Dominique De Cooman at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024
Dropsolid has been sponsoring DrupalCon Europe for the sixth time in a row. This time around, Dominique De Cooman, Co-founder, co-CEO, and CTO of Dropsolid, delivered two impactful sessions that emphasized the growing importance of integrating Drupal with other open-source platforms to create a stronger digital ecosystem. His sessions explored how combining platforms like Drupal and Mautic can help businesses stay competitive, deliver more value to customers, and foster a more collaborative and resilient community.
Bridging the Gap Between Drupal and Mautic in an Open DXP
Dominique's first session, titled "How Combining Open Source Platforms Can Make Your Business and the Community Stronger," focused on the potential synergy between Drupal and Mautic in creating an open Digital Experience Platform (DXP). Building on insights from previous events like DrupalCon Lille and Mautic Global Conference, Dominique emphasized that while Drupal remains a powerful CMS, the market now demands more integrated solutions. He pointed out that businesses are looking for a platform that combines content management, marketing automation, data integration, and AI-driven personalization—features that go beyond what Drupal alone can offer.

He illustrated this with a metaphor, noting that "the market is asking for a bike"—a fully functional DXP that includes all necessary components. However, the Drupal ecosystem currently offers only the "frame of the bike," which requires additional components, such as Mautic, to meet market expectations. This analogy underlined the gap between what businesses are demanding and what Drupal, on its own, is currently delivering.
Dominique’s message was clear: for Drupal to remain relevant in this rapid evolution, it must collaborate with other open-source platforms like Mautic to create a comprehensive DXP. He urged business leaders and community members to embrace the idea of open DXPs, noting that this approach not only enhances business outcomes but also strengthens the open-source community. By connecting with other ecosystems, the Drupal community can build a more competitive and valuable platform.
He reflected on his experience from previous presentations at events across Europe, acknowledging that the idea of an open DXP is still in its early stages but gaining traction.
"The community is still catching up on market trends,"
he remarked, stressing the importance of developing quickly to meet the growing demand for integrated digital solutions. The audience’s response to his message was positive, with many acknowledging the increasing relevance of open DXPs today.
From CMS to DXP—Elevating Drupal's Capabilities
In his second session, titled "From CMS to DXP: Bring Your Investment in Drupal to the Next Level," Dominique shared Dropsolid’s journey in transforming from a traditional Drupal service provider into a company offering a full-fledged open DXP. He explained how Dropsolid optimized its cloud platform to support Drupal and Mautic as a managed service, creating a scalable, AI-powered DXP that delivers personalized digital experiences to clients.
This session delved deeper into the technical and strategic aspects of building an open DXP. Dominique explained how integrating AI with Drupal and Mautic allows businesses to unlock personalization, increase engagement, and improve conversion rates. He also discussed the benefits of a sovereign DXP, which gives businesses greater control over their data and digital strategies, a key differentiator in a world where data sovereignty is increasingly important.
A key takeaway from this session was Dominique's call for attendees to expand their capabilities. He urged developers and agencies to transition from being CMS specialists to becoming DXP experts.
"Leverage your Drupal career and Drupal business by going from CMS to DXP,"
he advised, emphasizing that embracing this shift is essential for staying relevant and competitive in a market that increasingly values integrated digital solutions.

The Broader Outlook
Reflecting on his experience at DrupalCon Barcelona, Dominique shared his thoughts on the state of the Drupal ecosystem and the future of open DXPs. He acknowledged that while both of his sessions were well-received, he wished there had been more time to engage with the audience afterward. Nonetheless, the positive feedback confirmed that many attendees were beginning to see the value in packaging Drupal as part of a broader DXP solution rather than as a standalone CMS.
Dominique pointed out that the traditional model of selling Drupal services as a commodity is under pressure, as customers are increasingly looking for more value beyond simple CMS functionality. Packaging Drupal with additional tools like Mautic to create an open DXP offers a clear path forward for service providers looking to differentiate themselves in the market.
Looking ahead, Dominique expressed excitement about the upcoming Drupal CMS roadmap, including the ambitious timeline for Drupal CMS V1, set to launch in January 2025. He highlighted the integration of AI into Drupal as a game-changer, particularly the ability to use AI for tasks like content management, SEO, and even migration.
"The operational efficiency this will bring is through the roof,"
he noted, emphasizing how these advancements will revolutionize the way businesses use Drupal.
Dominique also spoke highly of Drupal’s future as a fully AI-supported platform, noting that the community is working hard to ensure that the AI capabilities are transparent and customizable. He explained that businesses will be able to configure how AI behaves within Drupal, making it a powerful tool for delivering personalized digital experiences.
"Dries mentioned the comparison towards the Sagrada Familia in the Driesnote in Barcelona and this really resonated with me. Especially after visiting it after Drupalcon. I thought I'd take the comparison a little further, you know, for the fun of it."
Just as the Sagrada Família is a work in progress that continues to evolve, so too is Drupal evolving, integrating new technologies like AI and personalization to become a more powerful and flexible platform. This analogy reinforced the idea that while Drupal has come a long way, its greatest potential is still ahead as it moves toward becoming the foundation for a truly open DXP.

"Just as Gaudí's design took time to mature, so too has Drupal taken its time to grow into a complex, detailed solution. Drupal's data model and APIs have been refined and perfected, much like the intricate sculptures and structures of the basilica."
writes Dominique. Read the blog post here.
In conclusion, Dominique’s sessions at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 offered a clear vision for the future of Drupal. By embracing open-source collaboration and evolving into a DXP, Drupal can continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. The positive reception of these ideas suggests that the community is ready to take the next step, ensuring that Drupal remains a relevant and powerful tool for businesses and developers alike.