Didion PayPal Integration — Scope & Timeline

Overview

During the PLMA trade show prep call, Diana Henry raised the status of a pending PayPal integration for the Didion website. What was initially scoped as a straightforward plugin swap has since been identified as a more complex, site-wide undertaking. A revised timeline has not yet been established.

What Happened

The integration was originally estimated as a simple "plug and play" switch. Both Mark and Eshock initially assessed it as an easy change. However, once the team began digging into the site's architecture, it became clear that the way the Didion site is built — particularly around its forms (e.g., Gravity Forms) — means the PayPal change touches more than a single plugin or payment gateway setting. It requires a site-wide review to understand all the places the integration affects.

"We thought it was as simple as just a plug and play. And then all of a sudden it's every form. It's how the site is built. It's not as easy."
— Melissa Cusumano

Diana expressed frustration that the complexity wasn't surfaced earlier, noting that an earlier conversation had set an expectation of completion by early November.

Current Status

Blocked: No active development in progress.
Timeline: TBD — pending a proper scope assessment.
Owner: Not explicitly reassigned on this call; Eshock and Mark were the last parties to assess.

Key Risks

Client expectation was set based on an initial (incorrect) assessment of low complexity.
The longer this sits, the more it becomes a trust issue alongside a technical one.
The Didion site's use of Gravity Forms and its overall build structure are contributing factors to the complexity.

Lessons / Pattern to Watch