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Reflections on CMS Kickoff 25 from ‘The AEM Guy’

tom-cranstoun

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/tom-cranstoun">Tom Cranstoun</a> is the principal consultant at Digital Domain Technologies Limited and a CMS Critic contributor. Reflecting on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff24/program">Boye &amp; Co CMS Kickoff 2024</a> down in St. Pete Beach, it's clear we're at a tipping point with AI in the CMS space. The event was a melting pot of CMS enthusiasts and experts, all there to predict and shape how we handle CMS. The setup was perfect for learning, networking, and bouncing ideas off one another, with sessions covering a wide range of topics.We had some standout talks, like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane">Deane Barker's</a> Q&amp;A and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/can-you-trust-your-ai-data-new-standards-emerge-to-help-ensure-transparency">Kristina Podnar's</a> insights into Generative AI. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckybrown1/">Becky Brown</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcrasmussen/">David Rasmussen</a> hit home the importance of change management for content teams. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketwills/">Mike Wills'</a> take on flexible content models for multichannel strategies was enlightening, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffeaton/">Jeff Eaton</a> shed light on how CMS page builders affect team dynamics.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbrowning/">Brian Browning </a>showed us practical AI applications that are changing digital experiences. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-tucek/">Debbie Tucek</a> pushed us to think of content as a product, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickywiki/">Ricky Frohnerath</a>'s masterclass on high-performance content teams was a game-changer. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickrudd/">Nick Rudd'</a>s perspective on AI in real-time content generation was eye-opening, and sessions by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlim/">Marli Mesibov</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmckeiver/">Brian McKeiver</a> on the CMS buy vs. build dilemma and digital commerce were thought-provoking.<h3 id="the-twist-in-my-expectations">The twist in my expectations</h3>I noted that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff24/program">agenda of the CMS Kickoff 2024</a> offered only a slight focus on AI. The speakers often mentioned it during their talks; it’s very “of the moment” in our industry.I, like you, have been to many seminars, presentations, and conferences around AI and what it will do for you and your content. I was pleasantly surprised this was not about AI creating the content – it was about AI reading the content. It turned my expectations upside down, fired up my brain, and I could not stop taking notes.The whole CMS Kickoff conference was not just about AI. I have many takeaways that I am working on. But the most important is this: the AI revolution will change our industry and everyone else’s. Still, despite its great promise and clear benefits, it soon becomes clear that using AI to create content is not ideal. In fact, AI-generated content has many problems, including:<ul><li>Enforcing the use of internal style guides.</li><li>Maintaining a brand tone of voice.</li><li>Avoiding gender or race biases.</li><li>Avoiding cultural nuances.</li><li>Knowing which sources were used in the training of the AI (too few sources means limited vocabulary – conversely, too many sources suggest the corporation loses control. Does the AI manage to use local idiomatic expressions? For instance, a “sidewalk” is a “pavement” in the UK).</li><li>AI sometimes gives up asking the prompter to continue. </li><li>AI is becoming regulated, and legal ramifications will soon become commonplace, changing in each jurisdiction.</li></ul>And this is just the beginning. <h3 id="rethinking-ai’s-role-in-content-management">Rethinking AI’s role in content management</h3>Throughout the event, the speakers made me rethink AI's role in content management. Given the translation, bias, regulation challenges, and lack of trust in AI, one needs to employ reviewers and editors to correct the content – because AI is better suited for consuming content. Let’s think that the current state of AI creating content is a beta experiment, best left to the tech guys. After all, we have a business to think of.Nick Rudd led an exciting discussion explaining how AI should be thought of. He began by asking how an eight-year-old purchases toys. He described it as simple and direct, without the baggage of brand loyalty or complex decision-making. Kids are smart. They know what they want.Ignoring the elephant in the room, “TikTok” (an entirely different article), the eight-year-old goes to Google/Bing/Whatever and types in:“I WANT A TOY PLESIOSAURS” <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:80%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/02/tom-cranstoun-screen-1.png" /></figure> What didn’t the eight-year-old do?<ul><li>They didn’t go to Amazon.</li><li>They didn’t refine the search.</li><li>They didn’t look at brands.</li><li>They didn’t read customer reviews.</li><li>They didn’t sort by price or popularity or whatever.</li><li>They didn't read the price (well… mostly).</li><li>They didn’t create an account.</li><li>They didn’t click on dropdowns.</li><li>They ignored video and animations.</li><li>They didn’t read the copy.</li></ul>What happens when AI reads content? It behaves like an eight-year-old: <ul><li>It will ignore retailers.</li><li>It will probably not refine the search.</li><li>It will ignore brands.</li><li>It might skim customer reviews.</li><li>It might sort by price.</li><li>It won’t create an account.</li><li>It won’t follow your dropdowns.</li><li>It won’t give you an email address (you no longer know who your customers are).</li><li>It will ignore the videos and animations.</li><li>It will ignore the “see our shop links”.</li><li>It will skim-read the copy if it can find it among the ads.</li></ul><h3 id="how-will-“ai-simplicity”-affect-your-business?">How will “AI simplicity” affect your business?</h3>The idea of simplicity will challenge how AI interacts with our current web designs and content structures. The next step in AI monetization is that the AI offers to purchase the toy – keeping any discounts, commissions, and recommendation fees bypassing the retailer. This will impact KPIs as AI activity increases and human interaction decreases. What happened to <a target="_blank" href="https://stackoverflow.com/">StackOverflow</a> recently will begin to affect us all. The online Q&amp;A platform for developers is releasing 28% of its staff to save costs, which is not necessarily related to AI. But look at the point where ChatGPT entered the picture: <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:73.55%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/02/tom-cranstoun-screen-2.png" /></figure> <h3 id="what-about-a-site's-kpis?">What about a site's KPIs?</h3>As AI interaction increases, our reliance on traditional KPIs must fall.Every website today uses analytics to drive statistics, such as:<ul><li>The number of total visits.</li><li>The number of unique visitors.</li><li>The number of new vs returning visitors.</li><li>Geographical location of visitors.</li><li>Net promoter score.</li><li>Pages viewed per session.</li><li>Dwell time.</li><li>Bounce rate.</li><li>Conversions, including A/B testing.</li><li>Organic search visitors.</li><li>The number of social share impressions.</li><li>Feedback and reviews.</li><li>Cart abandonment.</li></ul><h3 id="design-by-engineers:-a-trap">Design by engineers: a trap</h3>The conference also highlighted a common pitfall: websites designed by engineers focus on looks over function, which does not work well for AI. We need a more structured approach to content modeling for better clarity and organization.Today’s HTML markup makes sense to the browser: <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:85.84%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/02/tom-cranstoun-screen-4.png" /></figure>  However, opening the “View Page Source” shows a different take: <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:85.9%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/02/tom-cranstoun-screen-3.png" /></figure> Buried in the HTML are the brand name, the price (more than one is shown in the HTML), and the description. Note that discounts and age suitability are placed in the text. A human reading this would have difficulty, never mind an AI.Engineers create text and image boxes in your CMS; they let you fill and serve them.They might call them hero’s carousels, cards, etc. They are dressed up text and image boxes with interactions.This is the Design by Engineer Trap.<h3 id="what-needs-to-be-added-to-our-sites?">What needs to be added to our sites?</h3>Content Modeling and schema presentation!A lot has gone wrong. The IT people who made this website are very clever engineers; I could not do this.The engineers took the site owners' desires and made pretty pictures with text and prices, highlighting discounts. They made it reasonably fast and effective and made the site owner one of the world's wealthiest men.Look at other sites’ HTML. How do they handle pricing? Awful!Each site dresses up text in presentations. No semantic meaning is given to the objects described. There is no content modeling. It looks like Al will need an LLM for each brand!!  This is not going to work in the Al world.Something major must happen…<h3 id="content-modeling-the-traditional-cms-way">Content modeling the traditional CMS way</h3>You probably already know it: the model gets built into the CMS.This is a trap.Designers fixate on the presentation when envisioning a website – and build a style guide with fonts, colors, components, and interactions. They create heroes, cards, lists, articles, carousels, accordions, tabs, text, and much, much, more.<h3 id="what-next?">What next?</h3>The content team is asked to create: <ul><li>Testimonials. Someone decides that testimonials should be in the cards component.</li><li>Special offers. Someone decides that testimonials should be in the lists component.</li><li>A “coming soon” message. Someone decides that testimonials should be in the image with a link component.</li><li>Bulk discount messages. Someone decides that Bulk Discount should be in the text component.</li></ul>Content modeling by developers!<h3 id="so,-what-do-we-need-to-do-about-this?">So, what do we need to do about this?</h3>We need technical improvements, enthusiastic use of content models, and application of schema without putting cognizant overload on the content team – which is a big ask. I assure you it will be worth it.Let’s look at the HTML example we showed earlier, this time with schema applied: <figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:86.1%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/02/tom-cranstoun-screen-5.png" /></figure> Now a machine can see the price, the description, the brand, the discount, and the age applicability. It knows it is for a product, not an ad on the site. <h3 id="call-to-action">Call to action</h3>We are in marketing, so we must end with a call to action. So here it is:Our websites need to target 4 device types: Mobile, Tablet, Desktop, and Machine in the future. Our CMS strategy needs a solid content model that applies consistently across all platforms. This is key for targeted ads, personalized content, and campaign management. However, the current developer-driven content modeling approach must be revised and rethought. We must wrap our content semantically and stick to structured data schemas. <a target="_blank" href="https://schema.org/">Schema.org</a> is the place to start; that is the technical part. We as an industry need to evangelize and build a joint effort from designers, developers, and content creators to ensure content is built within the model and aligns with the established schema. As such, teams need to add an “AI Evangelist” to the roles.The AI Evangelist will be a pivotal figure in our organizations, driving the transformative adoption and implementation of AI technologies. This role bridges technical prowess, strategic insight, and the ability to vividly communicate AI's benefits to diverse audiences. The AI Evangelist will forge partnerships across design, development, content, and testing teams to craft a unified AI vision.Key Responsibilities of an AI Evangelist:<ul><li>Champion AI technology adoption, showcasing tangible enhancements to digital strategies and user experiences.</li><li>Spearhead AI-centric models and strategies, focusing on predictive analytics, personalized content, and AI-powered search optimization.</li><li>Facilitate AI integration into workflows with cross-functional teams, ensuring smooth transitions and peak efficiency.</li><li>Lead educational initiatives like workshops and training to build an AI-savvy culture.</li><li>Monitor and assess cutting-edge AI trends for strategic adoption.</li><li>Cultivate a network with AI vendors and thought leaders to bolster expertise.</li><li>Advise leadership on AI integration, securing necessary resources and investments.</li><li>Examine new opportunities to decrease time-to-market and increase engagement.</li></ul>Qualifications:<ul><li>Proficient in digital marketing, SEO, development, and UX design.</li><li>Exceptional communicator, adept at demystifying complex tech for varied audiences.</li><li>Proven leader and collaborator in team-driven environments.</li><li>A zeal for learning and staying at the forefront of AI advancements.</li></ul>Desired Skills:<ul><li>Background in digital analytics and personalized content strategies.</li><li>Knowledge of CMS and digital content creation.</li><li>Experience with app-based content platforms and audience engagement tactics.</li><li>Strategic thinker, ready to foster innovation and change.</li></ul><h3 id="closing">Closing</h3>CMS Kickoff 2024 was pivotal to me. As an industry, we must reconsider our content strategies in the face of AI's evolution. As we gear up for AI's continued integration into our digital spaces, adopting a structured, semantic approach to <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management</a> is more crucial than ever in building cross-team strategies.  These reflections aren't set in stone but are a “call to arms” for the industry. Together, we must prepare for a significant shift in how we design, manage, and deliver content in an AI-first 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.

The AI Tipping Point: A Consultant's Takeaways from CMS Kickoff 2024

The <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/groups/cms-experts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boye &amp; Company CMS Experts Group</a> always provides lively debate and thought-provoking presentations. At the organization’s annual <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff23/program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CMS Kickoff</a> on January 17-18 in St. Petersburg, Florida, the event went to script.
One of the lines of thought particularly intriguing to me was put forth by <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-kickoff-2023-draws-global-attendees-focuses-on-the-future-of-content-and-composable/" rel="noopener">Optimizely's Deane Barker</a> in his opening presentation. He talked about the creation of content – where content begins – and the idea that the “first 85% of content exists outside of a CMS.”
I had never considered this but had learned from my own experiences – and nightmares – why this is the case. 
<h2>So many CMSes, so little time</h2>
I have had the opportunity in my varied roles as a journalist, consultant, project manager, search engine optimizer, and content producer to interact with more than 15 different content management systems. Whether proprietary, mass appeal, enterprise license-based, low-code, no-code, or HTML-code, they all essentially do the same thing. An interface exists to push content to the web, and this interface is more user-friendly, organized, and manageable than doing so in code. A CMS enables many more users within an organization to publish to the web and (should) limit the old bottleneck that was created by content creators (often many) sending their written content “over the wall” to developers (often few) to bring those “artifacts” to life digitally. 
While publishing to the web might have become an action to be handled by many more hands, the fact that content creation itself doesn’t happen in a CMS – Barker’s “85%” comment – is still the general law of cyberspace.  A CMS – even when it features a WYSIWYG or visual editor – has never felt like a great place to begin the content journey. For me, it has never provided a better toolset than word processing software, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, or notes applications, like Evernote, Apple’s Notes, or Microsoft OneNote. In addition, I am sure we have all experienced the nightmare of trying to develop content in a CMS, and then some reboot or login script automatically triggers and wipes away your potential masterpiece. 
Barker noted that people are hesitant to create content within a CMS because of an anxiety of potentially being judged while a kernel of an idea is gestating. “Psychological Safety” is important for healthy content development. Barker himself negotiates “keyboard time” into his agreements with his employer, <a href="https://www.optimizely.com/?utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Optimizely</a>. This is an acknowledgment that to create, you often need to “go dark” for at least a bit and be trusted to create. It also got me thinking that while content editing, queueing, moderation, and publishing can feel like a virtual supply chain, content creation feels more like product development or innovation. 
<h2>Trust the process... whatever that may be</h2>
Some enterprise organizations, like Boye &amp; Company event presenter <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-spenceley-7058a312/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Spenceley</a>’s team at <a href="https://www.jnj.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johnson &amp; Johnson</a>, can build a high-performing content team that aligns impeccable customer-centric content creation into a kind of content conveyer belt, but most still need inspiration from the mind of a creator to kick things into gear. Could this – should this – be accounted for in the CMS? Is it good for content operations, from conception to commercialization, to be commoditized?  Should we still leave and trust some parts of the process to serendipity?
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriehane/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carrie Hane</a>, principal evangelist at <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/sanity-raises-39-million-focuses-growth-on-content-as-data-for-transformative-digital-experiences/">Sanity.io</a>, talked at the Boye &amp; Company CMS Kickoff about how content technology impacts business. Her own research and vantage of the market note that “CMS users still think their CMS sucks, and that’s just how it is,” and that “most organizations don’t have a content strategy.” She also noted that composable technologies are being embraced by early-adopting IT teams and are better for content management. 
This made me further think about the best use cases and philosophical aspirations of a content management system. 
How do we square all these competing elements?
<ul>
<li>CMS users who don’t like the system, but only use it for 15% of the content process.</li>
<li>IT teams procure new systems on behalf of content managers, who will primarily use them.</li>
<li>The right platform for content inspiration simultaneously enables quick and efficient processes for content perspiration.</li>
</ul>
Most importantly, is there a specific problem in all this that is hankering to be solved?
<h2>A new (old) content sheriff in town?</h2>
In times of yore – let’s say the late 2000s – when selling the virtues of the then-nascent CMS to a prospective customer, we would often say that the technology allows you to manage and publish content on the web as simply as you can within Microsoft Word. Back then, it felt like the CMS would make Microsoft Word redundant, or worse, anachronistic!
This is a funny notion now in 2023. Microsoft has made quite a resurgence, up to its current perch as the third-largest company in the world by market capitalization. And just this past Monday (January 23), it announced <a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/01/23/microsoftandopenaiextendpartnership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT</a>, via its maker OpenAI. Many are frenziedly anointing ChatGPT as the holy grail of content creation and production. It will undoubtedly become tightly integrated with Microsoft’s products.
Is it possible in the future that a CMS could just become a way to deliver generative AI-enhanced, Microsoft Word content directly to the web for publishing? What if Microsoft can swoop in and own Barker’s “85% of content” happening outside of the CMS and make a moot point of whether CMS users think their CMS sucks or not (per Hanes’ presentation)?
What happens in the CMS might not stay in the CMS much longer. It's a gamble to be sure, but the bets are already on the table that AI will change everything. We'll have to wait and see. 
<h2>About the Author</h2>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mcqueeny-9732493/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matthew McQueeny</a> is part of the leadership team at <a href="https://konabos.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Konabos</a>, a global agency that specializes in digital experience platform implementation. Matt's role as the relationships and community lead is powered by over 15 years of digital marketing and web project management experience. He has worked with clients ranging from Fortune 500 to startups across a wide range of industries including healthcare, publishing, technology, telecommunications, education, retail, entertainment, manufacturing, and transportation. 
Matt loves the intersection of technology, marketing, and communications. Throughout his career, he has worked with many licensed and open-source content management systems, in editorial, social media strategy and advertising, search engine marketing, lead generation, analytics, and podcasting. You can follow Matt on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mcqueeny-9732493/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mattmcqueeny" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>.

What Happens in the CMS, Stays in the CMS?

mattmcqueeny

Las Vegas sign with text that reads "Welcome to your Fabulous CMS" instead of Las Vegas. Background of Las Vegas city skyline at night.

CMS Kickoff 2023 Draws Global Attendees, Focuses on the Future of Content and Composable

matt-garrepy

CMS Kickoff 2023 photo montage with images from the event of people and sessions

<h4>The two-day conference will be held January 17-18 in St. Petersburg, Florida, and feature keynotes and workshops with leading global experts in the CMS field. </h4>
<hr />
If only there were a vendor-neutral conference dedicated to CMS...
That was the vision guiding <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/critics/janus-boye/">Janus Boye</a> of <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/" target="_blank">Boye &amp; Company</a>, a leading peer group organizer, to create a new kind of live experience – one that focuses exclusively on Content Management Systems.
The <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff23" target="_blank">CMS Kickoff 2023 Conference</a> will offer attendees a fresh and unique perspective on the continuously evolving CMS space. The two-day event promises diverse opportunities for learning and networking, as well as keynotes from top industry speakers and thought leaders.
Aptly named a “kickoff” and held in January, the conference will look back at the previous year’s challenges and trends. But as Boye pointed out, event speakers will emphasize what’s ahead for the CMS community in 2023.
<h2>A program featuring global brands and industry experts</h2>
The CMS Kickoff 2023 will share learnings, insights, and best practices from leading brands that are utilizing CMS, including <a href="https://www.aetna.com/" target="_blank">Aetna</a>, <a href="https://dia.org/" target="_blank">Detroit Institute of Arts</a>, <a href="https://www.jnj.com/" target="_blank">Johnson &amp; Johnson</a>, and <a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/" target="_blank">Wells Fargo</a>.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from CMS industry experts like <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/deane/" target="_blank">Deane Barker</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartomlo/" target="_blank">Bart Omlo</a>, and <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/from-legacy-to-composable-whats-the-best-way-forward/">Sana Remekie</a> (to name a few). These respected thought leaders will interpret market trends and discuss topics that range from <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/top-free-headless-cms-platforms/">headless CMS</a> to digital experience composition.
<h2>Exclusively focused on CMS</h2>
Boye has long been a respected voice within the CMS community, conducting peer groups that tackle a range of topics. Along the way, Boye &amp; Company has built a global cabal of experts representing a multitude of vendors and integrators, and many have been yearning for a CMS event.  
“The CMS industry does not currently have a dedicated conference,” said Boye. “This event aims to change that while remaining focused on helping customers and ultimately moving the industry forward – without sales pitches.”
The CMS Kickoff 2023 will offer curated talks, workshops, and a “perfect mix” of presentations and discussions. Along with Boye &amp; Company’s legendary learning format and social events, the conference promises something for every CMS user, builder, or enthusiast – regardless of skill level.  
“Think of this conference as a mixture of world-class masterclasses, relevant lectures, enlightening discussions, high-impact learning, and down-to-earth networking,” said Boye.
<h2><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2022/12/don-cesar.jpg" alt="Don Cesar Hotel image" /></h2>
<h2>Hosted at the Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida</h2>
To top it off, the CMS Kickoff 2023 will be hosted at the legendary <a href="https://www.doncesar.com/" target="_blank">The Don CeSar</a> Hotel in beautiful St. Pete Beach – giving many attendees from around the globe an opportunity to leave winter weather behind and enjoy the Florida sunshine. Built in 1928 to resemble a Mediterranean-style castle and known as Florida’s "Pink Palace," the Don CeSar is the only historic hotel on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
CMS Kickoff will be held from January 17-18, 2023. Registration is now open, and you can visit the website to <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff23/program" target="_blank">explore the event</a>, <a href="https://lnkd.in/dy_cSrhe" target="_blank">see the speakers</a>, and <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff23/tickets" target="_blank">book your seat</a> today.

CMS Kickoff 2023 Brings Laser Focus to Content Management, Offers Sessions with Industry Leaders

cms-critic-staff

CMS Kickoff featured image with palm trees and logo

<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/sitecore-updates-experience-platform-and-experience-commerce-releases-new-sitecore-content-hub/">Sitecore</a> is holding its popular <a href="https://www.sitecore.com/company/news-events/events/2022/11/ldn/symposium-takeaway-sessions-2022" target="_blank">Symposium Takeaway Sessions</a> in Europe as a follow-up to its <a href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/" target="_blank">Sitecore Symposium 2022</a> in Chicago – with a keen focus on the topic of composability.
The sessions look promising, as they include live networking, customer presentations, and lively discussions with Sitecore leadership. 
The digital experience platform (DXP) leader is welcoming back live audiences in three locations next month:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sitecore.com/company/news-events/events/2022/11/ldn/symposium-takeaway-sessions-2022" target="_blank">November 3 – London, UK</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sitecore.com/company/news-events/events/2022/11/dk/symposium-takeaway-sessions-2022" target="_blank">November 15 – Copenhagen, Denmark</a></li>
<li>November 17 – Stockholm, Sweden</li>
</ul>
<h2>From the Sitecore DXP roadmap to customer success stories</h2>
While each of the Symposium Takeaway Sessions offers something unique (aside from the locale), each will feature a mix of Sitecore's thought leaders. The core presentations will be led by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-baxter/" target="_blank">Jaqueline Baxter</a>, Senior Digital Strategist at Sitecore, who will provide practical key learnings, informative tips, and takeaways from Symposium 2022 – which will be held in Chicago from October 17-20.
The UK session will feature a presentation by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-tidmarsh-7b3871/" target="_blank">Michael Tidmarsh</a>, Olgilvy's Global CTO, as he shares the agency's experience with emerging technologies. He will touch on blockchain, NFTs, AR, and other "fringe" innovations that are making the transition to be business-ready – and the goldmine that awaits. 
In Copenhagen, attendees will have a chance to hear from LB Insurance about its use of composable architectures and automated DevOps with the Sitecore platform, allowing the firm to orchestrate and evolve business value and technology at different speeds to meet demands. 
Stockholm will feature a presentation by leading global agency <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/the-future-is-composable-a-conversation-with-new-mach-alliance-president-casper-rasmussen/">Valtech</a>, which is pioneering innovation in the composable space. 
<h2>About Sitecore</h2>
Sitecore delivers a digital experience platform that empowers the world's smartest brands to build lifelong relationships with their customers. A highly decorated industry leader, Sitecore is the only company bringing together content, commerce, and data into one connected platform that delivers millions of digital experiences every day. Leading companies, including American Express, ASOS, Kimberly-Clark, L'Oréal, and Volvo Cars, rely on Sitecore to provide more engaging, personalized experiences for their customers. Learn more at <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3311724-1&amp;h=2070543467&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sitecore.com%2F&amp;a=Sitecore.com" target="_blank">Sitecore.com</a>.

Sitecore Symposium Takeaway Sessions 2022 Coming to London, Copenhagen, Stockholm

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