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<hr /> What a year 2023 has been in CMS. Both buyers and investors keep pouring money into the space, everyone is busy adding GenAI, and if you do a Google search for “headless CMS,” you’ll see how digital marketing (still) works.While all of this is exciting, what about the content producers? Your faithful colleagues working in communications or marketing are tasked with creating successful campaigns and content in your corporate tone of voice. They work tirelessly, and do their very best to help you and your company stand out. Content matters, right?At the end of the day, you buy a CMS for the content producers, yet how far have we really come in the past 20 years to make their working lives better? In brief:<ul><li>The requirements of authors (content contributors) are still largely ignored, both in the CMS selection process and – sadly, also in the implementation that follows</li><li>Content failures can happen quietly but be far more damaging than tech failures</li><li>As the dirty little secret of this industry, the first 85% of content production still doesn’t happen in the CMS. </li></ul>As I look back at this year and look towards putting the final touches on the program for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff24">CMS Kickoff 24</a> in Florida in January, allow me to be a critic of most content management vendors out there: You urgently need to improve content production! The editor experience is the next frontier in making a better Web. It will happen, so it’s up to you to determine how to meet customer expectations and stay ahead of the competition. Let’s start with the bigger picture and then look at the different dimensions of content production. <h3>Content production is big money… unfortunately, just not in CMS</h3>A common theme (at probably all conferences in all industries) is the perpetual “what’s next?” question. While some speakers look far into the future, my focus has always been on what’s on the horizon. Let’s take some insight, some innovation, some hard-earned experiences, connect some people together, and use this mix to make things better. Perhaps with experience (or is it age?) I've also started to make historical parallels from earlier in my career. As the famous quote goes: “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”What’s headless CMS really if not just a less smart, but sadly more widely adopted way, to say decoupled as it was called in the late 90’s? What’s really new about composition or even orchestration, if not just confusing you as a buyer even more? I know I sound cynical, but I’m deeply interested in improving things, and cutting through the deafening hype is not for the faint of heart. Look at the interfaces of a CMS in the past and in 2023, and to be fair, you’ll see clear design improvements when it comes to the authors, but we still have a long way to go. At a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/groups/cms-experts">CMS Experts group meeting</a> in Sacramento, Adam Kalsey and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/deane-barker">Deane Barker</a> did a double act, showing us good old Movable Type – a weblog publishing system initially released in 2001. Adam magically still had a circa 20-year-old version up and running. It was big back then, and the interface remains powerful and useful today.Last week in Hamburg, Germany, we brought some of our European community together and looked more broadly at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/blog/2023/11/what-might-2024-bring">2024 digital trends</a>. In a refreshingly honest session given by a product leader at CMS vendor CoreMedia, we saw how their interface looked 15 years ago. The iPhone was just out back then, and that also changed design. Most, if not all, CMSs are now responsive – yet the 15-year-old screenshot also showed a system that’s widely adopted, useful, and still in production worldwide. So what’s happened with content production in the meantime? Where print has faded, digital content production has become big money. But for some reason, the action really hasn’t happened in the CMS. Look at the seemingly ever-growing MarTech vendor landscape, and I would argue that the CMS category (or Web Experience Management as it is also called on the landscape) is probably one of the older statesmen of the many categories, but it’s not growing as quickly as some of the more emerging ones. If you look at the content journey, from creation via composition to delivery, the CMS marketplace in recent decades has clearly focused on what today is called omnichannel experiences (that’s delivery) and then also on technical innovation (foundational stuff, new frameworks, going cloud), and perhaps recently on composition (the middle part), but unfortunately not much on the creation. Consequently, other categories, like content marketing or digital asset management tools, have been eating away at the budgets and the content production problem. <h3>Listen deeply to the requirements of content authors</h3>It’s tough to say that the requirements of authors (content contributors) are ignored, both in the CMS selection process and, sadly, also in the implementation that follows. But I’ve seen how it happens working in this field since the late 90’s.Yes, many requirements specifications, request-for-proposals, and similar documentation include editorial and content production requirements. But what tends to happen is that at the end of the day, buyers and CMS vendors alike overfocus on making the developers happy, creative, and productive – rather than also considering the needs of everyone working with content. A simple explanation is that developers tend to be in much higher demand and require substantially bigger paychecks. In addition, there’s this perception that code is something very few can create, like a unique masterpiece of innovation, while content is something everyone can easily do. That’s a sad way to look at things, particularly now with an explosion in content thanks to GenAI. Will it be your code or your content that makes you stick out?Actually, the best copywriters, content creators, editors, and whatever you call them in your organization are what will set you apart from the competition in 2024. It’s a long-standing misconception, perhaps a relatively privileged one, in the CMS space that you stand out by just shouting louder than the others. That might work in a fast-growing sector like CMS, but most of customers are not positioned like that. They need to stand out from the competition genuinely. They need to deliver services and storytelling that work for their students, staff, customers, and fans – and to do that, they need good content. <h3>Content failures can happen quickly and be devastating</h3>So, what’s a content failure? For some reason, many are far more worried about code failures than content failures, yet poor content quality is likely to slowly and effectively undermine your brand trust. <figure class="image image_resized" style="width:53.46%"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/deane-barker-image.jpg" /></figure> It gets worse: It can happen quicker and be more painful than that. A content failure on Black Friday is likely to be very costly. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. Content that can’t get pushed out, some seemingly minor important outdated text on a corner of the website, a missing translation, and the list goes on… and it’s all very bad news. As Deane has passionately argued at multiple sessions this year, including at the Web Summer Camp in Croatia, to succeed, you need to:<ul><li>Provide your content team with the materials and equipment to do their work right</li><li>Give your content team the opportunity to do what they do best every day</li></ul>In other words: Your content team wants to be creative, and if your current CMS restricts them too much, or just genuinely isn’t supporting them, you can count on them to get increasingly disengaged – and the best ones will likely seek new opportunities. While you can probably find another developer who knows this or that framework, how long might it take to find and train someone who will excel in creating content in your tone of voice?<h3>Start solving 100% of content production problems</h3>Let’s go almost 20 years back in time. In 2006, Deane Barker wrote this post: <a target="_blank" href="https://deanebarker.net/tech/blog/first-85/">The first 85%</a>. To quote from the opening: “Content management is a process. It starts when someone gets an idea in their head that they want to publish (or change) some content somewhere. It ends when that content is actually published. This is the entire length of the process.At what point does the content management system come into the picture? Well, with most middle- and lower-end systems, it’s not until very late in the game. There’s an exception explained below, but in most cases, no one actually opens a content management system and tries to enter any content until about 85% along in the entire process.”In his current role as Global Director of Content Management at Optimizely, Deane published an updated version with some more insights in 2022: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.optimizely.com/insights/blog/the-first-85/">Why the first 85% of content production is a must</a>. In it, he compares it to the famous Seine River in France:“We tend to get myopic around things like content modeling, editorial UIs, content aggregations, templating, and such. These are the mechanical details that enable the management of content. But all this assumes the content exists. Where does it start? Think about the Seine River. You’re probably thinking about where it flows past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, right? But…that’s just the part of the river that runs through Paris. The Seine is 432 miles long. The waters start at a wellspring several hundred miles away in Dijon.“So what’s the missing 85%? If you don’t know what it’s like in your organization, then ask around. Inquire about what it takes to get content on their website. What has to happen before something gets published? Might it be some research, meetings, an initial draft in some other tool (Google Docs, perhaps), a review, some more meetings, additional illustrations, social media planning… and the list goes on. Let me just finish with one example, which was really a running joke back in the late 90’s. Every CMS back then also had content workflow. While a nice demo, it was rarely, if ever, used in production. Today, does anyone really use workflow in CMS? As far as I know, the content workflow happens in other tools. Content production is indeed what matters. Understanding and supporting this better is what will set any content technology apart. <h3>As a final and forward-looking note:</h3>CWI researcher and Internet pioneer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/steven-pemberton">Steven Pemberton</a> recently pointed out that we are still in what you could call the days of the “paper Internet.” The <a target="_blank" href="https://homepages.cwi.nl/~steven/Talks/2023/11-09-lightning/#L634">Web is imitating the old,</a> as he said in a lightning talk at the Boye Aarhus 23 conference. Think about it for a moment: With responsive design, we could have truly escaped the page-based paradigm. But have we really? So many things we do on the Web still resemble previous technology, and this also goes for content production, where we type into forms. Innovation is needed!PS: A content model that really works could be a good place to start. At CMS Kickoff 24, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/mike-wills">Mike Wills</a>, VP of Technology at BlueModus, will host a session on this topic titled “Content That Connects.”PPS: For more on what it means to truly manage content, read my piece from 2022: <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/will-this-be-the-year-where-cms-is-finally-about-managing-content">Will this be the year where CMS is finally about managing content?</a> <hr /><figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/cms-kickoff-2024-banner.jpg" /></figure><h3>Join us at CMS Kickoff 2024 - January 16-17</h3>Boye &amp; Company is delighted to present the second annual edition of its prestigious international conference dedicated to the global CMS community. This event will bring together top-notch speakers, Boye &amp; Company's renowned learning format, and engaging social events.Tired of impersonal and overwhelming gatherings? Picture this event as a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move forward in 2024. Hear from leading voices across the industry on a wide range of topics, including:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/andrew-kumar">Andrew Kumar</a>, GVP at Uniform</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/becky-brown">Becky Brown</a>, Content Strategy Lead at Johnson &amp; Johnson</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/speakers/marli-mesibov">Marli Mesibov</a>, Content Strategy at Verily</li></ul><h4> </h4><img style="width:39.13%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/11/don-cesar-hotel.jpg" /><h4>The Don CeSar: a world-class venue</h4>Is there a better location for a winter kickoff than Florida's beautiful, sugary sand beaches? CMS Kickoff 2024 will be held at the iconic Don CeSar, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. Dubbed the “Pink Palace,” this majestic hotel and resort provides a stunning backdrop to the conference, along with access to the local food and culture of St. Petersburg Beach.  <h4>Get your tickets today</h4>CMS Kickoff offers an intimate, highly focused experience. Space is limited, and only a few seats remain. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity!<a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff24/tickets">Purchase tickets now &gt;</a>

Content Production: The Next Wave for Digital Experience Platforms

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<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.crownpeak.com/homepage/">Crownpeak</a> is unwrapping an early gift this holiday season: a dynamo CEO who's ready to tackle growth in 2024. The digital experience platform (DXP) just announced that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-monti-159aa03/">Samuel Monti</a> – a seasoned industry veteran and former CFO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epicor.com/en-us/">Epicor Software</a> – has assumed the mantle as Chief Executive Officer. The news comes at a pivotal moment for Crownpeak, which continues to hold a steady position in the Niche category of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/digital-experience-platforms">Gartner Magic Quadrant for DXPs</a>. As the competitive field becomes more crowded and features commoditized, DXPs are looking for new ways to enhance their marketability – namely, with AI and composable solutions.This is where Crownpeak is leveraging its legacy of innovation to drive future success. Evidenced by its recent <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/crownpeak-and-netlify-partner-to-combine-web-platform-features-with-dxp-solutions">partnership announcement with Netlify</a>, the company is tapping the fabric of Netlify's cloud-based web hosting and deployment capabilities – and building on a shared vision for delivering composable solutions. “In the past three years, Crownpeak has undergone a major global expansion that included three successful acquisitions and tripling the company’s size,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelipps/">Michael Lipps</a>, Chairman of the Board at Crownpeak. “Samuel Monti, with his deep background working in financial markets, experience leading operational scale and strong track record of successful private equity outcomes, is well-positioned to drive this next, exciting phase of Crownpeak’s continued market expansion.”  <h3>A finance pro with software chops</h3>Monti is an accomplished leader with nearly three decades of experience in finance, operations, and C-suite leadership in both public and private equity companies. Prior to Crownpeak and Epicor, he served as CFO at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/khoros/">Khoros</a>, a customer engagement platform, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitratech/">Mitratech</a> – a software service provider specializing in compliance, risk, legal, and enterprise HR.According to the press release, Monti will be tasked with expanding the company’s successful growth, driving operational excellence, and cultivating technological innovation to deliver greater value for customers. “This is an exciting time to be joining Crownpeak,” said Monti. “Enterprises around the globe are making critical investments in digital experience platforms, and Crownpeak has experienced unprecedented growth and transformation as a company. As CEO, my mission is to continue that exceptional growth trajectory by expanding our product portfolio, advancing customer-centric innovation, and establishing the kind of strong community among our customers, prospects and partners that will drive future growth and success.” Monti received a BS in Accountancy from Miami University and an MBA in Finance from Case Western Reserve University.

Crownpeak Appoints Samuel Monti as Chief Executive Officer 

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<hr /> In a <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/insights/mach-alliance-s-commitment-to-clear-guidance-amidst-big-tech-acquisitions-and-developments">post </a>published on the <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/">MACH Alliance</a> website this morning, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-panella-b616911/">Jon Panella</a> – Group Vice President at Publicis Sapient and a MACH Alliance Chairperson – voiced the advocacy group's unwavering focus on the buyer. The short but poignant prose reinforced the MACH Alliance's commitment to clarity and its critical role in guiding enterprises through the complexities of an ever-changing market landscape. The post explicitly addresses the rise of composable and MACH architectural standards – and how many big industry players have “taken notice.” Some of these organizations have realigned their strategies and positioned intently around composability while others have acquired MACH startups, all in an effort to capitalize on the hype and awareness of this growing sector. As Panella pointed out, this is a positive testament to MACH's impact on the market. At the same time, he clarified that the organization's strict certification criteria apply to companies, not products – a long-standing commitment that underscores a vendor's claim to a more holistic MACH accreditation. According to the post, navigating the mixed marketing messages appears to be a key pain point for buyers. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-openly-invites-companies-claiming-mach-to-apply-for-certification">recent letter</a> published on social media, the Alliance openly challenged vendors claiming to be MACH to apply for certification, noting the confusion these claims create for buyers. To help alleviate the burden and bring more clarity to the chaos, the Alliance is committing to a research sprint over the coming months. The goal: explore ways to improve the buyer's experience when navigating these complexities, and maintain the steadfast commitment to guidance. In the post, Panella also encourages readers to share their insights as part of the research initiative. The results will be published in March of 2024. <h3>Read the MACH Alliance post</h3>You can read John Panella's complete post below or on the <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/insights/mach-alliance-s-commitment-to-clear-guidance-amidst-big-tech-acquisitions-and-developments">MACH Alliance website</a>.<hr />With the MACH Alliance set to surpass 100 corporate members this year, and with MACH now decidedly “the standard,” the MACH Alliance is undertaking a wide-ranging and thorough initiative to explore what membership means in the coming years. We play a leading role in creating clear guidance for enterprises, delineating MACH technologies that foster future-proofing and vendor independence from those that don’t. That guidance is important for buyers given the rapidly shifting dynamics of the technology landscape over the past three and a half years.The rise of Composable technology and MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless) as an architectural standard more specifically, has not gone unnoticed by big players in the industry. They are following suit, and we can not be more pleased about that. They have made pivots to their strategies and product portfolios in this direction by rearchitecting products, by acquiring MACH startups etc. This is an amazing testament to MACH as a vision for the future — a future that empowers businesses with flexibility, control, and most importantly, future-proof technology that enables growth and differentiation. That has always been the goal of the MACH Alliance and is one we hold ourselves to every day.Our strict MACH Certification criteria are in place to uphold this promise to the market, so that the responsibility of navigating vendor marketing claims is not a burden to the buyer. The reason we certify companies, not products has always been and remains that established vendors with one product in their portfolio that qualifies, may claim MACH credentials across the board. That would be detrimental to the clarity we are here to secure. While that reasoning remains sound, our focus is on the buyers, and we want them to understand what they're investing in and to ensure that their chosen solutions meet the high standards set by the MACH Alliance. Providing the best and comprehensive guidance for buyers has been and will be our endeavor always.So today, I am confirming our commitment to researching improved ways to help the buyer best in navigating the landscape. We will dedicate substantial time over the next few months to that work and communicate our findings in March. We believe that as MACH grows and evolves, so too will its value as an industry standard, and with that, the quality that we need to deliver and the scrutiny we are under.If you feel you can provide useful insights for our research, please get in touch at <a href="mailto:info@machalliance.com">info@machalliance.com</a> with the subject line: Research Guidance. We'd love to hear from you! We know we owe the buyer clear guidance and that is what we are set out to do.

MACH Alliance Bolsters Commitment to Buyers, Providing Clarity Amidst Shifting Market Dynamics

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/hygraph">Hygraph</a> continues to climb higher and higher. Not “content” to simply be “content management," the company has positioned itself as a federated content platform, enabling users to quickly create and deliver the next wave of connected digital experiences at scale. As a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">headless CMS</a>, Hygraph powers a many-to-many relationship between different content sources and devices. By leveraging its modern <a target="_blank" href="https://graphql.com/">GraphQL</a> API approach, it enables organizations to innovate faster and for less cost – both critical advantages in today's rapid-fire digital economy. The use cases can range from creating content-rich applications to managing large product catalogs or internal knowledge management systems.After an initial raise of $13 million, the company closed on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/hygraph-secures-30-million-in-series-b-funding/">Series B of $30 million</a> earlier this year. They originally dubbed the company “GraphCMS,” but later rebranded to “Hygraph” to avoid confusion or biases around page-building capabilities or publishing workflows.Building on its recent momentum – which you can read about <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/content-management-for-a-new-reality-a-conversation-with-hygraph-ceo-michael-lukaszczyk">in our interview</a> with Hygraph's co-founder and CEO, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lukaszczyk/">Michael Lukaszczyk</a> – the company is expanding its leadership team. This includes the appointments of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariolenz/">Dr. Mario Lenz</a> as its new Chief Product Officer (CPO), and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/edangottlib/">Edan Gottlib</a> as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).According to the press release, the new hires will help support Hygraph’s growth as it continues to drive innovation – and future-proof its platform for powering the next generation of content management.“We look forward to welcoming Mario and Edan to the team," said Lukaszczyk. "Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we continue to expand what is possible for a headless CMS, allowing organizations to adapt to the new reality where content and data no longer reside in one source.”<h3>Shaping the product roadmap</h3>Dr. Mario Lenz brings a wealth of relevant technology product experience to the role, having previously worked as SVP Product Management at Market Logic Software and CPO at Quentic. He also worked in an angel investor and advisory role at Acquirepad, as well as assisting in the development of a product leadership community called Product School Pro. As CPO, Lenz will lead Hygraph’s product strategy, ensuring the platform meets businesses' ever-evolving digital content needs, powering a many-to-many relationship between content sources and devices.“I’m thrilled by the huge opportunity to build the next leader in the CMS space," said Lenz. "Most of all, I’m looking forward to working with empowered teams across the globe and building a world-class product organization here at Hygraph.”<h3>Focusing on the numbers</h3>Gottlib, a seasoned sales leader with over two decades of expertise in leading revenue teams for both private and public companies, has joined Hygraph following his most recent role as SVP of Sales at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-monthly-recap-acquia-gets-feature-boosts-cloudinary-and-contentful-partner-big-acquisition-updates-and-more">Cloudinary</a>. Edan brings a wealth of experience and is charged with leading and transforming Hygraph's revenue landscape, leveraging the foundation of a global customer base that has now grown beyond 400 organizations. In his role, Edan will draw on his experience navigating ever-evolving market dynamics and forging strategic partnerships to ensure Hygraph’s financial objectives are achieved.“I'm excited to join the Hygraph team and lead our global revenue growth," Gottlib commented. "This is an exciting moment to be part of the company, as there is a great market demand for our expanding product portfolio and capabilities. Given the pace of content velocity, organizations need to be able to share and update content quickly and efficiently across multiple channels. Hygraph is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.”

Hygraph Announces Two Key Hires, Strengthens Senior Leadership Team

<hr /> Las Vegas in late November always means cool desert air, seasonally appropriate lighting, and a whole lotta tech folk. Right now, the casinos are flush with attendees from <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/top-announcements-of-aws-reinvent-2023/">AWS re:Invent</a>, the cloud computing giant's annual global conference – and odds are they're all betting on AI.It shouldn't be that surprising. Even though AWS dragged its feet by releasing its <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/">Amazon Bedrock</a> GenAI well behind its competitors, the company has made recent strides, upping the ante with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/microsoft-sharepoint">Microsoft</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/google-cloud-joins-mach-alliance-as-enabler-member">Google</a> in the race for AI dominance. This includes a much-heralded investment in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.anthropic.com/index/anthropic-amazon">Anthropic</a> as a foundational model offering.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/11/20/1197958395/the-messy-human-drama-behind-openai">fresh drama with OpenAI</a> might also be delivering an early Christmas gift as companies explore alternative models for their growing AI initiatives – and look to trusted brands like Amazon to supply those services.AI has been a huge focus of re:Invent thus far, with AWS announcing its new <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/amazon-q-brings-generative-ai-powered-assistance-to-it-pros-and-developers-preview/">Amazon Q GenAI chatbot</a>. But along with the company's impressive cadre of machine learning services, it is also showcasing partner technologies with new offerings – including business applications like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management.</a> Today, as part of its AWS Partner Network Competency program, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/solodev">Solodev</a> – a cloud services company – announced that it had achieved the new AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency in the Digital Customer Experience category. Solodev and other technologies were highlighted during re:Invent as competency launch partners. According to the company's press release, the achievement recognizes Solodev's expertise in providing customers with professional services and software solutions. These capabilities let advertisers and marketers power workloads with advanced enterprise content management (CMS) technology, accelerating the creation of digital experiences for both web and omnichannel applications. “Solodev is proud to achieve the AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency in the Digital Customer Experience category,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/techcto/">Shawn Moore</a>, Chief Technology Officer at Solodev. “Our customers have always benefited from our deep investment in AWS as the most trusted cloud infrastructure. Now, we’re building the future of digital experiences by offering serverless capabilities, omnichannel for IoT, and even generative AI to help advertisers and marketers personalize content, run experiments, optimize sites and apps, and convert more customers.”<h3>Powering digital experiences in the cloud</h3>As advertisers and marketers look to leverage the cloud to innovate and realize digital transformation, they increasingly need purpose-built solutions. AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency Partners provide these customers – including advertising agencies, marketers, publishers, advertising and marketing technology providers, and analytics service providers – with AWS-validated solutions and services, helping accelerate their transformation. While brands and integrators look for ways to host, manage, scale, and secure their customer websites and mobile applications, having a content management system that is built on AWS at a foundational level is essential to meeting modern demands. While many CMS tools exist in the market, few are built for the full potential of the AWS cloud and its service architecture.A cloud-first CMS built exclusively on AWS, Solodev provides its users with access to scalable, cutting-edge capabilities like serverless, e-commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI. Solodev also provides its advertising and marketing customers – including agencies and brands – with a sandbox to create highly engaging web and mobile experiences across a wide range of industries and use cases.<h3>CMS features designed for advertising and marketing</h3>Solodev delivers end-to-end control with a rich combination of features. This includes low code/no code functionality for advertisers, marketers, and content creators to run productive content operations. At the same time, developers have full access to code for building custom experiences. As a hybrid <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/top-free-headless-cms-platforms">headless</a> platform, Solodev also provides an ecosystem for managing legacy and omnichannel strategies in a single platform, along with a marketplace of integrations that covers ad tech, advanced AWS services, and AI-powered personalization.While the features of the CMS are robust, so too are the DevOps capabilities. From the <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=8e11c912-6253-41b8-b065-bf32bd27911b">AWS Marketplace</a>, any organization can spin up and deploy Solodev in their own single-tenant AWS account. License options include Professional, Enterprise, or even a container version with <a target="_blank" href="https://kubernetes.io/">Kubernetes</a>.<h3>Harnessing advanced features, from serverless to AI</h3>While its CMS products are part of its feature set, Solodev positions itself as a “cloud services company” – and for good reason. Coupled with innovation around a broader stack of its own cloud applications, Solodev provides professional consulting services for advertising and marketing customers, helping them build and support infrastructure and DevOps for their cloud services. This includes serverless strategies powered by <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/fargate/">AWS Fargate</a> for high-availability applications that demand significant scalability. Agencies and brands can also leverage Solodev AI to host and train their own models in the cloud and add powerful solutions to personalize experiences, recommend products and services, and harness generative AI at scale. <h3>Differentiating through the AWS competency program</h3>AWS enables scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from hundreds of partners, from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, the <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/partners/programs/competencies/">AWS Competency Program</a> was designed to help customers identify validated AWS Partner solutions and services for specific industry use cases.According to the press release, the <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/advertising-marketing/partners/">AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency</a> highlights Solodev’s technical proficiency, specific domain knowledge, and proven customer success running cloud solutions on AWS for the advertising and marketing industry. To achieve any competency in its program, AWS Partners must undergo rigorous technical validation by AWS solution architects and have verified customer references. You can explore the various AWS Partner solutions and services offered in its AWS Data Exchange, via the AWS Marketplace, or by browsing the APN Partner Network – which includes Solodev.

Solodev Achieves New AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency at AWS re:Invent 

<hr /> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/">Acquia</a>, a leading digital experience platform (DXP) provider, recently announced new capabilities for its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.acquia.com/drupal/site-studio">Acquia Site Studio</a>, the low-code <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/drupal">Drupal</a> website builder. With Acquia's new features, both developers and marketers can now create and manage digital experiences for traditional Drupal websites and headless applications using the same content. This will also allow marketers to create engaging digital experiences from a single content platform, reducing demands on development and IT resources. “As more teams adopt a hybrid approach combining headless and traditional applications, we’ve created a way to easily leverage the same content everywhere” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbpshaw/">Jim Shaw</a>, SVP and General Manager, Drupal Cloud at Acquia. “This new capability will make it easier for both developers and digital marketers to create and manage content across multiple digital channels.”<h3>Scaling success with Acquia Site Studio</h3>Acquia Site Studio is known across the industry as a leading low-code website builder. Part of the Acquia ecosystem, Site Studio offers one of the most intuitive experiences for visual page-building and content-authoring in Drupal. Site Studio allows non-technical users to create components, layouts, and content in a traditional website build – without needing PHP and JavaScript. Now, with the launch of the new JSON:API for Site Studio, JavaScript and front-end developers can easily access the content and layouts created via Site Studio in decoupled or headless apps to create more engaging, interactive digital experiences.The new feature requires Acquia Site Studio 7.4 and above and a modern version of Drupal. <h3>Responding to demand in a growing headless market</h3>As enterprises and organizations look to build more composable stacks, headless apps are presenting a high-value solution for powering omnichannel strategies. Many businesses have already been using Drupal to drive headless apps, and that demand is increasing. With Acquia Site Studio, developers can now leverage headless capabilities while giving marketers access to low-code site building and editing features – all in one place. This will also reduce the burden on IT and development resources. “Globally, the headless CMS market is worth approximately $300 million per year and Acquia customers like the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority have long been using Drupal in a headless or decoupled scenario,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/craighanna22/">Craig Hanna</a>, Product Director, Acquia Site Studio and Acquia CMS. "With this announcement, we're both supporting our existing headless/decoupled customers as well as potential new ones with the power of our low-code/no-code site builder and editor for Drupal, Acquia Site Studio."Organizations such as Bayer Consumer Health, Hologic, Paramount, and Zscaler leverage Acquia Site Studio to create Drupal applications that meet custom business needs and take advantage of the advanced functionality of Drupal, yet are easy for marketers and content creators to use.

Acquia Site Studio Introduces Capabilities to Create Drupal and Headless Applications from a Single Platform

<hr /> This week, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a> – a leading digital experience platform (DXP) – welcomed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathiecjohnson/">Kathie Johnson</a> to its leadership team as Chief Marketing Officer. Johnson assumes the new role at a pivotal time for Sitecore as the company rides a wave of growth and product innovation. In early October 2023, the company announced the launch of <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecores-accelerate-and-xm-cloud-plus-promise-brands-a-faster-path-to-cloud-transformation">XM Cloud Plus</a>, an extended digital experience solution that combines <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">content management</a>, AI-powered search, personalization, customer data management, and analytics. This followed the unveiling of XM Cloud, the industry's first fully-native cloud CMS solution, which quickly became the company's fastest-selling SaaS product with over 100 major brand adoptions. As the company looks to mine continued growth in key areas, marketing will be central to the strategy – which is where a strong CMO comes in. With over 25 years of experience building brands in the B2B technology sector, Johnson brings deep knowledge and insight from an industry perspective. This will undoubtedly benefit Sitecore as it looks to unlock the full potential of a composable, SaaS-based future."Kathie's track record as a marketing leader speaks for itself," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tzikakis/">Steve Tzikakis</a>, CEO of Sitecore. "Her formidable background securing brand expansion and delivering incredible digital experiences will massively contribute to Sitecore's efforts to disrupt, accelerate and innovate digital experience delivery. Sitecore's compelling message offering SaaS-based, composable solutions will be greatly aided by this wonderful addition to our leadership. On behalf of Sitecore, we are thrilled to welcome Kathie to our team."Johnson will drive Sitecore's marketing efforts from the company's San Francisco headquarters. <h3>A marketing leader with proven industry experience</h3>Johnson's marketing chops are second to none, honed over decades of focus in the digital space. Most recently, she served as CMO for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.talkdesk.com/">Talkdesk</a>, a leading global contact center platform. During her tenure, Johnson led the firm's marketing organization through a transformative growth period, taking the company from #66 in the Forbes Cloud100 list in 2019 to #8 in 2022 and 2023. As Talldesk's first CMO, Kathie helped create and launch a vertical approach as part of the company's evolving marketing strategy. She also supported its expansion into EMEA, APAC, and Latin American countries while extending the product portfolio.Prior to her time at Talkdesk, Johnson spent almost four years at CRM giant <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/salesforce">Salesforce</a> as Senior Vice president of Marketing. In this role, she was responsible for driving significant gains in revenue across the full marketing funnel for seven key industries, including Financial Services, Healthcare Life Sciences, Retail Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Automotive &amp; Energy, Public Sector, Communications &amp; Media, and Travel, Transportation &amp; Hospitality – which were also comprised of 18 subverticals. Before leading industries for Salesforce, Johnson also served as VP of Marketing for Salesforce's Commerce Cloud."I am excited to join Sitecore because of its innovative technology that is a true game changer for CMOs and CDOs who seek to differentiate their companies through superior digital experiences," said Kathie Johnson, CMO of Sitecore. “Sitecore is a leader in its space and continues to innovate by prioritizing a roadmap focused on SaaS-based, cloud native tools built on composable architecture. I am thrilled to be part of Sitecore's journey and look forward to working with our customers, partners, and employees around the globe.”

Sitecore Names Kathie Johnson as CMO, Focuses on Growth in Composable and Commerce Offerings

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

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

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

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

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

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

MACH Alliance Openly Invites Companies Claiming MACH to Apply for Certification

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

Lightburn Partners With CI Design to Reignite Milwaukee Kentico User Group

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

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

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

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