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When the Drupal Association announced that 1xINTERNET had become one of the world's Top-Tier Drupal Contributors, it was a proud moment for the company. Reaching the highest level of contribution recognition places 1xINTERNET among a select group of organisations helping shape the future of one of the world's leading open-source content management systems.

Yet, ask anyone inside the company about the achievement, and you'll hear the same response: becoming a Top-Tier Contributor was never the ultimate goal.

Instead, it is the natural outcome of more than a decade of believing that if you build your business on open source, you should help build open source itself.

For over thirteen years, 1xINTERNET has invested in the Drupal ecosystem, not only by delivering digital platforms for clients, but by contributing code, maintaining projects, sponsoring community events, supporting governance, leading strategic initiatives and encouraging employees to actively participate in the community.

Today, the company sponsors more than 500 hours of Drupal contribution every month, actively supports more than 85 Drupal projects, has sponsored over 50 Drupal events, and has contributed to hundreds of issues across the Drupal ecosystem. Those numbers tell one story. The people behind them tell another.

Contribution isn't only about strengthening Drupal, it creates real value for the organisations that choose Drupal as the foundation for their digital platforms. We spoke with Baddý Breidert, Christoph Breidert and James Tillotson about why contributing matters, how it benefits clients, and why they believe giving back is essential to building better digital experiences.

Photo of James, Christoph, and Baddy

Building the future instead of following it

For 1xINTERNET CEO Baddý Breidert, contributing to Drupal has always been part of the company's identity.

"It represents over a decade of dedication to the Drupal project," she says. "I've worked with Drupal since 2006 and been actively involved in the community since 2013. Being recognised as one of the top three Drupal companies globally validates the expertise and sustained effort our team has invested over the years."

But the motivation goes much deeper than recognition.

Instead of simply following the direction of Drupal, 1xINTERNET believes in helping shape it. Since Drupal is the technological foundation behind many of the company's digital platforms, contributing to its future isn't viewed as optional, it's viewed as a responsibility.

That philosophy influences almost every decision the company makes. Rather than waiting for new features, improvements or innovations to arrive, the team actively participates in creating them.

Managing Director Christoph Breidert describes it simply.

"We don't just build with Drupal; we help influence where the platform is going next."

It's an approach that benefits not only the Drupal community, but every organisation that chooses Drupal as the foundation for its digital future.

Open source is built on collaboration

Although contribution often means writing code, the three leaders agree that it's ultimately about something much bigger.

Open source succeeds because thousands of people collaborate, share knowledge and solve problems together. Every contribution, whether it's code, documentation, testing, mentoring, event organisation or strategic leadership, helps strengthen the ecosystem for everyone.

For Christoph, this spirit of reciprocity sits at the heart of open source.

"If you build digital solutions using an open-source project but choose to remain on the sidelines, you miss the opportunity to influence the tools you rely on," he explains. "Open source is built on shared knowledge, and contributing back is simply part of how we work."

That collaborative mindset is equally visible throughout 1xINTERNET's culture.

IxINTERNET's UK Growth Manager James Tillotson sees open source as an extension of how the company works internally.

"We don't hoard knowledge," he says. "We share it to raise the baseline for everyone, which in turn allows us to keep innovating."

Rather than viewing contribution as something separate from day-to-day work, it's embedded in the way teams learn, collaborate and continuously improve.

Contribution isn't separate from client work

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding open source is that contribution somehow competes with client work.

The reality, according to the team, is exactly the opposite.

James puts it bluntly.

"Contribution is client work."

When developers fix a bug in Drupal core or improve functionality that thousands of websites rely on, every client benefits, not just today, but for years to come.

Christoph agrees.

"If you're not involved in building the technology, you're always reacting instead of leading."

Technology evolves quickly. Artificial intelligence, digital experience platforms, accessibility, security and content management continue to change at an unprecedented pace. Agencies that simply consume technology are forced to wait for innovation. Agencies that contribute help create it.

Baddý believes that's one of the company's greatest strengths.

"Contribution allows us to lead initiatives like Drupal AI, ensuring we aren't just consumers of the technology but creators of it."

Instead of adapting after the market changes, 1xINTERNET helps shape those changes from within.

Driving innovation through Drupal AI

Perhaps nowhere is that philosophy more visible than in Drupal AI.

As Product Lead for Drupal AI, Christoph has been deeply involved in defining its roadmap, working alongside developers from around the world to build practical AI capabilities directly into Drupal.

For him, watching Drupal AI evolve from an ambitious idea into one of the platform's most exciting capabilities has been one of the defining milestones of the company's contribution journey.

"It's been incredible to collaborate with a global community to build something that will help shape the future of the web."

The significance goes beyond technical innovation.

Because 1xINTERNET helps build Drupal AI, its teams understand the technology long before it becomes mainstream. They know what's coming, how it works and how organisations can use it responsibly.

James, who contributes to the Drupal AI Marketing Initiative, believes this creates a significant advantage for clients.

"Our clients have access to the latest innovations because we're involved in creating them."

Innovation isn't something clients wait for. It's something they experience alongside the people helping build it.

Better contributions create better client solutions

Although many clients may never see the code being contributed to Drupal, they experience its impact every day.

Active contributors develop a much deeper understanding of the platform than those who simply implement it.

Because the team understands Drupal's architecture, roadmap and future direction, they can make better long-term decisions for every project.

"Our clients receive stable and modern solutions without having to manage the underlying complexity," Christoph explains. "By maintaining our contribution status, we act as a direct pathway to web innovation."

That means fewer surprises, more sustainable architectures and platforms designed to evolve instead of becoming outdated.

James believes clients increasingly recognise that value.

"They know we're not simply using Drupal, we're helping steer where it's going."

Trust has become a competitive advantage

Contribution also creates something that's difficult to measure but incredibly valuable: trust.

When organisations invest in large scale digital platforms, they aren't simply buying technology. They're choosing partners who will help them navigate years of future development.

Being recognised as one of the world's leading Drupal contributors provides confidence that 1xINTERNET isn't standing on the outside of the ecosystem, it's helping lead it.

Baddý has seen this become increasingly important during procurement processes.

More organisations now actively look for suppliers who contribute back to the technologies they depend on. Public sector organisations and enterprise businesses increasingly view contribution as evidence of technical excellence, long-term commitment and sustainability.

James has experienced this while expanding 1xINTERNET's presence in the United Kingdom. "When entering a new market where people don't yet know your brand, your contribution footprint becomes a global passport. The Drupal community already knows who you are."

That credibility opens doors long before a first meeting takes place.

Supporting digital sovereignty

For Christoph, contribution is also connected to a much broader movement taking place across Europe and beyond.

As organisations become increasingly concerned about vendor lock-in, proprietary platforms and ownership of their data, open-source software is becoming strategically more important than ever.

By contributing to Drupal, companies don't simply improve software, they strengthen an independent digital ecosystem that organisations can trust.

"Businesses increasingly want digital sovereignty," Christoph says. "By actively contributing to Drupal, we're helping build a secure and independent IT landscape that organisations can rely on."

It's a perspective that positions contribution not only as technical work, but as an investment in the future of open digital infrastructure.

A culture that attracts exceptional people

Contribution doesn't only benefit clients.

It also shapes the people who choose to work at 1xINTERNET.

The company actively encourages employees to contribute code, maintain projects, organise events, mentor others and share knowledge across the community.

For many developers, that's exactly the environment they're looking for.

"Top developers want to work on things that matter," James says. "We offer them a stage, not just a desk."

Christoph agrees.

Many developers are motivated by solving meaningful problems that have an impact far beyond a single client project.

For Baddý, contribution creates something equally valuable: a culture of continuous learning.

By collaborating with some of the best Drupal developers in the world, the entire team continually raises its own standards, creating an environment where innovation and professional growth go hand in hand.

Looking ahead

Becoming a Top-Tier Drupal Contributor isn't viewed as a finish line.

Instead, it's another milestone in a much longer journey.

The company plans to continue investing heavily in Drupal AI, supporting the wider community, encouraging employees to contribute and helping organisations embrace open-source innovation with confidence.

Christoph hopes to make Drupal AI even more accessible through practical demonstration environments that allow organisations to experience its capabilities with a single click.

James wants to strengthen the connection between enterprise organisations and the open-source community, demonstrating that open source can successfully support even the most ambitious digital transformation projects.

Baddý remains focused on investing in people, community leadership and the long-term health of the Drupal ecosystem.

More than contribution

Ultimately, becoming a Top-Tier Drupal Contributor isn't really about rankings, badges or recognition.

Those are simply the visible results of years of consistent investment.

The real achievement is building a company where contribution is part of everyday work, where sharing knowledge is expected, collaboration is celebrated, and innovation is something created together rather than consumed.

For 1xINTERNET, contributing to Drupal has never been about giving something away.

It's about helping build a stronger platform, a stronger community and better digital experiences for everyone who depends on Drupal.

Because when the platform grows stronger, so do the organisations, developers and communities that build upon it.