Articles - Page 125

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andycohen">Andy Cohen</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane"> </a>is the founding architect of Sitecore XM Cloud. He is VP/Chief Architect at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.altudo.co/">Altudo</a>, and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When people talk about personalization, they often mean “the right content to the right person at the right time.” That idea is now past tense.I have watched this shift play out up close, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore’s</a> early rules-based personalization, through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack’s</a> use of edge-based personalization in a composable architecture, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely’s</a> launch of Opal, a system of marketing AI agents. Personalization no longer stops at swapping content on a page. It now reaches into the interaction itself, and soon, into the relationships agents form with one another.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-us">When Agents Adapt to Us</h3>That shift, from “what” to “how,” is where the major CMS players are already moving, and you can see it in the different bets they're making:<ul><li>Contentstack has put its weight behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/livin-on-the-edge-contentstacks-new-adaptive-dxp-might-just-rock-your-world">EDGE</a>, which they call a hyper-personalization platform. It blends their headless CMS with a real-time CDP, AI, and automation. The goal is simple but ambitious: deliver one-to-one experiences in the moment and at scale. Because it is composable, brands can adapt interactions without locking themselves into rigid patterns. What strikes me about EDGE is that it reframes personalization as something continuous, not a campaign you set and forget.</li><li>Optimizely has taken another route with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-gets-supercharged-for-agentic-ai-powering-infinite-use-cases-for-marketers">Opal</a>. Instead of a single assistant, Opal is built as a collection of agents that act like members of a marketing team. There is a campaign manager agent, a personalization advisor, a market researcher, and more. With the 2.0 release, Optimizely put the emphasis on letting these agents collaborate and run multi-step workflows across content, data, and experimentation. I have seen teams spend weeks coordinating those same steps manually. Opal hints at a world where marketing execution is handled by an ensemble of digital teammates who can plan, act, and adjust together.</li><li>Sitecore has focused on bringing assistance directly into daily work. Through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/sitecore-stream">Stream</a>, they have introduced AI copilots that support authors and marketers in real time as they draft and optimize campaigns. On top of that, Sitecore’s partnership with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-sharpens-ai-focus-with-strategic-partnership-and-new-leadership-appointments">Gradial</a> shows how agentic workflows can extend into campaign execution. It is not just about smarter editors or quicker drafts. It is about agents that can carry intent through to delivery and adapt along the way. For a company that has lived for years in the world of static content publishing, that is a meaningful step forward.</li></ul>None of these approaches feels like a gimmick.They are different answers to the same problem: personalization is no longer about what content you are shown, it is about how the interaction unfolds. Whether that happens through hyper-personalization at the edge, through orchestrated marketing agents, or via copilots and execution partners, the shift is real and already in motion.<h3 id="what-nondeterminism-really-means">What Nondeterminism Really Means</h3>Most software behaves like math: 2 + 2 always equals 4. Generative AI does not. Ask it to draft a thank-you note and you will get three different answers, all plausible, none identical. That variability is what we call nondeterminism.It is the very thing that makes AI feel creative, but also the reason it needs personalization to stay useful. As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://parivedasolutions.com/perspectives/managing-the-non-deterministic-nature-of-generative-ai/">Pariveda Solutions points out</a>, nondeterminism is what makes AI flexible and creative, but it also introduces governance challenges that remain unresolved. In my own work with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/getting-loud-with-xm-cloud-sitecore-reports-100-growth-of-its-ai-powered-cloud-based-cms">XM Cloud,</a> I have seen how unpredictable outcomes can be a feature if the system adapts well – and a liability if it does not.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-each-other">When Agents Adapt to Each Other</h3>The next frontier is agents adapting not just to us but to each other. Nondeterminism multiplies when two autonomous systems interact. They need ways to converge on workable outcomes.Sometimes that looks like adjusting communication style, where one agent is structured and terse, another free-form and verbose. Sometimes, it means learning to accept differences in task style, such as fast approximation versus cautious step-by-step reasoning. Other times it's about role negotiation: who leads, who validates, who escalates.And sometimes it is memory. Agents do not just adapt in the moment; they remember. That memory can look like a grudge. A search agent that hallucinated last time will get fact-checked the next. A procurement agent that botched a deal may face stricter oversight. Even first impressions stick. If an agent’s very first hand-off is sloppy, the other agent may never fully trust it, no matter how good the later work becomes.Humans behave the same way. In corporate life, one bad kickoff meeting can color a partnership for months. Agents will carry those patterns too.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deepset.ai/blog/ai-agents-and-deterministic-workflows-a-spectrum"> Deepset calls this the “spectrum of determinism to nondeterminism</a>.” I call it relationship management.<h3 id="everyday-illustrations">Everyday Illustrations</h3>Picture a grocery agent told to buy apples if they are $0.99 a pound. A deterministic system comes back empty because they are $1.09. An adaptive one checks with you, “They are a little higher today. Should I buy anyway?” That is useful, until the store’s own agent learns to nudge yours into paying even more.Or ride-hailing. You set a $20 target. The price surges to $23. Do you want your agent to decline, wait, or decide on its own? What happens when the ride-share’s agent starts upselling yours into priority pickup at $28?Or travel. You say, “Book me a flight under $500.” The system finds none. A flexible agent returns with, “There is one at $525 with better times. Should I grab it?” Helpful, but it shows how quickly rules can bend.In the enterprise, this gets thornier. Procurement policies might cap software licenses at $50 per seat. A deterministic agent halts the deal. A personalized one negotiates to $55 and closes it. That looks like a win until you realize the vendor’s agent deliberately anchored higher, knowing yours would flex upward.Healthcare raises the stakes even more. You ask for an appointment with your doctor next week. A rigid agent says none available. A personalized one offers a nurse practitioner tomorrow or a specialist in two weeks. That looks like a better experience, but it could also push you toward higher-margin services instead of the care you really wanted.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/deterministic-ai/">Salesforce has written about this exact problem</a> of when to script agents tightly and when to let them roam. I see it every day in delivery projects. Too rigid and you frustrate users. Too loose and you open the door to manipulation.<h3 id="agents-that-carry-“you”-with-them">Agents That Carry “You” With Them</h3>Now push it further. Imagine your agent not only executes tasks but carries your personality footprint into every interaction. If you are cost-sensitive, it pushes harder. If you are time-poor, it pays more for speed. If you are detail-driven, it double-checks everything.What if you could swap personas entirely?<ul><li>"Frugal Andy" does the grocery shopping</li><li>"Executive Andy" books the flights</li><li>"Playful Andy" explores games and hobbies.</li></ul>Your agent would not only personalize to you. It would personalize as you.But there is risk in this. If the other agent knows who you are or which persona you are using, it can adapt back. That can be powerful when aligned with your goals, but it can also be exploited. Imagine a vendor agent that recognizes executive mode and steers you toward premium packages.This is not hypothetical. Optimizely’s Opal agents already act like different team members depending on context. Contentstack’s Brand Kit lets you define voice profiles and store guidelines so that every AI-generated artifact reflects your identity. Sitecore’s Stream copilots are designed to guide content creators in real time, aligning their work with brand and role expectations.These are early signals of a future where agents carry pieces of us, including quirks, preferences, and even biases, into every exchange.<h3 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h3>This is why nondeterminism is not a flaw but the feature. Deterministic systems did not need personalization. There was only one output. Nondeterministic systems can go in many directions, and personalization is what prevents chaos.The best metaphor I know is jazz. Musicians improvising do not know exactly where the others will go. They adapt, they respond, they personalize their playing to the group. The music works not because it is scripted but because the players trust each other enough to bend and flex.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">McKinsey has argued</a> that this adaptability is the defining advantage of agentic AI. From what I have seen in publishing systems, SaaS cost optimization, and large-scale CMS migrations, I agree. The resilience comes not from rigid plans but from the ability to adapt in context.<h3 id="what-leaders-should-prepare-for">What Leaders Should Prepare For</h3>Leaders should focus on their readiness in key areas. For example, trust frameworks must extend beyond human-agent interactions into agent-to-agent ecosystems. Standards cannot stay as fixed APIs; they need flexibility built in. Identity management has to protect personality profiles and alter egos from misuse. And agents must be able to remember not just what they did for us, but how they worked with others.<h3 id="the-future-of-personalization">The Future of Personalization</h3>Personalization started with content. It evolved into experiences. Now, it is moving into interactions – first with humans and then with other agents.If we get this right, nondeterminism will not be something to suppress. It will be the source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity. The companies that thrive will not just personalize their websites. They will personalize their agents. Those agents will adapt to us, and to each other, in ways that reflect who we are or even who we choose to be.And like humans, they will remember. First impressions will matter. Grudges may form. And relationships between agents will start to look a lot like relationships between people. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS 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, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Agent-to-Agent Personalization: Trust, First Impressions, and the 'Grudge' Factor

andycohen

With the myriad of commercial forum solutions on the market, it can be challenging to figure out which one might be the best and our goal is to make that decision easier.
Businesses everywhere rely on powerful community solutions that offer flexibility, affordability and customization capabilities in order to provide powerful solutions for their customers and audience.
This is where forum solutions come into play. Today, we're announcing the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Commercial Forum Solution.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_commercial_forum_solution220x0.png" />
Contenders this year were Vanilla Forums, NinjaPost and IP.Board.
The winner this year was none other than <a href="http://vanillaforums.com">Vanilla Forums</a>.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-vanilla.png" />
Looks like Vanilla has cleaned up this year with both free and commercial forum wins!
Congrats to the team at Vanilla. Check them out here: <a href="http://vanillaforums.com">http://vanillaforums.com</a>

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Commercial Forum Solution

mike-johnston

Forums are a common way of communicating and have become the haven for some pretty amazing communities.
In order to keep them active, we need powerful software that can handle the demands. This is where exceptional forum software comes into play.
Today, we're going to announce the winner of the People's Choice CMS Award for Best Free Forum solution.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_free_forum_solution226x0.png" />
This year, contenders were Vanilla Forums, MyBB and NodeBB.
The winner for this year was <a href="http://vanillaforums.org/">Vanilla Forums</a>!
<a href="http://vanillaforums.org/"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-vanilla.png" /></a>
The runner up this year was <a href="http://www.mybb.com/">MyBB</a> coming in a close second.
Congratulations to everyone at Vanilla on their win! Go check them out at <a href="http://vanillaforums.org/">http://vanillaforums.org/</a>

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Free Forum Solution

<a href="http://dotcms.com/" target="_blank">dotCMS</a> is a widely popular open-source enterprise CMS, and it's extremely close to a major update – dotCMS 3.0.
Available in two primary forms, the community and enterprise edition, users can choose between <a href="http://dotcms.com/download/" target="_blank">self-hosting DotCMS</a>, making use of the <a href="http://dotcms.com/products/server/" target="_blank">dotCMS server</a>, and using the <a href="https://dotcms.com/products/cloud/" target="_blank">dotCMS cloud-hosted service</a>.
Now, after being <a href="/announcing-this-years-nominees-for-the-2014-peoples-choice-cms-awards/" target="_blank">nominated in two categories in the 2014 CMS Awards</a> – Best Free Java CMS and Best Open Source Java CMS – dotCMS 3.0 is on the horizon, and it's set to introduce a wide range of enhancements.
<h2>Multi-type Containers, New Enterprise Support Portal &amp; More</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/multi-container700x0.png" alt="Multi Container dotCMS 3.0" />
dotCMS 3.0 will be a major release, with updates coming in large numbers. Having said that though, the following three aspects of dotCMS 3.0 are definitely the most important.
1) Multi-type Containers
Perhaps the most powerful improvement for site and web app builders within the dotCMS fanbase is the new Multi-type Containers available in dotCMS 3.0.
Previously, containers in dotCMS could only support a single content type (structure). But with version 3.0, you can design Containers to include and render multiple of content types, with no limit. For instance, you can have a single container that allows a content contributor to choose any kind of content object to display, be it News items, Events, Promos or even a widget, all in the same content area.
For those of you using the outstanding multi-site capabilities of dotCMS, Multi-type Containers add extreme flexibility to what content a template can render. Plus, you’ll be able to greatly reduce the number of templates you maintain and improve thanks to the ability to re-use container code.
2) Cluster Auto-scale &amp; Auto-wire 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/clustering-nodes700x0.png" alt="dotCMS nodes" />
This next item is cool, especially if you are involved with system administration on a dotCMS cluster or large-scale dotCMS implementation. DotCMS 3.0 includes auto-scaling &amp; auto-wiring of clusters. Built right into 3.0, the auto-scale and auto-wire features eliminate much of the headache associated with configuring a cluster of dotCMS servers.
Gone are the days of diving into properties files to configure your server – now you can provision servers, add or remove them from a cluster, and respond to peaks in traffic with additional capacity right from the dotCMS server management UI.
Further to this, all new dotCMS servers will automatically detect other nodes in the cluster on startup, and set up their clustered network settings and indexes automatically. This is definitely an update to make life easier for dotCMS users.
3) New Enterprise Support Portal and enterprise licensing 
dotCMS Enterprise customers, take note.
A new self-service support portal and new server licensing protocol (1 server, 1 license) will be in place following the release of dotCMS 3.0, allowing Enterprise customers to retrieve, renew and manage their licenses at will.
With the release of dotCMS 3.0, you’ll want to be sure can log into the Support Portal to pick up your keys in advance. So, no more waiting on the dotCMS team to deliver your keys.
<h2>Sass, LESS &amp; Lots of REST</h2>
Developers are also in for a real treat with dotCMS 3.0 Here's a look at what's in store code-wise.
1) Sass and LESS auto-compiler
Front-end developers will be loving this announcement.
With the release of 3.0, dotCMS becomes the first Java open-source CMS to build the power of CSS preprocessors directly into our CMS. You’re probably familiar with how CSS preprocessors can speed development and enhance the performance of modern CSS-driven sites.
With dotCMS 3.0 you harness all the power of Sass and LESS without the headache and hassle of local set-up or compiling – your web developers just “Edit &amp; Refresh” on the fly. If you're interested in this particular update, be sure to <a href="http://dotcms.com/videos/sass-and-less-auto-compilation-life-just-got-easier" target="_blank">check out the sneak peek webinar</a>.
2) Ace Editor
For enhanced readability and performance, while using the text editor in dotCMS, version 3.0 comes with a built-in the Ace code editor. For example, you would be using the Ace editor in the authoring environment for modifying a CSS file.
Ace is a renowned high-performance code editor and highlighter for that offers improved stability, performance, and productivity for those modifying code using the authoring environment in dotCMS 3.0. dotCMS HTMLers will be pleased to hear that this addition includes many popular features such as code folding, line wrapping, and auto-indentation.
3) Get more REST with dotCMS
Developers, take a deep breath. Everybody else, take an even deeper one. This is one highly technical, yet highly important upgrade.
JSONP is set to become a proud member of the dotCMS RESTful API family. JSONP provides cross-domain access to an existing JSON API, by wrapping a JSON payload in a function call and so it's easy to understand why dotCMs has decided to adopt it into their API family.
Also included in 3.0 is RESTful support for simple HTTP form POSTs (Maybe the easiest way to get content into dotCMS!) and support for anonymous content contribution – think discussion posts or job/resume submittals. So, developers can look forward to far more REST with dotCMS.
<h2>But That's Not All…</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/dotcms-starter-mobile-app.png" alt="dotCMS native app" style="max-width:498px" />
Further to the major updates above, dotCMS 3.0 has even more to offer.
For example, with version 3.0, dotCMS has moved away from a bundled Tomcat installation and have moved to a standards-based WAR file deployment. This means that while dotCMS is easier than ever to install, the file structure and landscape has shifted a bit.
dotCMS have also opted for a more modern build and code management tools, adopting Github, Artifactory, Maven, and Gradle.
And last but not least, a new native dotCMS mobile app demo based on the dotCMS demo starter site is <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dotcms.starter" target="_blank">currently available on the Google Play store</a>, with an iOS release pending.
In preparation for the release of dotCMS 3.0, keep your eyes squarely on the <a href="http://www.dotcms.com/" target="_blank">dotCMS website</a>.
Also, don;t forget to explore <a href="/products/dotcms/" target="_blank">dotCMS via our CMS Directory</a>.

A Preview of dotCMS 3.0

<a href="https://www.shopify.com/" target="_blank">Shopify</a>, one of the world's most popular eCommerce platforms, has just released a revamped, responsive checkout system.
As it is now well known, mobile browsing – and shopping – is now a bigger deal than ever. In fact, over <a href="https://www.shopify.com/blog/15206517-mobile-now-accounts-for-50-3-of-all-ecommerce-traffic" target="_blank">50% of traffic</a> to eCommerce sites now comes from smartphones and tablets.
In response to this rise in mobile shopping, and also in response to the calls of their users, Shopify has redesigned their checkout system. Let's take a look at what they did.
<h2>Optimized For All Screen Sizes</h2>
<a href="/shopify" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-post-banner-03_0ddcb834-245a-45fa-bf54-9328867e2c50.jpg" /></a>
According to Shopify, their goal with this update was, “to create the world’s most conversion optimized checkout experience”.
Their Responsive Checkout adapts to different screen sizes, displaying a specifically optimized layout for whichever screen your customer is using.
For example, on mobile devices where screen space is limited, the order summary shifts from the right of the screen to the bottom of the page. This helps your customers complete their purchase faster and with less tedious scrolling, ultimately resulting in more orders for your store.
<h2>Brandable &amp; Customizable</h2>
<a href="/shopify" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-post-banner-01_05792aa7-c2f2-4454-875b-aeecc32104c2.jpg" /></a>
With the introduction of Responsive Checkout, every Shopify online store now comes with easy design controls that give you powerful customization options for your checkout page. No coding required, of course.
You can upload a custom header image, edit the background color, add a logo and even a tagline. You can also customize your checkout’s primary, accent, and call-to-action colors to match your brand. International stores can also translate the page’s content into the language of their choice.
Furthermore, with Shopify's Responsive Checkout, your business is protected by Level-1 PCI compliant security – the same security used by large banks around the world.
All existing Shopify merchants can now preview and upgrade to Responsive Checkout in their admin dashboard as of right now. All new Shopify stores will have it enabled right from the get-go.
To read more about Shopify's new Responsive Checkout system, <a href="https://www.shopify.com/blog/15714308-introducing-responsive-checkout" target="_blank">have a read of their official blog announcement</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/shopify/" target="_blank">Shopify via our CMS Directory</a>.

Shopify Rolls Out Responsive Checkout

I don't normally push a lot of causes on this site but since prostate cancer has affected my family in the past, I thought it was an important cause to get behind this year.
As a result, I'm going to be participating in looking ridiculous for  <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> Movember </a> this year in order to help raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's health. I think it's a worthy cause to support and I'd really appreciate your help in making this a successful campaign.
For those of you who are unaware of what Movember is, it's where men start growing full mustaches in November (starting with a clean shave November 1) in order to raise funds to help support men's health (and specific issues like prostate cancer).
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/movember-iconic-mo-pin-blue400x0.jpg" />
So. If you want to see how ridiculous I look with a full blown mustache (and believe me, I can grow it very quickly) then share this post, donate to using my link (any amount helps) : <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> http://mobro.co/cmscritic </a> and I will continue to post not only pictures but updates on the progress of the mustache in all its glory.
Thanks in advance to all of you awesome readers, I know I can count on your support.
<h3>To push things even further, in exchange for every donation, I will publish a personal thank you post on CMS Critic (and our Twitter and Facebook) thanking you and linking to your website. </h3>
<h3>(My way of saying thanks) (minimum $30 donation for this). This is a permanent link in a post from an extremely powerful authority website, something that most people would kill for.</h3>
(no gambling or inappropriate websites allowed, we reserve the right to refuse sites of an inappropriate or illegal nature)
Drop me an email when you've contributed so I can thank you and include your website URL. You can email mike@www.cmscritic.com
Donate here: <a href="http://mobro.co/cmscritic"> http://mobro.co/cmscritic </a>

CMS Critic does Movember (and you can get a free link from us!)

Content management systems are an important part of business today and small to midsize businesses have a wide variety of solutions to choose from.
Today, we're going to announce the winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS.
Contenders this year were CMS Made Simple, Craft CMS, and Impress Pages.
<img style="max-width:188px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_small_to_midsize_business_php_cms-1.png" />
This was one of the hardest-fought categories this year with all three projects very close in the votes until the end.
Finally, a winner emerged from the rubble and it's time to announce that CMS Made Simple has taken the award this year as Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS.
<a href="http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/"><img style="max-width:300px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cmsms_newlogo300-1.png" /></a>
CMS Made Simple has been a strong contender each year in these awards and we're very pleased to see them take the cake this year. Congratulations to everyone at <a href="http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/">CMS Made Simple</a>!
Head over to our forum and share your thoughts on the winners: Discuss the Winners of the People's Choice Awards

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS

eCommerce solutions are becoming more and more necessary as companies transition from standard store fronts to a new digital presence. This year, we have two categories for eCommerce solutions, SMB and Enterprise.
This year, the contenders for Best eCommerce Solution for SMB were Prestashop, Shopify and ASPxCommerce. All three solutions are great ones and any small or medium business that chooses to go with these contenders would end up with a great implementation of their online presence.
<img style="max-width:188px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_ecommerce_solution_for_smb.png" />
In the end, only one solution came to the forefront to take the prize and that solution was <a href="http://www.prestashop.com">Prestashop</a>.
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/prestashop-logo_400x100_2_ofuqwp.png" alt="&quot;" />
The Runner up this year was Shopify.
Congratulations to the team at <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/">Prestashop</a>, who put on a great campaign for the awards this year!
Head over to our forum and share your thoughts on the winners: Discuss the Winners of the People's Choice Awards

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best eCommerce Solution for SMB

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Corporate intranets are used worldwide by millions of corporations big and small. They need to be agile, easy to implement solutions that offer functionality and advanced capabilities to cater to today's business. Selecting one can be a difficult task but today, we're going to make that task a little easier.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best CMS for Corporate Intranets.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best_cms_corporate_intranets.png" alt="Best CMS for Corporate Intranets " />
This year, the contenders in this category were Liferay, Entando and ocPortal.
In the end, the winner became cleaar and I'm pleased to announce the award for 2014 goes to <a href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a>!
<a href="http://www.liferay.com"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/liferay.png" /></a>
The runner up this year was <a href="http://www.entando.com/portal/">Entando. </a>
Congratulations to Liferay on their win as Best CMS for Corporate Intranet.

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best CMS for Corporate Intranets

A new <a href="https://selz.com/" target="_blank">Selz</a> update means that user's eCommerce data can now be sent to their Google Analytics account.
Selz is a growing online-payment and eCommerce platform that can be integrated into an existing website. Or, you can set up your free Selz store and begin selling immediately. 
With this update, Selz helps to empower your Google Analytics data even more, giving users a better chance to make the right decisions about their business.
<h2>Better Insights, Better Decisions</h2>
Selz are aiming to give their users a better insight into their eCommerce reports in Google Analytics, giving them a deeper understanding of total sales, individual product sales, conversion rate and average order value.
The reports – which can now be viewed in Google Analytics – will also display things like which sources of traffic bring the most valuable customers and the ROI on any paid campaigns.
Integrating Selz with Google Analytics is as simple as copying and pasting your Google Analytics ID into the Google Analytics field under your Store Settings in Selz.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/store-selz-google-id700x0.png" alt="Selz" /> And that's about it. Give it a day or so for Google to catch up with the data, and then enjoy the view from your Google Analytics dashboard.
To find out more about Selz' new Google Analytics integration, <a href="https://selz.com/blog/new-feature-google-analytics-ecommerce-reporting/" target="_blank">read their official blog announcement</a>.
For more information on Selz, <a href="https://selz.com/" target="_blank">check out their website</a>.

Selz Steps Up Google Analytics Integration

<a href="http://www.telerik.com/" target="_blank">Telerik</a>, the company behind <a href="/products/sitefinity/" target="_blank">Sitefinity</a>, have just released an update for <a href="http://www.telerik.com/devcraft" target="_blank">DevCraft</a>, their suite of UI tools.
According to Telerik, this new update enhances, “the most complete .NET toolbox for web, mobile and desktop development”. In particular, this update focuses on DevCraft's approach to mobile development.
It's being called the Q3 2014 DevCraft release. Let's take a look at what it's all about.
<h2>Enhanced iOS, Android &amp; Windows App Development</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitefinitylogo_wtagline_rgb_200x0-1.png" alt="Telerik" />
As part of the Q3 2014 DevCraft release, Telerik focused on ensuring .NET developers have all of the tools necessary to develop mobile apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone within their familiar coding language.
Below is an insight into how they did that, and more.
Telerik UI for Xamarin: The UI controls for Xamarin include native iOS, Android™, and Windows® Phone UI controls for cross-platform native mobile development with the Xamarin framework. Telerik controls enable developers to easily add various data visualization scenarios in Xamarin. Forms apps to enhance the creation of compelling cross-platform native mobile experiences, using a single shared C# codebase.
Telerik UI for Windows Universal: Built from the ground up, Telerik has released native UI controls for building Universal Windows apps. Telerik UI for Windows Universal is not a port from another platform, but a brand new offering that runs on both Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, utilizing all of the new features of both operating systems. This enables developers to build apps once and deploy on all Windows devices.
Adaptive RadGrid for <a href="http://asp.net/" target="_blank">ASP.NET</a> AJAX: Specifically built for mobile, this control is a lightweight version of the popular Telerik RadGrid for <a href="http://asp.net/" target="_blank">ASP.NET</a>AJAX, but loads fewer resources and delivers new touch zones, gestures and interactions, matching the mobile experience users have come to expect. The Adaptive RadGrid for <a href="http://asp.net/" target="_blank">ASP.NET</a> AJAX is designed for use on tablets and smartphones for iOS and Android.
<h2>Desktop &amp; Web Not Forgotten</h2>
All this talk of mobile has probably left desktop and web developers scratching their heads. Thankfully though, Telerik hasn't forgotten to include desktop and web development enhancements in this Q3 2014 DevCraft release.
On top of the new mobile capabilities, Telerik has also enhanced desktop and web UI controls, productivity tools, and data tools – all with the aim to create high-performance, enterprise-ready business applications.
Telerik has added the ability to process the most common text, spreadsheet, and PDF file formats without needing Microsoft® Office or other third-party libraries installed. Application users are able to create, load, and modify documents in formats, including DOCX, RTF, TXT, HTML, PDF, XLSX, CSV, and Tab-delimited, as well as enable seamless export and import of documents or conversion from one format to another.
Further improvements found within this release include data validation, support for lists, and mail merge functionality.
Upon the release of Q3 2014 DevCraft, Aaron Mahimainathan, Telerik's Chief Product Officer, made these comments:
<blockquote>“The .NET audience remains a vital element of the Telerik community, and we want to ensure we make their lives as easy, efficient and productive as possible. As the mobile world rapidly evolves, we’re driven to ensure the .NET community evolves with it.
The latest release of Telerik DevCraft includes new UI tools and upgrades to the existing product suite that directly address the mobile needs of our 1.4-million-strong developer community.”</blockquote>
For more details on the latest release of Telerik DevCraft, <a href="http://www.telerik.com/devcraft" target="_blank">check out the Telerik website</a>. Also, be sure to register for the <a href="http://www.telerik.com/campaigns/devcraft/october-2014-release." target="_blank">October 29 webinar</a>.<a href="http://www.telerik.com/campaigns/devcraft/october-2014-release" target="_blank"> 
</a>

Telerik Evolves Mobile Development Approach With Latest DevCraft Release

Nothing is better than announcing winners and one of the most popular categories this year was the Best Open Source PHP CMS Category within the People's Choice CMS awards.
This year, the contenders were Joomla, eZ Publish and MODx and the competition between all three was quite fierce. Having said that, in the end, a winner became clear and we're pleased to announce that this year's deserving winner is none other than <a href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla!</a>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/original.jpg" />
Joomla! came to the awards this year with a mission to win and their community rallied behind them in an amazing way with huge votes and nominations in their favor pushing them to the forefront as the People's Choice.
The runner up this year was <a href="http://ez.no/">eZ Publish</a>. Congratulations to both projects and their communities! You've done an amazing job rallying for your favorites.
Head over to our forum and share your thoughts on the winners: Discuss the Winners of the People's Choice Awards

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Open Source PHP CMS

The People's Choice CMS Awards have come to a close and it is with great pleasure that we announce that voting in this year's awards reached record highs.
This year, we had a hard fought battle in the Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise category between contenders; Acquia, Clickability and CrownPeak.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/best-hosted-cloud-cms.png" />
As always, only one can be the final winner and I am pleased to announce that the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise award goes to:
<a href="http://www.acquia.com"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/acquia.png" /></a><a href="http://www.acquia.com">Acquia</a> fought hard and managed to hold off runner-up <a href="http://www.clickability.com">Clickability</a> to maintain the lead this year.
Congratulations to everyone at Acquia on their win!

The Winner of the 2014 People's Choice CMS Award for Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise

<a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank"> PrestaShop</a> took a big step forward when version 1.6 was released earlier this year.
They gave the PrestaShop back and front end a serious face lift and introduced some brilliant features to help merchants sell. It made the platform almost unrecognizable – but in a good way.
In fact, one could argue that PrestaShop 1.6 is the platform's most important release to date.
Yet, PrestaShop haven't been resting on their laurels. Quite recently, a brand new PrestaShop project has come to light. One which could make genuinely powerful eCommerce features more accessible than ever before.
<h2>PrestaShop Cloud</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-7700x0.png" alt="PrestaShop OnDemand" />
First announced via the PrestaShop blog, PrestaShop’s Cloud – which is currently in beta – is a cloud-hosted version of PrestaShop, offered to the general public for precisely nothing.
Yes, you read that correctly.
PrestaShop is on the brink of serving up a completely free cloud-hosted version of itself. Now, free cloud-hosting for any product is something to be excited about, but to be offered free cloud-hosting for a product as powerful as PrestaShop? It’s unheard of.
So, since it’s such an impressive step forward for PrestaShop (once again), I’ve decided to give you a peek at what PrestaShop Cloud platform is like.
<h2>A Home of Its Own</h2>
Right now, you can <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank">sign up for the beta via the PrestaShop website</a>. However, since PrestaShop’s Cloud version and self-hosted PrestaShop will be offered as two separate eCommerce solutions, It’s only right that PrestaShop’s Cloud has its own home. And it does.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1700x0.png" alt="PrestaShop OnDemand" />
Those who have signed up and been accepted to participate in the beta will have been greeted by the brand new PrestaShop Cloud website. A sleek, modern and inviting digital door mat.
It’s a pleasant way for any merchant to start his or her eCommerce journey, with the easy signup form on the homepage, along with features and functions boasted about around the site in a way which is easy to understand.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-2700x0.png" alt="PrestaShop OnDemand" />
As it stands, the PrestaShop’s Cloud website will eventually function alongside the current PrestaShop website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-3700x0.png" />
In other words, PrestaShop will soon come in two distinct flavours, enabling the platform to tap into a new market – a market of merchants who want their online stores ready-made, well-done and served up on a big, free cloud.
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
To get started with PrestaShop’s Cloud version, new users only need to provide their names, emails and store name. This is followed by a short store configuration process, where you select your store URL, where you are based, and so forth.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-5.png" alt="PrestaShop OnDemand" />
After that signing up, you’ll be presented with a new admin dashboard unique to PrestaShop Cloud.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-6700x0.png" alt="PrestaShop OnDemand" />
Using this dashboard – which acts as a buffer zone between you and the traditional PrestaShop back office dashboard – you can configure account settings, create a new store, add a new domain to an existing store, create FTP users, and so forth.
Other than that, PrestaShop Cloud platform is identical to self-hosted PrestaShop. The only difference is the speedy store creation and a further Cloud admin panel with a few, manageable settings.
It’s lightweight, and that’s a good thing.
<h2>A Free Cloud (That Won’t Rain On Parades)</h2>
PrestaShop’s beta cloud platform looks promising. I didn’t come across any faults or bugs, and because it mimics exactly what “original PrestaShop” has to offer, it would seem that – as far as functionality goes – PrestaShop’s beta cloud shouldn’t run into any problems.
The only issue I can foresee is the cloud-hosting itself. It is free after all, so one can be forgiven for assuming that speed and uptime might be compromised.
However, <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/blog/en/prestashop-beta-program-questions-answers/" target="_blank">PrestaShop have already set aside some time</a> to address this very question assumption:
<blockquote> How can we make our cloud solution totally free? 
The same way PrestaShop is completely free, through our trusted partnerships with industry leaders and the thousands of Addons extra features. These partnerships and Addons give you access to an arsenal of tools aimed at making your online store successful. It also allows PrestaShop to always remain free forever.
 The hosting is free… but is it efficient? 
We know that site speed and performance is key to maintaining a successful online store. That’s why we’ve teamed up with a powerhouse in quality hosting, OVH. You’re in good hands, OVH has over 700,000 customers worldwide, and their servers are equipped with the latest Intel processors and high performance SSD hard drives to ensure your store will be quick to take orders and make sales.</blockquote>
In short, PrestaShop are confident that the Cloud platform will run smoothly, despite being completely free. Time will tell, of course, but if PrestaShop can pull this off, it will be one of the most impressive moves the eCommerce industry has seen in some time.
To sign up for the free PrestaShop Cloud beta, <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/beta" target="_blank">click here</a>.
Plus, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/prestashop/" target="_blank">PrestaShop via our CMS Directory</a>, and my full <a href="/prestashop-review/" target="_blank">PrestaShop Review</a>.

Hands-On with PrestaShop’s new Beta Cloud Platform

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