Web Strategy, Design Tips, Marketing Hack Insights - ID Digital Agency

Why we're migrating from DMS to Filament (and why that’s a good thing)

Written by Jay Boston | 25/07/2025 6:19:44 AM

For over a decade, ID Digital Agency has proudly maintained our own in-house, open-source CMS known as DMS. It’s been the quiet powerhouse behind hundreds of websites, online stores, portals, and custom systems across Melbourne and beyond. Built by our former dev lead Elliot (now off doing extraordinary things in Silicon Valley), DMS served its purpose with pride - secure, fast, and tailored for the diverse needs of our clients.

But, like all good things in tech, it’s time for an evolution.

We’re moving forward, and we’re bringing our clients with us - into a new, modern, scalable, and beautifully documented platform called Filament. And we’re doing it with purpose, strategy, and a whole lot of heart.

 

Why DMS had its day

DMS wasn’t just a CMS - it was our digital Swiss Army knife. From enterprise portals to API integrations, DMS allowed us to move fast, build smart, and scale with custom features.

But being custom-built has a shelf life. When Elliot stepped into his new Silicon Valley role, future updates became more difficult. With PHP and Laravel rapidly evolving, staying on DMS meant risking compatibility, support, and security.

We owed our clients something better - something future-ready.

 

Introducing Filament: built by a Community, backed by us

Filament is a modern, open-source Laravel-based admin panel and CMS with approx 1,000 contributors on GitHub. It’s lightning fast, incredibly well documented, and intuitively familiar - especially for our DMS users.

  • Clean Laravel codebase

  • Trusted by developers worldwide

  • Plug-in ready with vetted extensions

  • Secure architecture

  • Ideal for custom web portals, ecosystems, and scalable apps

For our clients, this means better performance, longer-lasting infrastructure, and easier training with a similar interface.

 

The trust our clients put in us

Already, 10% of our clients have signed up for the transition. Why? Because we’re not just developers - we’re digital partners.

We’re honest about risk. Transparent about timelines. And hyper-focused on keeping your website, portal, or eCommerce system running at full speed with zero interruption.

One client said it best:

“We’ve been with ID Digital for over a decade. When they recommended the shift to Filament, it wasn’t a pitch - it was a path forward.”

 

Our approach: custom where it counts

We know that no one-size-fits-all solution exists in web development. That’s why we use the right tools for the right clients:

  • Filament: For custom systems and long-term scalability

  • HubSpot CMS: For marketing-centric businesses

  • Squarespace and Webflow: For rapid builds and elegant design control

  • WordPress: When familiar functionality matters

We match the platform to the project - always.

 

Why you should care about what powers your website

You wouldn’t run your business on a 10-year-old laptop. So why trust your website - the face of your brand - to outdated tech?

  • Security risks grow with unsupported platforms

  • Performance suffers as browsers and devices evolve

  • Costs increase with technical debt

  • Missed opportunities with modern integrations

The digital world doesn’t pause. Neither should your tech.

 

Scope, strategy, and seamless migration

Our migration plans include:

  • Full audit of your existing DMS setup

  • Seamless content and data transfer

  • User training and support

  • Enhanced SEO due to loading speed

Each project is mapped with clear milestones, launch timelines, and post-deployment care.

 

Thinking about “phase two” already? Smart.

Many of our clients use this migration as a chance to:

And we love that. Because a tech migration shouldn’t just be about survival - it should be about thriving.

 

What industry leaders are saying

“Replatforming is often feared, but it's the single best opportunity to elevate the customer experience.” – Contentful Blog

“A CMS migration is your chance to leave technical debt behind and deliver real performance.” – Smashing Magazine

And in Melbourne, where businesses are rapidly digitising, staying ahead of the curve is key.

 

Ready to talk?

If you're currently on DMS or any legacy platform - chat with us. We’ll walk you through:

  • What it means for your business

  • How we plan the migration

  • The right timing

  • What comes next

Even if you’re not an ID Digital client (yet), we're happy to advise.

 

Final word: change can be powerful

We built DMS to empower businesses. Now we’re empowering them again - with Filament. Because staying connected, future-proofed, and ready to grow isn’t just about what’s visible. It’s about what’s built beneath the surface.

And we’re pretty damn good at that.