Articles - Page 141

<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

By the end of May 2014, WordPress will be an 11 year old platform. And what a platform it is.
Out of all the websites across the world using content management systems, <a href="http://trends.builtwith.com/cms" target="_blank"> over 47% of them are using WordPress</a>. No other platform even comes close, leaving WordPress to dominate the market.
Traditionally, WordPress has always been seen as a blogging platform. However, in recent years and months, WordPress has been evolving somewhat.
The evolution has been gradual, but as time passes, it only becomes more evident. The world of blogging is no longer its core concern. WordPress is seeing new people.
<h2>Pushy Plugins</h2>
Jack O'Nolan, founder of <a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank"> Ghost</a> and former Deputy Head of the WordPress User Interface team, said it best:
<blockquote>
“WordPress has grown up. It's not really about blogging any more. It's moved on to be about websites, content management and all sorts of other amazing things. WordPress, by all rights, is no longer just a blogging platform.”
</blockquote>
But the questions is, in what way has WordPress moved on? After all, it's still a hugely popular option for people who simply want to create a blog.
The primary change has come about through plugins. <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/" target="_blank"> WordPress Plugins</a> have played a massive part in pushing WordPress beyond blogging and into new digital realms.
Third-party plugins like <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce/" target="_blank"> WooCommerce </a> , <a href="https://premium.wpmudev.org/project/membership/" target="_blank"> WPMU Membership </a> , Events Calendar Pro and many more, make it possible to use WordPress to offer things like shopping experiences, software as a service (SaaS), corporate communication, social networking and so forth. 
 Here are just a few examples of what I'm talking about.
<h3>WP Mingle</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wpmingle700x0.png" alt="WP Mingle" />
WP Mingle
One example of WordPress' many uses comes in the form of online forum software. Plugins like <a href="http://wpmingle.com/" target="_blank"> WP Mingle</a> (and many other like it) enable you to set up and manage a fully functioning online discussion forum. 
<h3>Simple Intranet</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/simpleintranet700x0.png" alt="Simple Intranet" />
Simple Intranet
WordPress is also capable of hosting an Intranet. <a href="http://www.simpleintranet.org/" target="_blank"> Simple Intranet</a> is one plugin which lets you create a simple Intranet solution quickly and easily, giving WordPress a whole new dimension. 
 Also, <a href="http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/a-new-way-to-use-wordpress-to-kill-your-competition" target="_blank">TreeHouse recently put together a guide on how to create an Intranet through WordPress</a>. It's not as easy as installing a plugin of course, but it works. 
<h3>HelloBar</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/hb-1-website.jpg" alt="HelloBar" />
HelloBar
Perhaps the most interesting example is that of HelloBar. <a href="http://www.dtelepathy.com/blog/filament/wordpress-saas-application-platform" target="_blank"> Dave Shepherd recently described how he and his team built, monetized and scaled HelloBar</a> using, “the power of WordPress and the community around it.” 
 HelloBar is a prime example of how WordPress is indeed capable of being a SaaS application platform – which is quite exciting if you think about it.
<h2>One Size Fits All</h2>
Many of these Plugins – despite not being directly sanctioned or built by WordPress – have diluted the concentrated blogging experience which WordPress used to serve up. Instead, the platform is now a cocktail of functionality – and I don't think it's an accident either.
After all, Matt Mullenweg, the man behind WordPress, sees the platform's future accordingly:
<blockquote>
“I see the future of WordPress as a web operating system.”
</blockquote>
So, the pieces of the puzzle are now starting to make a little more sense. WordPress seems to be on track to become a “One-size-fits-all” web operating system. 
 I know what you're thinking. All of this evolving functionality – along with Matt Mullenweg's words – seem very bold. However, it's important to point out that as of right now, WordPress isn't the top dog in any of the niches it's expanding into. 
 Many dedicated social networking platforms, Intranets, and eCommerce solutions have all been honing their services for years, and it's going to take more than a few third-party WordPress plugins to truly thwart them all overnight.  
 Naturally though, there is nothing to indicate that WordPress can't conquer these services over time, but until it does, being the Jack of all trades is something which WordPress might have to get used to.
<h2>But What About the Blog?</h2>
WordPress may well be undergoing a plugin-driven evolution, but it hasn't impacted it's blogging capabilities. Not even a little bit.  
 The recent <a href="/the-beauty-and-potential-of-ghost/" target="_blank"> emergence of Ghost</a> for example, has asked questions of WordPress. Ghost has branded itself as a platform which is just about blogging, and nothing else. They have opted for the purist approach, leaving WordPress bloggers to wonder just how focused their platform is on their area of expertise.  
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ghost700x0.png" alt="Ghost" />
Ghost – Just a Blogging Platform
But let's be frank about this. 
 Sure, Ghost is all about the blog – and their approach is truly intriguing. However, WordPress was the blogging daddy this time last year, and when it comes to functionality, absolutely nothing has been removed or drastically changed. 
 In fact, you could even argue that third-party plugins like those mentioned above simply help to garnish what is already a stellar blogging platform. The more the merrier, some might say.
So, WordPress is indeed becoming the Jack of pretty much every other online trade going – but its mastery of the blog cannot yet be denied.
All in all, WordPress has long been the reigning champion of blogging platforms everywhere, and if competitors want a piece of the blogging pie, they will need to do more than simply point out WordPress' broadening horizons.

WordPress: Jack of All Trades, Master of None?

mike-johnston

<a href="http://www.concrete5.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Concrete5</a> has put together a detailed developer sneak peek video for their upcoming 5.7 version.
The free and open-source CMS allows you to build a variety of website types, including online stores, government websites, small business websites, online magazines, and more.
Below are some of the features of version 5.7 confirmed this week:
<ul>
<li>New jQuery 1.x</li>
<li>JS &amp; CSS precedence loading and minifying</li>
<li>New authentication types</li>
<li>New model view controller approach</li>
<li>Namespaced core (psr4)</li>
<li>Core &amp; Override directory moving to the same level</li>
<li>Docterine and steps towards total ORM</li>
</ul>
To get a real sneak peak at version 5.7, check out the developer sneak peak video below. Included in the video is a brief look at things like the enhanced file manager interface, the improved model view controller system, and much more.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_W0lCi-pyo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">﻿</iframe>
You can find out more about Concrete5 via their <a href="http://www.concrete5.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official website</a>.
Additionally, be sure to check out <a href="/products/concrete5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Concrete5 via our CMS Directory</a>.

Concrete5 Offer up Developer Sneak Peak of Version 5.7

Today, we're excited to announce that we have launched our new eCommerce website to cover everything in the ever expanding eCommerce industry. What will you find on this new website? We've brought on some talented new writers to provide you with exceptional, easy to understand yet thorough eCommerce Reviews, Roundups, Comparisons and Editorials. 
Right now we've only got a few articles up but we've got tons of great stuff in the queue over the next week and ongoing. We couldn't be more pleased to bring you this new site as we think it fits beautifully with what we've been doing on CMS Critic since 2008.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet <a href="http://www.ecommercecritic.com">eCommerce Critic</a>.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ecommercecritic837x0.png" alt="ecommerce critic" />
Check it out, let us know what you think and spread the word if you don't mind ? Click the tweet button below to share the news:
[[ecommercecritic]]

Our new site, eCommerce Critic is now live!

<a href="http://www.telerik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Telerik</a> – which empowers over one million developers to create compelling experiences across web, mobile and desktop applications – yesterday announced the arrival of <a href="http://www.sitefinity.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Sitefinity 7.0</a>.
Sitefinity is an industry-leading Web Content Management (WCM) platform by Telerik and is responsible for serving a 70,000-strong user base.
With this new release, Telerik has focused on delivering more engaging customer experiences, greater productivity, and granular control over dynamic content.
<h2>Engagement, Productivity &amp; Greater Control</h2>
Sitefinity 7.0 has been designed to address the challenges faced by web professionals.
Telerik Sitefinity 7.0 brings about improvements via three new features, including:
<ul>
<li> More Engaging Experiences  – Spurs engagement by organizing and displaying related content without any coding and HTML5 video, giving users a more relevant and engaging experience. Sitefinity 7.0 also provides for ecommerce product reviews and ratings, similar to those found on the most popular ecommerce sites.</li>
<li> Productivity  – Improves productivity when creating and maintaining websites with the ability to duplicate page templates and forms. Customers can also migrate single websites into multisite deployments, further helping businesses scale and optimize sites as business needs grow.</li>
<li> Control  – Increases control over custom fields, sorting and filtering in dynamic content modules, producing a more tailored look and feel.</li>
</ul>
Regarding the release, Boris Motusic, Co-Founder &amp; Chief System Architect, United Experts Technologies, Ltd, had this to say:
<blockquote>“Sitefinity 7.0 brings many useful additions which enable better control over a wide range of content from individual items to multiple websites. This attractive release demonstrates how this increasingly dominant next-generation Web Content Management platform has matured.”</blockquote>
Furthermore, Martin Kirov, EVP, Sitefinity, Telerik, weighed in with his own comments:
<blockquote>“Sitefinity 7.0 is our most customer-centric release yet. It was inspired entirely by customer and partner requests and highlights technical capabilities that improve execution and effectiveness. Sitefinity 7.0 helps businesses enhance the customer experience at every level, across every channel. These advancements, coupled with the ability to deliver winning customer experiences on any device clearly demonstrate why Telerik Sitefinity is the choice for more than 70,000 users, worldwide.”</blockquote>
To find out more about Sitefinity 7.0, check out their <a href="http://www.sitefinity.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> official website</a>, and their <a href="http://www.sitefinity.com/about-us/news/2014/04/10/new-telerik-sitefinity-7.0-delivers-more-engaging-web-experiences-productivity-and-granular-control-for-its-70-000-users" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> news announcement</a>.
Additionally, be sure to explore more of <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/products/sitefinity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Sitefinity via our CMS Directory</a>.

Telerik Sitefinity 7.0 Released: Delivers More Engaging Web Experiences, Productivity & Granular Control

<a href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla</a> , one of the world’s most popular open-source content management systems, has today announced the election of Sarah Watz as the President of Open Source Matters (OSM).
More than 3 percent of the web runs on Joomla, with the platform being used for everything from websites to blogs to custom apps to Intranets.
Open Source Matters is a non-profit, providing organizational, legal and financial support to the Joomla project.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/joomla_logo_slogan700x0.png" alt="joomla" />
Members of Open Source Matters elected Sarah Watz as the new president on April 8, 2014. Further elected members who join Watz on the OSM board include Victor Drover as treasurer and Marijke Stuivenberg as secretary.
Sarah Watz is the first-ever internationally based president of OSM, and had some comments to make upon the news:
<blockquote>“Joomla’s success hinges on its large network of global contributors, who have enabled the CMS to grow to power more than 3 percent of the Web. Although Joomla has witnessed unprecedented growth recently, there are even bigger things to come largely driven by its massive international community and availability in 64 languages—the most of any content management system.”</blockquote>
Watz has been implementing Joomla professionally since it launched in 2005 as CEO and owner of Pixpro Stockholm AB, a Stockholm-based digital communications agency. Among many Joomla leadership positions, Watz has been an OSM board member since 2012 and was president of the Joomla User Association Sweden for four years.
In her new role, Watz will leverage her years of leadership within Joomla to further expand the project—specifically its international footing.
Outgoing OSM President Paul Orwig also commented on Watz’s appointment:
<blockquote>“As I exit my current role as president, I am humbled by how far the platform has come driven by our global community of more than a half million contributors. The past two years I have witnessed some amazing milestones with Joomla, like the CMS surpassing 50 million downloads and the launch of numerous Joomla products. I have full confidence Sarah will build on these accomplishments and take Joomla to another level.”</blockquote>
To find out more about Open Source Matters, check out their <a href="http://opensourcematters.org/">official website</a>. Additionally, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/joomla/">Joomla</a> via our CMS Directory.

Sarah Watz Elected by Open Source Matters to Guide Joomla

<a href="http://automattic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Automattic</a>, the company behind WordPress, have purchased Longreads for an undisclosed fee – according to the <a href="http://blog.longreads.com/post/longreads-is-joining-the-automattic-family/?utm_content=bufferc09b0&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Longreads blog</a>. 
 Longreads describe themselves as providing, “the best storytelling on the web”. 
The online publication offers one story per day through its website, Twitter feed, email newsletter subscription, and iPad app. These daily stories surpass 1,500 words, bringing news and editorials together from both lesser known websites and established publications. 
 With a small team of just six members shouldering their wide-ranging success, it is not entirely surprising that Longreads have now decided to join forces with a larger company. 
Founded by <a href="http://ma.tt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Matt Mullenweg</a>, Automattic are of course well known for ventures such as WordPress, Akismet, VaultPress, Grvatar and other notable services.  
 Regarding the news, Mark Armstrong, who founded Longreads in 2009, had this to say:
<blockquote>
“We are thrilled to be joining the Automattic family. 
 I first met Matt four years ago, and we have always had a deep respect for him and the principles of his company. We also quickly realized that Longreads’ goals and Automattic’s goals were complementary: For us it is to serve readers the best storytelling in the world, and for Automattic it’s to power a world where publishers and writers have the freedom and independence to own and control their own space on the Internet, and to then produce their best work using those tools. 
 We see a huge opportunity to go deeper with our mission, both through Longreads and WordPress.com—to find undiscovered talent, to celebrate the work of writers and publishers you already love, and bring even more of the best storytelling onto the Internet. The WordPress.com editorial team is growing, and we’re excited to now be a part of it.”
</blockquote>
To find out more about Longreads, check out their <a href="http://longreads.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> official website</a>.

WordPress Owner Automattic Makes Longreads Purchase for Undisclosed Fee

Just as <a href="/how-magnolia-cms-responds-to-the-evolving-call-of-multi-channel-content-management/#.UzWeNvl_vvU"> Magnolia CMS responds to the ever-changing call of multi-channel content management</a>, so too has it adapted to the mobile revolution.
With mobile devices becoming such a crucial part of everyday life and business, managing content and staying connected when out and about is now absolutely necessary.
Magnolia ensures that their users can create, manage and publish content for multiple channels on tablet devices, just as easily as they can on a desktop.
<h2>Moving with the Mobile Revolution</h2>
Mobile devices have become increasingly vital to the workings of all modern organizations. Because of this, the Magnolia team felt that they needed to react, as Boris Kraft, CTO of Magnolia, explains in his <a href="/interview-with-boris-kraft-cto-of-magnolia/#.UzVIVvl_vvX"> recent CMS Critic interview</a>:
<blockquote> “When the mobile revolution and the rise of tablets came to the equation, we knew we had to drop how user interfaces of enterprise software are usually done and take a radical new approach. 
 We started from scratch and did more than 3000 mock ups for Magnolia 5. The result is an enterprise software unlike any other, which fulfils all our wishes regarding usability and extensibility.” </blockquote>
The results of these efforts came in the form of Magnolia 5, released on June 20 th 2013. On that day, Magnolia became the first software to bring full CMS capabilities to tablet devices.
Since then, Magnolia users have benefited from touch-optimized usability along with some handy mobile-specific functions, which I will soon discuss.
<h2>More Than Responsive</h2>
Magnolia isn't just responsive to tablet screens. It also boasts specific functions and features which tablet users can exclusively enjoy.
First up, the Magnolia Apps launcher offers a touch-optimized navigation point between content management Apps like pages and assets. This interface is similar to that of most smartphones, making it easy to find your way around.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cmscritic1700x0.png" alt="Magnolia App Launcher" />
Apps are the centrepiece of Magnolia CMS. Each App allows you to focus on the task at hand, only offering the functionality you need to complete the task. Yet, multi-tasking on tablets is easy, with only a three-fingered swipe across the screen being needed to switch from one App to another.
All features and functions – like page creation and content editing for example – work in the same way as they do on the desktop version of Magnolia.
Further usability options include a simple and intuitive action bar displayed on the side of the tablet screen. The action bar automatically highlights available actions, depending on what you are working on. Optimized for mobile devices, you can easily expand and collapse the action bar with a swipe of your finger.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cmscritic3700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Tablet Interface" />
Furthermore, Magnolia's mobile-optimized Asset App enables you to manage assets like photos and videos. Within the Asset App, you can zoom in and out of assets to get a clearer view before making a selection.
Meanwhile, images can be resized, cropped, rotated, flipped and so forth, all via the on-screen action bar.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cmscritic4700x0.png" alt="Magnolia Tablet Image Editing" />
Additional image management features on tablets include the ability to capture, edit, manage and publish pictures and videos taken directly from the tablet camera.
This feature is unique to Magnolia's mobile-optimized CMS, and allows for increased freedom when it comes to tasks like news publishing on the move in ways which are unseen on other platforms.
<h2>Staying Connected, Staying Familiar</h2>
One of the main purposes of a mobile device is to help you stay connected and in control even when on the move, and Magnolia recognizes this.
The Pulse contains information items, warnings, error notifications or workflow items, and is easily accessible at the top of every page on tablet devices. This four-tiered notification system helps mobile professionals assess messages and take action quickly, maintaining control of their processes, even when travelling.
Another useful feature which is maintained on the mobile version of Magnolia, is the Favorites feature.
With it, users can easily create shortcuts for common tasks and group them into semantic “to-do” lists or “recipes”. Authors on mobile devices can work faster, thanks to the luxury of a two-click access route to these tasks, which may include creating a new page or adding a new special offer.
Favorites are also portable across multiple devices and browsers, so Favorites created on your desktop can also be accessed via your tablet.
Along with other features like page editing, the Pulse and Favourites features are just two more examples of how Magnolia has seamlessly introduced their platform for the mobile market by keeping features identical between desktop and tablet.
This means that users will find Magnolia on tablets extremely familiar, with no need to learn any drastically new controls.
To find out more about Magnolia CMS visit their <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">official website</a>. Also, check out their informative white paper, “<a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/resources-directory/white-papers/the-tablet-publishing-revolution.html">The Tablet Publishing Revolution</a>”.
Additionally, you can explore more of <a href="/products/magnolia-cms/"> Magnolia via our CMS Directory</a>.

Magnolia: The World's First Mobile-optimized CMS

PrestaShop Review

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.igloosoftware.com/" target="_blank">Igloo</a> pride themselves on being, “an Intranet you'll actually like”, and it's easy to see why.
With its headquarters in Ontario, Canada, Igloo is a widely successful web-based platform for collaborating at work. The platform powers over 4,000 global collaboration sites in over 80 countries around the world.
Igloo is all about improving productivity in the workspace. It allows you to communicate and collaborate faster and easier via built-in apps which include blogs, calendars, file sharing, forums, micro-blogs, and wikis.
The platform is fully cloud-based and can be easily customized, from branding options to interface arrangement.
<h2>Flexible Corporate Communication</h2>
Igloo enables you and your team to communicate in a number of ways, all from the same digital space.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/1700x0.png" alt="Igloo Interface" /> 
On top of sharing files and Built-in forums allow you to use familiar tools like up-voting, @replies and marking comments as answers. Additionally, traditional blogging and micro-blogging make up other examples where team members can communicate quickly and easily.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2700x0.png" alt="Igloo Mircoblog" /> 
This engrained focus on communication builds working relationships, enhances productivity, and keeps all team members updated accordingly.
Not too long ago, <a href="/igloo-makes-their-cloud-intranet-software-mobile/#.U0KBIvldXvU" target="_blank"> Igloo also made their software available for mobile users</a>, further enhancing the flexibility of its Intranet for team members on the move.
<h2>All About the Apps</h2>
<a href="http://www.igloosoftware.com/apps" target="_blank">Igloo Apps</a> define the way in which you collaborate with other team members. Such Apps include blogs, calendars, file sharing, forums micro-blogs and more.
All of these Apps all come built-in to Igloo, and you can use them either selectively, or all at once. Whatever suits you and your team best.
Essentially, using the different Igloo Apps together allows you to create a fully functioning internal social network – which is also completely private.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/3700x0.png" alt="Igloo Apps" /> 
Blogging and micro-blogging – as previously mentioned – help team members give updates and spread news internally. Apps like calendars, file sharing, wikis and forums on the other hand, are brilliant tools for scheduling tasks, streamlining workflows, asking questions and learning.
Furthermore, you can completely change the look and configuration of your Igloo Intranet in order to meet different needs. Corporate Intranets, employee collaboration networks and customer portals can all be easily catered for.
To find out more about Igloo, check out their <a href="http://www.igloosoftware.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>.
Additionally, make sure you explore more of Igloo via our CMS Directory.

Igloo: an Intranet You & Your Team Will Actually Like

Weeding through the various CMS on the market to determine which ones are strongest for specific industries can be a challenge. In an effort to help make things a bit clearer, we present you with our take on which are the Top CMS for Healthcare.
Governments of industrialized nations all across the globe recognize how important it is that patients in their healthcare systems receive the best care possible. As a result, they have come to recognize the importance of legislating better record-keeping and information management across these systems.
Today, this means the careful use of technology to manage content responsibly and effectively. Security, of course, is a key component in this mission. Access across devices must also be seamless, and systems should be adaptable to the ever-merging world that healthcare seems to have become. A high level of customer service – accounting for varying levels of technical savvy among healthcare employees – is also a crucial point to consider. With these many important characteristics in mind, the following 6 CMS are the ones the healthcare industry has come to turn to today:
<h2>OpenText</h2>
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/small_opentext_logo.jpg" alt="CMS For Healthcare -- OpenText Logo" />
OpenText offers many helpful Web 2.0 features – for an online physician and patient experience that is both practical and engaging – as well as enterprise-wide paperless solutions. These paper-free options include digital storage of MRIs, X-rays, etc., as well as paperless billing, HR, and insurance records. What's more, OpenText provides auditing trails to ensure regulatory compliance as well.
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://www.opentext.com"> OpenText </a>
<h2>Lexmark</h2>
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped_lexmark_logo.jpg" alt="CMS For Healthcare" />
Like OpenText, Lexmark document management solutions for healthcare allow for fewer paper documents (including automated delivery of orders to pharmacy, radiology, and dietary service areas, among other departments), all with the goal of better patient care at lower costs. Through a simple pull printing and tracking solution, stronger compliance is also achieved, as patient information is thus better protected.
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://www.lexmark.com/en_US/solutions/software-services/content-management/"> Lexmark </a>
<h2>Meditech</h2>
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/small_meditech_logo.jpg" alt="CMS For Healthcare" />
Regardless of which software a healthcare organization has been using, Meditech's enterprise content management system aims to meet government requirements through its interoperable unified patient record, securely accessible from anywhere. This EHR (electronic health record) serves a wide range of facilities – from hospitals, ambulatory care centers, physicians' offices, long term care and behavioral health facilities, to home care organizations worldwide. The system also promises to make electronic submission of outpatient prescriptions a reliable reality that reduces medication errors. Furthermore, Meditech EHRs aim to make a difference in an era when organizations are increasingly merging, joining care networks, or adopting shared models.
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://home.meditech.com/en/d/home/"> MediTech </a>
<h2>OnBase by Hyland Software</h2>
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/small_onbase_logo.jpg" alt="CMS For Healthcare" />
Hyland Software's OnBase enterprise content management boasts of a 98% customer renewal each year and an exclusive endorsement by the American Hospital Association (AHA). Using customer input, as well as an in-house team including experienced nurses, therapists, and directors of HIM (health information management), OnBase's solutions facilitate audits and other compliance requirements, and automate not only patient care but other important organizational processes as well, including administrative and patient financial services. In doing so, OnBase aims to reduce operational costs and improve patient care by allowing practitioners to access information from disparate systems exactly when they need it – through secure, remote log-in as well as by assigning document expiration dates (at which time information deletes automatically).
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://www.onbase.com/en/solutions/healthcare"> OnBase </a>
<h2>MedTouch</h2>
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/small_medtouch_logo.jpg" />
MedTouch for Sitecore is an award-winning CMS that powers everything from public-facing websites to employee oriented intranets (including mobile solutions) for health plans, physician groups, and hospitals. Client support includes CMS migration, infrastructure consulting, administrator training, and system audit and evaluation.
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://www.medtouch.com/what-we-do/content-management-solutions"> MedTouch </a>
<h2>Cascade Server by Hannon Hill</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cascade.jpg" />
Hannon Hill's Cascade Server CMS provides technical and non-technical users alike comprehensive toolkits that work with any database, operating system, or web server. Cascade Server also emphasizes a special type of open door policy, as it not only takes pride in its customer service but also prides itself on the way in which it enables clients to interact with one another through an online help forum. The company welcomes clients to contact their support team as often as they like, any time, and weekly Tuesday webinars focus on new tips for users. Hannon Hill even provides free access to web services projects and migration tools, with a large quantity of Cascade Server's code made available directly to clients.
Visit them on the web: <a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/"> Cascade Server </a>
In an age of automation, the use of online technology may seem like nothing more than a convenience for many businesses; however, high-quality CMS technology for the healthcare has become recognized as an absolute necessity when it comes to meeting not only privacy regulations but also government requirements to use systems in ways that meaningfully improve patient care. As more and more software companies step up to this challenge, healthcare organizations are coming to expect, as well, to be able to take advantage of technology that also works with existing systems, making all facets of managing a large organization run smoothly and seamlessly, from the billing department to payroll as well.

Top CMS for Healthcare

After many months of hard work from the <a href="http://www.impresspages.org/" target="_blank">ImpressPages</a> team, version 4.0 of the platform has been released.
ImpressPages is an open-source “drag-and-drop” and “in-line” editing based content management system which powers over 47,000 websites across the world.
Regarding the release of version 4.0, the ImpressPages team had this to say:
<blockquote>It’s been one hell of a party these past three months. But we are finally ready to say finito, ImpressPages 4.0 is ready! This release was an important checkpoint for us and we made it. Now we want YOU to rob us a bit of our excitement and happiness. As of today, you can download the new version, start exploring and build beautiful stable websites on it.</blockquote>
So, let's take a quick look at what's new with ImpressPages.
<h2>Simpler Coding &amp; A Sleeker Interface</h2>
ImpressPages 4.0 was designed to empower people to create beautiful websites and quality content with minimal hassle. One of the ways ImpressPages now does this is via easy coding processes.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/untitled_1_03_4700x0.png" alt="ImpressPages 4.0 Coding" />
With the new  <a href="http://www.impresspages.org/docs/model"> MVC engine </a>  and handy pre-built features (like multi-linguality, translations, grid etc.) developers can create powerful systems in no time, add their own themes and plugins. ImpressPages 4.0 is fully customizable to your and your clients’ needs.
Another core update to ImpressPages comes in the form of a new, beautiful interface which has usability in mind.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ip_interface_3700x0.png" alt="ImpressPages 4.0 Interface" />
Features like inline editing and drag-and-drop have been improved. For example, it takes only one drag-and-drop action to create a new field, which itself only requires one click to edit.
Publishers and website owners can add any content they wish, including text, pictures, videos to polls and menus which now take far less time and effort.
Further updates features brought about by ImpressPages 4.0 incude key-value storage, multi-language support, and much more.
To find out more about ImpressPages 4.0, migration instructions, check out their <a href="http://www.impresspages.org/impresspages-4-0-released" target="_blank">official blog announcement</a>. Alternatively, you can <a href="http://www.impresspages.org/download" target="_blank">download ImpressPages 4.0 right now</a>.
Also, be sure to also explore more of ImpressPages via our CMS Directory.

ImpressPages 4.0 Released

Are you a fan of Umbraco? Then you'll be glad to know they've had a new release of the popular open-source CMS.
Umbraco 7.1.0 was just released and it comes with a score of new features.
Let's take a look at what's new in this release.
<h2>Image Cropping</h2>
Image cropping has been added to the core of the CMS but it's not just any cropping tool, it also doubles as an upload field, meaning you can replace any upload field with a cropper field and your previously uploaded file is still there but become croppable. Of course, without a file, you get the option of uploading one.
<img style="max-width:473px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/umbraco_image_scaling473x0.png" alt="Umbraco Image Cropping" />
<h2>Breadcrumbs and Warnings</h2>
New warnings have been added to the CMS to alert you when you are about to navigate away from a page without saving changes as well as breadcrumbs to let you know where you are within the CMS.
<img style="max-width:411px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/umbraco_breadcrumbs_and_warnings.png" alt="umbraco breadcrumbs and warnings" />
<h2>Changing Content / Document Types</h2>
In those instances where you start filling a page with content and then realize you are using the wrong content type, you can now switch the content types and remap the fields without losing your content.
<img style="max-width:469px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/umbraco_content_types_switching.png" alt="umbraco content types switching" />
<h2>Members</h2>
Last but not least, the members API has been reworked and MemberService is now available and completely in line with ContentService and Media Service.
In addition, they've attempted to make working with members easier by providing snippets for Register, Login, Login Status, and Edit Profile when you create a new Particle View.
<img style="max-width:479px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/umbraco_members.png" alt="umbraco members" />
And there you have it.
Would you like more information on Umbraco? Check them out in our <a href="/products/umbraco/">CMS Products Directory</a> or <a href="https://umbraco.com/">visit them on the web.</a>

Umbraco CMS 7.1.0 is out with lots of new features

Canadian <a href="https://www.shopify.com/" target="_blank"> Shopify</a> customers were in for a treat yesterday, as the Shopify Card Reader was made available in Canada for the first time.
Shopify is a world-renowned e-commerce solution powering over 90,000 stores and was the winner of our <a href="/2013-people-s-choice-winner-for-best-ecommerce-solution/#.Uz0_hfldXvU" target="_blank"> 2013 People's Choice for Best Ecommerce Solution</a> award.
The Shopify card reader is a free device that allows Shopify merchants to accept credit card payments on the go using the Shopify Mobile iPhone app, or in-store using  Shopify POS, Shopify's iPad-based point of sale system.
<h2>Sell Anywhere with the Shopify Mobile App</h2>
Using the Shopify Card Reader, merchants can accept all major credit cards from their offline stores. These cards include Visa, MasterCard and American Express all at one flat rate based on your Shopify plan, as shown below.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/chart_1c12954b-ec07-4fd2-9512-2096d6d9f98b700x0.jpg" alt="Shopify POS Plans" />
This means that Canadian Shopify merchants who also sell offline can now accept credit card payments using the Shopify Mobile iPhone app. You can sell your existing products or even create custom sales on the spot.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/shopify-mobile-payments_7b9f3468-1b0a-47e6-93c7-3f120e8296d3.png" alt="Shopify Mobile App" />
If you’re in Canada or the U.S., you can order your free Shopify mobile card reader by logging into the app, navigating to the ‘Accept Payments’ screen, and confirming your mailing address.
Shopify Mobile is free for all existing Shopify merchants and can be downloaded in the Apple App Store.
<h2>Sell From Your Physical Store</h2>
As well as mobile selling, Shopify enables you to sell easily and professionally from your physical retail store using Shopify POS.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/shopify_pos_online_and_in_store.jpg" alt="Shopify POS " /> 
Shopify POS is a fully integrated point of sale system that bridges the gap between your offline retail location  and your online store. Canadian merchants can now use the Shopify card reader to accept credit card payments with Shopify POS, which works seamlessly with the Apple iPad.
Furthermore, Shopify has also opened their Canadian <a href="http://hardware.shopify.ca/" target="_blank">hardware store</a> which means you can order Shopify POS hardware kits and other optional accessories like receipt printers and bar code scanners.
If you'd prefer to get a closer look before purchasing, you can head down to Shopify's Toronto pop-up store from April 1st to April 4th to get a free mobile card reader or buy Shopify POS hardware kits.
To find out more about the Canadian Shopify Card Reader release, check out the official blog announcement.
Also, don't forget to check out <a href="/products/shopify/" target="_blank">Shopify via our CMS Directory</a>.

Shopify Card Reader Launches in Canada

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