Articles - Page 132

<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

<a href="http://www.portlandlabs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> PortlandLabs</a>, the company behind <a href="/products/concrete5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Concrete5</a> CMS, has released new tools and pricing to serve enterprise organizations that want an easy way to edit their website.
Thanks to a simple point-and-click interface and editing toolbar, Concrete5 has become a popular choice for users who want a CMS that helps manage websites easily. And now, enterprise users can get in on the action.
Let's take a look at what larger companies can now enjoy.
<h2>Internationalization to Centralization</h2>
PortlandLabs have outlined four key tools that make up this enterprise release:
<ul>
<li> Multi-Step Content Workflow:  Enforces custom multi-step, multi-path content approval steps while maintaining concrete5's intuitive editing experience.</li>
<li> Internationalization:  Adds collaboration tools to increase efficiencies for a team managing a multilingual localized web presence.</li>
<li> Centralized Digital Asset Management:  Creates a single source of truth for data that can be repurposed across print, mobile, and multiple micro-sites.</li>
<li> HTML Exporter:  Takes a complete copy of a website’s latest content and creates a set of files that can be hosted on any web server or CDN.</li>
</ul>
Regarding this release, Franz Maruna, PortlandLabs CEO, made these comments:
<blockquote>“These tools, along with our support SLA’s, dedicated hosting, and services really provide a rich set of solutions for organizations considering concrete5 for their web presence. There’s no reason that the user experience of web builders like SquareSpace and Wix can’t be enjoyed by larger organizations with complex needs. With concrete5, we’ve eliminated the gap between publishing and editing for mission critical business websites.”</blockquote>
Many organizations have already used Concrete5 to build public-facing marketing sites and secure intranets, but these new tools will undoubtedly make those projects easier and more powerful.
To accommodate larger websites, Concrete5 boasts a broad permissions model that lets site administrators control access down to individual parts of specific pages on the site. Every change is tracked with versions that can be rolled back.
Yet, Concrete5 users enjoy simplicity more than anything else. Their straightforward user interface and easily accessible editing mode is a stark contrast to the average enterprise CMS. So, it will be interesting to see the response.
For more information, check out the <a href="/products/concrete5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Concrete5 website</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/concrete5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Concrete5 via our CMS Directory</a>.

Concrete5 Releases New Enterprise Tools & Pricing

mike-johnston

<a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank"> Ghost</a>, the newest and most exciting blogging platform, has just released version 0.5.
Launched in late 2013, Ghost has taken the blogging world by storm, offering users a hosted and self-hosted option with a remarkably straightforward, yet progressive user interface. In fact, questions have even been raised in relation to <a href="/wordpress-vs-ghost/" target="_blank"> WordPress vs Ghost</a>. But that's a discussion for another day.
In any case, this new Ghost release, Codenamed MSR1, brings about a huge host of changes. Labelled as, “a massive technical progression”, Ghost 0.5 represents a total of 616 commits across 471 issues from 61 contributors across the globe. Let's take a look at the highlights.
<h2>Tweaks and Changes, Big and Small</h2>
First up, Ghost now has multi-user support. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/05-3-1700x0.jpg" alt="Ghost 0.5" />
This means that multiple Authors, Editors, and Administrators can work together on the same blog, making life a lot easier for companies, communities and all kinds of collaborative projects.
Furthermore, Ghost has become the first and only open-source publishing platform to build a public JSON API. What does this mean? Well, Just like Twitter and Pinterest have an API which developers can build apps on top of, Ghost now has the same power. Now, iOS, Android, Desktop and even Web Apps can all be built on top of any Ghost blog.
The Ghost default theme has also enjoyed massive update with beautiful new user profile pages, full-bleed homepage cover images, restructured navigation, improved mobile styles, and a massive improvement to typography.
Also, thanks to a Ember.js conversion and a re-writing of the admin area, the Ghost team is now able to start building user-interface components which look and feel like what you might expect from a desktop (or mobile) operating system.
Here's some more of what Ghost 0.5 brings to the table:
<ul>
<li> Privacy.md  – Ghost has a new Open Source initiative called <a href="https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/blob/master/PRIVACY.md">Privacy.md</a>. They now ship a text file with a plain English description of every feature within the software which might affect user Privacy.</li>
<li> New Install Screen  – A refined UI when installing a new Ghost blog.</li>
<li> OAuth Support  – for extensible, secure authentication with less hassle.</li>
<li> Theme API improvements  – New helpers, functionality, and tools for theme developers.  <a href="http://dev.ghost.org/themes-multi-user-ready/"> 
</a></li>
<li> Auto-GZip  – Theme assets are now automatically GZipped in production environments. This makes Ghost blogs load faster.</li>
<li> Improved Keyboard Shortcuts  – New navigational shortcuts and international (non-English) keyboard support.</li>
<li> Mobile Improvements  – Better support on touch based devices.</li>
<li> HTML Emails  – All system emails now sent in a beautiful HTML email template (with plaintext fallback).</li>
</ul>
And that's not all, either. For a full list of changes, check out the <a href="https://gist.github.com/ErisDS/b7aa1a6e954f415cbb5b" target="_blank"> Ghost 0.5 changelog </a> .
<h2>New, Faster Release Cycle Announced</h2>
Ghost has that, “Screw it, I'll do it my way” swagger to it, and this bit of side-news is a prime example of it.
Instead of following the normal route of releasing 2-3 major updates a year, Ghost have decided to do things differently.
From here on out, Ghost users can expect to see new features, improvements and bug-fixes every 2-3 weeks. Not only is that different, but it's also majorly impressive.
Ghost Pro users will get these updates automatically, without needing to lift a finger. However, users running Ghost on their own server might feel tentative about this announcement. Although they can update whenever they like, new updating each month to gain the latest features might get a little time consuming.
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Ghost become more organic with it's new plan of constant self-improvement. It will certainly be interesting to see how well it works out, and f other follow suit.
For more information on Ghost 0.5, or to download it, check out the <a href="http://blog.ghost.org/ghost-0-5/" target="_blank">official announcement</a>.
To get started with your very own hosted or self-hosted Ghost blog, visit the <a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank"> Ghost website</a>.

Ghost 0.5 Released with Re-written Admin UI, Multi-user Support & More

<a href="http://www.sitesupra.com/" target="_blank"> SiteSupra</a> has released some new updates, in the form of three new themes and a new page deactivation feature.
Although technically still in beta, SiteSupra is a hosted website builder and CMS which gives you the tools to create good-looking, responsive websites.
SiteSupra's headquarters lie in Latvia, and users can choose between free and premium plans to build their websites. To learn more about what the platform can do, check out my recent <a href="/sitesupra-review/" target="_blank"> SiteSupra Review</a>.
<h2>Steady Improvement</h2>
Publicly launched at the beginning of 2014, SiteSupra is still a growing platform.
Despite my overall enjoyment of using SiteSupra during my review, there were some issues I pointed out. A slight lack of templates was amongst those issues, and SiteSupra team has clearly been working on this.
Three new templates have been released; Drava, Taillia, and Aira.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ssupra700x0.png" /> 
All three look great and work well, much like the previous seven SiteSupra templates.
Furthermore, SiteSupra users can now deactivate pages quickly in the SiteMap. This feature was brought in to make it easier to remove demo pages quickly, without having to preview them first.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen_shot_2014-07-15_at_18_10_13.png" /> 
For a more detailed look at SiteSupra, <a href="/sitesupra-review/" target="_blank"> check out my review</a>.
Also, be sure to check out the <a href="https://www.sitesupra.com/" target="_blank"> SiteSupre website</a>.

SiteSupra Introduces New Templates & Features

The latest version of <a href="https://www.phpfox.com/" target="_blank"> PHPFox </a>  has been announced, making the social networking platform sleeker and sexier than ever before.
<a href="/phpfox-rebrands-to-moxi9-reveals-pricing-changes/" target="_blank">Freshly re-branded as Moxi9</a>, PHPFox has enjoyed its status as a popular community-building CMS, giving users the ability to offer features found on Facebook, MySpace, and other networks.
With PHPFox V4 – which is due for release during Fall 2014 – brings about a new look and feel. It also pairs with Moxi9 Unity, allowing developers to create powerful apps. Let's take a closer look.
<h2>PHPFox Streamlined</h2>
Reading through the improvements that PHPFox V4 is soon to bring, one word sprung to my mind. Streamlining.
The team behind Moxi9 are pushing PHPFox into modernity with a host of needed features, bells and whistles. And it looks pretty damn good.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" /> 
In fact, users can look forward to a revamped user interface, including cleaner activity feeds, side panels, user profiles an pages in general.
Additionally, Moxi9 have stated that they will include a responsive theme with V4 by default, which all future themes can extend with ease.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-2700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" /> 
Perhaps one of the most notable changes though – particularly for developers – is the Moxi9 Unity pairing.
Moxi9 Unity opens the doors to developers to create powerful apps without needing access any server. Plus, they won't be bound to a specific programing language. That means secure, one-click installs for clients and easy updates for developers.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-3700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" />
For all the details of PHPFox V4, FAQs about the new software, plus some more screenshots, check out Moxi9's recent blog announcement.
Also, be sure to explore more of  <a href="/products/phpfox/" target="_blank"> PHPFox via our CMS Directory</a>.

PHPFox V4 Announced: Improved UI, Responsive Themes & More

<a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/products/index.html" target="_blank"> Cascade Server</a> version 7.12 is now <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank">available for download</a>.
Cascade Server is a Java-based “push” CMS that can either be installed locally or hosted in the cloud by Hannon Hill – the company behind Cascade Server.
Version 7.12 of Cascade Server is another step taken by Hannon Hill to, “improve the user experience”. They have focused on content reporting and content authoring by adding improvements to the draft and editing interfaces. Let's take a deeper look at what's new.
<a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/products/index.html" target="_blank"><img style="max-width:224px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cascade_server.jpg" /></a>
<h2>UI Tweaks, Link Checkers &amp; More</h2>
Cascade Server 7.12 features a brand new site-wide broken link report. We all know that keeping up with the quality of your site’s internal and external links is no easy undertaking, but it's an essential part of maintaining a high caliber website. This feature will regularly scan your site for both internal and external links, allowing users to find and fix these links before they ever go live.
This new feature will check all publishable Pages and Files in the system for broken links on a daily schedule. Any broken links encountered are stored in the database as a report which can be viewed on the Link Checker dashboard. Accompanying the Broken Link Report is the new Link Checker Summary dashboard widget, which provides a summary of the status of broken links on the current site.
Below are some more notable features from version 7.12:
<ul>
<li>Improvements to the Editing and Drafting UI. We’ve revamped the drafting experience to be more seamless and less obtrusive.</li>
<li>Stale Content Filtering. You can filter down your Stale Content Dashboard and see only what you want to see.</li>
<li>Improved support for inserting and link-checking scheme-relative links. This will allow you to keep up with the trend towards more HTTPS-enabled sites and a secure web.</li>
</ul>
The Hannon Hill team will be releasing a series of informative blog posts to give users more details about the major improvements in 7.12, but you can also learn about the new features in the  <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55375" target="_blank"> 7.12 Release Notes</a> and by checking out the  <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55374" target="_blank"> 7.12 Press Release</a>.
You can <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank"> download Cascade Server 7.12 right here</a>.
To find out more about Cascade Server, <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank"> visit their website</a>.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="/products/cascade-cms/" target="_blank"> Cascade Server via our CMS Directory</a>.

Cascade Server 7.12 Released

An interesting idea came to fruition from the comments on my popular, <a href="/wordpress-joomla-and-drupal-are-not-the-best-cms/">WordPress, Joomla and Drupal are NOT the Best CMS</a> post.The idea was to pit a number of solutions against one another for a specific use case. I think this is a great idea and I'd like to ask all of you which CMS you'd like me to start the series with?Pitting different content management systems against one another in specific scenarios is a great way to identify the strengths of the various products on the market. Please do not feel restricted to popular products either, the point of the post will be to help identify alternatives.I'd ask that you please leave a comment below with the CMS' you'd like to see pitted against one another and the scenario and I'll choose one to kick off the series with.Thanks for your input!

CMS Wars - Which CMS' Should be First?

CMS Kickoff 26

Find out at CMS Kickoff 26, January 13 - 14, St. Pete FL

What's the future of CMS in the AI era?

#ffffff

<a href="http://www.sitecore.net/" target="_blank"> Sitecore</a> have announced an early access program for <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Platform/Channels/Commerce-Experience.aspx" target="_blank">Sitecore Commerce, powered by Commerce Server </a> , the first enterprise-grade .NET customer experience management (CXM) solution with fully integrated commerce functionality.
The new offering will enable marketers and merchandisers to deliver personalized and relevant digital shopping experiences from initial customer acquisition through online transaction using a single, connected platform.
Let's take a deeper look at what SiteCore's latest technological addition brings to the table.
<h2>Keeping it Personalized</h2>
Sitecore Commerce is the latest puzzle piece added to  <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Products/Sitecore-Experience-Platform.aspx" target="_blank"> The Sitecore® Experience Platform™</a>. It gives marketers access to actionable insights, collaborative abilities and a holistic view of their customers.
<img style="max-width:400px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitecore_logo_400x0.gif" />
Sitecore Commerce empowers brands to drive e-commerce innovation and growth opportunities, leading to reduced implementation costs, quicker time-to-market and increased conversion rates.
Regarding the announcement of Sitecore Commerce, Michael Seifert, co-founder, and CEO of Sitecore, made these comments:
<blockquote>“We view e-commerce a key piece of the customer experience platform puzzle. I’m proud of the addition of Sitecore Commerce to our leading platform, and excited to bring such a robust yet easy to use solution to the market.
As the only complete end-to-end .NET solution, Sitecore Commerce enables brands to go to market within rapidly reduced timeframes, more quickly increasing their revenue and accelerating growth.”</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Products/Sitecore-Experience-Platform.aspx" target="_blank">The Sitecore® Experience Platform™ </a>   includes integrated digital marketing, e-commerce, multichannel customer experience and big data-analysis applications. Sitecore Commerce works natively within Sitecore Experience Platform’s easy-to-use user interface, allowing merchandisers and marketers to quickly and easily implement the service into current campaigns.
Other key benefits include:
<ul>
<li> Single, connected administration:  All product catalog information is available within Sitecore, with no data duplication or synchronization hassles.</li>
<li> Unified content and campaigns:  Marketers and merchandisers can easily search and edit all assets, view end-to-end campaigns and access customer insights across all touch-points, and measure conversions and customer value.</li>
<li> Enterprise-grade:  Sitecore Commerce is built to meet the most demanding enterprise commerce needs, with performance throughput and robust systems to meet seasonal shopping peaks head-on.</li>
<li> Highly flexible:  Developers can build customized environments to meet specific brand needs and create unique shopping experiences, instead of relying on templates.</li>
</ul>
As far as availability is concerned, Sitecore Commerce will be broadly available from September 2014.
Furthermore, Sitecore Commerce, powered by Commerce Server, will be demonstrated at Sitecore Symposium 2014 in Las Vegas on September 8-10.
To learn more, visit the <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Platform/Channels/Commerce-Experience.aspx" target="_blank"> Sitecore website</a>.
Also, don't forget to explore more of <a href="/products/sitecore/" target="_blank"> Sitecore via our CMS Directory</a>.

Sitecore Commerce Unveiled: the First Enterprise-grade eCommerce Integrated .NET CXM

<a href="http://www.wix.com/" target="_blank">Wix</a> has announced its very first verticalized solution in the form of WixHotels.
The announcement was made during a conference call set up to discuss the company's Q2 14 earnings.
WixHotels is a complete booking engine that is fully integrated into a Wix website, aimed at hotel and B&amp;B owners specifically. In keeping with Wix's user-friendly ethos, WixHotels is code-free, simple, yet feature-packed.
As Wix's first solution dedicated to a particular industry niche, this announcement of WixHotels is a significant milestone in Wix's history.
<h2>Codeless, Commisionless &amp; Comprehensive</h2>
The WixHotels booking engine allows users to manage room inventories and comes complete with pricing, booking, reservation and payment management capabilities.
WixHotels, a complete booking engine that is fully integrated into a Wix website. Wix’s core products answer the needs of all business verticals, and with its new verticalized solutions, the company is extending its offering to more deeply address the niche needs of specific industries.
While many travelers today research hotel rooms via online booking websites, most of them visit the hotel’s website before actually booking. Furthermore, travelers are booking their reservations directly on hotels’ websites at an increasing rate, making an appealing website with an integrated online booking engine essential for a hotel owner’s business.
<img style="max-width:225px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/imagescalnqwn3-1.jpg" /> 
Before WixHotels, hotel owners were limited in their options to take and manage reservations to either integrating expensive and complex booking systems or offering rooms via third-party booking websites. Of course, these solutions usually included hefty commision rates.
WixHotels offers a complete booking engine that is fully integrated into a Wix website for hotels, B&amp;Bs and vacation rentals. This code-free product makes it simple to build and maintain the room inventory complete with pricing, booking, reservation and payment management capabilities. Available through the Wix App Market, WixHotels is not limited to reservations made through the website.
Through their Wix dashboards, hotel owners can easily add reservations made elsewhere and manage their entire room inventory – all under the same digital roof. WixHotels is also fully optimized for mobile devices, enabling potential travelers to book a room on the go, from any device.
Upon the announcement of WixHotels, Avishai Abrahami, Wix Co-Founder and CEO, had this to say:
<blockquote>“Wix offers a robust and comprehensive platform for all business owners. Our new verticalized strategy lets us build on this solid foundation by adding more layers and enhancements that cater to the specific needs of each industry.
WixHotels is the first release designed for a specific vertical. It frees hotel owners from relying on third party vendors who charge a commission, turns a hotel website into an engine for driving growth and creates a hub for managing all aspects of a hospitality business.”</blockquote>
WixHotels beta version is free, and like other Wix products, it will become a freemium feature upon its full release.
Sign up to create your <a href="http://www.wix.com/" target="_blank">free Wix website today</a>.
Also, you can explore more of <a href="/products/wix/" target="_blank">Wix via our CMS Directory</a>.

Wix Announces Freemium Booking Engine, WixHotels

Kentico 8.1 is due to be released on August 22nd 2014. But as of right now, Kentico users can get their hands on a beta version.
The popular ASP.NET enterprise Web Content Management System and Customer Experience Management solution got a major update when <a href="/kentico-8-introduces-slick-new-interface-and-improved-marketing-suite/" target="_blank">version 8.0 was released</a>. Now, Kentico 8.1 s about to add to what's already quite new and exciting.
When I covered <a href="/kentico-8.1-release-date-revealed/" target="_blank">Kentico's announcement of the release date of version 8.1</a>, I made mention of some of the new planned features. Now though, let's take a closer look at what the Kentico 8.1 is set to bring.
<h2>Dashboard &amp; Marketing Suite Enhancements</h2>
Below is a GIF of Kentico's newly tweaked dashboard, a feature users can make use of with the Kentico 8.1 beta. Simply click on the image below to view.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/dashboardcustomization700x0.gif" alt="Kentico 8.1" />
Here's the list Kentico released, outlining what the Kentico 8.1 beta contains:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/sell-more-with-new-buy-x,-get-y-discounts" target="_blank"> Buy X, Get Y discounts</a>:  This update allows Kentico store managers to configure their cross-selling promotions in a more sophisticated way, e.g. Buy any 3 clothes, get the cheapest for free</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/live-tiles-and-dashboard-customization" target="_blank"> Dashboard improvements</a>: This update allows Kentico users to easily personalize the dashboard with frequently used applications. Furthermore, some dashboard tiles display real-time data, e.g. Number of running order discounts.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>LinkedIn integration: This update allows marketers to manage the company profile directly from Kentico including the ability to use automated workflow for content publishing on LinkedIn</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SharePoint integration improvements: This update brings support for the latest SharePoint versions including SharePoint Online and other improvements. e.g. the ability to set up the multiple SharePoint connections for the same Kentico site</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Online marketing performance improvements: The Kentico team have lowered the performance footprint of Kentico Online marketing modules such as Contact groups and Scoring. This means that your web site will respond more quickly and will be able to handle more traffic during peaks.</li>
</ul>
You can <a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/try-kentico-8-1-beta-!?feed=Kentico" target="_blank">download the Kentico 8.1 beta right here</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/kentico/" target="_blank">Kentico via our CMS Directory</a>.

Kentico 8.1 Beta Now Available

<a href="http://www.dudamobile.com/" target="_blank"> Duda</a>, a do-it-yourself website builder for web professionals and small businesses, has launched <a href="http://www.dudaone.com/insite/press" target="_blank"> inSite </a> , an easy to use new tool within its DudaOne platform. 
 Formerly known as DudaMobile, <a href="/duda-website-builder">Duda</a> is quickly taking hold of a slice of the website builder market, having partnered with companies like Google, Yahoo and AT&amp;T. 
 I recently <a href="/interview-with-itai-sadan-co-founder-ceo-of-duda/" target="_blank"> interviewed Itai Sadan, Duda's Co-founder &amp; CEO</a>. We discussed <a href="/duda-website-builder">Duda</a>'s begginings, its offerings and its future as a website builder in a competitive market. Itai Sadan certainly sounded positive about Duda's future in that interview, and now that inSite is launching, I can see why.   
 inSite makes it easy for business owners to create dynamic web content based on customer behavior. It comes out-of-the-box with Duda's <a href="http://www.dudamobile.com/dudaone" target="_blank"> DudaOne</a> website builder. The kicker is that such technology is often reserved for large enterprises with huge IT budgets and dedicated IT departments.   
<h2>Democratizing Personalized User Experiences</h2>
Using inSite, businesses can preset what content different types of customers will see based on variables such as time of day or week, device type, number of visits, location and more; without requiring any development work. 
 A website visitor using a mobile device in the morning hours for example, can be shown content different to that shown to a visitor at night via a desktop. 
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/duda-logo90x190.png" /> Duda have also shared some research undertaken by one of their customers, Raydiance for Women, a custom hair replacement company in West Bloomfield, Michigan. 
 By implementing an inSite campaign on their website, Raydiance for Women recorded a 65 percent increase in conversions from potential customers. In this specific campaign, customers visiting after office hours were presented with a contact form, and first-time visitors during office hours were presented with a video and prominent call-to-action. 
Mike Madigan, Vice President of M-1 Studios, the agency responsible for creating the Raydiance website, made these comments:
<blockquote>
“inSite has been incredible, mind-blowing really. Before inSite, we simply would not have had access to the technology needed to present website visitors with such a personalized experience. The huge increase in engagement we’ve already seen is just astonishing. We can’t wait to offer it to our other customers.”
</blockquote>
Furthermore, Itai Sadan, Duda's Co-founder and CEO, had this to say upon the public launch of inSite:
<blockquote>
“The bigger companies have always had the budgets and resources to create elaborate personalized user experiences, creating an unfair situation for smaller businesses and web professionals. 
Today, with inSite, we’re leveling the playing field by democratizing this technology and making it possible for anyone to easily build enterprise-grade websites without the need for massive budgets or a large development team. 
 Duda is the only DIY website builder to bring DWP features to our customers, and we’ve made it as simple as a few clicks. Based on results from our early inSite users, we know businesses will be more successful by personalizing their websites.”
</blockquote>
inSite comes as part of <a href="http://www.dudamobile.com/dudaone" target="_blank"> DudaOne</a>, Duda's DIY website builder.  
 To get started on your website, <a href="http://www.dudamobile.com/dudaone" target="_blank"> visit Duda</a>.

Duda Launches inSite: a Personalized User Experience Tool

<a href="https://www.socialengine.com/" target="_blank">SocialEngine</a> have released some enhancements and bug fixes in the form of <a href="http://blog.socialengine.com/2014/07/31/socialengine-4-8-6-released/" target="_blank">version 4.8.6</a>.
The popular community-building CMS boasts a range of features, apps and themes. Users can choose between a could-hosted version and a self-hosted version, with prices differing between the two.
With this update, SocialEngine have bolstered their anti-spam defenses and fixed numerous bugs around the software. SocialEngine's last update included the introduction of <a href="/socialengine-php-4.8.3-released-with-html5-video-compatibility/" target="_blank">HTML5 video compatibility</a>.
<a href="/products/social-engine/" target="_blank"><img style="max-width:295px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/socialengine-hosting.png" alt="SocialEngine" /></a> 
Here's a list of what SocialEngine 4.8.6 brings to the table:
<ul>
<li>Added some reliable anti-spamming techniques; you will be able to enable them from Admin &gt; Settings &gt; Spam &amp; Banning Tools.</li>
<li>Fixed bug with Re-Captcha when SSL is enabled</li>
<li>Corrected order of forum posts added by Ning Importer.</li>
<li>Fixed bug with adding link to a wall post where image selector was not being displayed.</li>
<li>Background Mailer Task will run better now and not hang.</li>
<li>Fixed bug where the respective profile field column in field search table was not getting deleted after the deletion of a profile field.</li>
<li>Fixed social network mapping issue when multiple social networks are chosen during signup.</li>
<li>Fixed bug with menu editor where any custom menu added to  Member Edit Profile Navigation  was redirecting to  Browse Members  page.</li>
<li>Fixed an error showing in the log that would be generated when changing the order of photos in an album</li>
<li>Fixed bug where bullets added via TinyMCE Editor were not being displayed in blogs.</li>
<li>Fixed a bug in discussions under Events and Groups where page UI was getting affected in certain cases because of HTML tags not closing after truncation.</li>
</ul>
Furthermore, the SocialEngine team has updated Photo Albums, Blogs, Events, and Groups plugins to 4.8.6.
To download SocialEngine 4.8.6, visit the client area.
For everybody else, either checkout the <a href="https://www.socialengine.com/" target="_blank">SocialEngine website</a>, or start exploring more of <a href="/products/social-engine/" target="_blank">SocialEngine via our CMS Directory</a>.

SocialEngine 4.8.6 Released

<a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank">PrestaShop</a> have unveiled a (very) long list of enhancements, released under the name of PrestaShop v1.6.0.9.
The open-source eCommerce platform powers millions of online stores across the globe, boasting a range of useful features out of the box, along with a healthily populated app and theme store. I covered everything you need to know about them in my <a href="/prestashop-review/" target="_blank">PrestaShop Review</a>.
In keeping with PrestaShop's focus on community, they listed to 69 different users to help them compile a list of bugs that needed fixing, and a list of enhancements that needed introducing.
<img style="max-width:548px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/prestashop.png" alt="PrestaShop" /> 
Together with their community, here's some of what they came up with:
<ul>
<li>Smarty update to 3.1.19</li>
<li>Improvements for the Block Layered Navigation</li>
<li>Optimization of the database loading time for large catalogs and categories</li>
<li>Better implementation of HTML Purifier</li>
<li>Mobile detection has been updated for improved stability</li>
</ul>
The remaining bug fixes and improvements – which are well over a hundred in number – can be seen via the <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/developers-versions/changelog/1.6.0.9" target="_blank">changelog</a>. Or, you can simply <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/download" target="_blank">download PrestaShop 1.6.0.9</a>.
To find out more about PrestaShop, <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank">check out their website</a>.
Additionally, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/prestashop/" target="_blank">PrestaShop via our CMS Directory</a>.

PrestaShop 1.6.0.9 Brings About Long List of Tweaks & Enhancements

Webs' DIY Website Builder has received a massive boost, with <a href="http://www.webs.com/themes" target="_blank"> 450 brand new themes</a> being released. 
 <a href="http://www.webs.com" target="_blank"> Webs</a> – or Webs.com – is a hosted website builder designed to let users of all abilities build beautiful websites. That should now be a lot easier, thanks to this huge amount of extra themes. 
 The new templates include designs tailored to 20 different industries, are all mobile-optimized and even come with theme-matching physical marketing products (like business cards), courtesy of Webs' parent company VistaPrint.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/download.jpg" alt="Webs" />
<h2>More Than a Website</h2>
450 new themes is big news for Webs' website builder, but perhaps the most exciting element of this news is the theme-matching marketing products. 
 Thanks to VistaPrint, business owners choosing any of the 450 new themes will be able to complement their online presence with matching merchandise, from business cards and flyers, to apparel and signs.  
 So you aren't just getting a theme, you're getting an all-in-one marketing package. 
 Regarding this mass theme release, Webs' General Manager Scott Bowen made these comments:
<blockquote>
“We sought our customers’ feedback on what they need to build and manage their online presence and found additional themes to be the most-requested item.
We answered this demand by creating multiple layouts for the different industries we serve. With the addition of more than 450 new themes and availability of matching physical marketing products, we offer small business owners an opportunity to create a professional brand presence with affordable, easy-to-use tools.”
</blockquote>
The new themes can be found via the <a href="http://www.webs.com/themes" target="_blank">Webs Theme Gallery</a>, where you can search by industry, cost and keyword. Webs users can also switch seamlessly between themes at any point, evene after adding content to their websites.
To find out more about Webs, <a href="http://www.webs.com/" target="_blank"> check out their website</a>.

Webs Releases 450 New Themes for Its DIY Website Builder

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