React and Framer: Why We Made the Switch

For years, we deliberately stayed out of website development.

It wasn't because we lacked the technical capability, our founders owned web development companies in the past and some of our staff are high level web developers in their own right. It wasn't because there wasn't demand from our clients. And it certainly wasn't because we didn't understand the importance of exceptional digital experiences.

We stayed out because the operational model required by most web platforms didn't align with how we wanted to run our agency.

Until we discovered the combination of React and Framer, which finally gave us a development approach that matched our business requirements.

Understanding the Technology Stack

Before diving into why this combination works for us, it's important to understand what React and Framer actually are, because they're two distinct technologies that work together to solve different problems.

React is a JavaScript library developed by Meta (formerly Facebook) for building user interfaces. It's the foundation that powers websites and applications for companies like Netflix, Instagram, Airbnb, and WhatsApp. React handles the technical architecture, performance, and user interactions.

Framer is a modern content management system (CMS) that provides a visual editor for websites built with React. Think of it as the interface that allows non-technical users to manage content, update pages, and make design changes without writing code.

Together, they create a development ecosystem where React provides the robust technical foundation, and Framer provides the user-friendly content management layer. This combination addresses both the technical requirements for high-performance websites and the practical needs for client autonomy.

Our Operational Requirements

As a strategy-focused agency, we had specific requirements that traditional web development workflows couldn't meet efficiently:

Predictable Resource Allocation: We needed to know exactly how much time a project would require, both for initial development and ongoing maintenance. Many platforms created unpredictable ongoing commitments that made resource planning difficult.

Client Independence: Our clients needed the ability to manage their own content, make updates, and even handle basic design changes without requiring our technical intervention for every modification.

Performance Reliability: Page loading speed and user experience couldn't be variables that required ongoing optimisation projects. Performance needed to be inherent and consistent.

Security Without Overhead: We wanted robust security that didn't require constant monitoring, plugin updates, or vulnerability management.

Scalability Without Rebuilding: As client businesses grew and evolved, their websites needed to expand capabilities without requiring complete rebuilds or major technical overhauls.

Traditional development approaches, while perfectly valid for many agencies and projects, created operational overhead that didn't align with our business model.

Why This Combination Works for Us

React and Framer together address our specific operational requirements in ways that other approaches haven't:

React's Technical Foundation React's component-based architecture means we build websites using reusable elements that ensure consistency and reduce development time. When Instagram handles billions of user interactions daily, or when Netflix streams to millions of concurrent viewers, React's performance and reliability make this possible without constant technical intervention.

For our purposes, React eliminates many of the maintenance concerns that made web development operationally challenging. The architecture is inherently stable, security is managed at the framework level, and performance optimisation is built into how React operates rather than being an ongoing project requirement.

Framer's Content Management Framer provides a visual editing interface that gives our clients genuine autonomy over their content. Unlike traditional CMS platforms where design changes often require developer involvement, Framer allows clients to modify layouts, update content, add new pages, and even adjust design elements while maintaining the integrity of the overall site architecture.

This means our clients get true content independence without the technical complexity that traditionally required ongoing support.

The MCBI Case Study

Our first major project using React with Framer was MCBI Learning & Development, which validated our approach.

MCBI needed a sophisticated digital presence serving multiple audiences: individual professionals seeking development, HR leaders managing workforce transformation, and C-suite executives evaluating strategic partners. Each audience required different information pathways and conversion processes.

The React Foundation enabled us to build dynamic user journeys that adapt based on visitor behaviour, instant page transitions that feel more like an app than a traditional website, and automatic performance optimisation regardless of content complexity.

The Framer CMS allows MCBI's team to manage their extensive course catalogue, modify program descriptions, add new offerings, and update content across their complex site structure without any technical assistance.

Six months post-launch, the website operates exactly as intended: high performance, full client control, zero maintenance overhead, and the flexibility to evolve with MCBI's business requirements.

The Broader Technology Landscape

It's worth noting that many agencies successfully use WordPress, Webflow, custom HTML builds, and other platforms to deliver excellent results for their clients. Our decision wasn't based on those technologies being inadequate, it was based on finding an approach that aligned with our specific operational preferences and client service model.

Different agencies have different operational requirements. Some prefer the flexibility of custom development. Others value the extensive plugin ecosystem of WordPress. Many find success with the design-focused approach of platforms like Webflow.

For us, React and Framer provided the specific combination of technical capability, operational efficiency, and client autonomy that matched how we wanted to deliver website services.

The Business Case for Our Approach

While other approaches work well for many agencies, React and Framer solve our particular challenges:

Development Efficiency: React's component reusability means we're not building every element from scratch. Common functionality can be developed once and applied across multiple projects, reducing both development time and potential inconsistencies.

Client Empowerment: Framer's visual editor gives clients sophisticated content management capabilities without the learning curve or limitations of traditional CMS platforms. They can make meaningful changes without creating ongoing technical dependencies.

Performance Consistency: React's architecture ensures that websites perform consistently regardless of content complexity or traffic volume. Performance doesn't degrade over time or require ongoing optimisation projects.

Operational Predictability: Once a React and Framer website is launched, it operates reliably without requiring regular maintenance, security monitoring, or technical troubleshooting.

Why This Matters for Our Clients

Our clients benefit from this approach in several key ways:

True Content Autonomy: They can update their websites, add new content, modify layouts, and even make design adjustments without needing developer involvement or worrying about breaking functionality.

Consistent Performance: Their websites load quickly and operate smoothly regardless of traffic spikes, content complexity, or device types, without requiring ongoing performance management.

Future-Proof Foundation: As their business needs evolve, the React foundation can accommodate new functionality, integrations, and features without requiring platform migrations or complete rebuilds.

Cost Predictability: After the initial development, there are no ongoing maintenance fees, security monitoring costs, or technical support requirements that create unpredictable expenses.

Our Calculated Decision

Adding website development to our service offering wasn't about following technology trends, it was about finding an approach that aligned with our operational standards and client service philosophy.

React and Framer together provide what we needed: a way to deliver sophisticated, high-performance websites that operate independently after launch while giving clients complete control over their content and basic design elements.

This allows us to extend our strategic focus into digital execution without compromising our resource allocation or creating ongoing technical dependencies that would distract from our core strategic work.

Looking Forward

The combination of React's technical foundation and Framer's content management approach represents exactly what we were looking for: powerful capabilities without operational overhead, client independence without technical complexity, and the reliability that comes from using the same foundation that powers some of the world's most demanding web applications.

Your website should enhance your business operations, not create additional management requirements. It should empower your team to make updates and improvements independently, not create dependencies on technical support.

This is what React and Framer deliver together. And this is why we're finally building websites again.

Interested in exploring how React and Framer could work for your business? Let's discuss whether this approach aligns with your operational requirements and content management needs. Because the best digital solution isn't about the latest technology, it's about finding the right technology for your specific situation.