Software development for media and culture built for traffic, search and large archives

Opus Online, a software development company in Tallinn, Estonia, builds news websites, publishing platforms, headless CMS solutions, digital archives and databases for media companies, publishers and cultural institutions. Our work includes aripaev.ee, the website of Estonia’s leading business daily, the Estonian Film Database (EFIS) and a rights management system for Bonnier Rights Finland.

Tell us where your newsroom or archive loses the most time.

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  • 15+
    years of software development
  • 25+
    specialists on the team
  • 120+
    completed projects
  • ISO 27001
    certified information security

What we offer

We do three main types of work for media and cultural organisations.

News websites and publishing platforms

Websites that stay fast during traffic spikes and are easy to find in Google and AI search. Articles, sections, authors and topic pages are connected in a clear structure.

Next.js development

Content management for editorial teams

A headless CMS, a custom-built CMS or integration with your existing editorial system. Editors build pages from blocks and publish and update content themselves, without waiting for a developer.

Directus development

Databases and digital archives

Works, people, organisations and events in one database with search, filters and relationships. We migrate data from legacy systems to a modern platform without losing anything.

Integrations

Problems we solve

  • The site slows down when big news breaks

    When traffic multiplies within minutes, an ageing platform lags or goes down. Server-side rendering, caching and a CDN keep pages fast at peak load.

  • Content doesn’t show up in search

    Strong journalism and valuable archives stay invisible in Google and AI search. Clean URLs, structured data and fast loading bring content to readers.

  • The newsroom depends on developers

    Every new section, special project or content block means waiting for a developer. A flexible block-based system lets editors build pages themselves.

  • Data is locked in a legacy system

    A database built up over many years runs on outdated technology nobody dares to touch. We migrate the data to a new platform and keep relationships and URLs intact.

  • Subscriptions and accounts live outside the site

    Paid content, subscription management and reader accounts don’t work as one. We integrate the website with subscription, payment and CRM systems.

  • The platform has fallen behind

    The old solution can’t support new formats, mobile or accessibility requirements. We modernise the existing one or build from scratch.

Äripäev: a news portal and a custom CMS

For Äripäev we rewrote the entire aripaev.ee frontend from scratch and built a custom content management system for the newsroom. Editors compose the front page and other landing pages from blocks, set their order and choose which articles and podcasts each block displays.

Caching and server-side rendering keep the site fast under heavy load, a search index powers search and the site is integrated with SSO. The new architecture needs fewer servers and cloud costs dropped several times over. Read the Äripäev case study.

EFIS: a new website for the Estonian Film Database

The Estonian Film Database (EFIS) is the national reference for Estonian films, filmmakers and production companies. Together with design agency Rethink we built a new website for the database and migrated the content of the legacy site to the new platform.

Data flows from the EFIS information system through APIs and synchronisation into a search index we set up, which makes film search and filtering fast. With block-based content management, editors compose the front page and custom pages themselves. Read the EFIS case study.

Technologies

Next.js

Next.js

Next.js is a React framework for fast websites, headless online stores and portals that are easy to find in Google.

Node.js

Node.js

Node.js is server-side JavaScript we use to build fast backends, APIs, integrations and applications that scale well.

Content management platforms

Payload CMS

Payload CMS

Payload is a TypeScript CMS that runs in the same app as Next.js: a convenient admin for editors and full freedom for developers.

Strapi

Strapi

Strapi is a popular open-source headless CMS for quickly building content and an API for websites and apps.

Directus

Directus

Directus puts a ready-to-use admin and API on top of an existing database. It suits data-heavy solutions and internal company tools well.

Completed projects

See more

We have extensive experience in developing IT software and e-commerce solutions for businesses, spanning from the financial sector to insurance and pharmaceutical industries. We serve as a long-term partner for both large corporations and rapidly growing startups.

How we work

You communicate directly with the people who build your solution, not intermediaries.

  1. Kick-off meeting

    We listen to your goals and get to know your content, editorial process and existing systems.

  2. Analysis

    We map the content model, data, integrations and search visibility requirements.

  3. Prototype

    A clickable prototype tested with editors and readers before development begins.

  4. Iterative development

    A working release every couple of weeks, continuous feedback from the editorial team.

  5. Maintenance and further development

    We stay with the system: monitoring, security updates and new features.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can the website handle heavy traffic?

    Yes. We use server-side rendering, caching and a CDN so pages stay fast even when breaking news brings a sudden surge of readers. We load-test before launch.

  • Which CMS do you recommend for publishers?

    For new builds we prefer a headless CMS, which separates content management from presentation. The EFIS website runs on a headless CMS, and for Äripäev we built a custom CMS. If you already have an editorial system, we integrate the website with it. We make the choice together with you after analysis.

  • Can you migrate a legacy database without losing data or search rankings?

    Yes. For EFIS we moved the full dataset from a legacy system to the new platform. We map data and relationships before migration, verify the result and redirect old URLs to new ones so search history is preserved.

  • Can you integrate subscriptions, payments and paywalls?

    Yes. We integrate websites with subscription, payment and CRM systems so reader accounts, subscriptions and access to paid content work as one.

  • Will the solution meet accessibility requirements?

    We build to WCAG 2.1 AA, the level required for public sector websites in the EU and the benchmark used under the European Accessibility Act.

  • How long does it take to build a solution like this?

    A first working version with core features is typically ready in 3–6 months. Large-scale data migration or many integrations can add time. We provide an accurate timeline after analysis.

Get in touch

We have your back when it comes to web development, giving you the freedom to focus on building and growing your company.

Aleksei Latõnin

Aleksei Latõnin

Chief Operating Officer

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