Articles - Page 21

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

msalvatierra

From Accessibility to AI and Beyond: Five Key Takeaways from Acquia Engage Boston

matt-garrepy

<h4>Snapshot:</h4><ul><li>Acquia announced today that it will acquire Monsido from CivicPlus.</li><li>The acquisition will bring enhanced accessibility and optimization capabilities to Acquia DXP.</li><li>Acquia is also partnering with Conductor and VWO to enhance organic marketing and experimentation.</li><li>The announcements were made at the opening of Acquia Engage Boston 2023</li></ul><hr /> Acquia wasted no time engaging the DX world this morning. Just before the official start of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/engage/boston">flagship conference in Boston</a>, the industry-leading DXP made two splashy announcements – each reinforcing a more complete vision for digital experience optimization.Let's break down the news.<h3>Acquia to acquire Monsido from CivicPlus</h3>Topping the headlines is Acquia’s announcement that it will purchase <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/civicplus">Monsido</a>, a leading SaaS platform for monitoring and managing website accessibility, content quality, and SEO. Acquia will acquire Monsido from <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/civicplus">CivicPlus</a>, an integrated technology solutions platform focused on the public sector. CivicPlus inherited Monsido as part of its broader <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/civicplus-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-optimere">Optimere acquisition</a> in 2022, a trifecta that also included <a target="_blank" href="https://archivesocial.com/">ArchiveSocial</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nextrequest.com/">NextRequest</a>.At the time, the move seemed a logical growth strategy for CivicPlus, which had built a strong portfolio of government and municipal agencies looking to track, remediate, and secure their ADA accessibility as part of an integrated and inclusive digital strategy. Monsido continued to maintain its brand under the CivicPlus umbrella, a testament to the trust it has built in the marketplace as a go-to solution for accessibility.Now, Acquia is adding the accessibility gem to its crown, further evolving its charter as a digital optimization platform – and helping to scale adoption for Monsido’s bench of solutions. According to the company’s press release, the acquisition not only expands the capabilities of its open <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/products">Acquia DXP</a>, but also supports its mission to “help build a better digital future” that’s more inclusive, accessible, and sets new benchmarks for performance and innovation. “Acquia’s vision is to deliver the most open DXP to enable our customers to improve their businesses by creating superior experiences,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-reny-0a2a0a163/">Steve Reny</a>, President and CEO of Acquia. “Monsido empowers digital marketers and website owners with an all-in-one suite of capabilities for website optimization and compliance. Used with any website or as part of Acquia DXP, Monsido helps make digital experiences more optimized, accessible, and inclusive, so organizations can fulfill legal and regulatory requirements, uphold social responsibility, and expand market reach.”From a product, market, and channel perspective, both companies will maintain interests in Monsido through a strategic partnership. Following the close of the acquisition, CivicPlus will retain and continue to support U.S. local government customers using the Monsido platform and become a reseller of Monsido to the U.S. local government territory and market. U.S. state and federal government – and all other Monsido customers – will become Acquia customers. It’s also worth noting that Monsido will be available as part of Acquia DXP or as a standalone offering. “As the leading provider of accessibility solutions in the U.S., CivicPlus remains deeply committed to bringing accessible and inclusive technology to local governments,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-rempe-765bb01/">Brian Rempe</a>, CEO of CivicPlus. “Through this partnership with Acquia, we will continue to make the Monsido solution and its accessibility, quality assurance, and web governance capabilities available to U.S. communities. At the same time, we recognize that accessible digital experiences are critically important for every interaction with every digital property, and we're pleased to know that Acquia's leadership of the Monsido solution will bring this powerful tool to more entities in more markets around the world. By forming this partnership, CivicPlus and Acquia will lead and empower greater adoption of accessible technology that creates positive digital interactions for all technology users.”The transaction is expected to close in early Q1 2024. <h3>What’s driving Acquia’s purchase of Monsido</h3>At the center of the push for digital optimization is consumer expectations. Users demand fast, intuitive, more productive online experiences and interactions – and brands that deliver on these expectations will have a decidedly competitive edge in a crowded, fragmented market. With the acquisition of Monsido, Acquia is now positioned to deliver a complete solution for building, managing, and delivering digital experiences that are fully optimized to meet modern website standards and digital content guidelines. This includes the vital role of accessibility, helping organizations ensure that they comply with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/">W3C's WCAG</a> standards and web accessibility legislation such as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ada.gov/">Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)</a>.Thousands of organizations worldwide use Monsido for website optimization, including national and local governments, financial institutions, non-profits, culture and arts organizations, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, utilities, and transportation services. Along with this embedded customer base, Acquia now has a key component to offer customers when managing their accessibility and digital optimization strategies – and a means to do it all at scale. <h3>Enhancing content accessibility for everyone</h3>The addition of Monsido will help Acquia customers achieve even better business outcomes by helping every user – regardless of their abilities – to navigate the web more freely. In addition to enhancing website content accessibility and compliance, Monsido helps organizations improve performance by identifying and fixing website quality issues. This includes common errors like broken links and slow load times. It also supports brand reputation by ensuring website content meets specific brand guidelines. One other advantage is Monsido’s user consent capabilities. The platform enables organizations to manage user consent for cookies and other tracking technologies, supporting compliance with privacy regulations like <a target="_blank" href="https://gdpr-info.eu/">GDPR</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa">CCPA</a>.Monsido is also designed to work with any <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management system (CMS),</a> including <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a>, the open source CMS that provides the foundation of Acquia DXP. When combined, users can navigate from a flagged issue in Monsido directly to the flagged page in their CMS with a click – or use the Monsido Browser Extension while browsing their website to highlight issues directly on the page. <h3>Expanding digital optimization with Conductor and VWO</h3>Today, Acquia also announced strategic partnerships with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.conductor.com/?utm_medium=press&amp;utm_source=external&amp;utm_campaign=2023_q4_acquia_press_release">Conductor</a>, the leading organic marketing platform, and <a target="_blank" href="https://vwo.com/">VWO</a>, the leading experimentation and conversion optimization platform. Along with the acquisition of Monsido, these partnerships create one of the most complete solutions for digital experience optimization.According to the company’s press release, combining these tools now addresses all facets of optimizing an organization’s online presence, which most modern DXPs can’t fully deliver. By enhancing digital presence, organizations can directly influence user satisfaction and engagement, brand perception, and business success – translating into growth. “Today's DXPs fall short in providing a comprehensive offering for digital experience optimization,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/buytaert/">Dries Buytaert</a>, Creator and Project Lead of the Drupal content management system and Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Strategy Officer at Acquia. “Acquia already provides the best platform for building and operating digital experiences. With the acquisition of Monsido and strategic partnerships with VWO and Conductor, we now offer the industry’s best platform for creating inclusive and optimized experiences.”The Conductor partnership will support SEO and content marketing through its comprehensive organic marketing platform that increases organic web traffic from search engines. Leveraging cutting-edge AI, Conductor helps brands identify new keyword opportunities, develop and execute content strategy, optimize content and technical site health, and report on organic search performance.VWO will expand Acquia's capacity to enhance every aspect of the digital experience, introducing a range of advanced functionalities for both Drupal and non-Drupal sites. This includes running A/B tests or creating personalization campaigns using an inline WYSIWYG editor, generating AI-driven content testing ideas, and more. VWO's comprehensive toolkit, including multi-platform testing and personalization capabilities, server-side testing, surveys, session recording, heatmaps, feature experimentation and rollouts, unlocks new avenues for Acquia DXP customers to optimize every facet of the digital journey.<h3>Why it matters</h3>Acquia has long established itself as one of the leading DXPs on the market. Its open source heritage has been a source for innovation – and as platforms pursue digital optimization as the next frontier, that innovation will be key to Acquia’s success.The acquisition of Monsido addresses several gaps in the completeness of vision, and Acquia appears to be taking a more composable route with this feature set. As noted, the product will be available not only as part of Acquia DXP, but as a standalone solution that will continue to serve the CivicPlus ecosystem and the broader market. Accessibility is central to creating inclusive digital experiences. Acquia’s core acquisition of Monsido underscores its roadmap around the importance of digital equality and its confidence in scaling commercial adoption. The additional partnerships also demonstrate the commitment to enhancing optimization with more advanced, AI-powered testing capabilities that give users greater choice as they expand their optimization practices.  Competition at the top of the enterprise DXP market is fierce, and Acquia remains one of the leading platforms vying for dominance on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/blog/acquia-named-leader-2023-gartner-magic-quadrant-digital-experience-platforms">Gartner Magic Quadrant</a>. While rivals like Adobe and Optimizely have been doubling down on digital optimization, Acquia is gaining ground with these moves – enhancing its competitive posture and giving the market more of the tools it needs.

Acquia to Acquire Monsido, Expands Partnerships to Offer Complete Digital Experience Optimization

<hr /> This week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/proventus/">Proventus AS</a> announced the release of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/relatude">Relatude 7</a>, the latest version of its signature <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management system (CMS)</a> and e-commerce platform. According to the company's <a target="_blank" href="https://relatude.com/proventus-announces-the-release-of-relatude-7-the-innovative-cms-and-e-commerce-platform">press release</a>, the update includes an array of advanced AI features and <a target="_blank" href="https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/7.0">.NET 7</a> support, which builds on Relatude's previous traction in both areas. “Relatude 7 is an important release,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/olegulbrandsen/">Ole Gulbrandsen</a>, Director of Relatude at Proventus. "Relatude has been a pioneer in AI usage in content management and E-commerce for a long time. The previous AI usage in Relatude has mostly been focused on images and related content due to previous limitations in AI technology. With this release, we have developed a range of new features mainly focused on text, to take advantage of the power of modern Large Language Models (like <a target="_blank" href="https://openai.com/">ChatGTP</a>). <h3>Expanding to include .NET 7 support</h3>Based on the company's roadmap, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/proventus-as-announces-release-of-relatude-cms-and-e-commerce-version-6">Relatude 6</a> added cross-platform .NET support. In this latest release, the company has expanded this to include .NET 7, which offers new features and improved performance to the .NET platform. According to Relatude, .NET 7 is the fastest mainstream web framework on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.techempower.com/benchmarks/#hw=ph&amp;test=fortune&amp;section=data-r22">TechEmpower benchmark</a>. The performance translates into flexibility – something the company prioritizes and values.<h3>Introducing Relatude Copilot</h3>To help editors take advantage of its new AI functionality, Relatude 7 provides a new AI companion called Relatude Copilot. The feature helps users rewrite, formulate, edit, and summarize text – as well as generate illustrations and images as part of their workflow. Now, as the company notes, “boring” and often forgotten tasks – like writing meta descriptions – can be done with the click of a button.<h3>Semantic search and vector database</h3>As Relatude points out, text comparison has long been a primary method for performing search, scouring words and sentences for matches in a text-based search index. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wwt.com/event/648339fe1e871d454275b5af?utm_campaign=ao_ai_and_data_wwt2324_event_experts_aditya_llm_ps_1_search&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_content&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA6byqBhAWEiwAnGCA4Ewt27CptGHR18H4Ob3fQjcz8JU3xO48tSAviyc2uLPfhpL0A5q_UxoC3QUQAvD_BwE">Large Language Models (LLMs)</a> now make it possible to locate content that has a similar meaning – and not just by comparing text. This allows for an enhanced search experience for users. Relatude 7 is shipping with a semantic search engine powered by its vector database, giving users a more advanced AI tool for conducting search. “While most of our competitors are also bringing out AI features based on LLMs, we have gone deeper and developed our own vector database and semantic search engine,” explained Gulbrandsen. "These advanced AI features are deeply integrated with the content in Relatude. This allows our partners to deliver cutting-edge AI web projects at lower costs than the competition.”<h3>Improved AI image features</h3>Relatude has been delivering powerful image API and image editor capabilities for the last few years. This image functionality has been relying on AI technology, establishing Relatude as an early adopter and innovator in the AI race. “The new AI technologies have also improved our imaging features," said Gulbrandsen. ”Due to our cooperation with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/microsoft-sharepoint">Microsoft</a>, we have had early access to Azure <a target="_blank" href="https://openai.com/research/gpt-4">OpenAI GTP4</a>. This has been very beneficial and an important factor in why we can offer such advanced AI functionality now."In this release, most of the platform's AI functionality has been upgraded, providing AI operations that deliver faster performance with better quality.<h3>More on the horizon with Relatude 8</h3>According to the company, Relatude 8 is already in the advanced stages of development, and it is planned to be released around the end of the year.

Proventus Releases Relatude 7, Adds AI and .NET 7 Features to CMS and E-Commerce Platform

cms-critic-staff

<hr /> The <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/new-mach-alliance-admissions-playbook-brings-greater-clarity-to-certification-process">MACH Alliance</a> has never been known to “sit one out.” The industry organization has always been something of a firebrand, outspoken in its fierce advocacy of <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/insights/mach-at-different-levels">MACH</a> (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, Headless) principles.As MACH momentum grows – and more businesses attempt to ride the hype wave – the MACH Alliance is doubling down on its commitment to ensure buyer clarity by defending its core criteria. This means challenging organizations that openly claim to be MACH but are not certified. Today, MACH Alliance President <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-future-is-composable-a-conversation-with-new-mach-alliance-president-casper-rasmussen">Casper Rasmussen</a> published a candid letter on the organization’s <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/insights/open-invite-to-companies-who-claim-mach">blog</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/machalliance_open-invite-to-companies-who-claim-mach-activity-7127998847359823874-Fzgh/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop">LinkedIn</a>, inviting companies to apply for MACH certification to help avoid buyer confusion. The letter was prompted after MACH Alliance members flagged several software brands as falsely advertising MACH solutions without a validated certification. Being certified by the Alliance is the simplest way for a company to verify and showcase that its products meet MACH criteria, and give buyers confidence about what is – and is not – MACH. As noted in Casper's letter, the MACH Alliance will be contacting non-certified companies that are making MACH claims and asking them to apply for certification. These companies will also be asked to remove any MACH language or association until certification is achieved. <h3>An open invitation to apply for MACH certification</h3>Here’s the letter from Casper Rasmussen in its entirety:<hr />Open invite to companies who claim MACH: please apply for certification to avoid buyer confusionThe MACH Alliance exists to propel the future of technology, which is microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless. That is what MACH stands for, and our mission is to safeguard MACH standards for the clarity of buyers.Our certification criteria serve a very clear and important purpose. Providing clarity to the market of what is and what is not MACH, to help buyers build their future-proof application stacks. We guard this strict set of standards fiercely and rigorously benchmark all our members against them. As such, we are concerned to see more companies using MACH wording in their product marketing, promoting their solutions as MACH-ready when they are not MACH certified.It is a great thing that the market as a whole is quickly moving in the direction of Composable and connectivity through API’s. The MACH Alliance supports that wholeheartedly. Yet Composable is not MACH and being on a Composable track does not validate a MACH claim at all. The prerequisites for MACH Certification are very clear.We urge all vendors claiming to sell a MACH-ready solution to apply for certification. The criteria and the process are outlined here. Any company that claims to offer MACH should carry the seal.The Alliance can explicitly only guarantee the interoperability, ease of use and swapability of certified companies. MACH-labeled solutions where vendors don’t meet the certification criteria are undermining the industry standard and causing confusion for buyers at a time when they need our help. We strongly advise buyers to check theMACH Alliance website to confirm certification in case of any doubt. The MACH Alliance is contacting non-certified companies who are making MACH claims asking them to apply for certification, and to remove those claims until that is achieved.Furthermore, in some of the recent claims, specific legacy vendors suggest they are offering an enterprise version of MACH. Yet MACH was made in and for the enterprise from the start. MACH is an enterprise setup that requires a level of company maturity, and it has seen massive adoption from enterprise companies like Sephora, Costa Coffee, Mars, Boohoo, Puma, and the list goes on. MACH was made in the enterprise, let there be no misunderstanding.We will continue to take action to avoid buyer confusion and to protect the seal that we are here to guard. Prove your MACH credentials and get certified!If any vendor or buyer would like to speak with us about MACH criteria and principles, or requires clarification and support, we’re here to help.Casper Rasmussen President, MACH Alliance<hr /><h3>Why it matters</h3>Challenging the market is nothing new for the MACH Alliance. Peruse the LinkedIn profiles of its leadership board, and you’ll find epic threads and lively debates that have expanded the conversation around composable. Those ambassadorial efforts have helped enterprises gain clarity around the benefits of MACH and whether it’s a good fit for their technology and business imperatives. Key to the MACH Alliance’s success is safeguarding its core values. For its best-of-breed members, certification is a rigorous process that requires a significant investment in both time and resources. Likewise, buyers seeking MACH solutions are becoming increasingly confused by mixed messages and composable rhetoric. That’s why the organization has gone to great lengths to defend the sanctity of its platform – and the essence of the MACH movement. As Casper points out, the positive news is that the market is embracing the composable trend. This will create more opportunities for many technology vendors to offer solutions that align with the tenets of MACH. But he also clarifies that composable is not MACH, and the distinctions and prerequisites are abundantly clear. A certification is only as valuable as the organization that backs it up. This letter illuminates the lengths that the MACH Alliance is willing to go to maintain the value of MACH certification for its ecosystem of members and buyers.Many businesses have fought tooth and nail to defend their IP. Calling out false claims is a clear signal that the Alliance is doing its job to protect what it has built – and what it continues to build – for the benefit of everyone.

MACH Alliance Openly Invites Companies Claiming MACH to Apply for Certification

<hr /> The Milwaukee <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/kentico">Kentico</a> User Group – known under the handle of “MKE KUG” – has some big plans for 2024. While the community has been dormant, two local agencies – <a target="_blank" href="https://lightburn.co/">Lightburn</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cidesigninc.com/">CI Design</a> – are reinvigorating the group, which will assemble local members to collaborate, learn, share, and network around everything related to the Kentico ecosystem. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/discover/newsroom/lightburn-cidesign-reignite-milwaukee-kentico-user-group">press release</a> from Kentico, the plan outlines that leaders will furnish guidance to members while inviting input to shape its future. Using <a target="_blank" href="https://www.meetup.com/">Meetup</a>, their teams will engage participants, sponsors, and Kentico channel partners via real-world and virtual events, plus discussion threads and resources.  “At Kentico, we actively seek ways to expand user support from the ground up," said <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/kentico-appoints-bill-cunningham-as-chief-revenue-officer">Bill Cunningham</a>, CRO at Kentico. "We are excited to invest in local tech-driven events like these with two of our partners. We are looking forward to being an active part of the MKE KUG and seeing Kentico users come together.” MKE KUG is open to all who interact with Kentico, not just agency employees. In-house corporate teams that use Kentico for their customers’ digital experiences are encouraged to join, as is anyone interested in learning more about the platform.  The new cadence of the group is designed to deliver intrinsic value for its attendees. Each month, agency group leaders will share Kentico-related news, moderate conversations, and share partner DXP info directly with group members. MKE KUG will gather downtown or in the nearby suburbs for a quarterly live meetup. <h3>A broad range of Kentico-focused content</h3>During events, front- and back-end developers can collaborate in a hands-on workshop to talk through current setup issues or discuss their best practices. Marketing professionals and administrators can learn about the latest apps, tools, and use cases impacting websites, management, personalization practices, and digital marketing ROI. Agency marketing leaders and platform developers will host and attend each event to offer real feedback and support for users and businesses who need a Kentico partner or whose in-house team could use additional guidance.  Topics may include: <ul><li>Product updates from Kentico partners </li><li>Real-world use cases (agency client interviews, Q&amp;As) </li><li>Consolidating your martech ecosystem </li><li>Setting up and using personalization strategies  </li><li>Training and certification workshops </li><li>Live technical issues/troubleshooting </li><li>Setting up and using page types and components  </li><li>How to use AI with Kentico </li><li>How to create gated content </li><li>Tips and tricks for email marketing </li><li>A deep dive into application best practices  </li><li>Where to find support with Kentico </li><li>Managing third-party integrations </li><li>Migrating from Kentico Xperience 13 to Xperience by Kentico  </li></ul><h3>Serving the Kentico community</h3>The new MKE KUG group is part of a larger Kentico initiative, one where the company delivers better service to its community of developers and non-technical users. As part of this collaboration, Kentico's channel owners and product evangelists will actively support, host, or attend in-person events. A bit of background on the partners behind the effort: CI Design is an Emmy award-winning Milwaukee marketing agency with full-service digital capabilities from website and mobile apps to brand strategy, SEM, video, and more. Lightburn is a customer experience agency that empowers organizations to reach their full digital potential to better engage, attract, and retain customers. Both CI Design and Lightburn attended the recent <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/kentico-connection-2023-nashville-focuses-on-innovation-partnerships-ai-and-the-future-of-dxp">Kentico Connection</a> conference in Nashville in October. As an additional bonus for its members, the group organizers – in conjunction with Kentico’s product evangelist, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-g-wright/">Sean Wright</a> – will host a conference recap and panel session this Wednesday, November 8, from 1 PM to 2 PM (CDT) via the Meetup group and Zoom. This discussion will feature an open conversation discussing event topics and takeaways with time for Q&amp;A. The session will also be recorded.Visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.meetup.com/mkekug/">https://www.meetup.com/mkekug/</a> to join the MKE KUG Meetup group.

Lightburn Partners With CI Design to Reignite Milwaukee Kentico User Group

<h4>Snapshot:</h4><ul><li>Laura Goldberg is CMO at Constant Contact, a leading digital marketing platform.</li><li>The company is innovating to make email and integrations easier for SMBs.</li><li>Security and data privacy continue to be a core tenant of its brand promise. </li><li>Constant Contact recently added an AI Content Generator to its popular features.</li><li>On the roadmap, enhancing automation and segmentation are a key focus.</li></ul><hr /> You’ve got mail!If you’re old enough to remember that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGOgSPVBmIE">iconic soundbite</a>, you might recall the nascent exuberance of receiving “electronic mail.” Of course, that’s back when it was still (somewhat) new, a shiny beacon of possibilities and a game-changer for communication.Even if the idea of email feels the same today, a lot has changed over the last few decades. On the upside, we’ve deprecated those arduous CompuServe addresses. Firing off a message no longer requires a modem; it can all be done from a smartphone. And lest we forget, email has also become a ubiquitous component in every digital marketer's toolkit, from personalized campaigns to newsletters.On the downside, our inboxes have been Biblically flooded. Spam has reached epic proportions, and phishing attacks have become a weak link in the security chain (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/phishing-statistics/">according to Forbes</a>, there were 500 million of them last year). Add shifting policies and regulatory governance, and it becomes a challenging morass. These realities might complicate the roadmap for email. But <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/constant-contact">Constant Contact</a> sees more opportunities than challenges. Since first rolling onto the scene in 1995, the Massachusetts-born tech maven has kept a constant eye on the future. From humble beginnings in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.constantcontact.com/about">cramped attic</a> to a globally recognized brand, the online marketing platform has become an institution, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses looking to harness the power of email.What’s perhaps most impressive about Constant Contact is its raw staying power. It is a paragon for longevity in an otherwise volatile tech industry, a testament to its trust and reliability. And while the company was sold to Endurance International in 2015 <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant_Contact">for $1.1 billion</a>, it has continued operating under its ubiquitous brand and stayed true to its roots – always leading with email.At the same time, the company has grown beyond its foundational focus to encompass a broader ecosystem of services. This includes a bevy of digital marketing tools like landing page and A/B testing features, lead gen and CRM capabilities, SMS and social media marketing apps, and more. I recently spoke with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-goldberg-b3913/">Laura Goldberg</a>, Constant Contact’s Chief Marketing Officer, about the irreplaceable role of email as part of an integrated marketing stack, and how her company’s focus on delivering simple yet powerful tools to SMBs is unshakeable.  Laura also shared how their new AI features are enabling users to do more with their digital and email marketing – and how Contact Contact’s approach is not about the tech, but the people and businesses it empowers. <h3>A legacy of focus on SMBs</h3>A seasoned marketer, Laura has spent the last decade working almost exclusively with SMBs, particularly at companies committed to servicing that market tier. As Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabbage-american-express/">Kabbage</a> – an SMB-focused financial platform under the AMEX umbrella – she helped small businesses simplify cash flow management with a portfolio of digital solutions. What Laura loves most about this segment is guiding small businesses through key challenges and helping them achieve success. This centers around demystifying complexity, so a business owner can focus on what really matters. That passion continues to drive her work at Constant Contact.“Whether it's marketing, setting up an LLC, or needing a line of credit, it's not why they got into the world of small business,” she explained. “So how do we build a product or service that can help someone who may not be an expert in a field to be really effective?”In the case of digital marketing, this has never been more apropos. Most people know how to use basic email. But scaling that into campaigns and integrated programs? That can be far more complicated for less tech-savvy entrepreneurs.  <hr /><h4 style="text-align:center">"Whether it's marketing, setting up an LLC, or needing a line of credit, it's not why they got into the world of small business. So how do we build a product or service that can help someone who may not be an expert in a field to be really effective?”</h4><hr /> This is where Constant Contact shines: enabling small businesses to harness the potential of digital marketing with ease. Email is certainly a big part of it, but the company’s expanded ecosystem of services helps SMBs reach customers in new and exciting ways.“Constant Contact is a digital marketing platform,” she said. “We lead with email, but that's sort of the ‘entry’ point if you will, and we can we really work to combine your marketing across all channels – email, social marketing, SMS – where you can engage in building relationships with your customers.”While the focus on SMBs is crystal clear, I asked Laura about the enterprise side of the ledger. After all, many large businesses use Constant Contact as the email layer of a composable stack. In some cases, they might have “grown up” with the technology and never left – but in most cases, it’s a testament to the ease of use and effectiveness of the platform.“We absolutely have some bigger customers that are enterprise-level or mid-market,” she explained. “But we’re solely focused on [providing] SMBs a marketing platform that’s easy to use and grow with. If you're a solopreneur, or just starting out, it should be simple to send emails and texts, post on social media, and even integrate your <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/shopify">Shopify</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/woocommerce">WooCommerce</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/bigcommerce">BigCommerce</a> – all in one place. As you get more sophisticated, we have packages that allow you to do more, like segmenting your audiences and setting up custom automations to track revenue from your emails.”<h3>Making integrations easier </h3>Going deeper around the commerce layer, I asked Laura how easy it is to connect shopping carts from third-party platforms with Constant Contact’s email capabilities. Turns out there’s a lot more functionality under the hood, including some personalization features that are simple yet slick. “It's pretty easy to integrate shopping carts,” she explained. “Customers from your e-commerce platform are populated into your email list, along with their history. So, if you only buy red sweaters, then I know I should only market red sweaters to you, or let you know when we have a sale on red sweaters. It lets you take that data.”And it is, in fact, really easy to make it all work. With over 6,000 integrations, Constant Contact offers a mega-library of connectors to a world of applications – many of which can be added with just a few clicks. <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:78.18%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/image-1699389693858.png" alt="A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated" /></figure> In the case of Shopify, simple online documentation provides step-by-step instructions for getting it all flowing in no time flat.One of the biggest benefits of Constant Contact is the access to metrics and analytics. This has long been a core feature of the platform, providing users with details like delivery and open rates. But with a commerce integration like Shopify, you go beyond abandoned carts and see what an email produces in revenue and sales. As far as integrations go, commerce is just the tip of the iceberg. With a deep bench of best-of-breed tools at your disposal, there are even more opportunities for automation. “We have integrations with platforms like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/canva-button-gives-cms-users-integrated-graphic-design-tools-for-visual-content">Canva</a>,” Laura said. “So, if you have all your brand assets and design elements there, you can easily bring them into your emails or social posts. We’ve also integrated with <a target="_blank" href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>, if you’re a video-heavy brand and want to feature that kind of content. And on the B2B side, we even have integrations with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/hubspot'">HubSpot</a> and other sales CRMs as well.”<h3>Security and privacy are job zero</h3>Short of sounding too macabre, the <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/third-party-cookie-phase-out">death of third-party cookies</a> is wreaking havoc on marketers. Add in <a target="_blank" href="https://gdpr-info.eu/">GDPR</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Consumer_Privacy_Act">CCPA</a>, and other regulatory redlines, and businesses are under significant pressure to ensure data security and privacy. And with so much sinister email lurking around inboxes, trust is on the tip of everyone's tongue. I asked Laura how this critical relationship with trust has shaped Constant Contact’s posture in the market, and how they’re addressing bigger ticket security challenges – so small businesses don’t have to sweat it. “I'm so happy you asked me this, because nobody ever asks me this,” she said. “It’s who we are. Yes, we have the best delivery rates in the business to the inbox, but we also have the best ways to filter spam. We keep our IPs pristine. We make sure that your emails and communications get to the right inbox. It’s one of the primary pillars of our brand, what we stand for and really care about – and we do everything we can so the customer doesn't have to think about that.”Despite its best efforts, Laura reinforced that there are always limits, and both Google and Yahoo are constantly changing the rules that govern customer data. This is where Constant Contact’s commitment to the customer relationship – to trust – really comes in.“We work with our customers to ensure they're compliant and that their emails continue to be delivered,” Laura reinforced. “It’s what we do. And if we need you to do something [on your end], we're going to walk you through it. We're going to make it as easy as possible. And we're going to make sure it's impactful to your business.”<h3>AI is an ingredient, not a feature</h3>As I relayed to Laura, I feel a bit more like an AI Critic these days. The impact of artificial intelligence on the digital experience economy is undeniable, and Constant Contact – like its peers – has been working diligently to harness its potential.Of course, generative AI has obvious applications for an email platform. After all, it’s digital marketers and content creators writing subject lines and body copy. But when you think about the average small business user, the power of AI can take on a whole new dimension of value, even if they’re unfamiliar or intimidated by tools like <a target="_blank" href="https://openai.com/">ChatGPT</a>.  When I finally broached everyone’s soup du jour of 2023, it was apropos to hear Laura serve up Constant Contact’s AI strategy in a perfect dish. “We try not to market it so much,” she relayed. “AI is an ingredient, not a feature. Right? It's the how, not the what. Yes, it's AI that's powering this feature or that feature, but let's talk about the feature itself and how it benefits the customer, and try and keep the lingo to the side.” As Laura described, Constant Contact is using AI in a lot of places. While the latest innovations have included tools like a content generator, she was quick to point out that this isn't the company’s first “AI rodeo.”“We have an internal spam filter that’s 100% built with AI and machine learning," she said. "We've been using AI in our own tools that the customer may never see, but it’s making them more successful.”Laura pointed out that while everyone across the digital marketing category is offering some manner of content generation, Constant Contact is leveraging a “treasure trove” of history to pull from, allowing them to determine what's most effective. This gives users more relevant ideas and suggestions for overcoming writer’s block and creating more compelling email and marketing content.  <h3>Using Constant Contact's AI Content Generator</h3>When it comes to AI features in <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">CMS</a>, DXP, and digital marketing platforms, I’ve experienced almost everything at this point – from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canva.com/magic-write/">Canva’s Magic Write</a> to <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/kontent-ai-pioneers-native-ai-in-headless-cms-interview-with-vojtech-boril">Kontent.ai’s native gen AI features</a>. Without question, Constant Contact's is one of the simplest. First and foremost, the interface is incredibly clean and lightweight. No frills, and definitely no complexity. While that might seem less robust, it's designed to be intuitive to the small business user – and as such, only prompts for basic announcements in a single input field. During a self-propelled demo, I added my own text blurb about an Italian restaurant running a special (it was lunchtime, what can I say?) and in seconds, it rendered some clever email text. It was short, and needed a bit of tweaking, but I was able to manually edit at the next step. I also tried the fully formatted email template as an option, and sure enough, I was served a basic structure ready to be customized with logos and other attributes. Once approved, I was able to add it to my email workflow and schedule my campaign. <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.64%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/image.png" /></figure> “I think there's real power in solving that blank piece of paper problem,” she said. “Imagine a small business owner, and maybe their first job isn’t marketing. They might stare at a blank email with no direction. We just had a great quote from a customer who runs a farm stand, and they said, ‘Oh my god, you guys tell me 45 different ways to say come to my farm stand on Saturday.’ I laughed, but you know, that help is huge.”Laura shared a bit more about the roadmap and where AI is being focused now and in the future. A big part of the strategy is to continue enhancing Constant Contact’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.constantcontact.com/features/ai-marketing">automation</a> and segmentation, particularly around connection points with other ecosystems like social media. “Maybe you buy an ad on Facebook,” she explained, “and you want to send a text two minutes before and see exactly what recommended actions are the next step based on your history of what's been successful and driven the most response and revenue.”Those are smart applications for AI, all supporting the delivery of the right message at the right time to the right customer through the right channel.<h3>Constantly seeking innovation</h3>I asked Laura what’s next for Constant Contact, specifically as the digital landscape becomes more complex. It’s worth noting that the company realigned its product offerings in the middle of 2023 – which she described as a really big move.  “There's a lot of exciting things coming down the pipe,” she said. “We have new features and functionality, and it's all focused on helping our customers grow, whatever that means for them. And it’s making tools like email easier to use, and then really building on that marketing platform to get them to the next level, helping them get closer to their customers and market more effectively.”To help deliver on that mission, the company has made several strategic acquisitions to help complete its market vision. This includes <a target="_blank" href="https://sharpspring.com/">SharpSpring</a>, a provider of sales automation and CRM software. The added channel of capabilities has helped Constant Contact capture greater market share and enhance its stack of product offerings. As far as advancing its global footprint and enriching brand awareness, the company also purchased <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vision6.com/">Vision6</a> – an Australian-based email and SMS marketing platform – providing a gateway to that market. There’s no question that AI is influencing the roadmap for this long-standing brand. But as Laura described, these new technologies are simply how Constant Contact delivers success for SMBs. The why and the what is all about translating the value for the customer.“You can't turn on the news or watch a TV show without hearing about AI,” she said. “Our customers are curious, but we can't just say, ‘hey, use our AI feature’ because they don't know what that means. Small businesses are people, so we’re putting AI in context for them.”These days, we could all use a dose of AI context. Thankfully, Constant Contact is getting the right message to our collective inbox.

Constant Contact Delivers Beyond Email, Adds AI and Automation Features to Power SMB Success

<hr /> Today's marketers have tight schedules and a ton of complexity to wrestle with. Creating campaigns across multiple formats, geographies, channels, and languages – and managing them securely and efficiently – demands a lot of time and resources. On top of that, there are the rigors of running omnichannel marketing campaigns, where speed and agility are an absolute must for delivering fresh and relevant content. But fear not:<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/coremedia"> CoreMedia</a>, a leader in <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">Content Management (CMS)</a> and Digital Experience Platform (DXP) solutions, has a solution. Recently, the company launched what it calls <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coremedia.com/press/coremedia-campaigns-coremedia-launches-solution-for-smarter-omnichannel-campaign-management-">CoreMedia Campaigns</a>, a new cloud-native SaaS application that can deliver consistent content across a wide range of channels, all while minimizing administrative overhead and dependency on development teams."Our goal was to make the content planning processes as well as the campaign management of demanding omnichannel campaigns as simple and efficient as possible for marketing teams," says <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/soerenstamer/">Sören Stamer</a>, Co-Founder and CEO CoreMedia. “Our cloud-based solution ensures a seamless, hassle-free operation, allowing marketing teams to fully focus on creating exceptional experiences.”<h3>Simplifying the campaign experience with powerful tools </h3>There are several key benefits to CoreMedia Campaigns. First and foremost, it maximizes user-friendliness through an intuitive user interface that's easy to use. With its multi-asset planning tool, marketing teams can implement campaigns in a targeted and secure manner with less friction and greater speed.  <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.13%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/coremedia-campaigns.png" /></figure> Additionally, CoreMedia Campaigns gives creators a reliable tool that helps avoid errors when setting up campaigns while ensuring a consistent user experience. A calendar provides a holistic view of all campaigns, making management easier and more effective.  <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.36%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/coremedia-calendar.png" /></figure> A set of APIs enables communication with CoreMedia's repositories, allowing campaign managers to access all the content they want for their campaigns. This makes the application highly flexible and extensible.  <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:79.61%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/coremedia-media.png" /></figure> Finally, as part of the scheduling, users can select a target locale from a simple dropdown picker and assign content items based on the current campaign.  <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:78.97%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/coremedia-localization.png" /></figure><h3>Future-proofing with CoreMedia Campaigns</h3>Modern marketing teams expect continuous innovation from technology platforms. CoreMedia Campaigns helps meet this demand by delivering a dynamic user experience with solutions that augment the marketer's toolkit.For more than 27 years, customers worldwide have relied on CoreMedia's content management system and digital experience solutions. With decades of experience and a customized, hybrid headless approach based on a composition-enabled DXP, CoreMedia helps organizations overcome the limitations of traditional content management. Now, with CoreMedia Campaigns, global B2C and B2B brands have access to future-proof technology to deliver personalized and engaging digital experiences across multiple real-time digital channels.

CoreMedia Launches Solution for Smarter Omnichannel Campaign Management

<hr /> There's no question that <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/netlify">Netlify</a> can “amplify” how brands build, deploy, and scale their apps. Since 2014, it's been one of the leading platforms for running modern <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/top-jamstack-static-site-generators-for-2021">Jamstack</a> web applications in production. Developers love it because it's powerful yet simple, making it easy to integrate their choice of tools and collaborate with their teams in a more composable world.Now, the renowned cloud computing and hosting platform is partnering with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/crownpeak">Crownpeak</a> – a digital experience platform (DXP) solutions provider – to empower businesses to deliver exceptional digital experiences effortlessly.Here's how: Crownpeak and Netlify will offer an end-to-end web development and deployment solution with accessible, optimized content at its core. Leveraging Crownpeak's DXP solutions, teams will be empowered to rapidly create and distribute compliant, personalized content across digital touchpoints. Meanwhile, Netlify will effectively “supercharge” the development process to support customer engagement and conversion through lightning-fast speeds and reliable web performances."Crownpeak and Netlify are joining forces to empower businesses to deliver exceptional digital experiences that drive growth and engagement," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoph-feddersen-218388a/">Christoph Feddersen</a>, VP of Technical Product Management at Crownpeak. "Our partnership reflects our shared commitment to simplifying digital experience management and hosting while fostering a composable approach for enterprise organizations to build powerful digital experience platforms."<h3>Powering content with innovative web hosting and deployment</h3>Over the years, Crownpeak has built a strong reputation in <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">web content management</a> and digital experience solutions. A globally recognized player, the company continues to chart on the <a target="_blank" href="https://wire19.com/digital-experience-platform-vendors/">Gartner Magic Quadrant for DXPs</a> in a leading position amongst Niche players. With a focus on enabling organizations to create, manage, and optimize content across various digital channels, Crownpeak has proven itself a trusted partner for enterprises worldwide.Netlify, on the other hand, has revolutionized web hosting and deployment, offering an all-in-one solution that simplifies the process of building and delivering modern web projects. Its global content delivery network (CDN), serverless functions, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) capabilities have made it a go-to option for developers seeking efficiency and scalability.The partnership between Crownpeak and Netlify represents a convergence of strengths. Together, they aim to provide businesses with the tools and capabilities to enhance digital experiences and drive engagement across the web. From a technology integration perspective, Crownpeak's CMS – <a target="_blank" href="https://community.crownpeak.com/t5/FirstSpirit/ct-p/FirstSpirit">FirstSpirit</a> – seamlessly integrates with Netlify's hosting and deployment platform, enabling businesses to manage content, deliver personalized experiences, and deploy web projects more efficiently. Bolstered by Netlify, FirstSpirit ensures websites and applications can handle traffic spikes while maintaining fast load times and low latency. Both companies also prioritize security and compliance, providing customers with robust protection for their digital assets and customer data.In addition, the new partnership streamlines the development and deployment process, allowing users to harness the combined capabilities of Crownpeak and Netlify – resulting in faster time-to-market for digital initiatives. Businesses can also leverage Crownpeak's personalization and optimization features alongside Netlify's CDN, delivering optimized website performance and better user experiences. <h3>Future-proofing for composability</h3>Crownpeak and Netlify share a common vision for a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-future-is-composable-a-conversation-with-new-mach-alliance-president-casper-rasmussen">composable future</a> – one where developers and marketers alike enjoy unmatched agility when bringing unique customer experiences to market. Netlify also met and exceeded several requirements Crownpeak was looking for in a progressive web app (PWA) development and deployment infrastructure.By harnessing the combined strengths of Crownpeak and Netlify, organizations can innovate at the speed of the business with unmatched flexibility rooted in its <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/top-free-headless-cms-platforms">headless</a> approach. Brands can deliver consistent, high-performing experiences, no matter the customer’s channel or location. "We're excited to partner with Crownpeak to bring together our composable web platform with their content management solution," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenvlarsen/">Steven Larsen</a>, VP of Partnerships and Ecosystems at Netlify. “Together, we're enabling businesses to create, deploy, and scale their digital projects with ease, ensuring they can deliver the exceptional experiences their customers expect.”The two also provide a future-proof, scalable architecture, enabling teams to create content once and repurpose it for any channel on an infrastructure that meets your growth, traffic, and performance demands. The combined solutions unify cross-functional teams on automated workflows – with all your integrations and APIs together on one powerful, serverless platform.

Crownpeak and Netlify Partner to Combine Web Platform Features with DXP Solutions

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<hr /> The number “13” gets a bad rap in superstitious circles, but <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/umbraco">Umbraco</a> might see it as a good luck charm. Today, the company announced the availability of its <a target="_blank" href="https://umbraco.com/blog/umbraco-13-release-candidate/">Umbraco 13 release candidate</a>, the next long-term supported version of its popular <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management system (CMS)</a>. According to the company's blog , the package is ready for testing and can be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nuget.org/packages/Umbraco.Cms/13.0.0-rc1">downloaded via NuGet.</a>The release candidate offers an opportunity to explore Umbraco 13 and check out its new features. This includes a major update to the platform's underlying .NET framework to .NET 8 with C# 12, along with more <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/are-headless-cms-platforms-neglecting-their-users">headless</a> capabilities.Users are generally invited to test drive the Umbraco 13 release candidate and provide feedback. All of this leads to the public release, targeted for December 14, 2023.<h3>What's new in Umbraco 13?</h3>The company's announcement provides a quick overview of version 13, which offers a bevy of enhancements. This includes more flexible scaling for better performance and more sustainable hosting. Serialization, JSON, and other components have also been optimized. C# 12 will feature upgrades to Primary Constructors, Using Declarations, Field Interpolation in String Literals, and Lambda improvements.Umbraco has also included a Minimal Hosting Model, which <a target="_blank" href="https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/">Microsoft</a> introduced in .NET 6. This model merges the previous program.cs and startup.cs into one single program.cs file and simplifies the initiation of an application. But most importantly, this model is now used for all Microsoft Tutorials and examples. The implementation is also backward compatible.As part of the company's headless initiative, Umbraco 13 contains <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webhook">Webhooks</a>, so that users can inform third-party systems about events like publishing in the CMS. There's also new UI that eases this process, enabling users to type in a URL they want to call and align it with specific events.<h3>Enhancements to APIs</h3>Along with the embellishments to the core CMS, Umbraco 13 is also better aligned with the <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-commerce/reference/storefront-api">Umbraco Commerce Storefront API</a>, introducing nested field limiting and expansion for its <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/reference/content-delivery-api">Content Delivery API</a>. There's new functionality with this upgrade, including greater flexibility on where to limit and expand on multiple levels.The <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/reference/content-delivery-api/media-delivery-api">Media Delivery API</a> has also received some enhancements. First introduced in version 12.2, the upgrades amend some earlier compromises the company wanted to improve upon. Umbraco 13 does this by including some class fixes along with a new public interface and some changed return values. <h3>Preparing for future functionality</h3>A few features have been introduced in Umbraco 13 as prerequisites for future capabilities. One such example is the Dynamic Root for the Multinode Treepicker, implemented as an alternative to the XPath expressions. This new approach has been introduced to prepare for lazy loaded content, where Umbraco aims to introduce more efficient caching and memory management to improve performance for sites with large amounts of content. As an added benefit, it will now also be way easier to set up a relative path for the Multinode Treepicker.<h3>New editing and UX capabilities</h3>In the version 13 release candidate, one of the UX enhancements is the introduction of Blocks in the Rich Text Editor. The company plans to add more block functionality, including global blocks as reusable content.Umbraco is also working on its next-gen backoffice (called Bellissima) where new frontend technologies will take the stage. Most of this UI is bound to a new management API but has also been applied to the CMS login screen, which sports a new visual design experience. To avoid a user accidentally logging in multiple times – and to align with security by design principles – Umbraco 13 is allowing for concurrent logins, so it's now default set to false.<h3>What’s next</h3>While the version 13 release candidate is considered “feature complete,” Umbraco anticipates more changes to come. That said, the company expects most of the issues to be minor fixes based on feedback and testing.Along with bug remediation, Umbraco will focus on making HQ packages available for Umbraco Commerce, Workflow, Forms, and Deploy, and expects additional release candidates to be available shortly after this announcement. The company is also ensuring that version 13 will be available on <a target="_blank" href="https://umbraco.com/products/umbraco-cloud/">Umbraco Cloud</a> when released, along with current documentation. As noted, the company is targeting a public release on December 14. To provide feedback on the release candidate, users can report them using the <a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/umbraco/Umbraco-CMS/issues/new?assignees=&amp;labels=type%2Fbug&amp;template=01_bug_report.yml&amp;title=v13%20RC1">GitHub tracker</a> by following the link or selecting “Bug Report” when creating a new issue.

Umbraco 13 Release Candidate Now Available for Testing, Offers New CMS Features

Kentico Connection 2023 Nashville Focuses on Innovation, Partnerships, AI, and the Future of DXP

<hr /> As omnichannel continues to evolve digital strategies for brands, composable and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/top-free-headless-cms-platforms">headless</a> solutions are finding growth opportunities across a multitude of industries. This includes the healthcare technology marketplace, where digital experiences and e-commerce are critical to the business imperative. This week, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a> amplified that growth in the hearing care vertical. The composable digital experience platform (DXP) provider announced the<a target="_blank" href="https://report.sonova.com/2020/en/audiological-care-business/"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.sonova.com/en/audiologicalcare-us">Audiological Care division of Sonova</a> – a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions – has selected Contentstack to power its migration to a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">headless CMS</a> solution. This is part of a broader digitalization strategy for Sonova, one that positions omnichannel at the forefront. “Our digital transformation goals required a solution that allows us to get ahead of the market changes and cater to the unique needs of our customer base,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/varungupta85/">Varun Thunuguntla</a>, Digital Marketing Director for Sonova's Audiological Care business. "Contentstack gives us the flexibility to create more content with speed and deploy a number of personalized features to improve our customers' experience. At the same time, it enables us to improve internal collaboration across markets whilst providing the structure we need to scale our business, quickly integrate new and emerging tools, and future-proof our operations.” Futureproofing appears to be a key element in the decision-making for Sonova's selection of Contentstack. According to the company's press release, Contentstack will power web and digital experiences within Sonova’s Audiological Care division across its global markets. As part of its omnichannel strategy, additional touchpoints will follow in later phases. <h3>Powering omnichannel experiences with headless CMS</h3>Sonova’s Audiological Care business required a modern content management system to support content creation and improve collaboration with its new website. The company also sought a solution that enabled it to respond quickly to evolving business needs. With Contentstack’s headless CMS behind its websites, Sonova can now realize these goals. According to the press release, the move to Contentstack will help ensure consistency, improve internal workflows, and enhance content output speed and sharing across markets. By taking a composable, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-future-is-composable-a-conversation-with-new-mach-alliance-president-casper-rasmussen">MACH-based approach</a>, Sonova's Audiological Care division will be able to accelerate the deployment of new features to its websites and deliver more personalized experiences across all channels. In addition, Contentstack’s extensive API library will enable Sonova to deploy and demote applications per their business needs with greater ease.    “Sonova Audiological Care business is a perfect example of how composable technology can empower businesses for years to come,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonweterings/">Ramon Weterings,</a> VP Sales EMEA at Contentstack. “Through the power of MACH, businesses can benefit from the latest best-of-breed solutions to continue to innovate and accelerate growth at the speed of their imagination. Contentstack’s 'Care Without Compromise' initiative ensures the successful migration into composable whilst working closely with Sonova Audiological Care to introduce new tools to support their evolving business goals.” Sonova’s Audiological Care business chose Contentstack for its leading position in the composable digital experience space. With Contentstack, Sonova is now armed with the latest technology to manage organic growth and adapt more quickly and easily to the ever-evolving needs of its customers.

Contentstack Powers Growth in Hearing Care with Sonova

<hr /> Headless CMS platforms are enabling users to have more freedom and choice when it comes to content delivery. This includes expanding their bench of connector resources and juicing their overall API capabilities. <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/agility">Agility CMS</a> has long been a forward-thinking provider of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">headless content management</a> solutions, and they're continuing to bolster this trend with a new set of capabilities. This week, the company announced the launch of its revamped <a target="_blank" href="https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/announcing-dotnet-7/">Microsoft .NET</a> Starter, along with an exciting new <a target="_blank" href="https://graphql.org/">GraphQL</a> Beta.With .NET 5 approaching its end of life, the move to .NET 7 ensures future readiness and significantly improves performance, making it a compelling choice for developers looking for speed and efficiency. The GraphQL Beta feature offers more control over data retrieved from Agility's APIs, allowing users to select specific properties and tailor their content queries precisely to their needs.With these updates, Agility is endeavoring to deliver more power and flexibility to developers and businesses, allowing them to manage content delivery more efficiently. “GraphQL is quickly joining REST as a de facto standard for developers,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/playing-to-win-in-the-headless-cms-game-interview-with-joel-varty-cto-at-agility">Joel Varty</a>, CTO of Agility. “This starter for .NET utilizes GraphQL as an example for empowering developers with more fine-tuned control over their API requests. This enhancement marks a significant step forward in our goal to enable businesses to leverage the latest technologies effectively.”As headless CMS platforms go head-to-head in an increasingly composable, hot-swappable world, Agility is doubling down on real value. By developing cutting-edge features that reduce friction and expand capabilities, the company is reinforcing its commitment to enhance the developer experience.<h3>Leveraging the .NET starter as a differentiator</h3>Starters are incredibly handy resources in the headless CMS toolbox. Agility's upgraded .NET Starter fully supports .NET 7, making it easier for developers to build powerful web applications using Agility CMS. The .NET Starter serves as a complement to Agility CMS's existing <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/nextjs">Next.js</a> starter, providing versatile options for frontend development. With these assets, organizations can accelerate their development of more immersive omnichannel experiences. It's another example of how the headless CMS is supporting its customers, partners, and broader user community with the essential resources to be successful. According to Varty, building websites and web applications with .NET 7 and Agility CMS offers a beautiful, performant experience for users. At the same time, it delivers an amazing experience for both developers and editors. This squares with the platform's mission to empower both personas to create stunning digital experiences. “We believe editors should have full control over the pages on their website and should not rely on a developer to create new pages for them,” said Varty. “Our .NET starter simplifies this process by seamlessly sourcing content and automatically generating website pages based on the sitemap in Agility CMS. This unique approach puts the power in the hands of editors, enabling them to dictate the pages' availability, URLs, and the specific UI components that constitute each page.”Agility's holistic approach helps ensure a more harmonious collaboration between editors and developers, resulting in seamless and efficient digital experiences. For example, using Agility's Layouts and Components, editors can easily compose various content types and determine their precise placement. Meanwhile, developers can play a crucial role in defining the available components in the CMS and their respective fields. The .NET Starter, just like its Next.js counterpart, empowers businesses to create flexible, composable solutions. This composability aligns with Agility's vision of enabling headless CMS users to choose and switch frontend technologies according to their preferences – all while maintaining the same content management capabilities.<h3>Expanding API capabilities with GraphQL Beta </h3>A significant highlight of this release is Agility's GraphQL Beta. Developers now have the option to utilize GraphQL alongside the <a target="_blank" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Fetch_API">Fetch SDK</a>, allowing them to pass typed objects and GraphQL queries to retrieve the data they need from Agility CMS with unmatched precision. This new feature allows for more efficient and fine-tuned data retrieval, enhancing the overall developer workflow.Businesses are encouraged to explore the GraphQL Beta feature in Agility's .NET Starter. While the .NET Starter has received positive initial feedback, Agility CMS remains committed to continuous improvement and welcomes suggestions for further enhancements.For more information on Agility's .NET Starter and GraphQL Beta, you can <a target="_blank" href="https://agilitycms.com/docs/dotNet/agility-net7-updates">visit the company's website.</a>

Agility CMS Unveils New .NET Starter and GraphQL Beta

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a>, a global leader in end-to-end digital experience software, recently unveiled some new offerings as part of its robust, cloud-based digital experience platform. The new solutions, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/xm-cloud-plus">XM Cloud Plus</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sitecore.com/knowledge-center/digital-marketing-resources/introducing-sitecore-accelerate">Sitecore Accelerate</a>, are designed to help brands speed up and simplify their move to the cloud by making it easier than ever before to embark on the journey to SaaS and leverage solutions with robust enterprise capabilities.According to the company's press release, cloud-based solutions deliver faster integrations, regular technology updates with little downtime, and more engaging customer experiences. Yet, there remains a perception that switching is both complex and challenging. XM Cloud Plus and Sitecore Accelerate are specifically designed to help remove these obstacles by providing the knowledge, tools, and support needed to make it easier to migrate to Sitecore’s leading cloud-based composable offerings.Both solutions were announced at the company's Sitecore DX 2023 conference in Minneapolis. <h3>XM Cloud Plus builds on SaaS success</h3>In 2022, Sitecore launched its XM Cloud, the industry’s first fully-native cloud CMS solution – and it quickly became the company’s fastest-selling SaaS product with over 100 major brand adoptions. Today, Sitecore is expanding the capabilities of XM Cloud with the launch of XM Cloud Plus: an extended digital-experience solution that brings together content management, AI-powered search, personalization, customer data management, and analytics.XM Cloud Plus is designed to answer the needs of Sitecore XP customers who have enjoyed a powerful solution in a single product and are ready to make their transition to the cloud, and for brands that want to leverage a composable technology stack but use a proven product combination to simplify deployment and accelerate time to value.“XM Cloud marked a significant moment in Sitecore’s journey when we launched it a year ago," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzikakis/">Steve Tzikakis</a>, CEO of Sitecore. "Our first-to-market experience offering a cloud-based composable solution resulted in rapid adoption and was the culmination of three years of development with extensive customer input. Today, we expand the XM Cloud offering with XM Cloud Plus, bringing together a proven set of products that gives brands broader capabilities to offer an unrivaled customer experience, while simplifying and accelerating their move to the cloud, and delivering a powerful solution for the thousands of Sitecore XP customers that want additional enterprise capabilities.”Key features of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/xm-cloud-plus">XM Cloud Plus</a> include:<ul><li>Content Creation and Management: User-friendly tools allow teams to efficiently produce, optimize, and deliver captivating content to the right audience at the right time.</li><li>AI-Powered Search and Content Recommendations: Includes dynamic personalization and targeting strategies, offering omnichannel personalization, intelligent search recommendations, and access to an extensive array of personalization development tools.</li><li>Omnichannel Content Center: Teams can now efficiently manage all digital customer touchpoints from a single, unified content repository that ensures brand consistency and streamlined workflows.</li><li>Seamless Integrations and Connectivity: XM Cloud Plus can be easily implemented within an existing tech stack to create connected, immersive customer experiences across all channels.</li><li>Intuitive Form Builder: Our drag-and-drop form builder for XM Cloud and XM Cloud Plus, provides customers with an easy way to add data capture forms to their pages and components.</li></ul><h3>Speeding brands to the cloud with Sitecore Accelerate</h3>Companies often retain on-premises solutions due to the perceived difficulty of moving to the cloud. To address this, Sitecore has launched Sitecore Accelerate, a dedicated program to guide Sitecore XM and Sitecore XP customers to either XM Cloud or XM Cloud Plus and XC customers to OrderCloud. Sitecore Accelerate gives teams the knowledge, resources, tools, and human support needed to unlock the full potential of a SaaS-based future.“We are at an inflection point where mature cloud technology is combining with AI computing to empower brands like never before,” added Tzikakis. “To leverage this opportunity, brands need guidance, reassurance and actual step-by-step, proven assistance from knowledgeable peers and partners to make their DXP stack operate to full capacity and capability.” By giving brands the support they need with Sitecore Accelerate, they can tap into the full power of Sitecore’s solutions simply and easily. It is such a critical moment for online experiences, and we want to be the partner brands turn to when they want to build a better proposition.”<h3>Generative AI comes to Sitecore's composable DXP</h3>At DX Minneapolis 2023, new Generative AI features were announced that enhance content creation, management, and delivery of digital experiences. “Sitecore introduced native machine learning features across our platform and composable DXP in 2019," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveof/">Dave O’Flanagan</a>, Chief Product Officer, Sitecore. "With our ongoing focus on R&amp;D, we are excited to bring the next level of AI to our customers. These additions accelerate the speed at which brands build content and experiences with Sitecore solutions, open new ways to empower marketing, and heighten the level of insight brands get from their data."With Accelerate, brand marketers can:<ul><li>Generate text and images in Content Hub One that are consistently on-brand to achieve a new level of hyper-personalization for customer-facing content</li><li>Author and edit brand content in Content Hub DAM (Digital Asset Management) to ensure it aligns with content models and brand consistency</li><li>Deploy advanced Search that understands user intent to answer queries faster</li><li>Leverage Visual Search from Content Hub to easily discover content and incorporate images into brand assets via similar image suggestions</li></ul>“This is only the first step to embed AI deep into our SaaS DXP so our customers can continue to build better experiences for their customers," O'Flanagan added. "We are actively working on new ways to improve marketer workflows through automatic improvements, and further down the line, AI will be able to optimize the digital experience with limited manual oversight.”Sitecore will begin rolling out its new AI capabilities in the coming weeks.

Sitecore's Accelerate and XM Cloud Plus Promise Brands a Faster Path to Cloud Transformation

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