Articles - Page 15

What I Mean to Say: A Practitioner Perspective on AI, Semantics, and Content Evolution

msalvatierra

<hr /> As a digital analyst – and, at heart, a guy who just likes to write stories about cool people and tech – I try to bring an outside perspective to everything.Sometimes, I’m just beyond the perimeter. Others, I’m inside it. More on that in a minute.Let me start today with one of our favorite words: composable. I’ve long held that it is, indeed, a “thing.” I think most of you will agree with me. Trends come and go, but this one is as much about technology as it is about philosophy – and broader in its reach than the stiff walls of industry categories. Even now, debate continues around how we define the composability of a product or a company, with conflicting POVs emanating from various camps based on a number of factors. Why can't we all just get along? As the feud wages on, the <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-expands-certification-scope-to-include-offerings-within-larger-vendors">MACH Alliance</a> has been a leading voice in shaping the answer to this and other questions. Since 2020, it has endeavored to quantify the dimensions in a tangible way, establishing core tenets that reinforce key attributes and educate the market. How does the Alliance define composable? In a nutshell, it's a modular development approach that allows organizations to create custom applications by combining smaller, independent components. These components can then be customized, replaced, and plugged in independently to meet specific needs. In other words, you “compose” your stack.The charter of the MACH Alliance has always been clear: make it easier for buyers to understand the benefits of composable so they can evaluate solutions confidently, and even procure technologies that meet rigid MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud SaaS, Headless) standards. These standards provide the guardrails for certifying a solution as truly composable, which is where some of the debate stems from. By this definition, all MACH solutions are composable, but not all composable solutions are MACH compliant.Like composable, MACH is also a “thing." And that’s made clear by its continued rise in adoption (solid <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-publishes-first-annual-report-showcases-industry-impact-and-plans-for-2024">research validates this</a>). At last year’s <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-two-conference-wrap-six-takeaways-from-the-composable-event-of-the-year">MACH TWO event</a>, we saw how European markets and global brands were turning MACH’s pioneering principles into real projects and successful outcomes. Because of its early adoption across EU markets, some people assume this whole movement started in Europe. Not exactly.Now, at this year’s <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/events/mach-three">MACH THREE event</a> – which wrapped in New York City last Tuesday – we’re seeing the movement's zeitgeist take root in North America. This is a big deal for the MACH Alliance, another signpost reflecting its continued rise and influence. The organization, which advocates for open, best-of-breed technology ecosystems, has attracted more than 100 members to its ranks. This includes a signature bench of Enablers like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/aws-joins-mach-alliance-as-enabler-member-reflects-growth-of-cloud-native-solutions">AWS</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/google-cloud-platform">Google</a>, and industry Supporters that feature <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/newsroom/mach-alliance-announces-paypal-is-the-first-company-to-join-new-supporter-membership-category">PayPal</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/members/j-p-morgan">J.P. Morgan</a>. Heavy hitters, to be sure. At CMS Critic, we’ve been following the organization’s successes and challenges since Day One, and always taken a keen interest in its trajectory. We’ve covered its accomplishments and accolades, but also the challenges and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-openly-invites-companies-claiming-mach-to-apply-for-certification">occasional controversy</a> that the movement has stirred – particularly among competitors. <h3 id="full-transparency">Full transparency</h3>I am a member of the Alliance’s Executive Advisory Board, where I listen and counsel with objective industry insight. I view things first through the CMS lens, but I've cultivated a deeper knowledge of the wider market and how composable and MACH are being leveraged to future-proof enterprise stacks.For the second year, I was asked to judge the prestigious <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/mach-impact-awards">MACH Impact Awards</a>, a staple of the annual conference’s agenda – and a reflection of the actual work being performed in the market. The MACH Impact Awards recognize organizations that have demonstrated tremendous value through digital transformation projects by successfully implementing a MACH approach. What qualifies me for this honor? Over the last two decades, I’ve built digital experiences with numerous tools and platforms – too many to count. There have been incredible highs and wildly successful launches, but I’ve also struggled, maybe even cried a few times (not ashamed to admit that). Along the way, I've also watched the seedlings of composability bubble up effervescently as stacks became more decoupled and dependent on APIs. In my second year judging the Impact Awards, I’ll say this: it’s getting easier and harder. Easier in the sense that more organizations clearly understand the fundamentals and are adopting the mindset in a more intentional way. Harder in that the use cases are more dense, complex, and difficult to choose as winners in a juried contest. I can’t get into the sausage-making behind the scenes. But I’ll simply say this: it was a joy to read, rank, and collaborate with fellow judges on our panel, all of whom are accomplished industry experts. We were all committed to assessing every entry with a fair, critical, unbiased eye – giving each use case a thorough evaluation. With that said, here are the results of that work.<h3 id="mach-matters-more-than-ever">MACH matters more than ever</h3>There were some astoundingly rich, detailed, ambitious, and downright intimidating entries in the third annual Impact Awards. Before I Iist the victors, there are a few key insights derived from 2024's cohort of applications.First, it’s worth noting that this year’s Impact Awards experienced a 20% increase in entries. That’s a clear signal that interest and awareness is growing – but also that organizations, vendors, and SIs are understanding the fierce requirements needed to satisfy a successful MACH program. In terms of scope, the MACH Alliance handed out ten MACH Impact Awards, recognizing projects from focused industries, project teams, and individuals. There was some notable expansion into the categories of travel, tourism and hospitality, and consumer product goods manufacturing. The MACH Alliance also added a Best New Breaking Ground Project award for companies paving the way in a new sector.There were two new “Grand Prix” awards featured in this year’s contest. This included Best Digital Experience and Best Overall Change, where the category award winners vied for a “best-of-the-best” honor as chosen by the judges.  “We are seeing companies implement MACH projects across a growing range of industries and geographic markets like never before, which speaks to the importance of operating a flexible, modern, and composable technology infrastructure,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-hall-4b14a945/">Holly Hall</a>, managing director, MACH Alliance. “Our <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/content-hub/mach-global-research-2024">2024 global research</a> discovered that 9 in 10 IT decision-makers say composable technology will be instrumental to the success of their organization in the next five years.”<h3 id="“we-are-the-champions”-(cue-the-music)">“We are the champions” (cue the music)</h3>No shocker if you read the headline, but Kraft Heinz and Clarks earned the pretigious Grand Prix honors. These were incredible projects, and certainly worthy of the accolades. Official winners of the 2024 MACH Impact Awards include:<ul><li>Best B2B Project: Hynds Group</li><li>Best Retail Project: Clarks</li><li>Best Health &amp; Wellness Project: Vision Healthcare</li><li>Best Travel, Tourism, &amp; Hospitality Project: Wendy’s</li><li>Best Manufacturing (consumer goods) Project: Kraft Heinz</li><li>Breaking New Ground Project: Micheldever</li><li>Team of the Year Award: Varner</li><li>Contributor of the Year Award: Justin Thomas, head of digital experience, Kraft Heinz</li><li>Grand Prix – Best Overall Change: Clarks</li><li>Grand Prix – Best Digital Experience: Kraft Heinz</li></ul>One special exception: during the event, recognition was given to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.danielsmusic.org/">Daniel’s Music Foundation</a>, a New York-based nonprofit that provides accessible music programs to people living with a disability. As the organization proclaims on its website, it’s changing lives through the power of music – a unique and worthy cause with local and global implications. This spotlight is another example of the MACH Alliance’s mission to make positive changes in our world, particularly in the realm of diversity, equality, and inclusion. If you’re interested in perusing the full list of nominees and winners, visit the <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/mach-impact-awards#Finalists">MACH Impact Awards page</a>. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>I think I’ve hit the high points in the opening salvo, but there are two main reasons why these Impact Awards are a milestone.First, it signifies the tangible growth of MACH and composable – and it’s not just hype or hyperbole. By featuring real use cases and successful outcomes, the Alliance is pinpointing just how successful its investments in community and education have been. With significantly more entries in this year’s contest, it’s clear that interest continues to rise.Second, MACH is making strides in the U.S. market, where it has been slowly taking root. The addressable market is large and relatively untapped, and its efforts over the last year to build a beachhead and drive awareness has been successful. This was part of the calculus in selecting New York City as the host location for the MACH THREE event – a hub for tech, finance, and just about every other industry under Gotham’s sun. Also, having U.S.-based brands like Kraft Heinz achieve standout recognition is further evidence that opportunities are evolving Westward.The contention around composable is a real phenomenon, and the division has been palpable. As monolithic platforms make inroads towards a more composable posture, headless CMSes and MACH-certified tools have also been evolving their own offerings to better compete in a grueling marketplace of options. I could probably write a book about the chaos that has ensued – both sides feeling a bit marginalized, both racing towards the middle in their own ways. But in the end, what really matters is the customer, and that’s what I love about these Awards. They elevate the voices of brands and builders, allowing their individual and collective success to tell their stories. And for the third year in a row, the MACH Alliance has made those stories a jewel in the crown of its premier event.  Awards programs are a fun and spirited way to celebrate achievement and excellence among our peers. The Impact Awards have delivered that in spades and continue to exemplify the promise and potential of MACH. Congratulations to the winners.  <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Clarks, Kraft Heinz Take Top Honors in MACH Impact Awards at MACH THREE

matt-garrepy

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

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

cms-critic-staff

Umbraco 14 Blossoms with a Fresh Architecture, Delivering Enhanced Customization and Extensibility 

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/global">J.P. Morgan</a> is one of the most iconic and recognizable brands on the planet. As a leading financial services firm, it has long been at the forefront of fintech innovation, where trust is the foundation of every digital decision.In terms of its scope and scale, J.P. Morgan is handling an epic number of transactions. In fact, its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments/solutions/commerce">J.P. Morgan Payments</a> unit processes nearly $10 trillion in payments each day across 160 countries and 120 currencies.To support this level of traffic at a global scale, the company has been investing in composable technologies and architectures to realize greater speed, flexibility, and other key benefits. Over the last several years, J.P. Morgan’s team has been modernizing its tech stack specifically around MACH principles, so it can future-proof for what’s next.It would seem that J.P. Morgan’s adoption of MACH is succeeding – so much so that the storied company is throwing its hat in the ring with the <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-expands-certification-scope-to-include-offerings-within-larger-vendors">MACH Alliance</a>: a not-for-profit industry body dedicated to advocating for open, best-of-breed technology ecosystems. Today, the Alliance announced that the J.P. Morgan Payments arm has joined the MACH Alliance as a Supporter member. In this role, it will help elevate thought leadership and educate companies on the role of composable technology in financial services, with the goal of delivering more innovative digital experiences to both clients and end users.“At J.P. Morgan Payments, we continue to deliver new solutions and enhance our capabilities as we build a modern payments business globally,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-walton-721a174/">Kate Walton</a>, chief commercial officer, merchant payments at J.P. Morgan Payments. “We have a rich network of relationships with organizations across the commerce technology ecosystem, including partners, clients, and service providers.”<h3 id="ushing-in-a-composable-era-in-fintech-with-mach">Ushing in a composable era in fintech with MACH</h3>It goes without saying that change is a constant in technology. Banks and financial institutions are under significant pressure to continually adapt to both technological and market disruptions, modernizing their experience to meet the needs of digital-first consumers. The numbers reflect organizations' growing anxiety about the pace of innovation and the need to stay ahead. According to the MACH Alliance’s “<a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/content-hub/mach-global-research-2024">MACH Global Research 2024</a>” report, three-quarters of global IT decision-makers say that it’s more urgent to innovate in 2024 than in the past five years.Many enterprises are turning to MACH as a panacea for this pain – and driving more composable solutions to future-proof against change. In fact, 87% of IT leaders in the financial services sector have increased their investment in MACH in the last 12 months, reflecting the scope of growth. J.P. Morgan has been at the edge of this transformation in the critical financial services industry, aiming to enhance its commerce capabilities with MACH solutions in online payments, in-store and omnichannel payments, fraud protection services, and more. From a mindset perspective, J.P. Morgan’s technological approach also demonstrates a commitment to MACH principles in several key areas. This includes the deployment of <a target="_blank" href="https://developer.payments.jpmorgan.com/">API-first</a> connectivity for automated business processes and the build-out of a cloud-native architecture for enhanced security.The company is also leveraging component-based microservices to speed up its implementation of commerce capabilities while driving a digitally enabled experience to simplify a myriad of back-office functions.“The movement toward MACH is an exciting transformation,” Walton said. “And we look forward to helping our clients accelerate innovation to better deliver more seamless and secure experiences for their end customers in a rapidly evolving landscape.<h3 id="supporting-mach-with-thought-leadership">Supporting MACH with thought leadership</h3>The MACH Alliance subsists on its <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/members">core base of members</a>, which includes 49 independent software vendors, 23 startup ISVs, and 30 systems integrators. These technology suppliers, agencies, and consultants have received exclusive certifications that qualify their MACH affiliation – and validate their readiness as trusted MACH resources for building composable solutions.Additionally, the Alliance has enlisted a group of Enablers and Supporters to help shepherd the MACH ecosystem with both technology and thought leadership innovation. J.P. Morgan joins <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mach-alliance-announces-paypal-is-the-first-company-to-join-new-supporter-membership-category-301866133.html">PayPa</a>l as the second Supporter member in the Alliance.The Supporter category is intended for organizations from across the broader industry that bring diverse expertise and opinions to the Alliance community. As such, they sit outside the requirements for MACH certification while still embracing and reinforcing its tenets. The goal is for Supporters to share unique thought leadership and innovation around composability and actively contribute across MACH Alliance activities, conferences, and the wider member community. “One of the more cutting-edge companies in financial services, we are thrilled to have J.P. Morgan join the MACH Alliance to share its knowledge and advocate for more modern digital experiences,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-future-is-composable-a-conversation-with-new-mach-alliance-president-casper-rasmussen">Casper Rasmussen</a>, president of the MACH Alliance and group SVP of technology at Valtech. “The rate of adoption of MACH in the U.S. and globally is rising. The firm is well positioned to support customers that adopt composability, such as retailers that need reliable commerce and payment tools.” <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>J.P. Morgan is a high-profile global brand, bringing unmatched gravitas to the MACH Alliance's ecosystem. As an established leader in a premier industry, the addition of its Payments arm adds further credibility to the MACH movement and reflects a growing trend of U.S.-based interest in composable trends and technologies. As Rasmussen noted in previous interviews, the U.S. is a key focus for the MACH Alliance in 2024. According to the organization's <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-publishes-first-annual-report-showcases-industry-impact-and-plans-for-2024">2023 annual report</a>, U.S. adoption was already on an upswing, representing a much larger addressable market for expansion. With J.P. Morgan providing thought leadership – and demonstrating its success with adopting MACH in its own practices – the Alliance stands to gain ground with other U.S. prospects and global brands. <h3 id="accelerating-to-mach-three">Accelerating to MACH THREE</h3>The MACH Alliance is holding its annual conference, MACH THREE, from June 17-18 in New York City. The event is designed to help companies learn more about the advantages of MACH and composability, with a variety of real-world use cases and applications.You can still <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/events/mach-three">register for this free industry event</a> to hear from peers discussing MACH and composable trends, and learn from leading brands who have future-proofed their digital strategy with MACH.   <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

J.P. Morgan Joins MACH Alliance, Reinforcing Growth of Composability in Digital Financial Services

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

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/amplitude-expands-platform-capabilities-with-session-replay-and-simplified-pricing">Amplitude</a> continues to prove its value as a go-to product analytics platform, especially around its <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/amplitude-introduces-snowflake-native-amplitude-app-with-new-snowpark-container-services">Snowflake</a> applications. To that end, the company just announced the general availability of its <a target="_blank" href="https://amplitude.com/warehouse-native">Snowflake native offering</a>, which allows organizations to leverage Amplitude’s product analytics capabilities without their data ever leaving Snowflake. The result: accelerated and streamlined insights around what customers are doing – allowing teams to build better products and drive growth. The new offering really features the best of both platforms, enabling companies to leverage Amplitude’s product analytics capabilities to understand user journeys across every touchpoint. With centralized data storage, there are fewer security concerns, making the investment more valuable for businesses. Amplitude’s direct connection also means that all queries are run within Snowflake, removing the need to store or copy data to multiple places – which reinforces privacy, security, and compliance best practices.One of the biggest benefits is getting valuable data insights into the hands of more customers for free. As early-stage and enterprise organizations look to adopt warehouse-native analytics, Amplitude is including up to five free seats of Warehouse-native Amplitude in every plan. “We want to provide our customers with the most choice and flexibility to leverage their data their way,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoisajenstat/">Francois Ajenstat</a>, chief product officer at Amplitude. “Now, customers can harness the power of Snowflake in Amplitude without their data ever leaving Snowflake. With the best of Amplitude and Snowflake together, teams can now focus on what matters most: creating amazing customer experiences that drive business growth.”The announcement was made at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.snowflake.com/summit/">Snowflake Data Cloud Summit 2024</a>, where Amplitude is an attendee with a booth in tow.<h3 id="bringing-the-power-of-product-analytics-to-snowflake">Bringing the power of product analytics to Snowflake</h3>Amplitude helps businesses capitalize on their investments by centralizing data in Snowflake. By leveraging Amplitude’s direct connection, all queries are run within Snowflake, removing the need to store or copy data to multiple places.The combined power of Amplitude and Snowflake also makes it easier and faster than ever for companies to integrate product and customer insights. With data that's trusted, secure, and always up-to-date, teams can make smarter product decisions while maintaining privacy, security, and compliance requirements. As more companies look to adopt Snowflake native analytics, Amplitude is sweetening the deal by including its new offering for free in every plan. Regardless of an organization's size, every team can get started with up to five seats for free. When it comes to their data, Amplitude is committed to meeting customers wherever they are. With integrations to over 130 data sources, Amplitude provides the most choice and flexibility for leveraging data anywhere in their digital ecosystem. While other solutions on the market force customers to choose between native and non-native connections, Amplitude provides a hybrid option to help businesses optimize data access and performance according to their unique needs.“We want to help every user quickly and easily build in the AI Data Cloud so they can deliver immediate business impact. Our continued investments with Amplitude allow us to do that at a greater scale,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrischild/">Chris Child</a>, VP and head of worldwide sales engineering at Snowflake. “Amplitude is well known for providing self-serve product analytics. With this new application, customers can better understand user behavior and gain critical behavioral insights without their data ever leaving Snowflake.”By building on Snowflake, product and engineering teams can develop, scale, and manage their apps without operational burden, delivering differentiated products to their customers. This also gives organizations access to resources that help them design, market, and operate their applications in the Data Cloud. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>We've been following the innovation track between Amplitude and Snowflake, and this realization of native functionality is a critical achievement. The unified approach empowers users to personalize experiences, optimize marketing campaigns, and ultimately drive growth – all with the security and governance you expect from Snowflake. With Snowflake Native Amplitude, teams can similarly bring their financial and enterprise data alongside rich behavioral data to truly correlate digital product engagement with business growth.As Francois Ajenstat suggested in a recent blog, you can have your cake and eat it too.The extent of the native capabilities is certainly evolutionary. If you consider the traditional model for analyzing behavioral and financial data, the entire process has been disjointed, with enterprise data residing in Snowflake and behavioral data in Amplitude. But Snowflake Native Amplitude effectively breaks down these silos, allowing teams to easily combine both data sets within Snowflake to better understand the business impact of user behavior. “Picture a user abandoning their cart,” Ajenstat said. “Previously, you might only see this as a missed sale. But with Snowflake Native Amplitude, you can combine behavioral data with the user's purchase history, demographics, or other information stored in Snowflake.”From a trust perspective, Snowflake Native Amplitude makes security and privacy easy for organizations. This is a big one for enterprises, particularly as data becomes more vulnerable across so many applications. The answer here is that the data itself never leaves the Snowflake Data Cloud, mitigating the risks associated with data movement, drift, and duplication to strengthen your compliance posture. You can also leverage your existing Snowflake security and privacy policies to reinforce data protection and simplify compliance management to all of your specific industry regulations.As product analytics take a more pronounced role for brands and enterprises, having reliable integration across the analytics plane and where it lives is key. Amplitude and Snowflake have now achieved the highest order of alignment with their capabilities, giving the market a critical asset for improving customer insights.   <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Amplitude Amps Up Snowflake AI Data Cloud with Product Analytics

Contentstack Fires Up Brand-Relevant, AI-Powered Personalization at ContentCon 2024

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Storyblok is writing its next chapter with an $80M Series C. Here’s why it matters

<hr /> A Digital Asset Management (DAM) system is a comprehensive solution designed to efficiently store, organize, manage, retrieve, and distribute an organization's digital assets. It combines software and business processes to centralize and streamline asset management, offering a more structured approach to handling media and content.DAM encompasses both a business strategy and a technology platform. Its primary function is to create a centralized repository where organizations can access, update, and distribute their digital assets efficiently. These assets include any digital file that holds value and is searchable through metadata. Some examples of digital assets include:<ul><li>Documents</li><li>Images</li><li>Audio and video files</li><li>Animations</li><li>Graphics</li><li>Presentations</li><li>Media files with usage rights</li></ul><h3 id="the-strategic-value-of-a-dam">The Strategic Value of a DAM</h3>Modern organizations leverage DAMs to repurpose creative assets, reducing production costs and avoiding duplication of effort. The search and retrieval capabilities of DAM systems are also crucial for optimizing workflows. In the context of digital transformation, where brand visibility and messaging consistency across platforms like social media are vital, DAM platforms play an essential role in maintaining brand integrity and fostering growth.By centralizing asset management, DAM systems provide a single source of truth, supporting a unified approach to content deployment and audience engagement. As such, they have become indispensable tools in the digital era, empowering businesses to adapt and thrive in competitive markets.<h3 id="key-benefits-of-a-dam">Key Benefits of a DAM</h3>A DAM system supports various organizational goals by improving asset management. It enhances operational efficiency, particularly for marketing and sales teams, by facilitating the production and distribution of rich media. This leads to better brand consistency, as assets are automatically updated and aligned with brand guidelines, ensuring a cohesive experience for both internal stakeholders and external audiences.Implementing a DAM system offers several advantages that improve operational efficiency, brand consistency, and customer engagement.<ul><li>Lower Production Costs and Optimized Resource Use: By centralizing assets, DAM systems help organizations quickly locate and reuse existing files, reducing the need for redundant production. This cuts costs and allows resources to be redirected to other strategic areas. The increased efficiency speeds up time-to-market for new content and solutions.</li><li>Enhanced Transparency: DAM provides a clear view of all digital assets, improving project management and content planning. It fosters better collaboration by eliminating redundant projects and creating more efficient workflows. Stakeholders can easily track asset usage and status, ensuring alignment across teams.</li><li>Elevated Conversion Rates and Customer Retention: Proper organization of content based on the customer journey allows businesses to deliver personalized, on-brand materials at the right time. DAM helps nurture stronger customer relationships by tailoring the user experience, accelerating movement through the sales funnel, and improving retention.</li><li>Consistent Branding: DAM ensures brand consistency by providing a single source of truth for all messaging, visuals, and creative assets. Teams across different departments can access and reuse approved assets, maintaining uniformity in market communications.</li><li>Governance and Compliance: DAM systems support regulatory compliance by organizing critical assets like licenses, contracts, and legal documents. This capability not only simplifies audits but also minimizes disruptions to business processes, saving time and reducing risk.</li></ul><h3 id="industry-use-cases">Industry Use Cases</h3>Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems offer versatile solutions across industries by enabling efficient storage, organization, and distribution of digital content. Here are some diverse use cases for DAM beyond the traditional marketing and branding contexts:Media and Entertainment<ul><li>Streamlined Production Workflow: DAM simplifies access to scripts, storyboards, and production notes. By centralizing assets like video clips, graphics, and promotional materials, teams can collaborate seamlessly across various locations.</li><li>Content Monetization: Media companies can organize and license content more effectively, enabling quick distribution to multiple platforms.</li></ul>Healthcare<ul><li>Patient Education and Training: DAM stores and categorizes multimedia resources, such as instructional videos or brochures, which healthcare providers can use to educate patients.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: It ensures secure access and version control of sensitive documents like patient records, medical imaging, and compliance reports, streamlining audits and adherence to privacy laws.</li></ul>Retail and eCommerce<ul><li>Product Information Management (PIM): Retailers use DAM to store high-quality images, videos, and descriptions of products, ensuring consistent branding across eCommerce platforms.</li><li>Dynamic Content Delivery: Retailers can personalize customer experiences by delivering tailored content based on user behavior and preferences.</li></ul>Higher Education<ul><li>Course Material Management: DAM allows institutions to store and distribute digital textbooks, lecture recordings, and other educational resources, improving access for students and faculty.</li><li>Alumni and Fundraising Campaigns: Universities can manage and reuse promotional content, maintaining consistency in messaging across campaigns.</li></ul>Manufacturing<ul><li>Technical Documentation: Manufacturers utilize DAM for storing and sharing product manuals, CAD designs, and maintenance videos, aiding field technicians and partners.</li><li>Training Resources: Training modules for workforce development can be centrally managed and distributed.</li></ul>Public Sector<ul><li>Public Records Management: Governments can organize and provide access to historical records, legal documents, and public notices.</li><li>Crisis Communication: DAM systems help maintain up-to-date materials for public announcements, ensuring timely and accurate communication during emergencies.</li></ul>These varied applications highlight DAM's adaptability, enabling organizations to manage their digital content efficiently while supporting specific business goals<h3 id="what-to-consider-when-evaluating-a-dam">What to consider when evaluating a DAM</h3>Most modern DAM solutions are cloud-based SaaS (software as a service) platforms, making them easier to deploy and integrate. A DAM can be procured as a pure-play, stand-alone product, or as part of a Digital Experience Platform (DXP), and selecting a DAM is highly dependent on your existing product stack and architecture – as well as your market and business goals. When selecting a Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution, organizations should ensure it meets their current operational requirements and future growth needs. A robust DAM system should offer the following essential capabilities. By focusing on these attributes, organizations can ensure their DAM solution supports seamless content management and drives operational efficiency.<ul><li>Comprehensive Asset Lifecycle Management: A DAM platform should support the entire lifecycle of digital assets, from initial creation to archiving. This includes tools for version control, updates, and expiration management. </li><li>Strong Governance: Security and compliance are essential, and any good DAM system should provide role-based permissions, ensuring that access to assets is tightly controlled to preserve integrity. For organizations requiring high benchmarks for regulatory compliance, governance can include auditability and compliance tooling at the DAM level.</li><li>Seamless Integration and API Access: The DAM system should integrate with existing tools, such as content creation, distribution platforms, and project management systems. It should also be compatible with future technologies to ensure the organization can scale and adapt its digital ecosystem without significant overhauls. Best-of-breed solutions often include marketplaces of pre-existing connectors and integrations with third-party tools and plug-ins. </li><li>Rich Search Capabilities: An agile DAM solution allows for both metadata-to-asset and asset-to-metadata searches. This bidirectional search capability supports efficient asset discovery and reuse, empowering different functional teams to locate and repurpose content quickly.</li><li>Extensible Sharing Features: To avoid data silos, a DAM platform should facilitate the sharing of digital assets and related data across the organization. This includes exporting search results, metadata, or entire asset collections for use in other systems or for external collaboration.</li><li>Speed: Fast and reliable file transfer is critical for maintaining business agility. A DAM system should enable rapid sharing and deployment of assets to ensure they are available where and when needed, minimizing delays and enhancing productivity.</li><li>Cloud Storage and Infrastructure: The storage infrastructure – whether on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid – should be stable and secure. Key considerations include flexibility, scalability, performance, and data recoverability to protect valuable assets and support business continuity. Modern cloud-based systems provide the most scalable solutions.</li><li>High-Utility AI Tools and Capabilities: Modern DAMs are embracing AI and matching learning, providing both complex and practical applications that are accelerating productivity, enhancing control, and improving governance. DAMs that feature AI prominently to impact functions like search and workflows are typically more performant. To that end, AI is an essential ingredient when considering a DAM.</li></ul><h3 id="need-help-evaluating-a-dam-solution?">Need help evaluating a DAM solution?</h3>If you're currently considering a DAM – either as a pure-play solution or part of a DXP – you can explore the best-of-breed solutions in our CMS Critic <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/digital-asset-management">Product Directory for Digital Asset Management systems</a>.  Looking for assistance with your evaluation? <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contact">Contact us.</a>

What is a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system?

Zengenti’s Insytful Offers an Easy, Affordable Solution for Managing Accessibility and Governance

Optimizely Leads Gartner's 2024 MQ for Content Marketing Platforms as More DXPs Join the Game

<hr /> May 16th is <a target="_blank" href="https://accessibility.day/">Global Accessibility Awareness Day</a>. It's a moment to reflect on how far we've come in our quest to build a more accessible world and discuss the continued work ahead. On the digital side of the ledger, there's still a lot to do.In honor of the 13th annual GAAD (we love our “shortcodes” in CMS, and this is a helpful one), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/">Acquia</a> – a leader in open digital experience software – just released its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/accessibility-report-2024">2024 Survey Report: Consumer Perspectives on Digital Accessibility</a>. The analysis reveals how website users with disabilities perceive the state of digital accessibility and how their experiences impact brand reputation and loyalty. This report contains some shocking stats. For starters, 89% of participants say they encounter accessibility issues that make it challenging to interact with websites or other digital experiences offered by brands. In addition, 62% say they would consider switching to a competitor with better accessibility features. “It’s clear that digital experiences are not meeting the accessibility expectations of those who need them. This is a critical business issue that requires more attention,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/acquia-and-the-art-of-the-possible-interview-with-chief-market-officer-jennifer-griffin-smith">Jennifer Griffin Smith</a>, Chief Market Officer at Acquia. “Digital accessibility is an essential pillar of digital experience design and management that should not be overlooked or shortchanged. Creating equal, accessible opportunities for all is a value all marketers and organizations should strive for.”The online survey was conducted in April 2024 by <a target="_blank" href="https://researchscape.com/">Researchscape</a> and is composed of responses from 1,265 adults across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia who identified as having a disability. <h3 id="neglecting-digital-accessibility-is-impacting-brands">Neglecting digital accessibility is impacting brands</h3>The Acquia survey found that not only are disability issues widespread, but so are the impacts. For example, when encountering accessibility issues on digital platforms, 45% of respondents describe the experience as either “very” or “extremely” frustrating. It's not a leap to assume that brand reputation is negatively impacted when users encounter these digital accessibility challenges. Survey participants also report a myriad of feelings in response to accessibility issues. 71% express frustration, while 58% say they feel “disappointed” and 24% register as “angry.” Nearly 1 in 5 say they feel excluded.When asked what steps they are most likely to take when experiencing these issues, 34% said they would complain directly to the brand, and 31% of respondents said they would talk about the accessibility issue with their family and friends. However, 20% leverage social media to share their experiences, creating a ripple effect of negative brand perception that extends far beyond the disabled individuals who experience these problems first-hand.In terms of a direct impact on brands and their bottom lines, 51% of respondents stated they would most likely seek alternative options that are more accessible, and 42% said they would discontinue using the brand’s services.  <h3 id="prioritizing-digital-accessibility-can-build-confidence-and-trust-">Prioritizing digital accessibility can build confidence and trust </h3>The survey's participants codify what we already know: more work needs to be done to improve digital accessibility for all users, and brands can reap the benefits on multiple levels – if they take swift action. To that end, 93% of consumers surveyed say that it's important that the brands they engage with prioritize digital accessibility. However, consumers want progress over platitudes, and many respondents expressed skepticism about the true intentions of companies when messaging around digital accessibility. In the past year, only 27% of respondents said they believe that brands are taking accessibility seriously and making meaningful improvements. It gets worse from there: 33% believe companies are just “doing the basics” to check the regulatory compliance box. 28% believe that while companies talk about accessibility as a marketing tactic, not much action has been taken – and 12% believe that companies aren’t thinking about or doing anything to improve digital accessibility.  “Ultimately, we’re talking about a large proportion of the population who would like to access, enjoy, and get value from digital experiences," Jennifer Griffin Smith concluded. “As digital marketers, we should not be excluding anyone from engaging with or participating in our digital content. This is an enormous opportunity to grow your customer base, increase revenue and, above all else, improve customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.”To view more details from the study, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/accessibility-report-2024">https://www.acquia.com/accessibility-report-2024</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Acquia Survey Reveals Brands are Paying the Price for Digital Accessibility Deficiencies

<hr /> It's a glass-clinking, champagne-drinking moment by all accounts.<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely</a>, a leading digital experience platform (DXP), just announced that it has surpassed $400 million in annual recurring revenue after experiencing four consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. Not a bad haul for a company that started life as a CMS in 1994. Back then, it was called <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episerver">Episerver</a>. The transformation is quite a tale, one that's been 30 years in the making. Episerver had a heck of a ride to the top, becoming an industry-leading <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management system</a> with a global presence. In 2018, following its acquisition by global software investor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insightpartners.com/">Insight Partners</a>, the company embarked on a strategic journey to acquire category-leading companies and align its product offerings with the evolving requirements of modern digital teams.Over the past three years, to complement its best-of-breed CMS and better address marketers' needs, the company integrated solutions for content marketing (Welcome), experimentation (Optimizely), and commerce (Insite Software). This new ecosystem of solutions led to a rebrand under the “Optimizely” banner, an appropriate name given the forthcoming focus on optimization as a digital imperative.In 2023, its efforts resulted in a landmark achievement: the launch of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/company/press/optimizely-one/">Optimizely One</a>. As the industry’s first operating system for marketers, Optimizely One offers a unified workflow – accelerated by AI – to simplify the process of creating, managing, delivering, and optimizing content seamlessly within a single platform. This breakthrough offering has led to a 21% year-over-year growth in multiproduct ARR. On top of that, an astounding 52% of Optimizely’s ARR is attributed to multi-product customers. This reflects the motion of brands as they consolidate their tech stacks into one unified suite to improve (or optimize) the total cost of ownership and reduce martech complexity.“Reaching $400 million in annual recurring revenue is a remarkable accomplishment that proves we are successful in our mission to make marketers’ lives better,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aatzberger/">Alex Atzberger,</a> CEO at Optimizely. “We are immensely grateful to our employees and partners, who have worked tirelessly to deliver the world’s first operating system for marketers. Optimizely has always been at the forefront of delivering exceptional digital experiences – starting with our CMS thirty years ago – and we are excited to continue leading the industry for the next thirty years and beyond." <h3 id="building-value-by-the-numbers">Building value by the numbers</h3>Optimizely's composable solutions are trusted by thousands of companies globally, all with the mission of making marketers' lives better. Over 10,000 businesses deliver their digital experiences with Optimizely, and their increased reliance on the platform further cements its value to marketers.From a performance perspective, Optimizely has put up some impressive numbers. For example: over 70,000 experiments have been completed in the last 12 months – an 18.5% YoY increase – resulting in 390 billion test impressions. Customers have also seen a 24.6% increase in experiment ideas submitted, signaling the rise of collaborative test-and-learn cultures. Additionally, almost 150 customers have gone live on Optimizely's CMS since the beginning of 2023. That's over a 20% increase YoY, and an impressive testament to growing preference in a noisy market with expansive choices. Optimizely has also seen gains with its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/products/content-marketing/">Content Marketing Platform</a>. Over the last year, usage of its CMP has nearly doubled, with 890,000 tasks and activities completed. This validates that marketers are seeking solutions that support the entire content and campaign lifecycle.One more remarkable data point: Optimizely’s market-leading commerce solutions – available in both SaaS and PaaS – enabled its B2B and B2C customers to complete over 50 million transactions last year.<h3 id="leading-with-industry-analysts">Leading with industry analysts</h3>Optimizely's ARR milestone aligns with several key analyst reports published since the launch of Optimizely One, all of which position them at the top of the market. The company is now recognized as a Leader in nine different analyst reports across each of its content, experimentation, and commerce offerings.These include the recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/insights/forrester-b2b-commerce-report/">Forrester Wave: Commerce Solutions for B2B, Q2 2024</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/insights/gartner-magic-quadrant-for-content-marketing-platforms/">Gartner's 2024 Magic Quadrant for Content Marketing Platforms</a>, where it has been named a Leader the seventh consecutive year – positioned highest for its “Ability to Execute." Optimizely also maintained its Leader position in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/company/press/gartner-dxp-mq-2024/">Gartner's 2024 Magic Quadrant for DXPs</a> for the fifth consecutive year.Optimizely works with more than 40% of Top 100 Interbrand companies, acting as the operating system for marketing – and the go-to choice for companies like Zoom, Shell, and American Express to drive digital transformation and business growth. This is a contributing factor to its unprecedented ARR achievement. "With three decades of experience investing in high-growth SaaS companies, Insight Partners knows what success and healthy growth metrics look like in software. Optimizely's growth trajectory has been extremely impressive and reflects their enduring commitment to innovation and customer empowerment," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsberger1/">Adam Berger</a>, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “Not only is achieving this ARR milestone a difficult feat, but the company also has all of the components needed to sustain its strong market position. We're proud to remain a core part of Optimizely’s journey and are excited to see them achieve new milestones along the way.”<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>With such a trailblazing heritage in content management and digital experience, Optimizely has long been a bellwether for where the CMS and DXP markets are headed. Its industry surface area has evolved to include categories like CMP, but Optimizely's core value always comes back to content – and this is a company that's been shaping the content trajectory since 1994.While Adobe has maintained dominance in some of the relevant analyst channels (like DXP), Optimizely has been closing the gap against Goliath. With the introduction of its Optimizely One solution, it has clearly leveled up and driven demand with customers seeking a more complete solution – the kind that offers composable products that answer their challenges with greater flexibility, choice, and value. That strategy is resulting in significant market and revenue gains.Optimizely has also focused on the marketer as a key audience, starting with its purchase of Welcome in 2021. The added content marketing and digital asset management capabilities have expanded its appeal beyond the more focused lane of CMS while integrating everything within a composable solution. This continues to deliver a competitive edge as brands shift to delivering omnichannel experiences and look to market across a myriad of ecosystems like social media. Just like its name suggests, optimization is central to Optimizely's brand promise. As more companies look to enhance performance through testing and experimentation, Optimizely is already ahead with robust tools and AI features to help teams realize their personalization goals and access meaningful data and analytics from their programs.Optimizely's pace of innovation is clearly aggressive, and needs to be in a tight competitive market where uncertainty is always looming. The addition of new features across its portfolio – including AI – may very well lengthen its lead as customers look for greater scale and automation from their content tools. And with more capital to drive innovation, it can continue to meet and exceed customer expectations in an ever-changing digital world.  <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-conferences">Upcoming conferences</h3> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-connect-2024-logo.png" alt="CMS Connect 24 logo" /><h4 id="cms-connect-24"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect24">CMS Connect 24</a></h4>August 6-7, 2024 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present our first annual summer edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community. Join us this August in Montreal, Canada, for a vendor-neutral conference focused on CMS. Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">CMS Kickoff 25</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, so secure your tickets today.

Optimizely Surges to $400M ARR, Pegs Growth on Demand for its Marketing Operations System

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