Articles - Page 126

The Top 10 AI Tools for Small Business: From Automation to a Coordinated Team of AI Agents

matt-garrepy

Despite the Gala Dinner from <a href="/jahia-one-2015-day-one/">Day One</a> running into the early hours, the Jahia team still managed to put on another exciting show on Day Two of JahiaOne 2015.Attendees got to see Jahia show off some of their latest projects, before a number of high-profile customers took to the stage to laud the vendor's technological heroics.Here's a summary of all the best bits of Day Two.<h2>Marketing Factory &amp; Commerce Factory</h2>Jahia love themselves a factory.During Day Two, they seized the opportunity to formally announce and demonstrate their latest project and “killer app”, Marketing Factory.Senior Vice President Clement Egger presented the project, which he claimed was filling a glaring gap in the market.“Marketers are in pain”, the executive asserted, pointing out that marketing suites were either too simplistic and weak, or too broad and confusing for the average marketer or marketing team. Marketing Factory, he claimed, had been designed to bridge the gap.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2909.jpg" /> He walked us through a demonstration of some of Marketing Factory's core features, giving everybody a taste of how it tackles visitor profile building, segmentation, interest capturing, and other aspects of the personalization process.We also got to look at how the platform handles and presented stats and facts to marketers.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2907.jpg" /> It's also worth noting that Marketing Factory doesn't require Digital Factory, and can thus be used on any project, along with any other platform.Despite not being totally finished, Marketing Factory looked impressive. We're looking forward to seeing the finished product before the end of 2015.In a later presentation, Clement Egger (who was now almost stealing the show!) once again presented another Factory to the audience, Commerce Factory. This time though, he was accompanied on stage by his wife and Jahia's Senior Consultant, Wanda Egger.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/commerce683x0-is-hidpi.jpg" /> I personally thought it was a nice touch to have the couple present together. It reminded the audience that despite being an internationally recognized technology vendor, Jahia is also a human effort, propped up by real people and relationships.Clement Egger openly admitted that Commerce Factory was indeed first announced at JahiaOne 2014, and he also admitted that, a year on, it is still yet to be released.However, he claimed that the delay was for the best, as Jahia understandably wanted such a vital product to be as polished as possible before release.His wife Wanda took us through a detailed demonstration, completing a transaction on-screen and showing off some of the back end capabilities.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-commerce-factory-476x90.png" /> Commerce Factory is set to offer features designed to help merchants with cross selling and up selling, and also serves up bundle features, Google Shop exporting, a recommendation engine, and more.The new release date for Commerce Factory is Fall 2015 – yet another Jahia product we're looking forward to.<h2>Workspace Factory 3.0, Customer Testimonials &amp; Free Certification Exams</h2>Wanda Egger also took us through what is set to be the latest edition of Workspace factory, formerly known as Jahia wise, which is the vendor's document sharing and professional collaboration solution.Her presentation revealed that Workspace Factory 3.0 will have a release candidate in July 2015, approximately two weeks after the general release of Digital Factory 7.1.More Jahia customers also got to sing the company's praises during Day Two, with the National Governors Association and Delta Faucet detailing their Jahia journeys.Furthermore, Jahia also offered up a totally free certification exam during the course of the day.In fact, a relatively large number of hands shot up when Christopher Justice, Jahia's new head of Marketing, asked to see a show of hands for those about interested in sitting the exam. A positive sign for the future of the platform, no doubt.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2015-06-11_07_38_02530x0-is-hidpi.jpg" />With the closing keynote, Jahia turned another page of its current, buzzing chapter. A lot has changed and grown within the company between JahiaOne 2014 and JahiaOne 2015, and if that should continue, JahiaOne 2016 will be nothing short of awesome.A big well done to Jahia for hosting a genuinely enjoyable event, and an even bigger thank you for their hospitality, it was appreciated.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home">Learn more about Jahia One</a>.

Jahia One 2015 Day Two: Marketing Factory, Commerce Factory & More

mike-johnston

Document management software does exactly what it says on the tin; it manages your documents.
But when you opt for a DMS (Document Management Software) that goes above and beyond just standard file management, you’ll find that it can fulfill a wider range of needs than your company currently has.
Here’s precisely why you need a DMS.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/shutterstock_83971048993x586-cropx6y67-is565x0-is.jpg" />
<h2>1. Physical Filing Is A Pain</h2>
First things first, in the year 2016, should companies really be tasking their employees with hours upon hours worth of physical filing tasks?
Not only is paper filing inefficient in terms of time and organization, it’s also a colossal waste of physical space.
With a DMS, those physical files can be stored securely in digital format, freeing up that cramped filing room for extra office or leisure space.
How it Happens: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hROB-eP7VLU&amp;index=8&amp;list=PLPS4u4Pkt0ztGn3MI-XnD935UbWZU1ESy">Watch How a Non-profit Organization Benefits from a DMS</a>
<h2>2. Your Data is Sensitive</h2>
If your company deals with sensitive data, the act of paper filing becomes more complicated.
Not only do files have to be physically updated and organized, but they also have to be physically guarded. Rooms need to be sealed, cabinets need to have locks, and only certain team members are allowed to handle the keys.
A DMS though, streamlines that security process through features like password protection, secure cloud servers, and role-based user permissions.
How it Happens: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCoQ5blhmJs">Watch how a contract nurse uses DMS to organize her files and drastically reduce clutter.</a>
<h2>3. You Struggle to Find Your Files</h2>
Even if your company has the time to implement an exquisite filing system, it’s usually a chore and a time-waster to have to leave your desk and physically find a folder or document.
When you finally do find what you’re looking for, you have to check it out, bring it to your desk, and then file it back once again before the end of the day. Talk about a waste of energy and time.
A DMS once again makes that whole process seamless, allowing you to search for files from your desk, preview them, check them out digitally, and then get back to whatever it is you needed to do. It’s that easy.
How it Happens: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0rWQQXBdGI&amp;index=5&amp;list=PLPS4u4Pkt0ztGn3MI-XnD935UbWZU1ESy">Watch How an HR Department Benefits From a DMS</a>
<h2>4. Your Media Assets Are Unorganized</h2>
Documents are one thing, but if your company deals with media assets like photographs and videos, your filing system may already be digital. But that doesn’t mean it’s organized.
By relying on the files and folders of your office’s operating system, your media assets will easily get lost, deleted, needlessly duplicated, or seen by employees who shouldn’t have access to them.
Document management software once again remedies this by providing a structured system that can handle documents, images, videos, and other file formats.
How it Happens: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIMORIGmPQs&amp;index=2&amp;list=PLPS4u4Pkt0ztGn3MI-XnD935UbWZU1ESy">Watch How a Recordkeeping Company Uses a DMS</a>
<h2>5. You Need Secure Access to Your Files Outside The Office</h2>
The biggest problem with a physical filing system, is that it can’t be accessed from anywhere but the filing room. Similarly, digitally stored media assets can only be accessed from the computers within the office.
But with a document management system, you can access all your data from any computer with an internet connection. Plus, if your <a href="/efilecabinet-app-mobile-document-management-system/">DMS has an iOS and Android app</a>, you can view your files from absolutely anywhere in the world, so long as you have your smartphone or tablet handy.
How it Happens: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS4W5atEzTQ&amp;index=4&amp;list=PLPS4u4Pkt0ztGn3MI-XnD935UbWZU1ESy">Watch the City of Clovis, New Mexico Go Paperless</a>
<h2>Get a DMS That Counts</h2>
Not all DMS’ were created equal, so do yourself a favor, and opt for a system that can actually fulfill the five needs listed above. <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/">eFileCabinet</a> for example, would do the trick.
If you still aren’t convinced, you should check out, ‘<a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/5-real-life-situations-where-cloud-document-management-saved-the-day/">5 Real-Life Situations Where Cloud Document Management Saved the Day</a>’
To learn more about eFileCabinet, check out their <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/">website</a>. Plus, stay tuned for more coverage during this eFileCabinet Featured Week.

5 Reasons Why You Need Document Management Software

When paper was invented by the Chinese back in 105 AD, the possibilities seemed endless.
Today, paper is still used by companies across the world to physically archive important information, personal data, records, accounts, and so forth. For so long, it all seemed like a great idea.
But as we advance further into the digital age, it’s clear that brands everywhere are beginning to feel the drawbacks of a paper-filled office more than ever before. <a href="https://www.bedrockdata.com/blog/90-percent-of-all-the-worlds-data-has-been-produced-in-the-past-two-years-ibm">90 percent of the world’s data </a>has been produced within the past 2 years, and a dependence on paper to document this data has resulted in a backlog of unmanageable, paper-based information. Resultantly, the adoption of document management software has soared.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/apple-desk-office-technology_11280x743-cropx0y0-is574x0-is.jpg" />
<a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/">eFileCabinet</a> for example, has helped over 10,000 businesses and more than 160,000 users worldwide to make the switch.
But just how does a DMS like eFileCabinet simplify life in the office?
<h2>More Space</h2>
Just how much office space does your organization lend to filing cabinets and shelving? The answer is likely way too much.
With eFileCabinet, you can scan existing files into the system to keep them secure, and possibly <a href="/commercial-real-estate-costs-document-management-software/">scale back on commercial real estate costs</a> with the technology. Thus, there’s no more paper, which equals a lot more space.
Don Services Inc., for example, <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/customer-success-numbers-infographic/">reported freeing up 700 square feet of floorspace after implementing eFileCabinet</a>. That’s a lot of extra room for staff leisure, meeting rooms, or extra desk space.
<h2>Reduced Administrative Costs</h2>
Administrators are commonplace in most working environments. Somebody needs to arrange meetings, handle orders and invoices, and of course, manage the filing system.
But by bringing in eFileCabinet, an administrator’s job goes through a massive streamlining process. Suddenly, two administrators are able to handle the same office space that previously required four.
It’s no wonder that Alexis Benne – who works for a youth and family services company using eFileCabinet – <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/customer-success-numbers-infographic/">managed to keep administration costs below 12%</a>.
<h2>A Smoother Workflow</h2>
Taking a project from start to finish is a process that typically involved multiple steps.
Documents need to be found, specific details then need to be located, and team members need to see who’s working on what. And that’s just for starters.
eFileCabinet simplifies many of those steps by providing powerful search functionality that applies to finding folders and files, as well as finding specific words within documents. Plus, team members can see who digitally checked out which file, keeping everybody on the same page and preventing files from being needlessly duplicated.
In fact, some eFileCabinet customers have reported <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/customer-success-numbers-infographic/">removing 20 steps from their workflow</a> process, simply by implementing the DMS. Now that’s impressive.
<h2>No More File Room Visits</h2>
Office jobs have their perks and disadvantages, but I think we can all agree that leaving your desk in order to check out or file away a document falls under the latter category.
But with eFileCabinet, your company’s filing system is only ever a few clicks away. There’s no more sifting through cabinets to find files, ensuring you don’t misplace folders, or filing things away before home time. Instead, it’s all quickly and easily accessible from your desk.
<h2>Your Office In Your Pocket</h2>
Last but not least, is the ability to take your newly simplified office life out and about.
The <a href="/efilecabinet-app-mobile-document-management-system/">eFileCabinet iOS and Android apps</a> make it easy to take your data with you wherever you go. So, it’s no longer about forgetting documents back at the office when you go for a meeting. Plus, working from home has never been easier.
To learn more about eFileCabinet, check out their <a href="http://www.efilecabinet.com/">website</a>. Plus, stay tuned for more coverage during this eFileCabinet Featured Week.

Paperless Office Software: How eFileCabinet Simplifies Office Life

There's always space in the market for easy to use tools that small business owners can use to create their websites. Today, the folks responsible for the popular uCoz website builder have announced the release of their new drag and drop website builder designed specifically for small businesses.
<h2>Meet uKit.</h2>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dpWHlcwkvog?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<a href="https://ukit.com/"> uKit </a> is a drag-and-drop website builder that empowers micro and small sized businesses to create personalized websites in an easy yet effective way.
The user-created websites are designed to adapt seamlessly across all devices including mobile tablets and smartphones. While offering a range of templates and custom design options, the site limits user customizations based on recommendations from design professionals to help customers avoid “development gone wrong” scenarios like mismatched fonts, awkward color combinations, unprofessional headers and other design mishaps.
<blockquote>
“Micro, small businesses and freelancers account for over 95% of the world’s enterprises and with increasing competition, an online presence has become even more vital. In the United States alone, around 50% of the businesses don’t have a website. We want to help business owners save on initial start-up costs with a do-it-yourself solution that is highly flexible and professional, yet affordable,” says Evgeny Kurt, uKit’s CEO and Co-Founder of uCoz.
</blockquote>
Currently available in English and Russian, uKit appears to be a great new option to consider trying before making your decision on which website builder you'll choose for your business.
In addition to the existing functionality, more features are planned for later this year including: A landing page generator; a “magic wand” tool — an automatic AI-assisted conversion from the FB pages and outdated websites to new, redesigned responsive business websites and a white label solution for partners.
<h2>Screenshots</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ukit_admin_interface803x0.jpg" alt="Website Builder for Small Business" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ukit_template_editing803x0.jpg" alt="Website Builder for Small Business" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ukit_mobile_view803x0.jpg" alt="Website Builder for Small Business" />
<a href="https://ukit.com/">Learn more about uKit.</a>

Announcing uKit, a Drag and Drop Website Builder for Small Business

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-11132x0-is.png" />
<a href="http://ez.no/" target="_blank">eZ Systems</a>, the open source CMS vendor, is hosting their latest conference – called, <a href="http://conference.ez.no/" target="_blank">eZ Conference 2016: Beyond the Web</a> – in the centre of Paris on October 5th and 6th. And CMS Critic will be there.
The conference promises to bring together experts in digital strategy, marketing, and engineering to exchange ideas on how to deliver remarkable digital experiences.
The venue is the lovely Châteauform' City Le Cnit in Paris, minutes away from L'arc de Triomphe.
<h2>eZ Conference 2016: Who's Speaking?</h2>
The eZ Conference will host more than 20 distinguished speakers, including business and technology leaders, digital transformation specialists, marketers, and software developers.
The speakers that make up the two-day agenda include the likes of Paul Boag, an industry leader in user experience and digital strategy; Yann Gourvennec, CEO and Founder of the digital marketing agency Visionary Marketing; Mark Brincat, Chief Technology Officer of The Economist; and Dietmar Schantin, Founder of the Institute for Media Strategies.
As for the discussions themselves, the conference is set to cover the following:
<ul>
<li>eZ and the evolution of CMS: where are we today and where are we headed tomorrow?</li>
<li>Pitfalls of digital transformation and how to avoid them</li>
<li>Adapting to the digital economy: how to become a catalyst for organizational change</li>
<li>Content marketing 2016-2020: how to raise your content above the surface</li>
<li>Why is application performance so important to your business and what can you do about it?</li>
<li>Content as a Service: Positioning eZ as the digital hub for the enterprise</li>
<li>Customizing and extending eZ: the eZ Platform UI, SOLR search and many extensions</li>
</ul>
Further to the two-day conference starting on the October 5th, there will also be a pre-conference on the 4th, where attendees can access a full day of developer training. eZ’s Professional Services team will be on hand to provide some insights into customizing and extending eZ Platform and eZ Enterprise in valuable ways.
Aleksander Farstad, the CEO and Co-founder of eZ Systems, is expecting the conference to be a big hit:
<blockquote>
“We are very excited to return to Paris for this year’s eZ Conference.
Our annual summit is the best opportunity for members of the eZ Community to get together and learn from each other. It’s also a great chance for people new to our ecosystem to discover our software and hear from many of the talented people who use it to deliver engaging digital experiences.”
</blockquote>
<h2>CMS Critic's Famous Live Tweeting &amp; 20% Off SymfonyCon Berlin</h2>
As for our coverage, I'll be on the ground on both days of eZ Conference 2016, bringing you live tweets from the <a href="https://twitter.com/cmscritic" target="_blank">CMS Critic Twitter account</a>, as well as blog coverage following the event's conclusion.
I'm looking forward to checking out some keynotes on show that will cover topics like PaaS (Platform as a Service) as well as the evolution of content marketing. And of course, it'll be great to catch up on what's going on over at eZ Platform.
Also, if you're looking to attend one more conference before the end of the year, you can earn yourself a 20% discount on SymfonyCon Berlin – which is to be held on December 1-3, 2016 – simply by attending eZ Conference 2016, which will set your back $295.
For more information and to register for the conference, visit <a href="http://conference.ez.no/" target="_blank">http://conference.ez.no</a>

CMS Critic to Attend eZ Conference 2016: Beyond The Web

A content management system is only as good as the content it enables you to create.
Previously, I touched upon how <a href="/products/magnolia-cms/"> Magnolia CMS</a> makes life easy for publishers on the move thanks to being <a href="/magnolia-the-worlds-first-mobile-optimized-cms/">mobile-optimized</a>. Now it's time to dig deeper into just how well Magnolia empowers its users when it comes to content creation.
Magnolia CMS makes content creation easy through a range of features like Favorites, which helps to manage and organize tasks, and The Pulse which enables team members to collaborate effortlessly.
These Magnolia features – and many more like them – all come together to make editing and publishing content a piece of cake.
Let's now explore six of these features in a little more detail.
<h2>1. Create Content, Using a Beautiful &amp; Efficient Interface</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag1700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Editing Interface" />
Magnolia's user-friendly interface makes it simple to start editing content quickly and easily, with no need for prior training or coding knowledge.
All of Magnolia's menus and pages are neatly designed and easy to understand, making navigation effortless. For example, the “Action Bar” found on the right-hand side on the interface, offers quick access to various options such as page duplication, renaming, and so forth.
This sleek user interface came as a result of the release of Magnolia 5 in 2013. Leading up to its release, Magnolia worked tirelessly through over 3000 mock-ups to arrive at the beautiful and efficient interface as it is today. 
 
 Another extremely useful feature, is the ability to edit content directly on a web page. This ensures that your visitors see your content exactly the way they're meant to. You can even preview web pages as they would appear to visitors on both desktops and mobile devices.
Also, Magnolia enables you to reorder page content with an easy to use drag and drop function, which lets you place content and page elements like text blocks and images efficiently.
<h2>2. Manage Content from Anywhere</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag2.png" alt="Magnolia Tablet Interface" />
Thanks to <a href="/magnolia-the-worlds-first-mobile-optimized-cms/"> Magnolia's mobile-optimization</a>, you don't need to be in the office or even on a desktop computer in order to create and manage content.
As well as the interface responding to tablet screens, Magnolia CMS boasts specific features which tablet users can enjoy exclusively.
This includes touch-friendly menus, gesture support, responsive Action Bars which are optimized for tablet usage, along with the ability to take photos via your tablet, upload them to Magnolia, and then use them within content. This feature in particular is ideal for journalists and other workers who are always on the move.
<h2>3. Streamline Workflows with Favorites</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag3700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Favorites" />
With Magnolia's “Favorites” – which is a feature easily accessed from the top of the Magnolia CMS interface – you can quickly create shortcuts to important pages, tasks and admin areas.
These shortcuts can be organized into groups, which means you can even create to-do lists for yourself and other team members. Also, you can access the Favorites you create across devices, meaning that Favorites created on a desktop computer can later be accessed with a tablet.
Not only does the Favorites feature enhance team collaboration, but it also streamlines workflows, helping you and your team get tasks done faster.
<h2>4. Keep Tabs on the Team with The Pulse</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag4123700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Pulse" />
Thanks to Magnolia's communication hub, “The Pulse”, you can stay updated when it comes to things like content status, comments, requests, warnings, as well as offering content statistics. It even lets you send messages to other team members.
Further teamwork features include the ability for team members to edit the same content at once, compare the edits of different page versions, and more. What's more is, all this can be achieved simply through web browsers, with no client installations or platform dependencies to worry about.
<h2>5. Overcome Language Barriers</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag5700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Language" /> 
If your publications are intended for a continental or even a global audience, language will certainly be an issue. Unless you're using Magnolia CMS of course.
With Magnolia, you can easily assign different languages to different websites or simply allow different websites to share the same site structure, with only certain areas or sub-sites served in different languages.
Additionally, Magnolia makes life easy for content authors, offering its user interface in over 15 languages, including English, Russian, Chinese, French, German and Spanish.
<h2>6. Focus on Tasks Using Apps</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mag6700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Apps" />
A Magnolia App is built to serve one specific function, like editing a page with the Pages App for example. With each App, you can work on one task or one data set at a time, bringing clarity to your work day.
Magnolia comes with a range of useful Apps including Pages, Contact and Assets, all of which offer their own unique functions. However, perhaps the most exciting aspect of Magnolia Apps, is the potential of what can be created by the Magnolia community.
You and your organizations will almost certainly have some very specific everyday tasks that could benefit from being made into an App. Now, those Apps can not only be created, but also shared with the wider Magnolia community.
So there you have it, Magnolia's six simple yet effective ways to make content creation easy, flexible and functional – wherever you are.
To see for yourself how Magnolia CMS enables users to unleash their creativity, check out their <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/product/features/teamwork-collaboration.html"> authoring and teamwork collaboration features page</a>.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="/products/magnolia-cms/"> Magnolia via our CMS Directory</a>.

6 Ways Magnolia CMS Makes Content Creation Easy

It’s time to kick off another featured week here on CMS Critic, and this time we’re joined by <a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">Contentful</a>.
Contentful is a cloud-hosted content management system that works around a two-pillared philosophy: developer friendliness and isolated content management.
<a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/contentful.png" /></a>
With customers like Nike, eBay and Red Bull, it’s safe to say that Contentful is a platform capable of handling all projects – from responsive websites to apps – no matter the size.
Let’s now take a look at what Contentful brings to the table as a CMS.
<h2>What is Contentful For</h2>
Contentful is all about getting content where you need it, no matter where you need it.
Here’s Contentful in their own words:
<blockquote>
“We believe that one CMS shouldn't attempt to please everyone. Whereas most CMS try to be omni-purpose and cover as much use cases as possible, Contentful focuses on several specific applications to truly excel in its realm.”
</blockquote>
Those specific applications that Contentful is suited for, include:
<ul>
<li>
Cross-platform publishing
</li>
<li>
Mobile content management backend
</li>
<li>
Integration with existing applications
</li>
<li>
Rich web experiences
</li>
</ul>
Some use cases include in-store touch screens for Nike, and the mobile backend for Krush, a mobile lifestyle app.
<h2>API-first, Not Browser-first</h2>
Contentful makes all content accessible via an API, so that developers can take, access, and display content anywhere – and in any fashion.
Multiple API keys enable granular access control, while content can be imported from other sources using either the API or custom scripts.
The powerful APIs of Contentful give developers a simpler way to load content into apps, websites, or even to build completely custom editing interfaces.
<h2>Pure content</h2>
As the name suggests, Contentful puts content before anything else. Traditionally, content management systems have catered to a page-centric model, using HTML-based templates. But by “[separating] the content from the presentation”, Contentful help their users to organize and structure their content more freely.
Instead of providing pre-defined templates, Contentful focuses on delivering the content, leaving the user to present it in any way they like.
In other words, Contentful delivers the content, and you design around it.
To find out more about <a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">Contentful, visit their website</a>.
And of course, stay tuned for more Contentful coverage throughout the week, as we explore the various benefits of this enterprise-grade platform.

Contentful: The API-first Content Management System

CMS Summit 26

Find out at Open Source CMS 26, October 20-21 in Utrecht, Netherlands

What's ahead for Open Source CMS?

#ffffff

Cast your mind back to 2005. A life of a website was a humble one. Your audience would come to you, pull your content, or find you via search. That was all that was expected, and that was all that was delivered.
<a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mobile-phone-572865_1280548x0-is.jpg" /></a> Then, three massive trends appeared:
<ul>
<li>
The Emergence of Social: Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms pushed their way into standing between your website and your audience, by way of learning what your connections consumed and algorithmically pushing content to you.
</li>
<li>
The Rise of Mobile: Smartphone usage is massive, yet still growing. More people now shop, watch, read and communicate via mobile devices than ever before. YouTube, for example, reports that 50% of its consumption is done via mobile devices.
</li>
<li>
Evolving Content Experience: Ecosystem gatekeepers are slowly but surely integrating their algorithmic content experience.
</li>
</ul>
Thanks to these three trends, content demand has changed dramatically. Customers are no longer satisfied by just looking at content from their web browsers.
Today, the average web surfer wants their content delivered via the smart curation architectures of the big gatekeepers. Think Google Now, Apple News, and Facebook Instant articles.
<h2>Existing Publishing Models: The Problems &amp; The Potential</h2>
In light of these increasingly relevant trends, existing publishing models face some issues.
Publishers tend to lose control over how their content is presented across different devices and channels.
Another problem is considerably less control over advertising. This manifests as a small amount of control in the gatekeeper apps, and even less control in the browser, thanks to increasingly popular ad blocking softwares.
Finally, publishers face a diminished brand impact, as the smart aggregators will simply pick the best content, which is not necessarily the branded one.
As for the potential, it’s nothing short of vast. Big gatekeepers care a lot about great content and fast experiences. One driving factor for the introduction of Facebook instant articles was Facebook’s unhappiness with users leaving their app for the slower loading time of a mobile browser.
Further to that, there is scale. For example it’s perfectly logical to assume that Apple News will attract a larger audience than, say, Flipboard. As a result, the room for growth is now far more expansive.
<h2>Capitalizing on The Future</h2>
In order for brands to capitalize on the current and future trends (instead of being left behind), it is necessary to work with a content management system that:
<ul>
<li>
Enables brands to quickly capitalize on new platforms and devices.
</li>
<li>
Structures content in such a way that existing content can easily be repurposed and ported to new platforms and through new channels.
</li>
<li>
Unlocks the potential for next-to-instant experiences with ultra-short delivery latencies.
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">Contentful</a>, is surely ready for such a future, having been designed from the ground up for structured content in an API-first world.
This enterprise-grade platform, which is trusted by the likes of Nike and Red Bull, makes all content accessible via an API, so content can be taken, accessed and displayed anywhere – and in any fashion.
There’s no pre-defined templates to restrict content presentation, so developers’ hands are untied when it comes to designing websites and apps around existing content.
To find out more about Contentful, <a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>.
Also, stick around for more Contentful coverage throughout the week, as we explore the various benefits of this API-first CMS.

Beyond the Browser: How the Fabric is Changing

<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/" target="_blank">Jahia One 2015</a> is right around the corner. The three-day event will take place between June 10th and 12th in the heart of beautiful Paris.
Last year, the CMS Critic team (made up of Mike Johnston and myself) attended Jahia One 2014, the company's first ever international conference. <a href="/search/?q=jahiaone" target="_blank">We covered the event in detail here on CMS Critic</a>, and also <a href="https://twitter.com/cmscritic" target="_blank">live-tweeted</a> all the best parts to keep you all updated.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-1.png" />
Thanks again to the hospitality of Jahia, Mike and I will be in attendance again this year, providing the same level of coverage.
Here's what you can expect to see from Jahia One 2015.
<h2>Six Customer Testimonials, Feedback &amp; Free Certification</h2>
No less than six of Jahia's customers are coming to share their experiences with the platform.
Europcar, Delta Faucet, National Governers Assocciation, Belambra, MAAF and B4Bank will all be presenting their stories and testimonials at allocated times throughout the event. These testimonials typically offer an awesome insight into how the product in question works on the ground, facing real-life obstacles.
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/register" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/jahia1079x0.png" /></a>
Attendees will get to know Jahia's Tech Partner Program a little better, too. The program is aimed at offering off-the shelf integration with 3rd party software to enable users to build their own UXP, fully-integrated with popular third-party products. Some of those Tech Partners will be present at the event, so users can get to know them a little better.
Developers can also grab themselves a free certification exam to validate their skills and knowledge on Jahia Digital Factory 7.
And finally, Jahia have welcomed direct feedback and suggestions from users attending Jahia One 2015. They have requested that all ideas be submitted here, as the top three suggestions will be announced at the Jahia One 2015 Gala Dinner, held on June 12th.
To learn more about Jahia One 2015, and to register for the event, <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/" target="_blank">check out the official website</a>.
And of course, stay tuned for our coverage of the event, and <a href="https://twitter.com/cmscritic" target="_blank">follow us on Twitter for the live-tweets</a>!

Jahia One 2015 Is Just Days Away!

It may have been a typically grey London morning, but the Park Plaza Hotel in the heart of England's capital was looking elegant as I made my way to the entrance. I was ready for the first day of <a href="http://www.gartner.com/events/emea/digital-workplace" target="_blank">Gartner DWS 2016</a>.
Once inside, I was directed to the registration room where I was able to sign in and print my own pass. An attendant remarked that I was the first member of the press to arrive – which only intensified my resentment for my early morning alarm.
But hey, I was on time for Gartner’s opening keynote, which to its credit, made it all seem worth it.
Gartner's Debra Logan delivered the keynote to a room brimming with attendees. She entertainingly hopped between topics like customer engagement, leadership, and risk taking in the world of business. It was an intruguing presentation with lots of imagery, perfect as an appetizer for the two days ahead.
<h2>Spotlight on Social Colloboration</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_6198-1834x0-is.jpg" />
The rest of the two-day event had a big focus on social collaboration in the workplace.
The sponsors of Gartner DWS 2016 – each of whom had a booth in the lunch and coffee hall – mainly consisted of social collaboration platforms like <a href="https://www.huddle.com/" target="_blank">Huddl</a> and Prysm, while many presentations touched on the same subject.
For example, Anthony Leaper from <a href="http://go.sap.com/index.html" target="_blank">SAP</a> spoke eloquently about how social collaboration in the workplace is changing. He referenced SAP’s social collaboration software ‘Jam’ very often, citing the impact it had been having on the internal workings of SAP and its customers.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.liferay.com/" target="_blank">Liferay</a>, the digital experience platform vendor, also had a presence at Gartner DWS 2016. Edmund Dueck , their Marketing Manager for Europe, delivered a short but valuable presentation that highlighted the importance of establishing a platform that was customer centric, meaningful, and that engages people on levels that they deem familiar.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_6223444x0-is.jpg" />
He referenced Tumblr’s latest video feature as an example. The Tumblr team resisted the urge to create their own standalone video streaming platform, and instead built their platform around existing ones like YouTube and Periscope. Thus, they were able to engage vloggers in a way that was convenient for them.
Other notable presentations included:
<ul>
<li>Top 12 Emerging Digital Workplace Technologies to Transform Your Business (<a href="http://www.gartner.com/events/emea/digital-workplace#">Matthew W. Cain</a>)</li>
<li>An Etiquette Handbook for the Digital Workplace Leader (<a href="http://www.gartner.com/events/emea/digital-workplace#">Carol Rozwell</a>)</li>
<li>10 Proven Ways to Find the People and the Ideas You Need (<a href="http://www.gartner.com/events/emea/digital-workplace#">Diane Morello</a>)</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Gartner DWS Atmosphere: Professionalism vs Personality</h2>
As for the overall atmosphere at Gartner DWS, it was seamlessly professional. Maybe too professional.
The Gartner bag I received at registration was filled with small booklets and leaflets about the event itself, but there was no freebie or souvenir in sight other than a train ticket holder.
When it came to lunch time, you once again felt the constant presence of uber-professionalism looming over the room. It didn't help that presentations were being made in the same room (and at the same time) as lunch. It only added to the feeling that you weren't ever going to truly relax at any stage of this event.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_6226-13264x1930-cropx0y517-is563x0-is.jpg" style="text-align:center" />
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Gartner DWS 2016, and the presentations on show were insightful.
I also recognize that Gartner is a serious brand, but it’s sometimes nice to see a company let its hair down a little at these prolonged events, even if that just means throwing a small gadget or keepsake into the goody bag.
Otherwise, the event risks having no personality at all.
Or who knows, maybe I’ve just been spoiled by free conference loot given out at previous events.
In any case, a big thank you goes out to <a href="https://www.liferay.com/" target="_blank">Liferay</a> for kindly inviting CMS Critic to attend Gartner DWS 2016, and a congratulations goes out to Gartner on an event well hosted.

Gartner DWS 2016: How It Went Down

As we continue with our Contentful featured week, it's time to get acquainted with some of the people behind this API-first CMS, that's both SMB and enterprise ready.
We have already touched on <a href="/contentful-the-api-first-content-management-system/" target="_blank">Contentful's uses and beneficial features</a>, along with its <a href="/beyond-the-browser-how-the-fabric-is-changing/" target="_blank">response to emerging trends</a>.
Now though, let's take a look behind the platform's digital curtain.
<h2>Who Is Chris Schagen?</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/contentcmo-1365x0-is.jpeg" />Chris Schagen joined Contentful in October 2014 as a marketing consultant, and then became a part of the management team as a Chief Marketing Officer.
With Contentful original DNA being predominantly technology, Chris built the marketing and customer success organisation, and reworked and repositioned the messaging with a focus on the developer audience.
Prior to Contentful, Chris was the founder and CEO of digital agency Quan Digital, search marketplace Linklift, and also a co-founder of a gaming company Wooga, as well as speech recognition company Mundwerk.
<h2>The Interview</h2>
KI: Can you tell us a little bit about your role at Contentful?
CS: I’m the Chief Marketing Officer at Contentful, and next to the typical marketing tasks I am responsible for evangelizing our developer audience. Also, our marketing does not stop with the sign-up event: rather, it encompasses the whole user experience within our apps in terms of onboarding and helping our users complete their goals. The number one metric we optimize for is user happiness.
KI: Can you briefly explain what Contentful is, and who it's for?
CS: Contentful is an API-first content management system that makes is really simple for developers to manage and deliver content to any kind of device. We are achieving this by doing a couple of things very different from your traditional CMS of old.
(a) The content in Contentful is stored free from presentation, because presentation on one platform (think HTML tags) is most often “pollution” on other platforms, making the life of front-end developers harder.
(b) Content is captured in a structured “chunk” kind of way, as opposed to page-centric unstructured “blobs” of content, so that developers can access the content in a meaningful programmatic way.
(c) Contentful is designed from the ground up to deliver the content via an API, as opposed to a browser. That way the system plays nicely with mobile apps, one-page web apps, and lots of new technologies that equally prefer an API endpoint to access data.
(d) Finally, Contentful is a cloud service that scales seamlessly and delivery really quickly – even in challenging mobile networking environments.
KI: There seems to be a big focus on delivering content in isolation, allowing developers to design their websites and apps around their content, rather than the other way around. What drives this focus?
CS: Presentation-free content is what mobile app developers usually cry for when they are trying to retroactively sanitize the existing HTML invested content – not an easy thing to do. But seriously: when you look what content strategist propagate with COPE – create once, publish everywhere – content that is free from presentation is one of the cornerstones of making this happen.
In the bigger picture, this separation is in a way just another form of decoupling. That trend has been prevalent across the board in web development. Just think of how CSS enhanced from HTML. In the beginning, web developers kept the style sheets right inside the HTML code, and it was a big mess to maintain.
While this decoupling comes with a lot of developer benefits, there typically are also some caveats. It definitely takes some adjusting for editors who are used to WYSIWIG their work and are now told to please not do this anymore.
KI: Contentful was founded in 2011. How has the market changed since then? Has Contentful adapted much to accommodate any of those changes?
CS: To be honest, when we started out in 2011, lots of things were different then. Mobile was still early, with most mobile sites – if existing – looking rather terrible, and mobile app penetration was a fraction of what we see today. JavaScript frameworks were immature, JS engines not nearly as fast as today, and even innovative platform adopters like YouTube only had 10% of non-browser based content consumption.
In short, back then there was no crucial need for Contentful, except for only a small group of early adopters. Thankfully, in 2015 we are seeing customer uptake moving beyond early adopters to an “early majority”.
Another thing that we are experiencing is how purchasing is changing. In the past, you would expect a huge RFP with vendors and their partners filling out long form checklists and benchmarks, wine and dining, and the whole shebang.
Now, we see a lot of companies adopting agile development methodologies, and somehow this also translates into agile vendor selection, where the ability to get a product shipped in a short period of time and developers having an ever larger share of voice in decision making – or better influencing.
KI: Can you tell us what's in store for Contentful in the coming months? Is there anything planned to happen before the end of 2015 that our audience should know about?
CS: First off, being a cloud service means that we are liberated from a major release cycle, where every major release causes tons of hassle and updating frenzy for customer and partners. Instead, we roll out many incremental and subtle releases, often quickly delivering features based on our customers’ or prospects’ wishes.
But not to be too anticlimactic, we are currently focusing a lot on improving the editor experience, and will roll out major improvements in the next month. Also, are going to enhance the querying capabilities of our API, as well implement a much more sophisticated audit trail and permission system.
KI: Finally, if you had just three short sentences to sum up why an enterprising company should opt for Contentful over any other competitor, what would they be?
CS: Actually, the question is twofold: Why should I choose an API CMS is the first place? And if I know that an API CMS is the right thing for me, which one should i choose?
Focusing on the second question, amongst the existing API CMS on the market Contentful is by a large margin the most established and proven choice, with billions of API requests every month and mission-critical operations by some of the world's largest brands relying on Contentful.
Also, we put a lot of effort in developer support – from great docs to lots of SDKs and librarie, to example apps that you can use as a starting template to build your own app.
To find out more about <a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">Contentful, visit their website</a>.

The People Behind the API: An Interview with Chris Schagen, CMO at Contentful

While many will argue that the developer should come first in any project, it’s also important to recognize the importance of the content strategist.
<a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">Contentful</a>, despite being an API-first CMS to appeal to developers, is also just as approachable for content strategists.
<a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/contentful_1.png" /></a> So far during this featured week, we’ve <a href="/contentful-the-api-first-content-management-system/" target="_blank">explored the general features of Contentful</a>, looked at its <a href="/beyond-the-browser-how-the-fabric-is-changing/" target="_blank">response to emerging trends</a>, and <a href="/the-people-behind-the-api-an-interview-with-chris-schagen-cmo-at-contentful/" target="_blank">spoken with their CMO, Chris Schagen</a>. Now it’s time to explore Contentful through the eyes of a content strategist.
<h2>Easier to COPE</h2>
Is your brand COPEing?
<a href="http://www.programmableweb.com/news/cope-create-once-publish-everywhere/2009/10/13">COPE</a> (Create Once, Publish Everywhere), is now undoubtedly the best way to publish and push content. However, not every CMS is equipped for the job.
Here are some of the benefits of COPE, paired with how Contentful makes the most of those benefits.
<ul>
<li>
Implies presentation-free content: Contentful enforces presentation-free content by default, allowing only plain text or markdown markup.
</li>
<li>
Implies portable content creation: This means there’s no “click here” content, which usually detracts from the user experiences within certain channels, like print. Contentful has tons of field types and customizations, so that a certain quality standard can be assured.
</li>
<li>
Implies content modularity: Contentful has entry structure, and entries can reference and link to other entries. Entries themselves are a collection of customizable fields, so it’s modular content galore.
</li>
<li>
Implies being able to deliver to any channel, not just publish websites: This is encompassed entirely by Contentful API-first architecture. Device- and channel-specific API keys can be created to granularly manage API consumers, and even ensure content licensing.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Streamlined Content Strategy</h2>
Content strategists relish <a href="http://alistapart.com/article/training-the-cms">putting content guidelines right into the admin panel</a>. It greatly helps authors build good habits and confidence, empowering them to maintain even complex projects without feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, Contentful has a customizable entry editor, where help text and validation error messages can be customized for each field.
Furthermore, content strategists love to establish template structure thinking, so as to create order and structure in the content repository. To cater to this need, Contentful has a content type editor that allows for creating as many content template as you like, and later on update those template.
Finally, an average content strategist likes to preach about adding metadata aplenty to cover potential future uses. With Contentful, any amount of metadata fields can be added with ease.
<h2>A Product That Really Gets It</h2>
Your typical content strategist will ask a lot of questions from a CMS in today’s world, and Contentful has a lot of answers.
Karen McGrane, a content strategy expert, and advisor to Contentful, made the following noteworthy quote:
<blockquote>
“The number one question I get asked is ‘What CMS do you recommend to support true multi-device publishing?' I'm thrilled to recommend Contentful as a product that really gets it.”
</blockquote>
To find out more about Contentful, <a href="https://www.contentful.com/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>.

Contentful’s Approach to Content Strategy & Structured Content

When it comes to choosing a LMS (<a href="/search/?q=learning+management+" target="_blank">Learning Management System</a>), the choice is usually based on a number of criteria, making it a seemingly overwhelming task.
However, if you keep your eyes peeled, you will see that most vendors provide similar opportunities and features (testing, reporting, live conference, communication capacities etc).
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/macbook-606763_12801079x0.jpg" />
But really, the key difference lies in the LMS installation type and it is one of the primary points that should be taken into consideration while choosing LMS. Why? Let’s figure it out.
<h2>Learning Management Systems Come In Two Types:
</h2>
<ul>
<li>SAAS (Software as a Service) or Cloud LMS (other titles are “on demand” and multitenant);</li>
<li>Installed LMS (“on premise”, deployed, licensed or in-house).</li>
</ul>
The key difference is that in the first case LMS is offered as a service and is hosted on the vendor’s servers while in the second one – as a product and is run on the servers within the company’s network.
So, why the installation type is a primary criterion? The reason is that the two above mentioned LMS types require completely different technical experience, hosting capacities, resources, company’s structure, budget and implementation goals. That is why it seems pretty logical to decide which of two types to choose and only then consider other points such as scalability, reporting capacities or others.
Let’s look closer at each eLearning software type, its benefits and disadvantages.
Cloud Or SAAS LMS SAAS LMS represents a network of remote servers hosted in the Cloud. All the clients purchase access to separate parts of standardized LMS version, run the same infrastructure and are charged monthly depending on the number of registered/enrolled users and the features necessary. The learning is delivered via browser from anywhere and anytime. SAAS LMS is a great solution if you don’t run your own website
The main benefits of acquiring on-demand LMS is no need to carry out the LMS installation and maintenance. The LMS deployment is done quickly, no need to have any hardware infrastructure or employee resources to manage the software. It means no back-ups, upgrades or licenses (everything is done directly by the LMS vendor).
However, there are Cloud data storage risks and higher total cost of ownership in the long-run period.
On-Premise Or Installed LMS Installed LMS is a software that is stored on the servers that belong to the company. The buyer acquires a license (usually annual) and after the purchase the LMS software becomes his property. Initial set-up and maintenance are internal staff’s concern (usually vendors offer installation services for an additional price). The owner has full control of LMS software and it is more cost-effective in the long-run.
The main benefits of in-house LMS are high customization opportunities, security of stored data and third-party extensions integration. 
However, in comparison with hosted LMS, the installed LMS initial deployment and maintenance requires much more time (especially when customization is necessary), resources and technical experience. In some cases, additional staff training is required.
When to Choose a Cloud LMS?
Hosted (SAAS) Learning Management Systems is an ideal solution for small companies that don’t possess necessary internal resources (both hardware and staff) and need to implement LMS and start delivering knowledge quickly without any delays.
Cloud LMS solution is to a large extent standardized and can be rarely customized or integrated with third-party extensions. That is why if the company prefers scandalized learning approach, then SAAS LMS is exactly what is needed.
One more case, when SAAS LMS is preferable, is when the company is not sure whether eLearning approach is the one and doesn’t want to invest a lot of money (hosted LMS solutions are characterized by lower initial investments.
When to Choose an On-Premise LMS?
Installed LMSs are usually chosen by large companies that have internal resources for LMS implementation and maintenance. Another case is security restrictions for storing proprietary or sensitive information (banking, financial organizations).
As on-premise LMS software can be highly customizable, it is widely used for unique idea realization (in most cases such ideas are more likely to pay off than standardized ones). 
Installed LMS Software, though it requires more significant initial investments (license, installation, customization, hosting, employee training etc.) is much more economic when considering a period of 3 years and more. As studies show, the bigger the company gets, the more it inclines to choose in-house LMS as it acquires necessary infrastructure, IT resources and expertise.
Plus, if the company already hosts another management software such as talent management or HR (which is typical for huge corporations) the implementation of one more system doesn’t involve any difficulty.
Examples of SAAS LMS software:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blackboard.com/">BlackBoard</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.litmos.com/">Litmos LMS</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.totaralms.com/">Totara LMS</a></li>
</ul>
Examples of in-house LMS software:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.joomlalms.com/">JoomlaLMS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sakaiproject.org/">Sakai LMS</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.learndash.com/">LearnDash LMS</a></li>
</ul>
As we see, only one point, such as LMS installation type, is capable of dividing all the eLearning software available on the market into two different groups that suit various business needs, budget and experience.

In The Cloud Or On-Premise: Choosing a Learning Management System

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