Using SAP’s initial concept brief, Syde designers built a design system to provide the foundation for the development of version 2.0 of the SAP News theme. With the design system in place, our engineers created a component-based architecture for block-based article content and landing page layouts. After learning about key editorial needs in a series of workshops, Syde tailored the editor experience to those needs and to the rules set out by the design system. To minimize distractions, unnecessary options and settings that could lead to design inconsistencies were removed.

For a gradual rollout of the redesign and new block editor features, Syde engineers implemented a sophisticated theme versioning mechanism. This allowed them to iterate on version 2.0 already in production, while simultaneously maintaining the earlier version of the theme for fixes and other necessary updates. This novel split-theme approach created a safe adoption path for individual news centers and press rooms.

Prior to the relaunch, automated testing workflows were introduced to ensure consistent code quality and prevent friction. Syde’s embedded QA specialists ensured that each new component met the acceptance criteria before sending it to the SAP team for a final check. This allowed the team to focus on their day-to-day responsibilities and content preparations.

Thanks to the successful implementation and rollout of the new design, SAP’s global news team has been able to execute their content strategy and further streamline their communication efforts.

By introducing a design system, adopting a block-based approach for news articles, and introducing reusable components for all page layouts, the team can implement new features and brand updates more efficiently across the platform.

The flexibility offered by the theme and WordPress Multisite continues to empower each individual news team on the platform to opt in to the features they need for their market.