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Joy to the Content World: Storyblok Brings AI Innovation and Human Connection to JoyConf 2025

matt-garrepy

Welcome to the ‘Collaborative CMS’: Directus Breaks the Bottlenecks with its Native MCP

JoyConf Stories: Netlify’s Matt Biilmann on the Power of the Storyblok Partnership

Your Next CMS Decision Could Make or Break Your AI Strategy

katie-austin

<hr /> AI has already changed the way you work. You plan with it, write with it, maybe even build prototypes with it. Everything feels faster now, except your CMS.Somehow, the very system designed to keep digital experiences moving still takes hours, sometimes days, to bring ideas to life. Delays caused by complex workflows, overlapping handoffs, and unclear ownership continue to slow teams down.That’s the irony of the AI era. Companies pour resources into “AI-powered” tools, yet most don’t see the promised outcomes. AI has transformed how we generate content, but not yet how we deliver it. And nowhere is that gap more visible than in content management.AI in CMS should come with governance and outcomes, and that’s the vision behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/velocitylaunch">Velocity</a>, Hygraph’s approach to bringing real, sustainable speed to content operations.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><a href="https://hygraph.com/velocity-at-scale?utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=velocity&amp;utm_content=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/10/velocity-at-scale-promo.png" /></a></figure><h3 id="the-hype-that-got-us-here">The hype that got us here</h3>AI may feel like a sudden revolution, but it’s been a long time in the making. Years of progress in data, computing, and accessibility have brought it to everyone’s fingertips.When Google introduced the transformer architecture in 2017, it changed the way machines understood language and relationships, paving the way for models like GPT. Massive open datasets, from Wikipedia to GitHub, gave those models real-world fluency. Cloud platforms and GPUs made training them feasible for more teams. Then, public APIs removed the final barrier, letting anyone integrate intelligence into their products.Once generative tools like ChatGPT and Copilot arrived, AI became part of everyday work. It started helping with content creation, design, code generation, and analytics. Headless CMSs became the proving ground for practical AI. With APIs at their core and content flowing through every channel, they sit at the perfect intersection of data, design, and delivery, exactly where AI can create real impact.<h3 id="the-promise-vs.-reality">The promise vs. reality</h3>AI promised to reinvent content management around three pillars: time to market, intelligence, and personalization.In theory, it sounded perfect. Teams could ideate, generate, and publish faster than ever. Content would be smarter, more adaptive, and more relevant. But in practice, most organizations haven’t reached that point. Around 71% still say they lack the structure and best practices needed to get tangible results from AI.The problem is coordination. AI accelerates creation, but it doesn’t automatically fix how teams collaborate, approve, and launch. In most organizations, content and development still run on separate timelines and tools, which means every update turns into a negotiation instead of a workflow. Without a system that manages all that complexity, the benefits stall.<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:85.54%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/10/image-1761149163545.png" /></figure>Source: Hygraph Virtual Keynote. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/velocitylaunch">Register to see the full demo</a>.<h3 id="what-makes-an-ai-powered-cms-work">What makes an AI-powered CMS work</h3>AI can write, tag, translate, and analyze at impressive speed. But speed alone isn’t the metric that matters. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hygraph.com/blog/ai-content-management">A modern CMS needs to make that speed reliable</a>.That means <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hygraph.com/blog/ai-content-governance">putting governance first</a>: defining who can use AI, what it can change, and how every action is reviewed. It means designing collaboration so editors and developers work in parallel, not in sequence. And also focusing on outcomes instead of features: how much friction was removed, how quickly a campaign went live, and how clearly results can be measured.Hygraph’s CPTO, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariolenz/">Dr. Mario Lenz, </a>describes the gap:“Without governance, AI stays a demo. With it, it becomes a business accelerator.”A truly AI-powered CMS functions like an operating system for business velocity. Every part of the content lifecycle: modeling, creation, collaboration, and delivery, runs faster because it’s connected, governed, and measured.<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:85.78%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/10/image-1761149163447.png" /></figure>Source: Hygraph Virtual Keynote. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/velocitylaunch">Register to see the full demo</a>.<h3 id="building-velocity-that-lasts">Building velocity that lasts</h3>A recent Forrester study found that faster time to market has overtaken customer acquisition as the top driver of CMS investment. Speed now is strategy.But velocity isn’t about automation for its own sake. It’s about giving teams the freedom to move faster without losing control. When design, development, and editorial teams can move together, ideas reach the market while they still matter.AI is already helping that happen. You can see it in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hygraph.com/blog/why-visual-builders-dont-fit-the-ai-era">the rise of prompt-based design</a>, where intent replaces manual configuration, and in structured content that adapts instantly across channels. These shifts are reducing complexity and closing the gap between creativity and delivery.This is the foundation Hygraph is built on. The platform brings developer flexibility and editorial autonomy together so both sides can move at full speed. Developers work with GraphQL, schema as code, and open APIs. Editors work with AI Assist, Variants, and Visual Preview—tools that make publishing faster and safer. Every AI action follows permissions, approvals, and version control, ensuring that speed never comes at the expense of governance.That balance between creativity and control is what makes velocity sustainable. It’s how organizations move from experimenting with AI to actually scaling with it. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtube.com/watch?v=NHuUSei5O0k&amp;feature=youtu.be"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NHuUSei5O0k" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="see-velocity-in-action:-hygraph’s-virtual-keynote-on-october-29">See velocity in action: Hygraph’s virtual keynote on October 29</h3>Hygraph’s upcoming virtual keynote explores this next stage of AI and velocity, where you’ll see, during a live demo, how a multi-brand retailer builds and launches experiences in real time, guided by AI.The session brings together our leadership team to share the vision behind it, followed by a panel with Vertu Motors, Ancestry, and partners from Intelliact and Datrycs on scaling velocity across enterprises.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/velocitylaunch">Register to watch the keynote</a> and explore how the next generation of CMS turns AI speed into real business momentum. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <figure class="image image-style-block-align-left image_resized" style="width:28.08%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/10/image-1759840698475.png" /></figure><h4 id="raise:-lifting-content-into-the-future-with-agentic-cms"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://kontent.ai/events-and-webinars/raise/">RAISE: Lifting Content into the Future with Agentic CMS</a></h4>November 11, 2025 – London, UKJoin Kontent.ai at RAISE: Lifting Content into the Future with Agentic CMS, a premier free event for forward-thinking marketing and technology leaders shaping the way today’s most ambitious brands create and deliver content. Expect bold ideas, discover innovative strategies, engage with industry leaders, and gain insights that will lift your content strategy to new heights. At RAISE, you'll learn how to deliver faster, more engaging content experiences while AI does the busywork of audits, compliance, and localization with Agentic CMS, built to give you and your teams more time on creativity that matters. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://kontent.ai/events-and-webinars/raise/">Reserve your seat today.</a> <img style="width:29.67%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/10/image-1761136749603.png" /><h4 id="live-webinar:-can-we-ever-get-composable-without-complexity?"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://umbraco.com/webinar-cmscritic">Live Webinar: Can We Ever Get Composable Without Complexity?</a></h4>November 20, 2025 – 6 PM (CET) / 5 PM (GMT) / 12 PM (EST)Composable architecture promised to simplify digital experience creation by giving organizations the flexibility to combine the technologies that met their needs. But for many enterprises, it’s done the opposite, which has led to complex integrations, spiraling costs, and what some are now referring to as composable regret. In this live conversation, Umbraco CEO Mats Persson joins Matt Garrepy, Chief Content Officer at CMS Critic, for a candid exploration of what went wrong in the first wave of composable and what needs to change. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://umbraco.com/webinar-cmscritic">Register for the webinar.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS 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" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

AI Made Everything Faster. It’s Time Your CMS Caught Up

cms-critic-staff

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/gillian-mays">Gillian Mays</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/amit-aggarwal"> </a>is a Content Creator at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/storyblok">Storyblok</a> and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> Some things never change. The sky is blue, people crave connection, and content is an essential part of any modern business strategy. But other things aren’t so static. Customer expectations, technological tools, and the way essential content is managed have evolved dramatically over the past few years. The content game is about to change forever. And there’s only one skill that will matter if you want to win: adaptability.Let’s take a look at what adaptability means for modern brands and how you can leverage it for a future-proof content strategy.P.S. This article is a sneak preview of our newest whitepaper. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.storyblok.com/lp/composable-enterprise?utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_medium=sponsor&amp;utm_campaign=MKT_GEN_AWA_701W600001qBJFPIA4&amp;utm_term=cmscritic">Download “The Engine of Enterprise: How Headless CMS Fuels Composable Joy” for free today</a> to get the full story.<h3 id="welcome-to-the-future.-the-only-constant-is-change">Welcome to the future. The only constant is change</h3>Modern demands haven’t just shifted. They’ve evolved at a dizzying pace: today’s users expect the latest and greatest digital experiences, and they demand it as soon as they realize it’s possible. Your content needs to be ultra personalized, lightning fast, and consistent across channels – and it needs to deliver all of that better than your competitors.But it’s not just your users who are changing the game. With AI chatbots taking the world by storm, the ability to stay visible in the era of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.storyblok.com/mp/generative-engine-optimization-explained">Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)</a> is quickly becoming a sink-or-swim matter. It’s a brave new world, one full to the brim with possibility and opportunity. But the harsh truth is it’s also a highly competitive one.And legacy CMSs are out of their league.In a world where tech and user demands can change on a dime, meeting them with the shortest time-to-market possible is the difference between being an industry leader and fading into obscurity.  Legacy CMSs were not made for speed or flexibility. Try to force it, and you end up with roadblock after roadblock:<ul><li>Integrating new technology is nearly impossible, crippling any attempt at innovation with messy workarounds and a half-functional result</li><li>Monolithic architecture forces the same stale, single-channel content strategy as everyone else</li><li>The infrastructure lacks flexible APIs, adequate content structuring, or scaling potential – all death knells for getting discovered by AI.</li></ul>In other words, they’re incapable of adapting. In a world where everything about your content strategy can change in the blink of an eye, being adaptable is your only hope to survive. And that will require a complete shift in how you manage and distribute content.<h3 id="composability-and-headless:-a-new-era-of-content">Composability and headless: A new era of content</h3>With adaptability as the gold standard, the next era of enterprise CMS will be defined by flexibility, modularity, and speed. Your brand’s success will depend on being prepared to constantly reshape how you engage with customers on a global scale. But don’t worry – you don’t have to do it alone. With the combined power of composable infrastructure and a headless CMS, you can break down the old boundaries and deliver cutting-edge digital experiences faster than ever before.  <h4 id="the-composable-advantage">The composable advantage</h4>Composability is an agile, future-forward strategy for assembling a tech stack. Instead of an all-in-one system found in legacy CMSs, it relies on a flexible ecosystem where each part of the tech stack is a modular component.Translation: Composability offers full technical freedom.Because they’re independent components, you can add or remove them at will and without fear of disrupting any other elements. Whenever newer tech or programs come out, integrating is as easy as connecting via API.And if you’re looking to scale? Composability has the competitive edge there, too. The modularity means you can scale with precision, expanding your operations without overhauling the entire system or overpaying for parts that are fine as-is. That adaptability means you’re ready for whatever comes next, including the rise of generative AI search. Because you can integrate modular tools to support aspects like localization, metadata, and structured content, you can keep up with the ever-evolving algorithms for consistently visible content.  <h4 id="where-headless-comes-in">Where headless comes in</h4>Composability primes your tech stack for adaptability. Getting the best use out of it will require another step: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.storyblok.com/">a headless CMS.</a> Much like how composability supports full technical freedom, a headless CMS supports full content freedom. That’s because headless CMSs operate completely differently from their legacy counterparts. Legacy CMSs are one single monolith, bundling the backend (where you create content) with the front (where it’s displayed). You’re usually stuck with that one channel of publication and whatever prebuilt capabilities the provider includes – no customization, at least not without a lot of very difficult and risky tech adjustments. But with a headless CMS, your frontend and backend are completely separated. Because your content is stored separately and sent out via APIs, you can connect to any channel. Websites, apps, smartwatches, digital displays – if it can connect via API, you can push content to it with a headless CMS. And yes, that includes technology that doesn’t even exist yet. Those APIs also mean that your choice of tech is completely up to you. Skip programs you don’t need, integrate new ones you do, and do it all without interrupting the rest of the tech stack or your content presentation. And no matter how technology or user demands evolve, you’ll never have to upgrade your entire system. Just swap outdated programs for ones that give your enterprise the competitive edge and keep going. <h3 id="the-final-verdict:-composability-or-bust">The final verdict: composability or bust</h3>A composable, headless approach is the last word in sustained content adaptability. It’s a rare silver bullet in a hyper-competitive world. No matter how big your content library is, how ambitious your growth plans are, or whatever tech curveball comes next, this approach ensures your enterprise is always ready to execute any strategy at your disposal. As the old saying goes, “You can’t control the wind. But you can adjust your sails.” For enterprises hoping to survive the future of content, failing to embrace composable will be like seafaring with a torn canvas: when you can’t capture the momentum of each shift in the breeze, those who can will be waiting for you at the finish line. Want to read more about the power of composable and headless for enterprises? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.storyblok.com/lp/composable-enterprise?utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_medium=sponsor&amp;utm_campaign=MKT_GEN_AWA_701W600001qBJFPIA4&amp;utm_term=cmscritic">Download the full guide for free today!</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a>

The Future of Enterprise CMS Is Here – And Only The Adaptable Will Survive

gillian-mays

Agentic CMS: Why Kontent.ai’s Vision for the Future of Content Management is Inspiring 

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/nishant-patel">Nishant Patel</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/amit-aggarwal"> </a>is the co-founder and CTO at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a> and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When the internet first went mainstream, it was innovative just to have a website. Later, it was a blog. Then a mobile version. Each step felt like a leap forward in how brands showed up online.But we’ve entered a different era. With the rise of AI, simply “having a presence” doesn’t stand out to customers anymore. What does stand out is how adaptive that presence can be.By emphasizing personalization, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/resources/case-study/land-olakes-boosts-conversion-rate-by-38-with-lytics-cdp-personalization?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">Land O’Lakes</a>’ animal nutrition brand Purina increased conversions to an average of 30% and improved its ability to keep visitors on the website for longer. That’s the power of experiences designed for individuals, not audiences.So what does the future look like? Two words: context management.<h3 id="content-vs.-context-management">Content vs. Context Management</h3>For years, brands doubled down on producing and managing content. But with the technology available and the siloed way data was collected, they were mostly guessing what a segment of people wanted. A brand can crank out endless content, but if that content isn’t in response to an individual’s real-time signals, what good will it do?Content management won’t cut it today. Context management is the only strategy that will reach and move audiences to action. (This, coming from someone who created the first <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/resources/report/complete-headless-cms-guide?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">headless CMS</a>.)Unlike content management, context management seeks to piece together the full story of the problem or desire that the customer wants to solve, based on signals they send. For example, a Gen Z customer might see a product they like on social media. From there, they might quickly search that product—via a search engine or LLM—and land on your website. Imagine they click “shop” and see the exact product they’ve been searching for in front of them, without any deep dives. That’s a brand experience just for that individual, adapted instantly after a quick scan of their browser history. In the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/blog/announcements/welcome-to-the-context-economy?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">Context Economy</a>, the value of a brand no longer comes from the volume of content published, but from how intelligently a brand’s experience adapts to the customer’s signals. Is your digital experience technology equipped to handle it?<h3 id="where-context-meets-agentic-ai">Where Context Meets Agentic AI</h3>Brands have been moving towards context management for a long time. According to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://content.martechday.com/state-of-martech-2025.pdf">2025 State of Martech report</a>, the center of the Martech stack has shifted over the last two years to data warehouses and customer data platforms. I like that because you can’t be smart without data. But I also think it's a curious choice, because data can never act alone. Brands need to pair data systems with a CMS to turn data into insights, activate those insights, and connect with customers. What happens if you supercharge that with automation and agentic AI? Here’s what a true <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/blog/ai/agentic-ai-101-whats-an-ai-agent-and-when-should-they-be-used?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmswire&amp;utm_content=nishant-contentcon?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">agentic AI</a> ecosystem might function like:A flash sale is about to go live. Instead of scrambling across teams—marketing, legal, supply chain, development, brand—AI agents handle the campaigns.One agent writes the copy. Another ensures it’s on-brand. An anti-hoax agent flags suspicious assets, while a supply chain agent checks inventory. Once the plan is greenlit by humans, a promotion agent takes over to launch the campaign, update the homepage, and email the right audience. As performance data rolls in, yet another agent optimizes the campaign in real time, ensuring it reaches the right people in the right moments.Again, keep in mind this shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all experience. Individual A receives one version, while Individual B receives a completely different version, based on the context they provide. Both move the customer to form a deeper connection with the brand in different ways.This is not a distant future. Contentstack enables that reality today.<h3 id="embrace-agentic-with-contentstack’s-agent-os">Embrace Agentic with Contentstack’s Agent OS</h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/academy/content/adaptive-personalization-with-agent-os">Contentstack’s Agent OS</a> is a breakthrough in agentic AI that allows AI and automation to operate with full brand and customer context to drive one-to-one interactions. Agents tap into a brand’s content, voice, audience insights, and existing Contentstack tools to handle predictable tasks and enforce on-brand outputs where it matters. Automations remove the need to switch between tools, set up manual workflows, and configure repetitive, low-value AI prompts.This is context management: combining data, content, and brand intelligence in real time to enable customer-driven experiences at scale.<h3 id="how-to-get-your-context-in-order">How to Get Your Context in Order</h3>So how do you prepare for an agentic future, today? <ol><li>Know your customer. Make sure customer data is being captured with the right systems, and that you’re pulling in real-time signals you can actually act on. That might require getting marketing and IT together in one room until that’s figured out. Even better, use data systems already <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/platforms/real-time-cdp?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">embedded in your CMS</a>, so you don’t have to configure complicated integrations and fixes to connect data and content.  </li><li>Know your brand. This isn't just about logos and tone and voice. Understand how your brand is most relevant to your customer and adds value to their life. Do they want to be educated? Entertained? Make sure you’re fulfilling that need.  </li><li>Commit to the moment. Once you understand the intersection between customer and brand, use AI and LLMs to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/blog/tech-talk/how-ai-powered-personalization-enhances-customer-experience?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">personalize content</a> for customers in the right channel, at the right time.</li></ol>The “one-size-fits-all” web has been dying for a long time. Now, with modern digital experience platforms like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.contentstack.com/platform?utm_campaign=fy26_glb_os_thought-leadership&amp;utm_medium=press-link&amp;utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_content=nishant-cmscritic-october">Contentstack Edge</a> that combine content, data, and agentic AI in real-time, there’s a better customer experience waiting. We can finally move on to the era of context management.

The Death of the One-Size-Fits-All Web

nishant-patel

Power your CMS on AWS

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<hr /> If screen legend Eric Roberts is sometimes known as the “Busiest Actor in Hollywood” (he's racked up over 700 credits in film and TV), then <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://agilitycms.com/">Agility CMS</a> CTO <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/playing-to-win-in-the-headless-cms-game-interview-with-joel-varty-cto-at-agility">Joel Varty</a> has a valid claim as “The Busiest Man in the CMS industry.”Seriously. This year, Joel has released comprehensive video playlists on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/vartys-videos-a-ctos-take-on-nextjs">Next.js</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/vartys-videos-all-about-composable">composable content</a>. Now, he’s back to complete the trilogy with this latest YouTube series, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEI81bLU4t-uQbH7IZOLUvShAqKGhTlFA">Next-Level Dev: AI Meets Code</a>. We've got an exclusive wrap on this new edition, and you can watch all the videos below. We've even pulled some of Joel's Oscar-worthy quotes from each installment. Just for fun. So grab your popcorn, put away your DVD copy of Runaway Train, and prepare for a blockbuster knowledge drop. <h3 id="video-1:-building-a-vs-code-component-from-a-screenshot">Video 1: Building a VS Code Component from a Screenshot</h3>This is an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/a-gathering-of-content-champions-heres-why-cms-connect-25-was-super-in-every-way">award-winning</a> video. Literally.Joel opens with his <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/a-gathering-of-content-champions-heres-why-cms-connect-25-was-super-in-every-way">CMS Connect 25</a>, CMS Idol-winning demo. Within the Agility <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://agilitycms.com/product/headless-cms">headless CMS</a> platform – and in six swift minutes – Joel shows:<ul><li>How starting in your codebase (instead of the CMS) saves time.</li><li>The way AI assistants like Claude read your existing project patterns and build components to match.</li><li>Why this approach makes hard-to-visualize use cases simple and fast to deliver.</li></ul> Fun Joel quote: “I don’t even know what this is.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kh9eU1gWaU">Watch Building a VS Code Component from a Screenshot here</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kh9eU1gWaU"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Kh9eU1gWaU" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="video-2:-can-you-code-ai-with-agility-cms?">Video 2: Can You Code AI with Agility CMS?</h3>Think of this as a longer, code-first expansion of the first video.Joel wires Agility CMS into a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://agilitycms.com/starters/nextjs">Next.js</a> site, starting code-first. He covers what the AI-assisted workflow looks like and why it matters for developer efficiency and editor usability. He also breaks down:<ul><li>Reverse workflows by taking a React component and letting AI convert it into an Agility CMS component without a manual boilerplate.</li><li>Using AI to add elements like dark mode support, consistent container spacing, and scroll-triggered effects.</li><li>Letting AI scaffold so <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://agilitycms.com/product/developers">developers</a> can focus on testing, code reviews, accessibility, and performance.</li></ul> Fun Joel quote: “I’m going to go boom.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtq-SgVbP_I\">Watch Can You Code AI with Agility CMS? here</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtq-SgVbP_I"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xtq-SgVbP_I" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="video-3:-oops!-no-dark-mode?-let’s-fix-it-together">Video 3: Oops! No Dark Mode? Let’s Fix it Together</h3>Joel shipped a hero component without dark mode.But fear not! AI to the rescue! Joel uses an AI agent to retrofit the component properly. Not only does he cover what to change, but also why the pattern matters for consistency across the site. He also dives into:<ul><li>Aligning spacing, tones, and dark-mode behavior with existing components.</li><li>Best practices for reviewing diffs and safely accepting changes.</li><li>How to iterate fast and make small manual edits where needed.</li></ul> Fun Joel quote: “It looks like it’s doing a bunch of stuff. Then it undid some stuff.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fl7avmXx3k">Watch Oops! No Dark Mode? Let’s Fix it Together here</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fl7avmXx3k"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fl7avmXx3k" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="video-4:-watch-me-build-a-carousel-with-ai,-mcp,-and-next.js">Video 4: Watch Me Build a Carousel with AI, MCP, and Next.js</h3>This is a bigger, hands-on video. Joel installs the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://github.com/cdejongfiero/agility-cms-mcp-server">Agility MCP (Model Context Protocol) server</a>, explains what MCP is, and shows how a code-first + AI approach accelerates modeling and implementation while maintaining Next.js conventions. You’ll also see:<ul><li>How to go from a simple <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/figma">Figma</a> sketch to a carousel component model and item content model using AI.</li><li>Correct <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/nextjs">Next.js</a> routing and file naming.</li><li>The developer’s job to craft precise AI prompts, review diffs, run tests, and enforce performance.</li></ul> Fun Joel quote: “Here’s my quote, unquote design. I am not a designer.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SgX8Yx39YQ">Watch Watch Me Build a Carousel with AI, MCP, and Next.js here</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SgX8Yx39YQ"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7SgX8Yx39YQ" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="video-5:-github-copilot-vs-cursor-vs-claude:-the-ultimate-ai-coding-showdown">Video 5: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Claude: The Ultimate AI Coding Showdown</h3>The last video in the series is the big, winner-take-all battle.Joel compares <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://github.com/features/copilot">GitHub Copilot,</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code">Claude Code (CLI)</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cursor.com/en">Cursor</a> by adding personalization to a Next.js background hero using Agility CMS. He also covers:<ul><li>The exact fields and list requirements for personalization.</li><li>How this exercise was set up, executed, and validated.</li><li>How developers ensure quality within AI scaffolding.</li></ul>Who takes it? You’ll have to watch. Fun Joel quote: “It’s not working. No, it’s not working. That did not work.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tJQC_CHXYY">Watch GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Claude: The Ultimate AI Coding Showdown here</a>:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tJQC_CHXYY"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_tJQC_CHXYY" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3 id="the-post-credits-scene:-the-repeatable-loop">The Post-Credits Scene: The Repeatable Loop</h3>Whether intended or accidental, Joel’s series showcases that AI won’t replace developers. And maybe that’s the point.Each episode in Joel’s series sort of reinforces the same loop:<ol><li>Developers Start: It’s dev intent, through things like prompts, that drive the work. </li><li>AI Scaffolds: It drafts the boring parts.</li><li>Developers Stay Accountable: For things like naming, accessibility, performance, and overall quality.</li></ol>In <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://agilitycms.com/blog/i-taught-a-little-and-learned-a-lot-at-cms-connect-25">Joel’s recap of CMS Connect 25</a>, he pointed out that for AI experimentation, nobody has “cracked the code” on a singular, best way to do it. But in Next Level Dev: AI Meets Code, he may have found a workable formula where dev input and AI output are given equal consideration and craft.We’ll see. Until then, we're looking forward to the next installment of Varty’s Videos. <hr /><h4 style="text-align:center" id="looking-for-guidance-on-agility?-talk-to-an-expert.">Looking for guidance on Agility? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/contact">Talk to an expert.</a></h4><hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS 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" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Varty’s Videos: Where AI Meets Code

Is content management dead? Contentstack’s Agent OS reimagines new life in the ‘Context Economy'

<hr /> Agencies and CMS platforms have long forged go-to-market partnerships to power channel opportunities. Recently, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/strapi">Strapi</a>, an open source headless CMS, formalized its collaboration with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://9ea41cec.streaklinks.com/CjocxQwZmb4zhUxDAgRF8o7i/https%3A%2F%2Falloycrew.com%2F">Alloy</a> – a premier agency specializing in precision storytelling and experiences for imaginative tech brands.According to Alloy's press release, its partnership with the headless content management system will give brands the power to create modern websites with a tech-stack-agnostic solution. The open source nature of the platform, in stark contrast to many closed headless CMS platforms – along with both its managed and self-hosted options – were key factors driving Alloy's excitement around the partnership. “We’re thrilled to welcome Alloy into the Strapi Partner Program,” said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://9ea41cec.streaklinks.com/CjocxQwKSuOqgvDqfAOmQkmZ/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarkaraymond%2F">Mark Raymond</a>, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Strapi. “Their proven expertise, professionalism, and presence in the U.S. market make them an ideal partner as we expand our footprint in North America. Together, we’ll empower brands to create data-rich, scalable digital experiences built on the flexibility of Strapi’s open-source CMS.”<h3 id="building-demand-in-a-competitive-headless-cms-market">Building demand in a competitive headless CMS market</h3>Founded in 2015, Strapi gives developers the freedom to use their favorite tools and frameworks while allowing editors to easily manage their content and distribute it anywhere. Companies of all sizes have built their websites and apps with Strapi, including Apple, Adidas, Walmart, JP Morgan Chase &amp; Co., and Carvana, among thousands of others. As of this year, the platform had reeled in over 66,000 GitHub stars, amassed thousands of contributors, and topped over 50 million downloads – making it the most popular open source headless CMS on the market. They’ve also secured $45 million in funding along the way.Strapi combines a dynamic content editing experience with a solid underlying system for managing structured data. This makes it a solid choice for both marketing teams who need to easily manage content and developers who need a robust system that can handle different types of relational data. We've previously spoken with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-burgy-strapi-88671673/">co-founder and CEO Pierre Burgy</a> about Strapi's roadmap and how the platform is bringing together the best of all worlds for marketers and developers. At the same time, the company was founded by coders, and has cultivated a strong relationship and preference around its technical heritage.Strapi continues to build momentum around its ecosystem, including its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://strapi.io/cloud">Strapi Cloud</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://market.strapi.io/">Strapi Market,</a> which expand its breadth of offerings. The company is also touting its API creation, content modeling, and delivery capabilities. It also offers an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://strapi.io/partners">extensive list </a>of enterprise, business, and community partners in its ecosystem, specializing in everything from application development to AI.<h3 id="about-alloy">About Alloy</h3>Alloy is an integrated marketing agency that specializes in designing and building websites and products that merge elegance with cutting-edge technology. They work with customers in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East, and the firm’s deep expertise in creating marketing strategies, platforms, ecosystems, multichannel campaigns and much more help imaginative brands engage with buyers, shape public opinion, build lasting influence and grow market share. "Strapi's open-source platform is a game-changer for our clients who want to own their technology stack," said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://9ea41cec.streaklinks.com/CjocxQwsLK6WvlajYwr5GXhB/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frogerfpeters%2F">Roger Peters</a>, VP of Technology at Alloy. “This partnership is all about giving clients the freedom to build and scale with a flexible, API-first CMS that integrates seamlessly and reduces the risk of vendor lock-in. We're excited to architect dynamic solutions for our clients that future-proof their brand for whatever comes next.”Since 2012, Alloy has been named a 10-time Best Place to Work, Technology Agency of the Year, and Fastest Growing Agency, and has been celebrated for Best Use of Measurement and Data. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS 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" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Strapi Launches Strategic Partnership with Alloy to Deliver Scalable, Data-Powered Digital Experiences

Put on a happy CMS face: Storyblok's facial coding experiment reveals how AI is sparking joy 

A Gathering of Content Champions: Here’s Why CMS Connect 25 was ‘Super’ in Every Way

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