Articles - Page 25

Bland Brands Beware: Optimizely’s New Identity Brings Human Creativity to its Agentic AI and AEO Ambitions

matt-garrepy

<hr /> Data is, without question, the most valuable currency to any business. That said, digital analytics have taken on a pronounced role in making data actionable and impactful to an enterprise – particularly when it comes to its products and experiences.<a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/amplitude">Amplitude</a> has long established itself as a leading platform in the digital analytics space, due in no small part to its scope and range. It enables organizations to build better products by tracking and translating user behavior, allowing stakeholders to gain deeper insights into critical facets like engagement, retention, and revenue. One thing that sets Amplitude apart is its elegant, event-based analytics capabilities, which transmit in-product interactions and behaviors in real time. This is especially valuable for organizations mapping the user journey across digital experiences powered by CMS or marketing automation tools. To that end, Amplitude recently launched a set of new and expanded integrations that will make it easier for businesses to understand customer activity and leverage analytics to maximize the potential and performance of their experiences. Among the new tools is a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentful">Contentful</a> plug-in for marketers that provides no-code testing features, as well as an enhanced <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/hubspot">HubSpot</a> integration designed to improve email campaign results and analysis. There’s also a new <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wordpress">WordPress</a> plug-in that ingests website data into Amplitude with just one click – powering faster, data-driven website decisions. The company also announced the availability of a new <a target="_blank" href="https://amplitude.com/docs/partners/integration-portal">Integration Portal</a>, designed to speed up and simplify integration development. Now, technology partners will have access to a range of tools and resources – including documentation, code samples, and best practices – to enable their teams throughout the integration process.“We want to provide our customers with the most flexible platform on the market. This means meeting them where they are so they can get the most out of their existing investments,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoisajenstat/">Francois Ajenstat</a>, Chief Product Officer at Amplitude. “Our expanded partner ecosystem gives customers even more choice to integrate and extend Amplitude to meet their unique needs. Our new integration portal provides the resources teams need to easily and seamlessly build on top of our platform.”<h3 id="enhancing-data-based-decisions-with-contentful">Enhancing data-based decisions with Contentful</h3>With personalization becoming a key objective for marketing teams, having nimble tools that allow for rapid, iterative testing and analysis is paramount. The new <a target="_blank" href="https://amplitude.com/blog/experiment-contentful-integration">Contentful integration</a> is a great example of how a headless CMS and content platform can leverage Amplitude’s analytics to enhance the personalization of digital content – and ultimately improve customer experiences. One major benefit of a composable platform like Contentful is the capacity to build world-class omnichannel strategies. Juicing this with customer data gives marketing and growth teams access to all their content so they can easily build variants for their A/B tests. This also makes it simple to organize and reuse content, which means they have a nearly inexhaustible supply of options for each test variant. <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:83.25%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/06/amplitude-contentful-1.png" alt="" /></figure>Creating a new experiment in Amplitude for a homepage hero banner in Contentful Using Amplitude, a company’s web, growth, and marketing teams can run no-code tests using <a target="_blank" href="https://streaklinks.com/B__ewgkSEs1pVgGBMAmfaPnh/https%3A%2F%2Famplitude.com%2Famplitude-experiment">Amplitude Experiment</a> and Contentful. With Amplitude Experiment, teams get the guidance they need to set up tests accurately. Meanwhile, Contentful can build out new messaging and page layouts with just a few simple clicks.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:81.96%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/06/amplitude-contentful-2.png" alt="" /></figure>Analytics results from a new Contentful hero banner test in Amplitude Amplitude's rich analytics provide a much deeper review of an experiment's performance. Unlocking no-code experimentation also empowers teams can drive growth and ROI faster by executing more tests – and directly impacting their acquisition, monetization, and retention results."A growing number of our customers want to build personalized experiences. But to pull this off, they need to be able to quickly A/B test different headlines, CTAs, page layouts, and more,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/krrau/">Karthik Rau</a>, CEO at Contentful. “Our integration with Amplitude makes this process so much easier. Without any help from engineering, our customers can set up an experiment in Amplitude using content they already have in Contentful. Once the test is complete, they can roll out the right experience to the right group of users. It not only helps teams move faster, it empowers them to make more informed, data-based decisions." <h3 id="an-expanding-ecosystem-of-integrations">An expanding ecosystem of integrations</h3>Amplitude has been doubling down on its integration strategy and enriching its breadth of offerings. With more than 130 integrations currently available, including the recently announced <a target="_blank" href="https://streaklinks.com/B__ewhR3t-oOryrAPwbtjQ1x/https%3A%2F%2Famplitude.com%2Fpress%2Fsnowflake-native-amplitude-GA">warehouse-native offering with Snowflake</a>, Amplitude provides customers with a wide range of choices for getting data into – and insights out of – its platform. Along with the Contentful features, Amplitude also launched an enhanced, two-way integration for HubSpot. The plug-in allows companies to bring user cohort data from Amplitude into HubSpot to easily tailor email campaigns or bring HubSpot data into Amplitude for deeper analysis of campaign performance.  From an open source perspective, Amplitude now offers a <a target="_blank" href="https://streaklinks.com/B__ewgsiYg3R8Qy_owjA9zC9/http%3A%2F%2Famplitude.com%2Fblog%2Fwordpress-plugin">new free plug-in</a> for WordPress – the world’s most popular <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management system</a> that powers over 400 million websites. With the new integration, customers can bring website data from any WordPress page into Amplitude in just one click, allowing marketing teams to quickly gain insights into user behavior to boost engagement and increase conversion rates.Additionally, Amplitude now offers integrations for:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://movableink.com/">Movable Ink</a>: Using artificial intelligence, Movable Ink develops creative content for every customer touchpoint. With the new integration, users can send data from Amplitude to Moveable Ink and automatically generate custom marketing content tailored to each user's preferences.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.humanic.ai/">Humanic.ai</a>: A marketing automation platform that utilizes AI to unlock growth for product-led companies, Humanic.ai leverages data from Amplitude to give teams the ability to deliver hyper-personalized content that drives higher activation and adoption.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.unitq.com/">unitQ</a>: Using the AI solutions in unitQ, companies can better understand and take action on user feedback, enabling teams to uncover behavioral insights alongside customer feedback channels to improve onboarding, A/B testing, feature road mapping, and more.</li></ul><h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>Data's true potential is realized when it's made actionable. Deeper insights are essential to every modern data strategy, and leveraging a secure, trusted resource for meaningful and relevant analytics is a mandate for any modern enterprise.Amplitude continues to prove itself a leader and an innovator in the analytics space. Expanding its scope of available integrations and its capabilities for building custom integrations via its new portal makes it more extensible than ever. Given the other analytics tools on the market, few deliver this kind of control, flexibility, and customization.From a CMS perspective, Amplitude’s new plug-ins for Contentful and WordPress provide an indispensable asset for delivering more personalized content at scale. It further supports the enterprise charter to optimize processes, improve conversions, and enhance the value of one-to-one experiences.Also, by providing both Contentful and WordPress options (and presumably more in the future), Amplitude is delivering greater choice for organizations leveraging best-of-breed enterprise or open source CMS platforms.The more you know, the more you grow. It might sound cliché, but that's the promise of good analytics. <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 Launches New Analytics Integrations for Contentful, HubSpot, WordPress and More

<hr /> Turning 20 is a milestone for everyone. It’s your second decade, a rite of passage into adulthood. You’re not exactly a “kid” anymore, but you’re still at the beginning of your story – and ready to write the biggest chapters of your life with (hopefully) a little experience under your belt.The same is true for businesses. Reaching 20 years means you’ve navigated a multitude of challenges on the ride up – from an evolving competitive landscape to shifting economic conditions – and persevered. It’s even more of a monumental achievement in the tech sector, where everything moves at warp speed and change is a persistent reality. That’s what makes this an extra-celebratory moment for <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/kentico">Kentico</a>, a market-leading content management system and digital experience platform. The company just marked its 20th year in the market, growing from humble beginnings to become a respected, well-established global player in the CMS ecosystem.At these moments, it’s cathartic to consult the rearview mirror to gauge what’s ahead. The road to success for the Brno, Czech-based “hometown hero” has been long and hard-fought, but clearly worth the effort. Now, Kentico's future looks more promising than ever as it focuses on its innovative product and a unique set of capabilities for managing multichannel content.<h3 id="a-20-year-journey-to-build-a-market-leading-cms---">A 20-year journey to build a market-leading CMS   </h3>Like most technology businesses, Kentico started with an idea. In this case, it was founder <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=7d2e12cb-7416-4b73-89e1-2b5915e001cd&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">Petr Palas’ bachelor thesis project</a>, which featured a simple CMS framework. Just six years later, it went from a university drawing board to a well-recognized company with offices around the world.In that timespan, it also scaled by an impressive 1,781%, placing it fourth on <a target="_blank" href="https://brand.kentico.com/Who-are-we/Historical-milestones">Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50</a>. The years that followed saw numerous milestones for the company, including the launch of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/platforms/xperience-by-kentico">Xperience by Kentico</a> – its new flagship product with a committed roadmap. Kentico revealed the news at its <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/kentico-connection-2023-nashville-focuses-on-innovation-partnerships-ai-and-the-future-of-dxp">Connection 2023 event</a>, showcasing its unique and innovative hybrid headless DXP. Last year, the company was also recognized on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/discover/newsroom/kentico-recognized-for-the-seventh-time-in-the-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-dxp-report">Gartner Magic Quadrant</a> for DXPs for the seventh time. And already in 2024, Kentico has continued its streak of groundbreaking accomplishments, powering over 90,000 websites and counting – with continued growth on the horizon. Here’s a great video timeline that covers many of its accomplishments:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq3T9duz8j4&amp;list=PL9RdJplq_ukZeB9RYcXls0YzTWI8yjD-9&amp;index=1"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iq3T9duz8j4" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="celebrating-success-and-dedication-across-a-global-community--">Celebrating success and dedication across a global community  </h3>A big part of Kentico’s success has been its people – a global team that’s now more than 250 strong. To celebrate its 20-year milestone, CEO Dominik Pinter <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=2ecc6459-06f9-46d1-a0da-47a2e3511bfc&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">gathered with employees to reflect</a> on the company's journey amidst global and tech industry transformations.  When it comes to its team and the broader community, Kentico’s secret sauce has been a tacit team spirit – one of its core company values. By focusing on personal and career development, the company has cultivated a diverse, committed, and tenacious culture. As a result, many employees have stuck around <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kentico.com/CMSModules/Newsletters/CMSPages/Redirect.ashx?linkguid=aaa0a905-ff3a-49e4-b455-b898693b44c4&amp;email=matt%40cmscritic.com&amp;hash=be0d1d8f19e0858f5111492f222eca952b1f9d98aaaeebe1c4c04b9dec830ced">since the very beginning</a> – a testament to Kentico’s progressive posture as a people-first company. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rKf4dwDi78&amp;list=PL9RdJplq_ukZeB9RYcXls0YzTWI8yjD-9&amp;index=3"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rKf4dwDi78" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure>Kentico’s success also reflects its blossoming community of fierce creators and advocates. With 500 digital agencies in its network and eleven MVPs – a collection of marketers and developers passionate about Kentico – the company is expanding guidance to partners and customers while continuously leveraging feedback to improve its products and services. <h2 id="leading-kentico’s-future-with-a-bold-vision">Leading Kentico’s future with a bold vision</h2>Before rising to the illustrious rank of CEO, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominik-xperience-pinter/">Dominik Pinter</a> was a long-standing employee at Kentico. His journey began in 2007 as a part-time QA tester while still a student, and over the years, transitioned through different roles – from technical leader to product manager. After a four-year hiatus, Pinter returned to Kentico as Vice President of Product Management. He officially took over as CEO in 2022 after founder Petr Palas stepped away to become chairman. During his tenure, he has seen the company transform from a niche vendor to a product-focused market leader. “As a human grows up, it’s very similar to Kentico,” he said. “At the beginning, we were really just a small kid doing some little websites and stuff like that. Then we grew and grew into a digital experience platform solution.”As a deeply experienced member of the Kentico team, Pinter gained tremendous insight into the company's customer, product, and operational functions. This equipped him with an ideal mix of long-term perspectives and resources to guide the next successful chapter in the company’s story. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>At CMS Critic, we’ve spent years watching growth take root at Kentico. Reaching the 20-year threshold is reason enough for any company to pop the champagne cork and cheer the accolades. But seeing further opportunity and prosperity ahead – especially after such humble beginnings in the growing tech hub of Brno – is even more rewarding. It’s clear that they are deeply committed to their hometown in a way that other companies could learn from.Kentico has been a consistent voice in the CMS chorus, helping to shape its trajectory. The company has long been a fixture on the landscape, representing a deep trust and reliability that customers need – particularly at a time when security and compliance have become dubious expectations with unproven technologies. Many of today’s headless CMS platforms have only been in the market for a few years. While several have been successful and achieved sizeable funding, there’s something to be said about amassing the business and market wisdom that comes with legacy platforms. This is where brands like Kentico can provide greater value through their well-established user communities, certifications, regulatory benchmarks, and other intangible assets. Of course, experience can be a double-edged sword in tech, where hot new technologies can disrupt the status quo and steal market share. Herein lies the challenge for any “older” CMS or DXP player: battling the perception of no longer being a “startup” culture, and overcoming the challenge of relevance – particularly in a more composable-minded world. However, Kentico has been maintaining its market poise by focusing on innovation across its products. In this way, it's been acting like a startup within a proven and profitable business. By earning preference and loyalty with creative agencies and enriching its channels, Kentico is also continuing to mine value and create differentiation in an increasingly competitive and confusing market.Finally, Kentico’s fearless leader, Dominik Pinter, is as much a CEO as he is a bridge – connecting a heritage of strong CMS principles with a future of innovative potential. He’s not a financial outsider solely focused on spreadsheets, but a practitioner of the Kentico product – bringing a perspective that is more aligned with customer experience and expectations. Pinter is also a relatively young leader (still under 40). He’s hungry, energized, and passionate, but also brings the right mix of learning and decisive action to the table. A great combination of traits for a chief executive.  Congratulations on your 20th, Kentico. Blow out every candle and wish for big possibilities. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next two decades – and how you will continue to impact the world of CMS. <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.

Kentico Marks 20 Years of CMS Innovation and Leadership

cms-critic-staff

<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

<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

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

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<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.

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

<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 /> While attending the <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/from-accessibility-to-ai-and-beyond-five-key-takeaways-from-acquia-engage-boston">Acquia Engage Conference</a> in Boston last November, we covered an array of news and announcements from one of the market’s leading DXPs. The most notable was around accessibility, reflecting <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/acquia">Acquia’s</a> clear strategy to expand its DXP capabilities with a cogent solution – one that supports digital equality and improves its competitive posture. That came in the form of an “acquisition of an acquisition,” so to speak: <a target="_blank" href="https://monsido.com/">Monsido</a>. This week, Acquia issued a press release stating that the acquisition of Monsido has been successfully completed, bringing the full breadth of its investment to bear as it focuses on growth and competitive differentiation in 2024.A leading SaaS-based website accessibility and optimization solution, Monsido has a decade-long legacy of helping customers of all sizes – and across industries – to monitor and improve website accessibility. Monsido’s best-of-breed features also provide resources for maintaining content quality and governance, enhancing search engine optimization (SEO), improving data privacy, and impacting overall website performance.<h3 id="from-civicplus-to-acquia-dxp">From CivicPlus to Acquia DXP</h3>Founded in 2014, Monsido was most recently the domain of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/civicplus">CivicPlus</a>, an integrated technology solutions platform focused on the public sector.The new deal structured with Acquia allows CivicPlus to retain and serve U.S. local government customers as a Monsido reseller. Meanwhile, Monsido’s team members in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Denmark – including its two co-founders – have also joined Acquia, bringing focused talent and experience to the DXP’s ranks.“Making accessibility and compliance core to Acquia DXP supports our mission of building an inclusive digital future, and enables our customers to provide web experiences that serve all of their users,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-reny-0a2a0a163/">Steve Reny</a>, President and CEO of Acquia. “We are delighted to welcome the Monsido team to Acquia and look forward to bringing the Monsido platform and its capabilities to more organizations globally.”<h3 id="available-as-an-integrated-or-standalone-offering">Available as an integrated or standalone offering</h3>The Monsido acquisition – initially announced on the first day of Engage Boston – expands the capabilities of Acquia’s digital experience platform, positioning it as the only leading DXP that offers a complete solution with Monsido’s full suite of features. The addition of these tools will enable users to build and manage websites and digital experiences that are more accessible – a strategic ambition that Acquia made abundantly clear during its keynote sessions at the Engage conference. From a go-to-market perspective, Monsido is available as part of the Acquia DXP or as a standalone offering. Acquia is touting Monsido’s composable extensibility, reinforcing that the technology continues 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 the Acquia DXP. <h3 id="accessibility:-the-new-imperative-for-open-dxps">Accessibility: the new imperative for open DXPs</h3>Accessibility has been a rapidly evolving initiative for governments and businesses for decades. While some tenants of physical accessibility have achieved widespread adoption, digital accessibility has struggled, relying on loosely legislated requirements. While the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/">Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) procured by the W3C</a> have provided a foundation, many websites still fall woefully short of delivering digitally equitable experiences to users. According to an IDC report, fewer than 10% of websites are fully accessible across visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities. (1)Legislation such as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ada.gov/">Americans with Disabilities Act</a> and the upcoming <a target="_blank" href="https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202">European Accessibility Act</a> are now mandating that vendors address digital accessibility. At the same time, marketers are realizing the potential of accessibility to increase conversions, drive revenue, and broaden customer reach. In today’s connected world, digital experiences must exceed consumer expectations for accessibility. This can help enhance brands, build customer loyalty, and ultimately deliver competitive differentiation in a noisy, fragmented world of marketing messages. This is one of the key reasons why accessibility is a strategic imperative for Acquia. As the company noted in its press release, accessibility is also a prerequisite for open DXPs to deliver exceptional digital experiences for all customers. With the acquisition of Monsido, Acquia now offers a complete solution for building, managing, and delivering fully optimized websites to meet modern standards and digital content guidelines – and comply with WCAG and web accessibility legislation. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>For SaaS companies, being purchased once is a big deal. But three times? Lightning in a bottle. While this phenomenon might raise eyebrows for some, Monsido has repeatedly proven itself to be a best-of-breed technology platform and a trustworthy brand. The continued interest and pursuit of its technology also speaks volumes about the efficacy of its software, the value of its intellectual capital, and the addressable market for accessibility and digital experience optimization. Acquia’s purchase of Monsido also reflects how DXPs are getting creative with their expansion strategies. Now armed with core functionality around DAM, CDP, and marketing automation – all now juiced with AI – optimization is becoming a pinnacle initiative for growth and a competitive differentiator within a tight enterprise market. While somewhat unorthodox, Monsido’s textured journey to the Acquia ecosystem may have been worthwhile. The platform’s tenancy under the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civicplus-completes-acquisition-of-optimere-301565466.html">Optimere</a> umbrella (the parent company of ArchiveSocial and NextRequest) likely injected additional innovation into its roadmap and team culture. As an organization, Monsido no doubt “learned” from its stint at CivicPlus, which purchased all three Optimere solutions in 2021 as part of an integrated, frictionless vision for public sector customers – a marketplace where accessibility is of paramount concern. Government agencies have been swarmed by an onslaught of accessibility lawsuits and evolving compliance requirements for the last decade, and tools like Monsido have become indispensable.  All this experience likely positioned Monsido as a new piece to Acquia’s DXP puzzle. As we covered last November, the company seems genuinely committed to accessibility as a strategic imperative, embracing digital equality at a cultural level and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/blog/acquia-accessibility">vocalizing its path to building accessible software</a>. The investment in an accessibility platform with this clout and staying power is a testament to Acquia’s aggressive growth strategy – and a reinforcement of its commitment to delivering digital equality.(1) IDC, “Web Accessibility: Preparing for Compliance in 2025 Brings an Intersection of DEI and Customer Experience” by Marci Maddox, May 2023 (IDC #US48610922). <hr /><figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/cms-kickoff-2024-banner.jpg" /></figure><h3 id="join-us-at-cms-kickoff-2024-next-week!">Join us at CMS Kickoff 2024 next week!</h3>CMS Critic is a proud conference partner at this second annual edition of the prestigious international Boye &amp; Co conference, dedicated to the global CMS community. This event will bring together top-notch speakers, Boye &amp; Company's renowned learning format, and engaging social events.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. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move forward in 2024. Hear from leading voices across the industry on a wide range of topics, including:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/andrew-kumar">Andrew Kumar</a>, GVP at Uniform</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/becky-brown">Becky Brown</a>, Content Strategy Lead at Johnson &amp; Johnson</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/marli-mesibov">Marli Mesibov</a>, Content Strategy at Verily</li></ul><h4 id="-"> </h4><img style="width:39.13%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/don-cesar-hotel.jpg" /><h4 id="the-don-cesar:-a-world-class-venue">The Don CeSar: a world-class venue</h4>Is there a better location for a winter kickoff than Florida's beautiful, sugary sand beaches? CMS Kickoff 2024 will be held at the iconic Don CeSar, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. Dubbed the “Pink Palace,” this majestic hotel and resort provides a stunning backdrop to the conference, along with access to the local food and culture of St. Petersburg Beach.  <h4 id="get-your-tickets-today">Get your tickets today</h4>CMS Kickoff offers an intimate, highly focused experience. Space is limited, and only a few seats remain. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity!<a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff24/tickets">Purchase tickets now &gt;</a>

Acquia Tackles Accessibility and Optimization as it Completes Monsido Buy

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