Let’s team up: How agencies can successfully work with a TYPO3 tech partner
Digital projects rarely stand still – design trends evolve, user expectations grow, and the technology behind the scenes becomes more complex. Clients expect seamless digital experiences and reliable systems. Agencies excel at storytelling and design, but technical execution is equally critical. A TYPO3 partner can bridge this gap, helping agencies deliver projects that not only look impressive but also perform securely, scale over time, and are easier to maintain. Collaboration between creation and technology is no longer optional – it’s a client expectation.
At the same time, many creative lead agencies have few or no in-house developers. For TYPO3 projects, this often means bringing in a freelancer or a TYPO3 partner to handle website installation, maintenance, and feature upgrades. This guest article aims to explore how such a collaboration can work smoothly and why direct communication between creation and technology teams is particularly important when overseeing a TYPO3 instance.
In this article
- Let’s start: Think together from the very beginning
- Let’s plan: Develop the right concepts
- Let’s talk: Direct dialogue between creation and technology
- Let’s keep it simple: Work with lean structures
- Let’s do this: The implementation phase
- Let’s continue: Support and maintenance
- Let’s wrap up: Benefits and conclusion
About plus B GmbH
TYPO3 Consultant Partner plus B was founded in 2004 and has been working with TYPO3 since 2008. We actively contribute to the ongoing development of TYPO3, have released several extensions to the community, and regularly participate in TYPO3 camps. We are a Silver Member of the TYPO3 Association and an official TYPO3 Consultant Partner. Several members of our team hold TYPO3 certifications (TCCI, TCCD, TCCC). Our clients primarily come from the public sector, as well as NGOs, associations, and federations. The majority of our projects are carried out in collaboration with lead agencies.
Let’s start: Think together from the very beginning
Collaboration with a technical partner should begin right at the start of a project—during acquisition.
As the lead agency, you and your technical TYPO3 partner collaborate to develop technical concepts and appear together at pitches. The combination of creative ideas and technical innovation is often the key to success.
But innovation only works on a solid foundation. In this early phase, involve your tech partner in analyzing the existing website. This helps uncover development potential and weak points. Everyone gets to know each other, expectations are clarified, and the customer also gains confidence in who will handle the project.
Take-aways
→ Involve your technical partner in the initial analysis to discover weak points and development potential.
→ Idea workshops with your technical partner lead to concepts that are not only creative but also technically innovative.
Let’s plan: Develop the right concepts
Once you’ve won the project, the next step is concept development.
Often, this involves workshops with your agency team and/or the client to clarify all details. Your technical partner can support you where needed and translate “nerd-speak” into clear communication for everyone involved.
The earlier you involve your partner to moderate technical requirements, the more targeted the project planning and concept phase will be. This way, you’ll create user-friendly, appealing concepts that are easier to implement, further develop, and operate.
Take-aways
→ Involve your technical partner early in the requirements analysis to speed up project decisions.
Let’s talk: Direct dialogue between creation and technology
In the next step (UX/UI), your creation team will work directly with the technical concept from your TYPO3 partner to meet the customer’s requirements.
Direct exchange between technical and creative concepts is the key to success. By connecting creative ideas with technical experience early on, you can ensure those ideas are translated into solutions that are both innovative and feasible.
Take-aways
→ A seamless customer experience doesn’t have to be complex. Close collaboration between technology and creation ensures compelling and cost-efficient solutions.
Let’s keep it simple: Work with lean structures
When two service providers collaborate, it’s important to establish transparent and lean structures so that project management overhead remains low.
Shared knowledge management
Already during the concept phase, set up a shared knowledge management system to track, manage, and make information available to everyone.
Integrated ticket system
Use a shared ticket system with clear guidelines defining responsibilities and points of contact. This prevents unnecessary loops through project management and enables direct, efficient collaboration.
Efficient project management
Establish a regular project management jour fixe. This helps discuss cross-cutting topics, as well as update budgets and timelines.
Joint retrospectives
Don’t just celebrate successes—use retrospectives to continuously optimize your collaboration with your technical partner.
Let’s do this: The implementation phase
During implementation, make sure to keep stakeholders updated on project progress.
Direct exchange between creation and technology allows you to act quickly if something doesn’t go as planned. Lean structures help you resolve blockers efficiently and keep the project on track.
With TYPO3 expertise and certifications, your partner can help you find reliable solutions quickly. Prioritize clean code principles and transparent development to ensure long-term quality.
Take-aways
→ Broad project knowledge through shared knowledge management supports project success.
→ Transparent structures with shared ticketing ensure accountability and faster problem-solving.
Let’s continue: Support and maintenance
Even after a website goes live, involve your technical partner for support, further development, and ongoing maintenance.Unlike freelancers, technical partners preserve project knowledge for the long term and reduce the workload for lead agencies. With continuity and trust, you’ll achieve the best results together.
Take-aways
→ Technical partners preserve project knowledge longer than freelancers and ease the burden on lead agencies.
Let’s wrap up: Benefits and conclusion
Collaboration with a TYPO3 tech partner should start as early as possible in the project. Close coordination between disciplines, shared knowledge management, and transparent project execution lead to efficiency gains and minimize risks.
Involving a technical partner also helps balance workloads by externalizing costs in a scalable way. And, most importantly, it contributes to maintaining long-term, trusting customer relationships.
