Author
Dominique De Cooman
Introduction
In times past, skilled artisans meticulously hand-crafted every product, whether it was furniture, pottery, or clothing. Their workmanship was admirable, but as the industrial revolution took hold, factories, assembly lines, and machine-driven production transformed the market. Artisanal crafters who clung to manual methods struggled to keep up with rising demand and advancing technology.
Today, agencies and IT service providers find themselves in a comparable watershed moment—this time fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and Digital Experience Platforms (DXPs). In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why today’s agency model, deeply rooted in manual DevOps and site maintenance, is nearing the end of its lifecycle.
- How AI reshapes developer work, operational processes, and the business models behind agencies.
- Concrete steps agencies can take to reinvent themselves for an era of automation, personalization, and data-driven digital experiences.
The end of the ‘Craftsmanship era’ in the agency world
From Manual to Automated
Many agencies that focus on Drupal or other CMS platforms still handle maintenance, updates, and deployments in a largely manual manner. They prepare new releases, test code, and push it live—often requiring multiple team members and intricate dev-ops tasks.
The Problem: Such “craftsmanship” slows down the cycle of innovation. Meanwhile, AI and automation can dramatically reduce overhead, enabling smaller teams to deliver robust, data-driven experiences at scale—quickly and cost-effectively.
- Time-intensive processes: Manually updating dozens (or hundreds) of Drupal sites, each with unique configurations, can consume entire sprints.
- Siloed skill sets: Agencies often need specialized DevOps, back-end, and front-end roles just to keep up, leaving fewer resources for strategic or creative tasks.
- Risk of irrelevance: Clients increasingly want more than just a stable website; they want personalization, predictive analytics, and faster time-to-market. Agencies stuck in artisanal processes struggle to keep pace with these demands.
Checkout Dropsolid.ai to learn about personalising content at scale and checkout Dropsolid Experience Platform, the most open DXP, to learn about devops and hosting in the AI era.
How AI transforms agencies and IT services
Code generation and maintenance
- Boilerplate code & migrations: AI tools like GitHub Copilot or custom ML models can generate standard code blocks or initial module scaffolding, freeing developers to focus on complex or creative tasks. Dropsolid AI will provide tools within the devops platform to streamline development
- Automated testing: AI can run and interpret results from multiple test suites, identifying root causes for failures and, in some cases, proposing fixes
See how we at Dropsolid leverage Dropsolid AI to automate DevOps tasks and drive AI-based personalization for Drupal clients.
A shifting business model for agencies
The rise of AI-driven automation doesn’t just change the tasks performed; it alters an agency’s core value proposition.
From execution to strategy
- Less manual dev: Because AI automates much of the coding and operational overhead, agencies can reposition themselves as strategic partners—focusing on user experience, brand storytelling, and high-level digital strategy.
- Consulting & innovation: Clients will pay more for insight (e.g., data strategy, predictive analytics, AI-based personalization) than for routine coding or hosting tasks.
Recurring revenue with managed AI services
- Subscription models: Agencies can package AI-based workflows (like real-time personalization or automated content audits) into monthly or annual plans, creating a stable revenue stream. Customer like Pidpa, Lannoo and Soudal are exploring this with Dropsolid.
- Outcome-based pricing: Rather than billing by the hour, agencies can tie fees to improvements in site conversions, average order value, or user engagement, all tracked by AI data.
Talent Restructuring
- Upskilling teams: Developers and project managers who previously focused on integration work must learn to navigate AI-based workflows, automation tools, and data analytics.
- Specialized roles: Agencies may hire data scientists, AI integration specialists, or marketing technologists who understand how to interpret ML model outputs.
Bottom Line: Agencies that fail to shift may find themselves undercut by smaller or more nimble competitors who fully embrace AI-driven automation.
Why drupal agencies are uniquely positioned
If you’re a Drupal-focused agency, there’s good news: Drupal is arguably an ideal platform for AI-driven automation, thanks to its:
Community support
- Open source collaboration: The global Drupal community is actively exploring and contributing to AI initiatives and next-gen DevOps strategies, accelerating progress.
- Evolving best practices: With events like DrupalCon and local meetups, knowledge-sharing is extensive, helping agencies adopt new approaches quickly.
For a deeper look, check out our blog on “Open DXP with AI” to see how Drupal can anchor both composable setups and enterprise-level DXPs.
Next steps: How agencies can embrace AI-driven transformation
1. Assess current processes
Identify the most time-intensive or repetitive tasks (e.g., manual deployment, security updates, code reviews). Investigate AI or automation solutions to streamline those.
2. Pilot AI tools
Start small with a proof of concept—maybe for automated testing or advanced personalization on a pilot client project. Document results and ROI to justify broader rollouts.
3. Invest in skills development
Offer training and workshops to your devs and PMs, so they become comfortable with AI-based tools—like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT for code hints, or advanced data modeling services.
4. Reinvent the value proposition
Move away from pure staff augmentation or “we’ll build your Drupal site from scratch” narratives. Position your agency as a strategic AI partner, capable of delivering cutting-edge digital experiences while reducing operational headaches.
5. Collaborate with the community
Engage in open source AI modules for Drupal, share your experiences, and learn from others. This is how you stay ahead of the innovation curve.
Note: Dropsolid is sponsoring Frederik Wouters as a co-contributor of the Drupal AI module.
Conclusion: the time for agency reinvention Is now
The industrial revolution changed production forever, rendering old artisanal models non-competitive. Today’s agencies and IT service providers face a similar crossroads. AI, automation, and DXP are not abstract buzzwords; they’re practical, game-changing technologies that can automate repetitive labor and free your team for higher-level, creative, and strategic work.
At Dropsolid, we’ve seen firsthand how investing in AI and automation transforms the way we deliver projects—resulting in higher client satisfaction, faster deployments, and more time to tackle complex strategic challenges. When your agency evolves from “craftsman-level manual labor” to “AI-driven innovation,” you not only keep pace with the market—you lead it.
Want to know how Dropsolid AI and our Open DXP solutions can transform your services?
