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News about Website Builder

<hr /> Maybe you've noticed, but there's been a bit of “sea change” in CMS leadership over the last year (among other industries). Here are just a few examples of the notable transformation at the top:<ul><li>In November of 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/kontentai-welcomes-mark-ruddock-as-new-chief-executive-officer">Kontent.ai</a> appointed <a href="Mark%20Ruddock">Mark Ruddock</a> as Chief Executive. </li><li>In April of this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentful-unveils-new-features-and-ai-powered-capabilities-to-accelerate-creativity-for-digital-teams">Contentful’s Steve Sloan</a> left the post where he served since 2019, handing the reins over to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.contentful.com/newsroom/contentful-appoints-karthik-rau-as-ceo/">Karthik Rau</a>.</li><li>At <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a>, <a href="Dave%20O'Flanagan">Dave O’Flanagan</a> officially took the helm after an interim spell, serving in the wake of long-time CEO <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzikakis/">Steve Tzikakis</a>. </li></ul>One could draw quick conclusions from the repetitive exodus of leadership.On the upside, the “COVID Years” were like the Gold Rush, with demand for digital transformation reaching epic proportions. To keep pace, vendors built and bought, leading to some astounding seed rounds and acquisitions. A couple of quick examples come to mind: In 2020, Episerver bought <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely</a>. A year later, Sitecore consumed CDP and digital commerce vendors <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-acquires-boxever-and-four51">Boxever and Four51</a> to complete its DXP puzzle. The list goes on – and after runs like that, a CEO might want a break from the cycle of chaos. On the downside, the economics are less enticing. The SaaS market is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/salesforce-earnings-slowing-growth-risk-more-disappointment-ahead">clearly softening</a> (just ask <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/salesforce">Salesforce</a>), and CMS vendors are looking at new ways to ignite value beyond adding generative AI features. In some cases, having a new vision and go-to-market strategy – and someone to shepherd it – is a sage solution.Clearly, there are a multitude of factors contributing to these changes in “The Big Chair.” And while acquiring and adopting new technologies will continue to be a focus for enterprises – particularly those that optimize performance and reduce costs – modernizing websites and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management systems</a> are still visible line items in corporate budgets. As such, vendors are doubling down on creative ways to position as brands tighten their tech belts. Downstream, website builders are experiencing similar economic and competitive pressures. With a bevy of choices – including automated, AI-powered features in platforms like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/pulp-fiction-payday-heres-why-squarespace-is-trading-public-life-for-a-juicy-private-deal">Squarespace</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://dorik.com/">Dorik.ai</a> – users are more discriminating, and even agencies are assessing the value of more attractive affiliate terms as they consider what tools to use.Now, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/webflow">Webflow</a> is joining the ranks of its CMS “cousins,” elevating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lktong/">Linda Tong</a> from COO and President to the role of CEO. The company’s founder, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladmagdalin/">Vlad Magdalin</a>, shared the news in an open letter to staff and later to the world. Unlike similar departures from the top ranks, Magdalin will stay on full-time as Webflow’s Chief Innovation Officer (following a planned sabbatical). The role will entail exactly what it sounds like: helping the company build and support what it now calls a “Website Experience Platform.” Magdalin will focus on product evolution, customer and community intimacy, recruitment, and evangelizing the Webflow mantra.Magdalin will also continue to chair Webflow’s board of directors, which Tong formally joined this week with her appointment as CEO. <h3 id="bringing-deep-experience-and-“infectious-energy”-to-the-ceo-role">Bringing deep experience and “infectious energy” to the CEO role</h3>Magdalin announced the news ahead of the company’s “Webflow Together” meeting yesterday. In the message, he described Tong as an ideal choice to assume command based on her deep experience and “infectious energy” to lead Webflow in its next chapter. Tong has served as President and COO at Webflow since June of 2022, overseeing a number of key achievements – including the recent <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/webflow-buys-intellimize-why-its-an-intelligent-buy">acquisition of Intellimize</a>. Prior to Webflow, she had a string of really big jobs. These included leadership roles at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cisco.com/">Cisco's</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.appdynamics.com/">AppDynamics</a>, focusing on innovation across its product offerings. During her tenure, she was ultimately promoted to General Manager of the AppDynamics division. She also spent three years at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/google-cloud-platform">Google</a>, sharpening her product marketing chops in a multitude of areas, including Android OS channels and applications. There was also a stint at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nfl.com/">NFL</a> for two years. Betwixt the market-leading brand experience, Tong has also served in an advisory role at companies startups and been involved with venture partners. She even held a limited partner role with a Bay-area organization called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/operator-collective/">Operator Collective</a> – a venture fund comprised of leading tech executives from a variety of backgrounds. Over the last few years, Magdalin and Tong have been functioning as a sort of “dynamic duo” at Webflow, shaping the company’s trajectory as a unified leadership cabal. This special relationship has clearly permeated Webflow’s culture, with staff clearly aware of the pairing's collaborative force.“For those of you who’ve had the privilege of working with her over the last few years and seeing her take on more and more responsibility across the company, Linda becoming our next CEO might feel entirely obvious,” said Magdalin. “And it’s so clear why that sentiment exists – because from day one, she has been my #1 partner in navigating scale, tackling unprecedented challenges, and chasing new opportunities. Linda deeply understands our team, our customers, our partners, our community, our business, and our culture. And she has led businesses many times larger than Webflow in the past, and has a proven track record of navigating the kinds of scale that are still ahead of us. She’s the perfect fit for this role.”<h3 id="why-now?">Why now?</h3>As Magdalin described it, Webflow is at a pivotal moment in its journey. The company has certainly attained key milestones worthy of applause, but as already noted, the road ahead is paved with challenges. Still, collaboration has proven to be a deep source of inspiration for modeling the right team and culture – something he reflects fondly on.“When I first had the idea for Webflow, I never imagined that a fledgling idea to empower more people to build for the web would turn into the powerhouse that it is today,” he stated in his open letter. “What Sergie, Bryant, and I began to build in a grungy co-working space in Silicon Valley in 2012 has become something truly transformational.”With nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://getlatka.com/companies/webflow#:~:text=How%20much%20revenue%20does%20Webflow,generates%20%24128M%20in%20revenue.">$130 million in revenue</a> from its subscription-based business service, Webflow is certainly moving in the right direction. Magdalin is perhaps most bullish about the prospects of adding Intellimize’s AI-powered personalization – what he sees as the key to unlocking the company’s new position as the “Website Experience Platform.” “With this vision, we’re taking the most important part of the digital experience – the website – and creating a seamlessly integrated and visual-first platform that allows marketing teams to break their dependence on code and innovate at speeds they could never reach before,” he described. “We believe that this will not only lead to empowered, revenue-driving marketing teams, but also to a better experience for everyone on the web.”To achieve what Magdalin describes as Webflow’s “grand ambitions,” it will need a lot. But in his mind, the core components rest with its team around collaboration, execution, and innovation – and helping users unlock their website-building superpowers. Tong’s appointment as CEO and his shift to an innovation focus is meant to accelerate the next steps.“Webflow is already extraordinary, and in many ways, we’re just getting started,” he said. “I’m so proud of how far we’ve come and I can’t wait to see this new chapter unfold. With Linda now at the helm – along with hundreds of the smartest and hardest working teammates that I’ve ever met all across this company – I know that nothing can stop us from realizing our full potential. Together, we’re unstoppable!”<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>Website builders are a crafty community. They’re visual designers with a technical penchant, but also pragmatists with a desire to simplify. They seek tools that unleash their creativity while giving them total control over the expression of their ideas across devices – and modern tools are finally starting to pay off on the promise to deliver that experience.Webflow is, without question, the most robust platform in the website builder ecosystem. It’s rich with features and capabilities, and offers some of the best documentation and video-based teaching resources on the market. And while no drag-and-drop builder will ever be completely bug-free, Webflow’s support continues to earn happy campers across its community.Visual builders are popping up across the CMS landscape, and with more composable solutions becoming attractive plays, an ecosystem like Webflow will face competition from all sides of the market. Economic challenges aside, the addition of Intellimize’s AI personalization could be a game changer – and with Tong’s product expertise leading the way, it might have all the boxes checked to make a solid run toward growth.From a CMS feature perspective, Webflow is also building its muscle. Yesterday, the <a target="_blank" href="https://webflow.com/updates/cms-on-canvas-editing">company announced</a> that canvas editing is now available in Webflow, enabling users to edit CMS content directly on the visual canvas and spin up new CMS pages without leaving the Webflow Designer. As Tong <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/YayLT/status/1803123250735804857">stated on X</a>, she's excited about what's on the roadmap in this area of their product.Community is a dynamic factor for many platform vendors in this space. But loyalty aside, price and value will continue to play a crucial role when acquiring new subscriptions and addressing churn. The intangibles – like ease of use and support – can influence the gravitational forces at play. Webflow will need to be conscious of all these factors while continuing to create clear, value-based messaging for its audiences. Growing the appeal with enterprise customers is also in play. Webflow has made significant inroads with larger brands, despite the shift towards more composable solutions. Some companies are very clear about their needs and objectives, and those with the right requirements could be attractive targets for an ecosystem play. And for a no-code website builder, it's opening up some interesting enterprise channels like the <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-eeecmlfoh7lgs">AWS Marketplace</a>, where you can procure Webflow Enterprise for $100K with a private SaaS license.Perhaps the most endearing part of this transition is Magdalin's clear respect and admiration for his successor. This demonstrates a trust in leadership that few brands are often able to mount or manage. There are certainly the external optics of customers, but there’s also the internal confidence of teams. This was handled with a degree of decorum that sets it apart from most other transition plans.As Magdalin stated to his staff: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for trusting me to be Webflow’s CEO for well over a decade. I deeply love this company and our mission, and it’s out of that love that comes to a very heartfelt request: I’m asking each of you to fully rally behind Linda and give her tons of support as she steps into this tremendously important role.“And Linda – I can’t ever thank you enough for everything you do for Webflow. Thank you for sharing my love for our mission, our team, and our customers. For being such an incredible partner and friend. And for your passion and courage to lead Webflow in this next chapter. I truly can’t wait to keep building this special company side by side with you.” <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Webflow Appoints Linda Tong as CEO, Vlad Magdalin to Remain as Chief Innovation Officer

cms-critic-staff

Pulp fiction payday? Here’s why Squarespace is trading public life for a juicy private deal

matt-garrepy

<hr /> When it comes to AI, every technology vendor is being compelled to go with the flow.Seriously, though, is it even a choice? Can you afford to sidestep the infusion of artificial intelligence into your platform? Can you kick the LLM down the digital field and “wait 'n see” how it all shakes out? Probably not – if you want to stay in parity with competitors. And therein lies the challenge: trying to decipher where the real value is.By all accounts, we’re already in the next wave of AI, well beyond the pioneering jaunt of generative, <a target="_blank" href="https://chat.openai.com/">ChatGPT</a>-infused innovation. According to most market watchers, the first phase of AI looked “pretty,” but this next one lacks the bullishness and irrational exuberance of its predecessor. The big tech and cloud players aside (lots of drama there), AI startups are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-next-phase-of-ai-is-looking-less-pretty-2024-3">struggling to generate revenue</a> in the freemium-enabled world of generative tools. The model field is also getting crowded, with darlings like Stability.ai <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/18/24133996/stability-ai-lay-off-emad-mostaque">announcing today</a> that it will lay off 10% of its workforce.OK, OK. Enough with the bad news. Behind it all, AI is still plenty miraculous, and we can’t discount its current and future impact across the stack – particularly in places where it can automate and scale functions that inject value into the equation.One such example could be <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/webflow">Webflow</a> with its acquisition of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.intellimize.com/">Intellimize</a> – an AI-driven website personalization and conversion rate optimization platform. Webflow, a website builder by category, just announced that this is a major step in its vision to expand beyond visual development and become the world’s first “Website Experience Platform.”We hear a lot these days about AI features (think text and image generation) being added to website builders and content management tools. So why is this one such a big deal? Because as relevant as content generation is, optimization is a place where AI can make a huge difference at scale – specifically within the pillars of personalization and experimentation. Brands have struggled in this area, and AI is finally delivering the resources needed to produce variants, test options, and improve performance.According to Webflow’s announcement, the company plans to integrate Intellimize’s feature set into its core experience over the coming months, and we can expect the tools and capabilities to be available later this year. <h3 id="empowering-the-entire-marketing-team">Empowering the entire marketing team</h3>Webflow is, without doubt, one of the most robust visual web design tools on the market. It enables users to build and launch responsive websites without writing any code. As an all-in-one platform, Webflow powers the complete lifecycle of a website, from idea to ready-to-use product. The UX is chock-full of detailed features and controls, allowing you to add and edit components on a web page visually in real time. If you're jonesing for a closer look, you can check out a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/webflow-review-hybrid-website-builder-and-cms-bridges-the-design-code-chasm">previous review of the platform</a> that our team conducted. Unlike other site builders, Webflow doesn't parse visual design and code. What a user creates in its visual editor is powered by HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In that sense, it’s “pure,” abiding by modern web standards without proprietary guardrails that limit its extensibility. Webflow appeals to marketing teams and web agencies across the spectrum, providing a no-code design toolbox that feels very much informed by desktop publishing tools like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html">Adobe Photoshop</a>. This familiarity is intentional, giving visual designers a UX that’s clean, intuitive, and packed with granular control for creating unique web experiences.  Of course, building a website is just the first step. As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladmagdalin/">Vlad Magdalin</a> – Webflow’s Co-founder and CEO – explained in a recent blog post, enterprise teams were hitting the wall when it came to optimizing their sites.“As we’ve started to work with larger teams like Orangetheory Fitness, IDEO, and Dropbox, we realized that there are major problems with how web experiences are being created,” he explained. “Once a website is built, it’s extremely difficult for marketing teams to personalize it, to experiment to make it better, and to optimize it to meet the varying needs of their customers.”Vlad further expressed how modern tools for optimizing websites are often cumbersome to set up without significant engineering support. In many cases, they’re also too hard to use separately from where the source website content is designed and managed. “At Webflow, this is the next big problem we are solving,” Vlad stated. “Our goal is to give marketing teams and web agencies the ability not only to build incredible web experiences, but also seamlessly personalize those sites for different audiences, easily create experiments to test which versions perform better, and to optimize their buyer journey throughout their website to drive conversions and revenue.”This is where Intellimize drives everything home.<h3 id="unlocking-the-‘website-experience-platform’-with-ai-">Unlocking the ‘Website Experience Platform’ with AI </h3>Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Intellimize has been steadily climbing the silicon ladder. As of its Series B round in 2021, the company had raised <a target="_blank" href="https://getlatka.com/companies/intellimize">a stout $52 million</a>, with revenues still hovering under $8 million last year. Still early stage, but that was a 34% YOY increase – definitely a mark of forward momentum.With nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://getlatka.com/companies/webflow#:~:text=How%20much%20revenue%20does%20Webflow,generates%20%24128M%20in%20revenue.">$130 million in revenue</a> from its subscription-based business service, Webflow is reaching the right point on the growth arc to feel its M&amp;A oats. And like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-salesforce-blues-why-investors-are-singing-a-sad-song-about-a-deal-to-buy-informatica">Salesforce hunting for Informatica</a>, the focus on AI-specific acquisitions is a marked trend. Now endowed with the keys to optimization, Vlad sees the combination of Intellimize’s features as a pathway to a new vision – what he calls the “Website Experience Platform.” “With this vision, we’re taking the most important part of the digital experience – the website – and creating a seamlessly integrated and visual-first platform that allows marketing teams to break their dependence on code and innovate at speeds they could never reach before,” he described. “We believe that this will not only lead to empowered, revenue-driving marketing teams, but also to a better experience for everyone on the web.”As a platform, Intellimize brings key advantages to the table. First and foremost, it effectively unlocks a marketing team’s ability to personalize web experiences without the need for complex and cumbersome engineering support. On this point, both Webflow and Intellimize shared a common philosophical goal for unlocking a marketing’s team’s code-dependence by building visual-first tools – the kind they could use without needing constant help from a dev team.Since its founding, Intellimize has made a huge impact on customers like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.intellimize.com/customer-story/video-how-sumo-logic-accelerated-web-conversions-by-automatically-testing-1-billion-page-versions">Sumo Logic</a> (1B+ page versions, 53% lift in conversion rates), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.intellimize.com/customer-story/how-snowflakes-abm-team-used-intellimize-to-accelerate-landing-page-conversions-by-60">Snowflake</a> (60% increase in conversions, 49% lift in meetings booked), and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.intellimize.com/customer-story/how-drift-uses-intellimize-to-convert-more-traffic-into-revenue">Drift</a> (129% improvement in conversions, $2.8M incremental revenue).Those are great stats – and more importantly, clear evidence that Intellimize delivers value. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>For the last decade, Webflow has been backfilling the gap between pedestrian no-code website builders and hardcore development platforms. They’ve cultivated a vast community of designers, marketers, and agencies that often feel underwhelmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wix">Wix</a> and disillusioned by complex code and compromises. These visual-motivated users always seem to be asking the same question: Why can’t I just design it the way I want?Indeed.With the rise of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cut-paste-delete-why-adobes-canceled-merger-with-figma-is-good-for-innovation">Figma</a> and other popular prototyping tools, visual designers have recovered some control of the experience. Now, they can produce more uniquely sophisticated compositions and forget about the wall of code awaiting them. With Webflow, they can wrestle away the dependency on developers – at least for the most part – and maintain control from idea to launch. Webflow also sports its own <a target="_blank" href="https://webflow.com/cms">built-in CMS</a>, providing a more flexible solution for managing content as part of a single platform solution. At the same time, Webflow is appealing to developers by providing a pathway for creating apps. With a community of 3.5 million users, <a target="_blank" href="https://developers.webflow.com/">Webflow developers</a> can access the platform’s API to build products that support how users design websites. This includes forms and e-commerce apps that serve a wide range of use cases.  By all accounts, the Intellimize acquisition is an ideal match for Webflow, and may be the key to evolving its current visual builder into a next-gen Website Experience Platform. As Vlad framed in his announcement, Webflow’s mission is to “bring development superpowers to everyone.” With a new crop of optimization and personalization capabilities at the ready, they’re going full Kryptonian – and will be better equipped to compete with CMS and DXP solutions that offer optimization features. This was happening even before the Intellimize news. I’ve spoken to numerous digital agencies and SIs over the last year – at least two that are focused on <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wordpress">WordPress</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a> – and many are adding Webflow to their mix. Why? Because the platform has become easier to work with, and the incentives have become more attractive (that’s almost a verbatim quote). The expansion of optimization capabilities also reflects a tacit focus on enterprise customers. As Vlad noted, Webflow uncovered the need for these capabilities while working work with larger teams at major brands like OrangeTheory and Dropbox. This suggests that Webflow is finding success with companies at a level where scalable, AI-powered personalization is central to their digital strategy. Still, AI is no panacea. In fact, it’s reducing the barrier to entry and creating more downstream innovation. At the top, <a target="_blank" href="https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/16282290976013-Using-Squarespace-AI">Squarespace</a> is offering generative content for a range of website elements, but smaller players like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elegantthemes.com/ai">Divi</a> are providing a personal AI web design assistant for creating layouts, content, and images on the fly.And then, of course, there’s <a target="_blank" href="https://dorik.com/">Dorik</a> – a nascent platform that allows you to design, build, and edit websites using nothing but prompts. I’m talking about fully mobile-responsive sites that look pretty decent for something created via a GPT-like field. I’ve tried it, and while it still has a ways to go, it could be a significant challenge to established vendors in the next few years. Relative to AI, my guess is that we’ll continue to see accelerated innovation from Webflow over the coming months. But this acquisition is a smart play to kick that pace off, as it addresses a current pain point while delivering tangible value to its customers. To come full circle, adding AI features for the sake of AI can prove deleterious – especially now. Webflow is often viewed as a complex tool that requires significant training (it's true – they have <a target="_blank" href="https://university.webflow.com/">their own University</a>). This is ironic when you think about the goal of eliminating the complexity of code from the equation. But as someone who started in HTML and used Adobe products, I’ve always found Webflow's UI easy to traverse. In this sense, it has always known its market with a level of intimacy that translates into success. My advice: keep goin' with the flow… <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Webflow Buys Intellimize: Why It's An Intelligent Buy

<hr />Andrew Kumar is the GVP, Customer Solutions &amp; Tech Ecosystem at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/uniform">Uniform</a>, and a CMS Critic Contributor. Effective content management is crucial for businesses to stay competitive and engage with their audience in today's digital landscape. As technology evolves, so do the processes and methods for managing and creating content. The shift to composable architectures has disrupted the more traditional model for content management, providing opportunities to accelerate time to market and tap omnichannel capabilities. One emerging trend is the concept of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uniform.dev/visual-workspace">visual workspace</a>, which is revolutionizing how teams collaborate to build websites and apps.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:79.94%"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_4678/image_ac69077b90c17d4e6f80a06e9ced0a93_2000.png" /></figure> In this article, we'll explore the future of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management</a> through the lens of 8 key predictions, focusing on how visual workspaces are shaping this landscape. <h3 id="prediction-1:-“all-hands-on-deck”-when-building-websites-and-apps">Prediction 1: “All hands on deck” when building websites and apps</h3>Traditionally, website development and content creation have been siloed tasks performed by developers or marketers. This is nothing new; collaboration has seldom been a main staple of the developer/marketer workflow, which has been <a target="_blank" href="https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/articles/enterprise-marketers-challenges-opportunities-research">described as “broken”</a> for the last two decades.However, in the future of content management, there will be a conscious shift towards a more collaborative approach. A broad spectrum of digitally-savvy team members will be involved in the process, democratizing who can build, deploy, and launch with confidence. This “new way” is more inclusive, allowing diverse perspectives and expertise to come together, resulting in more innovative and user-centric experiences.<h3 id="prediction-2:-platforms-must-coexist">Prediction 2: Platforms must coexist</h3>With the increasing complexity of digital experiences, it's unrealistic to expect a single platform to fulfill all of your requirements. In fact, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/articles/enterprise-marketers-challenges-opportunities-research">Content Marketing Institute</a>, less than 25% of marketers believe they have the right tools to succeed. In the future, platforms will need to adapt and learn to coexist. To that end, we can expect to see a combination of consolidation and modularization. Different platforms will be used for specific tasks based on their strengths, allowing organizations to leverage the right tool for each job. This approach promotes flexibility and adaptability as businesses can easily integrate new technologies or features without being tied down by a monolithic system. <h3 id="prediction-3:-experience-modeling-will-rise-in-importance">Prediction 3: Experience modeling will rise in importance</h3>While content modeling has long been a cornerstone of effective content management, experience modeling will gain prominence. Unlike content modeling, experience modeling creates clear divisions and boundaries within digital experiences while enabling seamless reusability across multiple channels. Dedicated tools for experience modeling will emerge, providing organizations with better control over their customer journeys and enabling them to deliver consistent experiences across multiple touchpoints.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:81.33%"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_4678/image_b5a7c1f942cb402be3dd60d09d468929_2000.png" /></figure><h3 id="prediction-4:-brands-will-start-with-the-customer-and-deprioritize-orchestration">Prediction 4: Brands will start with the customer and deprioritize orchestration</h3>Orchestration has certainly become an oft-used buzzword in the composable realm. But in the future, brands will shift to prioritizing customer-centricity over orchestration.Content graphs, which provide visibility and observability of existing content, will enable organizations to solve specific business problems. Orchestration, however, will take a backseat – as it does not directly improve customer experience or tackle customer problems. This shift in focus will allow businesses to allocate resources more effectively and achieve a higher return on investment.<h3 id="prediction-5:-no-more-“lift-and-shift,”-only-incremental-migration">Prediction 5: No more “lift and shift,” only incremental migration</h3>Ask any practitioner who has redesigned or migrated a website to a new CMS, and they will likely say the same thing: it's hard.Content migration has traditionally been a daunting task. However, in the future of content management, we can expect a more granular and piecemeal approach to content migration. Instead of “lifting and shifting” entire websites or applications, organizations will adopt an incremental migration strategy. This approach allows for faster and more efficient migration while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.<h3 id="prediction-6:-more-accelerator-">Prediction 6: More accelerator "products" for integration and white-labelling</h3>Accelerators are pre-built technology solutions that provide a faster time to market. To mitigate the risks associated with current accelerators, the future of content management will see an increase in accelerator "products." These products offer pre-built integrations and white-label solutions that can be easily customized to meet specific business needs. By leveraging these accelerators, organizations can streamline their development process, reduce time-to-market, and ensure greater consistency across their digital experiences.<h3 id="prediction-7:-no-code-capabilities-for-integration-frameworks-will-continue-to-emerge">Prediction 7: No-code capabilities for integration frameworks will continue to emerge</h3>As headless and composable stacks gain traction in the industry, integration frameworks will play a crucial role in connecting various components seamlessly. In the future of content management, we can expect to see the rise of no-code integration frameworks. These frameworks allow non-technical users to build integrations between different systems without writing code. This democratization of integration capabilities will empower teams to quickly adapt and connect their preferred tools without relying on developers.<h3 id="prediction-8:-ai-quality-will-improve">Prediction 8: AI quality will improve</h3>Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already made significant advancements in various industries, and content management is no exception. In the future, we can expect AI to play a more prominent role in CMS platforms. Improved AI capabilities will enable personalized user experiences, enhanced search functionality, chatbots and virtual assistants, automation of repetitive tasks, dynamic pricing and offers, real-time language translation, accessibility enhancements, and much more. These advancements will revolutionize how businesses engage with their audience and deliver tailored experiences at scale.<h3 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h3>The future of content management is bright – and filled with exciting possibilities. At the center of it all are visual workspaces, which are reshaping how teams build digital experiences by fostering inclusivity and collaboration. With the predicted trends discussed in this article, organizations can prepare themselves for the evolving landscape of content management and stay ahead of the curve. By embracing these changes and leveraging emerging technologies like AI and integration frameworks, businesses can create compelling experiences that resonate with their audience while streamlining their workflows.Continue the conversation with Andrew Kumar in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/groups/cms-experts">Boye &amp; Co CMS Experts Community</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Visual Workspace and the Future of Content Management

andrew

Big news from <a href="https://www.wix.com/" target="_blank">Wix</a> today as it enters the headless game. The leading global SaaS platform for creating, managing, and growing online presence just announced the launch of Wix Headless, which enables developers to implement Wix's array of business solutions in new ways.
With Wix Headless, users can leverage composable APIs and software development kit (SDK) with any tech stack across different platforms and devices. Developers can use a variety of <a href="https://www.wix.com/app-market/collection/wix-business-solutions" target="_blank">Wix Business Solutions</a> that can all be accessed from the SDK and managed from within Wix's comprehensive management platform. These APIs are in sync and can be used out of the box with Wix's additional solutions, such as contacts and checkout.
"Wix Headless enables developers to use Wix in ways that weren't previously possible, from scaling their online presences to managing multiple complex projects in one place," said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahartalmi/" target="_blank">Shahar Talmi</a>, GM Developer Platform at Wix. "We're constantly advancing our business solutions on Wix, and by providing developers  access to these APIs, with the ability to incorporate them into projects built on other platforms, we're accelerating the endless possibilities presented in the web development industry." 
<h2>New framework options and integrations</h2>
Wix Headless opens the door for using Wix Business Solutions with leading web frameworks, including React, Vue, Svelte, Qwik, and others – enabling more partnerships with leading full-stack solutions.
<a href="https://www.netlify.com/integrations/wix/#main" target="_blank">Netlify</a> is the first platform to partner with Wix in offering a quick start integration with Wix's <a href="https://www.wix.com/scheduling-software" target="_blank">Bookings</a>, <a href="https://www.wix.com/event/website" target="_blank">Events</a>, <a href="https://www.wix.com/ecommerce/website" target="_blank">eCommerce</a>, <a href="https://www.editorx.com/features/cms" target="_blank">CMS</a>, and Pricing Plans APIs. Some of the capabilities of these APIs include booking services for classes, courses, appointments, and subscriptions, managing events to create RSVPs, guest lists, selling tickets, and operating eCommerce businesses.
Wix has worked to develop products that enable more capabilities within the Wix platform. These tools include <a href="https://www.wix.com/velo" target="_blank">Velo</a>, which allows developers to use custom code, and <a href="https://support.wix.com/en/wix-blocks" target="_blank">Wix Blocks</a> – which enables the creation of highly customizable and reusable applications and widgets. It also includes the recent beta launch of <a href="https://www.codux.com/" target="_blank">Codux</a>, enabling designers to work directly on React code.
The launch of Wix Headless marks the first time the company is opening the backend to work outside the Wix platform, creating an even more robust portfolio of developer-centric solutions that enable easier scalability, more customization, and faster delivery of projects.
<h2>What can users expect?</h2>
According to the company's press release, Wix Headless will enable developers to:
<ul>
<li>Create custom solutions: Using APIs to access and manage business data in Wix's platform, developers can create custom solutions that integrate seamlessly with Wix Business Solutions, even if their delivery layer, site or app is not on Wix.</li>
<li>Multiple lines of business from one dashboard: Utilize Wix Business Solution APIs that are all integrated with Payments by Wix and can all be managed within the Wix dashboard.</li>
<li>Power multiple front-ends: Maximize how customers interact with a business by connecting multiple clients to a single Wix backend. For example, multiple websites, a mobile app, and a smartwatch app can all offer services for the same Wix backend business.</li>
<li>Connect additional sites or apps to existing projects on Wix: Developers with an operational Wix site can take advantage of the headless functionality without starting from scratch by keeping their existing Wix site and adding new sites or apps that access and service the same business.</li>
<li>Take advantage of a global payments infrastructure: Streamline payments with Payments by Wix to accept payments worldwide. Through Wix's provider platform, developers can connect to payment providers located in South America, North America, Europe, and more, without integrating multiple payment gateways.</li>
</ul>
Find out more information about Wix Headless <a href="https://www.wix.com/developers/headless" target="_blank">here</a>.
<h2>About Wix</h2>
<a href="https://www.wix.com/" target="_blank">Wix</a> is a leading platform to create, manage and grow a digital presence. What began as a website builder in 2006 is now a complete platform providing users with enterprise-grade performance, security, and a reliable infrastructure. Offering a wide range of commerce and business solutions, advanced SEO and marketing tools, Wix enables users to have full ownership of their brand, their data and their relationships with their customers. With a focus on continuous innovation and delivery of new features and products, anyone can build a powerful digital presence to fulfill their dreams on Wix.

Wix Headless Offers Developers Composable, API-First Solutions

Wix logo with image of a headless man's torso and floating bowler hat

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