler learning curve and is well-suited for institutions that prioritize ease of content management. We build enterprise-grade WordPress for higher education with custom themes, accessible component libraries, and integrations with enrollment technology. Learn more about our WordPress expertise →
SaaS CMS Implementation
Many institutions run on SaaS content management systems built specifically for higher education. iFactory partners with the four leading platforms to deliver implementations that go beyond the default template. Learn more about our SaaS CMS partnerships →
- Modern Campus (Omni CMS), the most widely adopted higher education SaaS CMS.
- Cascade CMS by Hannon Hill, purpose-built for higher education with strong governance tools.
- TERMINALFOUR (T4), a global platform with strength in large research universities.
- Squiz DXP, a composable digital experience platform with powerful search capabilities.
Front-End Development
Every iFactory front-end is built mobile-first with semantic HTML, meets WCAG 2.2 AA standards, and is tested across screen readers, keyboard navigation, and voice control. We build component-based design systems using modern front-end frameworks that ensure consistency and maintainability across hundreds of templates. Our front-end development practices include progressive enhancement, responsive images, and performance optimization targeting Core Web Vitals pass scores.
Back-End Development & Integration
University websites don’t exist in isolation. We build content model architectures, role and permission schemes, and integration layers that connect your website to the rest of your technology stack. Our team integrates with Student Information Systems (Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday), CRM platforms (Slate, Salesforce, HubSpot), Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard), event management tools, and custom institutional APIs. We also implement search, personalization, caching, and CDN configurations that keep your site performing under load during enrollment peaks.
Maintenance
Things change, and so does code—whether as a result of changing requirements, new versions of the CMS, or unexpected issues. A maintenance contract with our team guarantees that all these needs can be addressed quickly, ensuring seamless and uninterrupted operations.
- SLAs and incident response
- Upgrades, patching, and dependency hygiene
- Monitoring, alerting, and performance tuning
Ongoing Maintenance & Support
A website launch is day one, not the finish line. iFactory provides ongoing maintenance and support across all platforms, including CMS updates, security patching, performance monitoring, accessibility monitoring, and incremental enhancements. Our maintenance programs are designed specifically for higher education institutions that need continuous attention as programs launch, policies change, and the CMS ecosystem evolves.
See how the development team works alongside our other disciplines to bring your vision to life.
Hadley
Bringing custom web development to life
Crafting an unprecedented digital experience for accessibility
Dissatisfied with existing accessibility standards, Hadley aimed to pioneer a new level of user interface design that prioritized delight alongside utility. We integrated cutting-edge technologies within Drupal and Salesforce, culminating in a revolutionary website poised to redefine web accessibility standards.
100k
Members as of March 2024
40k
New students enrolled in fiscal year 2023
Frequently asked questions
We work with a range of content management systems (CMS) commonly used across higher education and enterprise environments, selecting the platform that best fits your institution’s structure, governance, and long-term goals. The most widely used platforms in higher education include open-source systems like Drupal and WordPress, as well as higher ed–specific and enterprise solutions like Omni CMS (OU Campus), Cascade CMS, Terminalfour, and other enterprise platforms.
Yes. Our team builds complete solutions, from user interfaces to integrations and performance optimization.
We follow best practices for efficient code, optimized assets, and scalable infrastructure to ensure fast load times.
Yes. We integrate with CRMs, admissions systems, and other tools to support your workflows and data needs.
Yes. We offer ongoing development, maintenance, and optimization to keep your site secure, up-to-date, and performing well.
Want to Know More?
Contact us to learn how we can be a great partner and start building your custom website optimization plan.
617-426-0609
available from 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Address
iFactory a division of RDW Group
225 Dyer St, Providence, RI 02903