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Thoughts on the Forrester DXP Wave 2023: Don’t Judge an Analyst Report by its Infographic

mark

A late 2024 field trip: 2 days at the Kentico Connection conference

janus-boye

CoreMedia’s New KIO AI Promises the ‘Biggest Leap’ in CMS Productivity in Decades

matt-garrepy

<hr /> In the pantheon of DAM solutions, AI has been an undeniable game changer. Along with enhancing search and impacting overall productivity, it’s also proving valuable from a generative content perspective. The latest example of AI innovation in the “DAMsphere” is from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/">Acquia</a>, which has been steadily infusing artificial intelligence into its platform, with a keen focus on its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/products/acquia-dam">Acquia DAM</a> solution.At <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/from-accessibility-to-ai-and-beyond-five-key-takeaways-from-acquia-engage-boston">last year’s Engage conference</a> in Boston, I saw first-hand how AI was force-multiplying the potential for Acquia DAM and taking its core Widen capabilities – <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/acquia-widens-its-dxp-stack-with-widen-acquires-dam-and-pim-capabilities">which it purchased in 2021</a> – to the next level. Since then, there have been continual improvements, reinforcing Acquia’s best-of-breed posture in a competitive market of DAM and PIM products. This includes other DXPs and even headless CMS or PaaS platforms with built-in offerings. Acquia’s new AI enhancements, announced just last month, are focused on video and images – and they're pretty slick. By all accounts, they should boost the productivity of creatives and marketers while enabling them to extract greater value from their digital content. Here’s a quick breakdown (there's even some video to watch):<h3 id="acquia-video-creator">Acquia Video Creator</h3>Video is already a full-time resident in the house of the DAMs, particularly as brands increase their reliance on interactive and immersive content. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics/">Nearly 90% of consumers</a> say that they want more video, and social platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become the go-to channels for reaching new customers.Additionally, <a target="_blank" href="https://offers.hubspot.com/consumer-trends?hubs_signup-url=blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-video-consumption-is-changing&amp;hubs_signup-cta=Consumer%20Trends%20Report&amp;hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-video-consumption-is-changing&amp;hubs_post-cta=Consumer%20Trends%20Report&amp;_gl=1*iyn9mk*_gcl_au*MTAyMzg3NDcxOC4xNzMwOTA3MTk4*_ga*MTUzNjQ3OTAzNi4xNjg1OTEyNTQ3*_ga_LXTM6CQ0XK*MTczMDkwNzE5OC4yLjAuMTczMDkwNzE5OC42MC4wLjA.&amp;_ga=2.165247679.1431422928.1730907198-1536479036.1685912547">almost 40% of buyers</a> have cited a preference for product discovery through short-form video. Consequently, brands are ramping up their production, publication, and management resources to serve up video-centric content and campaigns at scale – and looking for platforms that provide greater automation. With the new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/products/acquia-dam/video-creator">Acquia Video Creator</a>, marketers have a dynamite tool for meeting these demands. Powered by AI, the Video Creator allows users to easily produce professional-quality, brand-compliant videos via a simple drag-and-drop interface. Videos are composed of existing content in a company's digital asset library, and users can access features like customizable templates and a vast cache of graphics, animations, and video clips. Here's a quick overview of the features: <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/aq7v00IH64E"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aq7v00IH64E" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> It’s worth reinforcing that this isn’t just a video editor. It is, indeed, a creator, giving professional video editors a canvas for generating templates with customizable zones for things like product promos. The UX is fairly robust, delivering a complete video interface with scene layers and timelines. The functionality evokes the familiarity of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/adobe-experience-manager">Adobe After Effects</a>, or even some elements of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/webflow">Webflow</a> relative to the granular styling capabilities – but without feeling too overwhelming. Bottom line: it’s enough tooling to assemble a solid experience.   <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:83.01%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/acquia-video-creator.png" alt="" /></figure>Composing a video with customizable zones in the Acquia Video Creator From here, marketing team members (or almost anyone for that matter) can use the simple drag-and-drop editor to add content, transitions, and animations – as well as audio tracks or music from your library or other integrated sources. You can also pop in a transcript with ease.  <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:82.81%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/acquia-video-creator-templates-screen.png" alt="" /></figure>Selecting templates in the Acquia Video Creator One of the big benefits is the presence of “guardrails” to help keep content on brand. We’ve seen this in other CMS and DXP platforms with restricted learning pipelines or knowledge bases that train only on a company’s content or licensed IP. This AI governance helps democratize video creation across an organization while ensuring that large, distributed teams stay on brand.The other key value is acceleration. In minutes, you can create entirely new projects, edit existing videos, and use the Video Creator’s AI features to generate scripts, voiceovers, subtitles, and even translations. There are also collaboration tools for internal sharing and review, so organizations can rapidly create, approve, and deliver videos across websites, e-commerce channels, social media, events, and more.Acquia Video Creator is powered by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.moovly.com/">Moovly</a>, and is currently available as an add-on module to both the Acquia DAM and PIM solutions.<h3 id="ai-video-transcription-and-automated-color-filtering">AI Video Transcription and Automated Color Filtering</h3>Along with the Video Creator, Acquia also introduced a new AI Video Transcription feature directly within its DAM, making it easier to manage, find, and share video and image assets. This is a super-handy resource and one that should complement every DAM. It enables users to add an AI-generated video transcript that is stored on the video’s asset digest page, eliminating the need to send videos to a separate transcription service (this can be a real hassle factor). What’s cool is that the transcripts are all time-stamped and available via general and advanced searches within the DAM. They can also be downloaded – another perk that can prove to be invaluable when utilizing transcripts in multiple places.Acquia’s new Automated Color Filtering is also a new AI-powered boon to productivity. It removes human error that can arise in manual tagging by using AI to analyze an image's color profile. It then provides filtering and search of specific HEX (hexadecimal) color values without any administrator work required.<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>When it comes to harnessing AI in CMS, DXP, and other digital experience tools, the value quotient has been all over the spectrum. I’ve watched AI features blossom from the end of 2022 as vendors scrambled to remain in parity, and there have been hits and misses. In my opinion, DAMs have been a shining example of where AI has paid dividends and brought order to the data chaos. They synthesize AI's tangible benefits, applying them to high-utility services like search and filtering. They also enable automation that delivers a more scalable and uniform experience for marketers. Within the landscape of platform choices, Acquia has been pushing the innovation edge – and making Acquia DAM a jewel in its expanding digital crown. It offers an elegant, team-oriented solution that elevates collaboration. Their streamlined approach and drag-and-drop interfaces also enable marketers to be more responsive, productive, and prolific while staying on brand.Video is a key part of the content ecosystem, and Acquia’s new features are enhancing both creation and access in profound ways. AI has been essential to the amplification, but the DXP has clearly put its ear to the ground and listened to both customers and community – particularly at the enterprise level. This is where the growth of Content Marketing Platforms (CMPs) is accelerating, which assembles the assets and digital tools for managing large-scale integrated campaigns. It’s worth noting that Acquia participated in <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-leads-gartners-2024-mq-for-content-marketing-platforms-as-more-dxps-join-the-game">Gartner’s 2024 Magic Quadrant for CMPs</a>, presenting as a Challenger. Of course, there's also the net benefit of having the Acquia <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a> community as part of the testing and feedback loop. As with previous AI ventures within the Acquia DXP, much of the early gains came from Drupal community engagement and nascent plugins for ChatGPT that accelerated the marketable innovation. As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/buytaert/">Dries Buytaert</a> shared during our Keynote at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect Conference</a> last August, Drupal and Acquia were at the forefront of AI in the CMS realm, well before the generative explosion.According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeathey/">Jake Athey</a>, Vice President of Go-To-Market and Sales for Acquia DAM &amp; PIM, this is just the beginning of the innovation cycle.“AI creates new opportunities for creatives, content authors, and marketers to drive efficiency and create immersive digital experiences that drive greater customer engagement,” he said. “Our latest innovations accelerate campaign delivery by empowering teams to create content more easily, organize assets more accurately, and find relevant assets more quickly. They are just the start of a steady stream of forthcoming innovations that distinguish Acquia DAM for its ability to consistently increase business value.”<hr /><h4 style="text-align:center" id="looking-for-guidance-on-acquia-or-acquia-dam?--talk-to-us.-">Looking for guidance on Acquia or Acquia DAM?  <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contact">Talk to us. </a></h4><hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</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, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Acquia Introduces New AI-Powered Video and Image Features for Acquia DAM

Sitecore Rocks and Rolls in Music City: The Top 5 Tracks from Symposium 2024

<hr /> For brands in any industry, competing on price can be a slippery slope. In some cases, it’s an elevator to the bottom floor – even an indicator of broader commoditization.There’s a case to be made for aggressively grabbing market share if conditions are ripe, like when products are experiencing higher-than-average churn or delivering a poor experience. Sometimes, buyers might already be looking to upgrade to an alternative and simultaneously trim the bottom line. If the timing’s right, a deep discount can lead to quick wins.For <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a>, the stars are apparently lining up for an ambitious play on price, and they’re throwing down the gauntlet. Yesterday, the composable digital experience platform and enterprise <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">headless CMS</a> announced its new <a target="_blank" href="https://explore.contentstack.com/retire-the-legacy">“Retire the Legacy” offer</a>. The program is pointed at brands that feel trapped in their legacy CMS solutions and are struggling with long-standing technical debt entrenched in their marketing tech stacks. “Retire the Legacy” provides a sort of life ring for customers struggling to stand out amidst a brand relevancy crisis – something I’ve spoken about with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-raises-57-5-million-in-series-b-round-qa-with-ceo-neha-sampat">Neha Sampat</a>, Contentstack’s founder and CEO, in multiple interviews. This program aims to de-risk the move to a modern DXP for new customers, helping them mitigate the barriers in a meaningful way. "We speak with hundreds of customers every month who are regularly disappointed by their legacy, monolithic CMS," Sampat noted. “These brands want to modernize, but they feel stuck, technologically and contractually. We're taking this all off the table, betting on ourselves and on the power of our technology to reimagine possible for these customers.”Not only is Contentstack banking on its value proposition as a leading composable DXP to move the needle for brands, but it’s also suggesting that customers who move to their platform can reduce their current license fees by 50%.That’s a big number. And, as you might guess, requires a bit of qualification. First, the “Retire the Legacy” offer only applies to customers who have existing DX implementations using <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/adobe-experience-manager">Adobe Experience Manager</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/paas/content-cloud/headless-cms.html">Oracle</a>. There are also explicit terms and conditions, which require attending a demo by December 31st, 2024. You can mull through some of the other T’s &amp; C’s <a target="_blank" href="https://explore.contentstack.com/retire-the-legacy">on their website</a>. Look, platforms are under increasing pressure to grow, particularly when there are expectations from investors to drive returns. It's not a shocker that this trifecta of specific competitors is the focus of this program (they are, indeed, legacy platforms). It tells us a lot about how Contentstack is reading the tea leaves across the competitive landscape, and where they see potential opportunity.Will a deal like this shake enough trees? Here are some things to consider.<h3 id="helping-brands-get-“unstuck”">Helping brands get “unstuck”</h3>Contentstack has consistently framed the existential ecosystem challenges over the last year. Its case is quite clear: brands are mired in the muck, trying to remain relevant in a market of fleeting loyalty, particularly in digital commerce and retail. In my last discussion with Sampat, we even touched on the state of physical stores as businesses drift towards digital. I recommend checking out a few of the recent <a target="_blank" href="https://cocktailsand.substack.com/p/second-serves-a-great-low-abv-cocktail">Cocktails &amp; Commerce</a> newsletters for some sobering stats (see what I did there?)We all know that consumers are being profusely bombarded with marketing detritus from every direction, and standing out is becoming increasingly difficult. Based on one metric from Contentstack, 90% of markets have seen their digital channels lose effectiveness. That’s a hit – and an urgent call to action.To compete in this digital-first world, brands have to deliver dynamic, personalized experiences that are automated and augmented by high-value AI applications. Additionally, marketers can’t be hamstrung by development – they need to be nimble and agile. By answering this call with the right blend of flexibility and scalability, Contentstack is codifying its value by giving brands more control over their destiny.<h3 id="the-whole-enchilada-for-half-the-cost?-">The whole enchilada for half the cost? </h3>With its “Retire the Legacy” program, Contentstack is putting its money where its mouth is – betting on its people, processes, and technology to deliver a sustainable outcome with 50% savings on existing licensing fees. On one hand, it speaks to their well-earned confidence. On the other, depending on the terms of a legacy licensing agreement (this is where the terms and conditions come in), it presents obvious risks. There are multiple dimensions to any deployment; my guess is that they’ve analyzed exactly how to eat the enchilada from every conceivable direction.At the core of its value play is the company’s headless CMS, which has been infused with a wide range of capabilities to support the needs of marketers. This includes some dynamite <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/seeing-in-a-headless-world-contentstack-introduces-new-visual-building-capabilities-for-marketers">visual building capabilities</a> – which we covered last month – buoyed by an API-first, cloud-native <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/mach-technology">MACH architecture</a>. This enables everything from personalization to <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-fires-up-brand-relevant-ai-powered-personalization-at-contentcon-2024">brand-aware GenAI</a> to enhanced automation and workflows.Underneath it all is the company’s signature <a target="_blank" href="https://www.contentstack.com/customer-care">“No-fail Promise,”</a> part of its Care Without Compromise platform. Powered by people, knowledge-based programs, and a bevy of resources, these vital structures have earned Contentstack a 98% customer satisfaction rating and a 97% customer retention rate. Those are gloat-worthy figures.This dedicated commitment to success is serving them well. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jguthmann/">Jasmin Guthmann</a>, Head of Contentstack’s corporate communication, states in a video on the site that supporting customers on every step of their composable journey is “just how we operate.” The proof is clear in Contentstack’s numerous success stories with global brands. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NZ9keroA5A"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-NZ9keroA5A" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h3 id="so-what’s-the-real-deal-with-this-deal?">So what’s the real deal with this deal?</h3>I mentioned commoditization in the very beginning. “The Great Rebalancing” has cometh, and most platforms in our market have become… well, universal in what they offer (I guess that word is catching on). It doesn’t mean they do it all, or that everything is in perfect parity. I'd be suspicious of any platform making that claim, and I prefer messaging that clearly details what a product is as much as it isn't. But between the plethora of visual builders, headless capabilities, hosting, etc… many of the pure categorical differentiators have been washed away. That could make price a more pertinent factor.To further confuse the category dilemma, platforms like Contentstack have <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/forrester-dxp-wave-2023-vendor-commentary">joined the chorus of DXPs</a> on the analysts’ radars, giving them far more competitive clout in the evaluation matrix. At the same time, legacy vendors have been ebbing further into the land of composability (or a certain definition of the term). That includes Sitecore, which has been making headway with its <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sonic-boom-sitecore-surges-past-500m-in-arr-heres-why-it-matters">XM Cloud</a>.Again, everyone’s ending up in the same place. Where does this land Contentstack? In a solid position – one where it can capitalize on the churn and disappointment that customers have with their legacy products. Even if a vendor is now offering more composable solutions, brands are looking to the future. And for many, these legacy vendors might feel like the past. It’s no mistake that we see AEM, Sitecore, and Oracle (maybe less so) in the competitive crosshairs. They’re big targets, but also the ones fighting their own legacy tech and the old paradigms around licensing. We’re not seeing this offer volleyed at open source platforms or other downstream targets – just the platforms with domain over large enterprise accounts. In this sense, it’s a logical strategy.About that 50% pitch: Sure, it’s a familiar tactic. Will it work? The devil’s in the details, and I think it depends on a number of factors. The real key for Contentstack is selling outcomes and focusing on where it shines. I’ve watched it nail its AI roadmap from the beginning, investing early in high-utility automation and rolling into <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-fires-up-brand-relevant-ai-powered-personalization-at-contentcon-2024">brand-relevant personalization</a>.Along with its AI-boosted roadmap, bolstering the soft benefits can be critical to expressing its differentiated value. This includes that “No-fail Promise,” which provides more confidence for brands considering a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-expands-certification-scope-to-include-offerings-within-larger-vendors">MACH strategy</a> – and we know those journeys can be fraught with peril. In this regard, Contentstack has been a sort of glue for MACH stacks, where performance accountability is often an open-ended question.Cutting costs is cool, and it may become a more decisive factor as economic conditions shift. But remember, buyers are smart. Odds are, they’re doing their homework, carefully weighing options beyond just the budget. Can this platform really deliver what I need? Can I compete more effectively? What exactly am I “future-proofed” for?As Contentstack’s CRO <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-rathje-b606356/">Todd Rathje</a> observed, brands are entrenched in a battleground that looks nothing like it did in the decades prior. They need an experience edge, and Contentstack has been delivering that in spades and at scale. But even with those advantages, it's a crowded range with more choice – and more confusion. As such, clear is the new clever.CMS vendors have to be flexible with their licensing and pricing models. It’s the SaaS way, and composable is where the traction is. But at the end of the day, it’s really all about the value they deliver. To that end, brands need to carefully consider their goals when making their selections. I like Contentstack. It has many of the pieces it needs to make a strong case in modern composable stacks. Maybe it can snare more share by offering a 50% deal like this, but it might already have 100% of what it needs to keep winning. <hr />Looking for guidance on Contentstack? If you’re evaluating platforms, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-selection-service">talk to us. </a> <h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:26.74%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/10/sitecore-symposium-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2024"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">Sitecore Symposium</a> 2024</h4>October 15-18, 2024 – Nashville, TennesseeStandout digital experiences start here! Sitecore Symposium is the leading industry conference for digital professionals to learn about digital experience management, digital customer experience, and related marketing topics. Featuring 100+ sessions, 40+ top customer brands, and Sitecore's largest gathering of marketing leaders, technologists, and our partner ecosystem. <a target="_blank" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today!</a> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</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, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Contentstack’s “Retire the Legacy” offers big savings by shedding older CMS tech. What’s behind the deal?

Sonic Boom: Sitecore Surges Past $500M in ARR. Here’s Why It Matters

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fedramp.gov/">FedRAMP</a> is one of those squashed-together government acronyms that most laypeople will never be privy to. It stands for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, which empowers agencies to use modern cloud technologies to securely handle federal information – which, as you can imagine, is some of the most sensitive data in the world. FedRAMP has been somewhat of an enigma for CMS and DXP software solutions and how they’re hosted. Don’t get me wrong, there are a plethora of compliance requirements platforms already wrestle with satisfying (think about the rise of <a target="_blank" href="https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa">CCPA</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html">HIPAA</a>). However, as more federal agencies are requiring FedRAMP for specific applications, platforms are having to weigh the challenges of attaining this benchmark against the potential rewards of serving federal customers. Speaking of rewards, it’s worth noting that the U.S. federal government is the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/selling-greener-products-and-services-federal-government">world's largest single purchaser of goods and services</a>, clocking in at almost $700 billion. IT represents a big piece of that pie, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/605501/united-states-federal-it-budget/">almost $80 billion</a> (not including the DoD). And it’s growing rapidly, particularly as more agencies modernize and digitize their legacy systems with cloud-based technologies. Earning FedRAMP status is an exceedingly arduous process, requiring meticulous documentation, third-party audits and assessments, and continuous monitoring once achieved. From an investment perspective, the cost of compliance can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars – and take up to a year or more to complete. Ugh. Not for the faint of heart.So what’s driving this drift to FedRAMP? It’s simple: federal agencies want the same best-of-breed solutions and access to cutting-edge services. Sure, the goals might differ from commercial entities; the public sector’s motive is to support critical functions for constituents like emergency response in the aftermath of a hurricane. But the opportunity is huge, particularly as federal agencies build applications that leverage open source technologies like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.docker.com/">Docker</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a>, and other scalable frameworks.Here's a quick primer on FedRAMP, and you can find a library of resources from the agency on its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@FedRAMP">YouTube channel</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_3YFkmGTt4"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_3YFkmGTt4" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure>FedRAMP’s requirements might seem draconian to some, but there’s a lot at stake. Just ask the Department of Defense about its security clearance protocols. It’s a perilous world with lots of bad actors, so cloud solutions trusted by the federal government have to be put through the wringer – things like 3PAO readiness and <a target="_blank" href="https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/fips/199/final">FIPS 199 assessments</a> that govern how data is stored and transmitted. It’s not very glamorous stuff, but nonetheless crucial to safeguarding government data and maintaining operations.With such high expectations – and potentially high costs – it’s no wonder that enterprise vendors are typically the platforms to achieve FedRAMP status. There are certainly a few methods for fast-tracking the journey, but larger DXPs are in a class that enables them to attain these standards. Consequently, it creates a smaller pool of available options, making it a key differentiator for winning long-term contracts that can be, in a word, lucrative. To meet these opportunities head-on, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/">Acquia</a> just announced that its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/blog/introducing-acquia-cloud-next-kubernetes-native-drupal-hosting-platform">Acquia Cloud Next</a> has achieved FedRAMP Authorized status. With this benchmark, the open digital experience platform has reinforced its commitment to serve the public sector as the only commercial <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a> hosting company to meet U.S. federal government security standards.“Acquia is fully committed to delivering the industry’s strongest assurances around Drupal security, scalability, and performance for our federal customers,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertformer/">Robert Former</a>, Chief Information Security Officer at Acquia. “At the same time, upholding the industry’s most stringent information security and reliability standards benefits all organizations who operate on Acquia technologies, whether in the public or private sector, that require the highest levels of security.”<h3 id="enterprise-grade,-kubernetes-native-drupal-hosting">Enterprise-grade, Kubernetes-native Drupal hosting</h3>Acquia Cloud Next is an enhanced, Kubernetes-powered version of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/products/acquia-cloud-platform">Acquia Cloud Platform</a>, a market-leading Drupal hosting platform. It synthesizes Acquia’s innovation with key technologies powered by <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/aws">Amazon Web Services (AWS)</a>. Built for speed, security, and resilience, Acquia Cloud Next sports a self-healing infrastructure that continuously and automatically monitors application uptime and performance. No matter the size or breadth of an enterprise's demands, Acquia Cloud Next provides a number of key benefits, including fast dynamic auto-scaling to handle traffic spikes. It also detects failures, reroutes traffic, and dynamically scales experiences to deliver optimal application performance – with no need for human intervention.With Kubernetes in the mix, Acquia Cloud Next leverages container orchestration that enables maximum scalability, security, and resilience to mitigate unexpected risks. By partnering with AWS security experts, the Cloud Next infrastructure is automatically patched and routinely scanned to maintain the highest levels of protection for applications – a key requirement for FedRAMP. <h3 id="now-available-in-the-fedramp-marketplace">Now available in the FedRAMP Marketplace</h3>One of the benefits of achieving FedRAMP status is being listed on the exclusive <a target="_blank" href="https://marketplace.fedramp.gov/#/products?sort=productName">FedRAMP Marketplace</a>, a browsable repository of approved cloud services available for federal government use. FedRAMP Marketplace supports the operational resilience needs of dozens of federal agencies, giving buyers a portal to confidence when evaluating software solutions. You can now find Acquia Cloud Next in the Marketplace, joining a fraternity of authorized solutions. Since its founding in 2011, an adage has emerged within the FedRAMP lexicon: “Do once, use many times.” In the spirit of this axiom, the FedRAMP framework strives to provide a standardized approach to security assessment – meaning that once an organization has been authorized, other federal agencies can use the same assessment results for rapid and cost-effective procurement of information systems and services.Acquia has long invested in the concerns of modern security practices, working diligently to stay ahead of threats and give content ops teams greater confidence in their technology. In addition to FedRAMP, Acquia’s information security program also helps customers operate in a cloud environment that complies with a wide array of industry standards and regulations. This includes ISO 27001, HIPAA, SSAE18/SOC 1/ISAE-3402, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS.<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>Government agencies are notorious for implementing regulatory and compliance hurdles, often in reaction to a crisis (vis-à-vis <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbanes%E2%80%93Oxley_Act">Sarbanes Oxley</a>). These hurdles create headaches for vendors but also opportunities. As security and data privacy continue to be weak links in the chain for technologies of every kind – including <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management</a> and DXP platforms – reinforcing standards and best practices is critical.While <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/wordpress">WordPress</a> certainly has a footprint within the U.S. public sector, Drupal is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.webfirst.com/blogs/why-drupal-10-optimal-platform-federal-websites">more widely used</a> among federal agencies. There are several reasons for this, like an abundance of highly performant modules or security designed to protect personally identifiable information. Above all, it’s open source, meaning the licensing is free and flexible. These have all made it an attractive go-to for websites and applications. Of course, it needs to be hosted somewhere reliable, and using highly scalable solutions is a basic tenet in a world where traffic can spike on a dime during a crisis. This is where Acquia has excelled, partnering with a trusted cloud provider like AWS – which has invested heavily in federal compliance around its own services – to provide an innovative hosting environment to meet this mission-critical benchmark.And by embracing a container-based framework powered by Kubernetes, Acquia is meeting the needs of agencies <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cncf.io/blog/2020/05/07/with-kubernetes-the-u-s-department-of-defense-is-enabling-devsecops-on-f-16s-and-battleships/">like the U.S. Navy</a>, which has been hyper-focused on leveraging cloud solutions with an open source stack built on Kubernetes, Docker, and other highly scalable services. In fact, they're using this mix to power other exotic initiatives like DevSecOps on F-16s and battleships. I'd say that's as mission-critical as you can get.   Government data can be just as vulnerable as commercial, and solutions with a FedRAMP status bring peace of mind to the evaluation and purchasing process for agencies. In a competitive field, offering FedRAMP solutions has also become a key differentiator, one where a DXP like Acquia can establish a stronger case for hosting Drupal workloads and accessing its services. At the end of the day, it also reinforces the core federal policy foundation of achieving efficiency, transparency, and innovation through reusable and open source software.To learn more about Acquia’s solutions for government agencies, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/solution-by-industry/government.">click here</a>. <hr /> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</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, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Acquia Cloud Next Achieves FedRAMP Authorized Status

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Optimizely Introduces New SaaS CMS with Visual Builder for Marketers

Yo Ho! Gartner’s New Magic Quadrant for Search and Product Discovery is a Compass for CX

<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

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

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

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

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

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

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