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A dynamic portal for all of VRT’s strong brands
As a public broadcaster, VRT (Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie) faces the ongoing challenge of keeping pace with an ever-evolving digital media landscape. Innovation is expected — and technology never stands still.
With internal teams focused on developing new platforms and apps like VRT MAX and VRT NWS, the potential of the ageing vrt.be website had remained untapped. And that was a missed opportunity — especially for an organisation that needs to inform and engage not just the general public, but also policy makers, production partners, and other stakeholders.
That’s where iO came in.
VRT partnered with us to reimagine vrt.be — not as a basic content hub, but as a dynamic, user-focused portal offering a richer digital experience. Our job? To create a platform that went beyond distribution and truly put the user journey front and centre.
Using React, we seamlessly integrated with VRT’s internal APIs to deliver a smooth and intuitive content experience. On top of that, we provided a streamlined update and upgrade structure — giving VRT the technical peace of mind to focus on what they do best, while we keep things running reliably behind the scenes.
And the best part? We delivered all of this in just four months.
Unlocking the full potential of an ageing platform.
A fully integrated digital experience with seamless usability — backed by a long-term partnership to keep serving vrt.be’s target audiences better, every step of the way.
iO as the public broadcaster’s tech partner
VRT was looking for an experienced digital partner — someone who could handle complex projects using the right technologies, and who could think beyond the code. A partner with a holistic view of digital transformation, from strategy to execution.
iO ticked all the boxes.
We won VRT’s trust with our strong track record in digital transformation and web development. But what really sealed the deal was our hands-on experience with large-scale, complex projects built in the very tech stack they had in mind. Our broad expertise in Drupal and React matched their technical needs perfectly.
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Technical approach: seamless integration of the new portal
When building the new vrt.be portal, one priority stood above all: seamless integration within VRT’s existing digital ecosystem. That’s where iO’s broad technical expertise came into play. We chose a tech stack that aligned perfectly with VRT’s familiar systems — ensuring consistency, smooth collaboration, and easier knowledge sharing between teams.
For the content management system, we opted for a headless Drupal setup. As an open-source solution, Drupal ticks all the boxes: robust, cost-efficient, and highly adaptable. Its powerful content structures and flexible API integrations form a solid backbone, while low-code options and a visual editor boost efficiency for VRT’s editorial teams.
Other key features of this solution include:
Built-in SEO tools to maximise visibility
Centralised media management for streamlined content workflows
Extensive revision and publishing tools for full editorial control
With this technical foundation, VRT now has a dynamic portal that goes far beyond content distribution. A platform that integrates effortlessly with internal systems while delivering a sleek, modern experience to the public — and to current and future partners.
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How iO and VRT joined forces
A hybrid approach with weekly check-ins
A framework agreement for long-term collaboration
Agile methodology with bi-weekly sprints
A strong focus on co-creation — with iO actively contributing to the digital strategy.
With a long-term agreement in place, the public broadcaster has clearly put its trust in iO as its technology partner. Today, that partnership continues — with a setup that allows us to safely update and upgrade vrt.be on an ongoing basis.
What we delivered
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