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What's Ahead for MACH in 2024? Read These 3 Predictions

matt-garrepy

<hr /> In French, sur la table rolls off the tongue like a light-bodied Beaujolais, beckoning for another pour. Translated to English, it means “on the table” – the place where we break bread and cultivate conversation. As such, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.surlatable.com/">Sur La Table</a> is a fitting name for a company that focuses on food and dining. The upscale retailer specializes in selling high-quality kitchenware, cookware, cutlery, bakeware, and other home goods. They even offer cooking classes and a popular blog with all kinds of food tips.For <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mokshika-sharma-profile/">Mokshika Sharma</a>, the company’s Vice President of Product and Technology, the latest dish on the menu is composability. As she shared during our discussion at “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-deep-dish-on-composable-6-tasty-takeaways-from-the-mach-alliances-2025-conference">The Composable Conference”</a> in Chicago, Sur La Table is already adopting a more modular posture across its stack, allowing Mokshika to expand and grow PE holding company <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cscgeneration.com/our-companies">CSC Generation’s</a> investment in the kitchenware retailer. “My job is really the full umbrella of anything that has electrons and supporting retail,” she said, laughing about the atomic reference. Her role also encompasses some big-ticket requirements like defining the e-commerce product vision, growth and revenue optimization, cost and operational enhancement, and more.The even bigger mandate: Supporting CSC Generation’s mission to help distressed brands and organizations climb out of their technical debt and achieve the next level of technical competency. CSC brings a platform of retail practices into automation and AI, supporting a portfolio that includes Backcountry, One Kings Lane, Touch of Modern, and more. Based in Austin, Texas, Mokshika is a passionate technologist with a heart for brand engineering. She's amassed a deep background in digital retail, an area where MACH principles have proven their potential. She also has the industry chops to back it up, serving as a CIO Council Member at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nrf.com/">National Retail Federation (NRF).</a>Retail has long been a sweet spot for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-launches-new-mach-ai-exchange-to-help-enterprises-streamline-ai-adoption">MACH Alliance,</a> which clearly attracted Mokshika to its message. As you'll glean from our conversation, she had some key takeaways from the conference that might set the table for future success.<h3 id="a-varietal-that’s-composable-forward">A varietal that’s composable forward</h3>Aligning with the session tracks at “The Composable Conference,” Mokshika admitted to being “MACH Curious” – and as a first-time attendee, that makes sense. But a few minutes into our conversation, it was evident that she’s more capable than curious – and the journey to the MACH Alliance community was a codifying moment.“It really helped me understand how the Alliance is supporting the initiatives we’re already doing in our organization,” she said. This maps to some of the existing best practices Sur La Table is already engaging in around headless and other resources. The conference, in her mind, was more relevant because it reinforced that momentum while providing access to a community that could help drive the next steps. <h3 id="legacy-recipes?-c’est-la-vie">Legacy recipes? C’est la vie</h3>“I think the dream of every technologist is, of course, to be composable 100%,” Mokshika said lightly, although she admitted this dream won’t likely be fully realized. But that’s not the point. In her view, it’s about creating and investing in reusable components – building blocks, so to speak – that can be leveraged well into the future.Of course, one of the roadblocks to composability is the reality of legacy systems. According to Mokshika, there are many legacy processes and tools in her line of work, and much of it is heavily siloed. Breaking it apart takes a lot of careful thought and consideration.“Sometimes it’s a composable answer,” she said. “And sometimes, you don’t need to build the rocket ship, and you can think about what the early starting point is to get to composable.”Mokshika also pointed out the realities of what she called “operational hazards.” These occur when you create a system that is inherently more complex, ultimately driving the need for more people and oversight. To that end, digital leaders and practitioners need to plan carefully as they dive into composable waters. “Now you have to support all these pieces,” she explained. “It’s a very thoughtful exercise you have to do in retail.”<h3 id="setting-the-table-for-success">Setting the table for success</h3>There were a number of ah-ha moments for Mokshika, but she really zeroed in on some key activators around the community collaboration, and where the MACH Alliance has focused its human expertise to support a successful knowledge transfer. “I think the big takeaway is how much people are actually pushing the boundaries of what companies are building for legacy brands to consider and take care of other people’s roadmaps,” Mokshika said. “They’re here, talking to you, asking for advice – and at the same table.”Being at a more focused event also resulted in more substantive conversations. “I’ve obviously been to a lot of retail conferences that are very large, and you don’t have this chance to do a one-on-one conversation as much as I was able to do here,” she commented, “and more so, I didn’t get to do it through a technical lens.”That last point was codified in sessions that featured slideshows with architectures, where Mokshika noted that people were taking pictures of the diagrams and schematics. “I guess the magic here is that they’re actually talking about how to think about your whole ecosystem, and not just the one thing that I’m trying to sell.”While still new to the community, Mokshika’s composable maturity might already be well ahead of the curve. But the point of the conference is to move people and brands to the next step – and that seemed to be the outcome in her case. “I wish I had come here earlier when first joining retail,” she says. “It would have been a great start of my journey.”Take five minutes and join Mokshika at the MACH table. C'est si bon. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/d4IL8-XkSag"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4IL8-XkSag" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

MACHtales: Voices from “The Composable Conference” with Mokshika Sharma of Sur La Table

<hr /> If there's one thing the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-launches-new-mach-ai-exchange-to-help-enterprises-streamline-ai-adoption">MACH Alliance's</a> annual conference can boast, it's a plethora of tales. Composable is a wiry web of complexity, and this community gathering is an opportunity to share stories about the good, the bad, and yes… even the not-so-attractive challenges of taking the MACH road. I talked to a lot of amazing people at “The Composable Conference” in Chicago last week, and you can catch more of the granular tidbits and tasty toppings <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-deep-dish-on-composable-6-tasty-takeaways-from-the-mach-alliances-2025-conference">in my “deep dish” of the conference. </a>One of the smartest things the event coordinators designed for this year's content was the use of tracks, where sessions were mapped to an attendee's MACH maturity. This provided clarity for early-stage “MACH Curious” to full-fledged professional practitioners – and the feedback around this format was largely positive.I wanted to get a diverse range of perspectives, and some of that was reflected in my overview. But I was also able to sit down with a few attendees to capture some video, and our team has assembled these into "MACHtales" – stories from the voices across the MACH community.In this segment, we riff with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andrew">Andrew Kumar,</a> the Global VP of Agencies, ISVs, Ecosystem, and Customer Solutions at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/uniform">Uniform</a> – a composable DXP. Full transparency: Andrew is also an occasional CMS Critic contributor with a deep heritage in CMS. As Uniform has evolved its position in the thick fabric of the digital ecosystem, the company has found success as a vital translation layer for experiences, notching a Visionary spot on the recent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uniform.dev/resources/gartner-magic-quadrant-for-digital-experience-platforms">Gartner Magic Quadrant for DXPs.</a>In five minutes, Andrew gives us the hot take on Uniform's evolution as an interoperability bridge and how <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/its-an-ai-agent-world-is-agent-experience-the-secret-weapon-for-controlling-the-chaos">agentic AI</a> is changing the game from an experience perspective. He touches on the need for incremental steps, and how aligning tech, build, and ops – and how AI weaves across each of these stories – is key. This is where humans need to be in the loop. Along the way, he gets into Uniform's strategy of adding their own CMS, and how it acts as an acceleration springboard while avoiding any vendor lock-in, opening up the headless frontier based on a customer's needs. He also shares what stood out at "The Composable Conference" and how the community's value will benefit ISV members like Uniform in 2025 and beyond.I love how he touches on the emergence of new roles in the ecosystem, from web producers to visual architects. It codifies how change is constant – and why standards are critical for creating architectural guardrails. Roll the footage:<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/C3pSrxD87Fw"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3pSrxD87Fw" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

MACHtales: Voices from 'The Composable Conference' with Andrew Kumar of Uniform

The ‘Deep Dish’ on Composable: 6 Tasty Takeaways from the MACH Alliance’s 2025 Conference

<hr /> At <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmachalliance.org%2Fevents%2Fcomposable-conference-25&amp;esheet=54242130&amp;newsitemid=20250423626378&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=The+Composable+Conference+2025&amp;index=3&amp;md5=43a1cfa7eaa4a3566b2d9ca6d14dae9d">“The Composable Conference 2025”</a> this week, the topic of AI permeated almost every session and sidebar conversation. Based on my connections with attendees, it’s clear that many organizations have already invested heavily in their own strategies with varying results. Meanwhile, some businesses are still searching for the right place to start their journey.Now, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-composable-conference-2025-takes-shape-as-mach-alliance-announces-speakers-and-new-events">MACH Alliance</a> is providing a helping hand across the lifecycle, built on the terra firma of composability. The Alliance – a not-for-profit industry body dedicated to advocating for open, best-in-class technology ecosystems – just unveiled its new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmachalliance.org%2Fmach-ai-exchange&amp;esheet=54242130&amp;newsitemid=20250423626378&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=MACH+AI+Exchange&amp;index=2&amp;md5=2db441d6ec823188692b0030ff55277b">MACH AI Exchange</a>, a professional peer network focused on guiding real-world AI implementation for enterprise companies. The program, which was launched during this week’s conference, was inspired by a recent Alliance study that codifies the value of MACH in streamlining and accelerating AI adoption. According to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmachalliance.org%2Fglobal-annual-research&amp;esheet=54242130&amp;newsitemid=20250423626378&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=2025+MACH+Alliance+Global+Annual+Research&amp;index=4&amp;md5=8b35e7c9765b71263fa3b549fb481c06">2025 MACH Alliance Global Annual Research</a> report, 77% of organizations well into their composable journey are using AI. That’s compared to only 36% of those new to MACH. The data suggests that MACH's flexible, connected, and open foundation could translate into successful AI outcomes.<h3 id="implementing-ai-solutions-at-scale">Implementing AI solutions at scale</h3>As part of its rollout, the MACH AI Exchange will launch with three founding members who are leaders in their field. This includes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlrh/">Karl Hampson</a>, CTO, Data &amp; AI at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/valtech/posts/?feedView=all">Valtech</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikasjain2007/">Vikas Jain</a>, Director, US Retail &amp; Consumer Ecosystem Portfolio at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/google-cloud/posts/?feedView=all">Google Cloud</a>; and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thexunwang/">Xun Wang</a>, CTO at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/bloomreach">Bloomreach</a>.Core to its charter, the network’s mission is to support enterprise businesses as they implement AI solutions at scale. This includes the bleeding-edge realms of generative and agentic AI technologies. The MACH AI Exchange will accelerate a knowledge base of technical insights, architectural patterns, and implementation methodologies that can significantly reduce integration risk and accelerate deployment timelines.“AI thrives on structured, real-time data, and enterprise architectures face heightened challenges as AI workloads dynamically scale,” said Vikas Jain, founding member and Director of Google Cloud’s U.S. Retail &amp; Consumer Ecosystem portfolio. “The MACH AI Exchange will enable the convergence of composable principles and AI capabilities to help technical leaders establish a competitive advantage through architectural innovation.”<h3 id="who-can-join?">Who can join?</h3>According to the press release, the peer-to-peer community is open to those implementing AI in enterprise systems. This includes engineers, architects, and strategists integrating AI into workflows, builders and innovators shaping AI in MACH environments, and problem solvers pushing AI forward in business technology.“Enterprise stacks weren’t built to handle the constant innovation of the AI era, but that also doesn’t mean we need to start from scratch, either,” said Xun Wang, founding member, CTO of Bloomreach. “Just like MACH de-risks change by making technology adaptable, open, and connected, AI adoption requires the same foundation. In the MACH AI Exchange, members will share what works, what breaks, and how to de-risk AI adoption without common AI buzzwords and hype.”<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>As AI continues to ripple across our roadmaps, enterprises are struggling to separate the hype from the hope. Regardless of where an organization is on its AI maturity lifecycle, guidance continues to be a missing link – and without it, many businesses risk missing the mark on AI’s full potential.Buoyed by a MACH foundation, it’s evident that organizations can leverage a composable posture to accelerate and streamline their plans. But more importantly, the MACH Alliance is providing valuable industry insight to help mitigate risk and guide the journey. This layer of human expertise could be a critical differentiator.To learn more about the MACH AI Exchange, visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmachalliance.org%2Fmach-ai-exchange&amp;esheet=54242130&amp;newsitemid=20250423626378&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fmachalliance.org%2Fmach-ai-exchange&amp;index=6&amp;md5=835c89f808371874a54aaa43b71e7f53">https://machalliance.org/mach-ai-exchange</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:24.53%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/03/image-1742910054704.png" /><h4 id="the-composable-conference-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">The Composable Conference 2025</a></h4>April 22-24 – Chicago, USAExperience the future of composable and MACH principles in “The Windy City” and dive even deeper into the innovative world of MACH architecture and its benefits for your business. Building on the momentum of MACH THREE, this conference will provide your teams with the expert, impartial guidance needed to craft a winning transformation strategy and leverage the latest advancements in automation and Al to maximize efficiency and drive your organization forward. This event is ideal for executives, business leaders, technologists, and everyone in between who is looking to harness the power of composable. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">Secure your spot today.</a> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

MACH Alliance Launches New MACH AI Exchange to Help Enterprises Streamline AI Adoption

<hr /> I first heard the term “MCP” as a tech-obsessed, Commodore-64-toting 8-year-old. It landed during the epic video game movie Tron, where it was used as an off-hand contraction for the nefarious “Master Control Program."As the story's digital antagonist, the MCP exhibited the worst traits of artificial intelligence, projecting an unscrupulous, destructive, self-serving agenda. Kind of like that terrible neighbor who’s always on a power trip at your HOA meeting – but with lasers. Life is sometimes stranger than fiction, and this acronym has now materialized on the grid as a real-life TLA with an AI inference. Hopefully, the similarities to that other MCP end here, but I’m keeping my light cycle on standby.This newer permutation of MCP – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction">Model Context Protocol</a> – is an open standard for governing how applications provide context to LLMs. Much like USB-C provides a standardized way to connect devices to different accessories, MCP does the same to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.Why is this important? Because MCP has become a critical piece of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/its-an-ai-agent-world-is-agent-experience-the-secret-weapon-for-controlling-the-chaos">the agentic pie</a>, enabling you to build agents and workflows on top of LLMs – which often need to integrate with various data sources and tools. MCP can provide access to pre-built integrations that ease the connection process, including lightweight programs and hosts like IDEs. All of this, as Tron might say, is about interoperability. And while the digital frontier is very much focused on the evolution of agents, we’re still wrestling with integration complexities in the here and now. This is where data models can be key assets, helping brands, system integrators, and vendors to present products, orders, inventory, and other commerce-related data. But building a data model from scratch is tough. And by definition, each from-scratch data model is unique. That’s why the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-composable-conference-2025-takes-shape-as-mach-alliance-announces-speakers-and-new-events">MACH Alliance</a> has introduced a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/open-data-model-initiative">Open Data Model Initiative</a>, which aims to solve the lingering interoperability issues plaguing enterprises, SIs, and ISVs. The industry group – which is focused on future-proofing enterprise technology through open, connected, and composable digital experiences – just announced the launch of the program. It coincides with its annual live event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">“The Composable Conference,”</a> which is being held in Chicago this week.  Led by the Alliance’s Interoperability Task Force, the Initiative will provide a set of reusable data model recipes and reference structures. These components will be extensible across critical technology domains, such as commerce, product information management (PIM), and orchestration. These patterns aren’t a set of draconian standards. In fact, they’re designed to be lightweight, adaptable, and built for real-world applications. This addresses the strategic concerns of businesses as they seek out more composable, interoperable solutions to help them navigate a rapidly changing digital landscape."Interoperability has been a primary focus for the MACH Alliance," said <a href="Adam%20Peter%20Nielsen">Adam Peter Nielsen</a>, CTO of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.novicell.com/">Novicell</a> and MACH Alliance Interoperability Lead. “With a shared data model recipe, we can make tangible progress toward seamless integration and strategic agility across diverse technologies.”<h3 id="broadening-the-composable-roadmap-">Broadening the composable roadmap </h3>According to the Alliance, its Open Data Model will be made publicly available under an open-source license on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://github.com/">GitHub</a>, helping to ensure transparency, accessibility, and broad community engagement. But that’s only the first step. The plan is to maintain innovation and maturity through the MACH Alliance Interoperability Working Group, which will actively enhance and expand the model. The goal is to deliver a solution that’s ready for full member consumption by the end of Q2 2025.To accelerate go-to-market readiness, the MACH Alliance is working with several MACH Certified Vendors that have provided sample material. The list includes <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/conscia">Conscia</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://alokai.com/">Alokai</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/commercetools">commercetools</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bluestonepim.com/">Bluestone PIM</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/occtoo">Occtoo</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pipe17.com/">Pipe17</a> – which offered its open, comprehensive, canonical data model as a starting point. “We built our data model over five years,” said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellygoetsch/">Kelly Goetsch</a>, COO of Pipe 17 and former MACH Alliance president and chair. “It sits at the heart of our solution, has been rigorously tested in real-world use, continuously refined, and has always been open source from day one. We’re thrilled to contribute it to the MACH Alliance, further empowering the commerce ecosystem to innovate and scale faster.”Also leading the initiative are a set of MACH Certified System Integrators, including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.applydigital.com/">Apply Digital</a>, Novicell, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.valtech.com/en-us/">Valtech</a> – buoyed by the hyperscaling support of MACH Certified Enabler <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/aws">AWS</a>.<h3 id="giving-merchants,-sis,-and-vendors-a-mach-multiplier">Giving merchants, SIs, and vendors a MACH multiplier</h3>The new Open Data Model is poised to provide significant benefits across the MACH ecosystem. From vendor-neutral patterns for seamless interoperability to reference structures for vertical markets like manufacturing, the initiative will provide a “springboard” for new projects or legacy – all with a dedicated focus on transparency.  First, merchants will have the ability to adopt this data model as their own – and effortlessly connect their existing homegrown systems with MACH-compliant solutions.Additionally, systems Integrators and agencies will be able to build repeatable solutions, enhance their overall efficiency, and speed up MACH implementations. This will accelerate their time to deliver value to merchants.As for MACH Alliance vendors, the initiative will provide immediate access to a robust foundational data model, dramatically reducing initial development effort and enhancing a more seamless data flow between partner solutions.<h3 id="what-about-ai-(and-that-mcp-stuff)?">What about AI (and that MCP stuff)?</h3>Of course, there’s the future runway to agentic AI that I mentioned, which is wholly dependent on data. As the Alliance posits, without a shared data model, enterprises will continue to face fragmented, siloed data environments that limit AI’s ability to make accurate decisions and deliver tangible business value.By establishing an open, vendor-neutral data model, the MACH Alliance is laying the groundwork for the use of agentic AI and supporting <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocol">Anthropic’s MCP-powered agents. </a>This is helping to connect AI assistants to the systems where data lives, including content repositories, business tools, and development environments. Its goal is to help frontier models produce better, more relevant responses. "Enterprises demand solutions that work together,” said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobhowland/">Bob Howland</a>, Chairperson of the MACH Alliance. “By standardizing an Open Data Model, we dramatically simplify integrations. Vendors adopting the Open Data Model will find faster implementation cycles and significantly reduced complexity – enabling true interoperability that powers digital innovation."<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>Spoiler alert: At the end of Tron, the computer system is once again free, giving the personified programs the ability to move about and, presumably, connect with other programs to build cool things. There’s something beautiful about this idea of seamlessly interoperating. There’s no question that security and governance are top of mind in such paradigms, and we’re a long way from easy. Still, interoperability can be made easier – better, even – with the introduction of more predictable standards. From the beginning, the concept of “openness” has been core to the MACH Alliance, making it a solid foundation for providing a common, open source data model that’s been proven. Based on the Alliance’s plans, it sounds like this model will continue to benefit from ongoing innovation and be well-supported in the future.The flexibility and extensibility of this model are also key factors. By enabling off-the-shelf access to its merchant, SI, and ISV ecosystems, the Alliance is helping to ensure that the model is instantly adoptable and supported by its members. There’s also an open invitation for experts and practitioners to help shape the model for future use cases.The market is always yearning for standards, and with the rapid acceleration of AI – specifically with MCP-powered model agents – having more predictable and reliable pathways to integrate should reduce the friction for building the next wave of agentic applications. Even the most advanced models are limited by their isolation from data, walled in behind silos and legacy systems. This is why this investment in an open data model is an ambitious and positive step forward.Will this solve every integration problem on the light cycle grid? Not likely. But it's a start. It might also unlock more potential for additional industry applications, something the organization has struggled with as it endeavors to expand and export its relevance to other industries. To that end, the MACH Alliance is also undergoing its own evolution (including its messaging). The Open Data Model might be the first page of its next chapter as it seeks to enrich its foundational mission and further support the market. With composable continuing to make gains, many are asking what's ahead, and this initiative is a glimpse of its vision for an open, AI-enabled ecosystem. You can learn more about the Open Data Model initiative and even contribute to the project at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/open-data-model-initiative">https://machalliance.org/open-data-model-initiative</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:24.53%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/03/image-1742910054704.png" /><h4 id="the-composable-conference-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">The Composable Conference 2025</a></h4>April 22-24 – Chicago, USAExperience the future of composable and MACH principles in “The Windy City” and dive even deeper into the innovative world of MACH architecture and its benefits for your business. Building on the momentum of MACH THREE, this conference will provide your teams with the expert, impartial guidance needed to craft a winning transformation strategy and leverage the latest advancements in automation and Al to maximize efficiency and drive your organization forward. This event is ideal for executives, business leaders, technologists, and everyone in between who is looking to harness the power of composable. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">Secure your spot today.</a> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

A New Game for Interoperability? Here’s Why the MACH Alliance’s Open Data Model is a Winner

Contentful Rolls Out New AI and Personalization Capabilities, Ramps Up R&D for its DXP

<hr /> There’s a composable breeze that's building in “The Windy City,” and it might just knock you over.The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.machalliance.org/">MACH Alliance</a> is landing its much-anticipated annual event (redubbed “The Composable Conference”) in Chicago this year, and it’s shaping up to be a powerhouse of brands, industry thought leaders, and stellar sessions.This year’s gathering will take place from April 22 – 24 at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://convene.com/locations/chicago/233-south-wacker-drive/">Convene meeting space in the iconic Willis Tower</a> – a premium building in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood designed at the intersection of natural and urban environments. It’s a perfect backdrop for the transformational themes being explored at this one-of-a-kind conference.The three-day agenda is plush with keynotes and collaborative sessions, featuring industry leaders and technology practitioners. The conference is made possible by the MACH Alliance’s headline partners including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/accenture-song-brings-its-composable-commerce-music-to-the-mach-alliance-heres-why-it-matters">Accenture Song</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/builderio-nets-20m-from-microsofts-venture-fund-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-headless-cms">Builder.io</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/commercetools">commercetools</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.publicissapient.com/">Publicis Sapient</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/vercel-introduces-sdk-for-building-ai-apps-with-react-and-svelte">Vercel</a>.While this fourth installment ushers in a new chapter for the evolving MACH ecosystem – at a time when technology investments face major economic headwinds – the mission of the event remains clear: help attendees formulate their composable game plan. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-two-conference-wrap-six-takeaways-from-the-composable-event-of-the-year">As a previous attendee</a>, I can say firsthand that the quality of these events is top-notch. The speakers are compelling and the event format provides fertile ground for learning and networking. For me, it’s a chance to hear from real companies that have succeeded – and struggled – to make the leap to MACH, and the wisdom they’ve accrued when embracing not only the architectural tenets, but the cultural and philosophical mindset of MACH.“The Composable Conference is the one annual opportunity for business and technology leaders to come together and share the trials and tribulations that enable digital transformations,” said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobhowland/">Bob Howland</a>, event co-host and chairperson of the MACH Alliance. “The connections and community fostered enable attendees to overlay the unique principles of MACH onto their own composable strategy, building an executable playbook alongside peers and pioneers.”Before we break down the speakers and event details, it’s worth noting that this is an exclusive event with limited space – so secure your space today. The MACH Alliance is also offering a $500 travel rebate to eligible delegates. Registration is<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25?utm_campaign=5851685-The%20Composable%20Conference&amp;utm_source=PressRelease"> now open</a>.<h3 id="dynamic-brands-take-center-stage">Dynamic brands take center stage</h3>The previous three MACH events have been heavy hitters in the content department, featuring presenters from marquee global enterprises like <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/ikea-mars-ulta-beauty-and-influential-brands-to-be-featured-at-mach-three-conference">IKEA, MARS, Ulta Beauty</a>, and other highly influential brands.This year’s crop is no exception and ups the ante with a more diverse crop of industry players. This includes representatives from Parkland, Zoro, VF Corporation, Wynn Resorts, Prada Group, Wegmans, DXL, Bissell, Firehouse Subs, Diageo, and Altitude Sports. Additional speakers and brands will be announced in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.While speakers and presentations are conduits for knowledge, the Alliance is taking a more hands-on approach to the experience by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/newsroom/mach-alliance-elevates-annual-conference-to-help-companies-craft-their-composable-game-plan">actively involving attendees</a> at each stage of the composable journey. To deliver this more immersive vision, the conference will offer a three-track format that features workshops and insightful sessions with experts who have successfully implemented MACH. Based on the Alliance’s persistent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-publishes-first-annual-report-showcases-industry-impact-and-plans-for-2024">research and market analysis</a>, it’s clear that a MACH approach can help ensure agility, scalability, and vendor independence in an increasingly AI-driven world. Armed with a solid foundation of insights from dynamic leaders across multiple industries, attendees will be better equipped for the composable journey ahead. <h3 id="remachable-events-on-tap">ReMACHable events on tap</h3>The MACH Alliance is rolling out an enhanced event format for The Composable Conference 2025, with the core of the program dedicated to interactive workshops and roundtable sessions. As mentioned, these experiences will be led by top global brands – sharing firsthand composable insights and expertise while giving delegates the opportunity for direct learning and impactful discussions.This year, there’s an emphasis on incorporating the organization’s popular <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach">rideMACH</a> program, a robust eLearning platform that combines its educational vision and intentions with courseware and credentialing. rideMACH has exploded its enrollment in the last year, a clear sign that the market is eager to learn – and hungry for resources.At the conference, attendees can participate in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-taps-dylan-valade-of-abbott-to-drive-expanding-ridemach-education-program">“rideMACH Live,”</a> which will bring the Alliance’s online learning platform into a live classroom setting and offer several sessions for delegates to enhance their MACH mindset and technology skills.rideMACH courses are designed to empower all types of learners with the knowledge and skills needed to help organizations embrace open and transformative technologies. As part of the rideMACH program, you can join 1,000 professionals from 200 brands and 52 member companies who are accelerating their composable journeys through rideMACH’s professional development. You can learn more about the rideMACH program on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach">MACH Alliance website</a>.<h3 id="celebrate-the-winners-of-the-mach-impact-awards">Celebrate the winners of the MACH Impact Awards</h3>As a three-time judge of the annual <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/clarks-kraft-heinz-take-top-honors-in-mach-impact-awards-at-mach-three">MACH Impact Awards</a>, I’ve read through a mountain of applications over the years – and I’m still getting blown away. Having watched the gradual evolution of pioneering architectural approaches into more standard practices, I can see how MACH has been adopted, understood, and successfully executed.That’s all good. But it’s also making these awards harder to judge – and this year’s entrants really brought the rain. I can’t wait to share the winners during the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/mach-impact-awards">2025 MACH Impact Awards Ceremony</a>, which will honor the most impactful global technology projects from these amazing applicants. In terms of updates, this year will feature a “Best Platform Transformation” category that recognizes the challenging path and incremental progress toward composability. <h3 id="advancing-the-mach-mission">Advancing the MACH mission</h3>Along with its advocation for best-of-breed open technology ecosystems, the MACH Alliance has long been a champion of the humans behind the composable movement. Along with its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-empowers-gender-equality-with-new-women-in-mach-deib-scoring-tool">“Women in MACH” program</a>, the Alliance continues to telegraph the importance of diversity, gender equality, social responsibility, and sustainability both within and beyond its community.At this year’s conference, there’s a new “People in MACH: Unlocking Composable Business Value Through Culture &amp; Inclusion” that will allow delegates to explore the tangible impact of DEI, allyship, and ethical technology on growth, profitability, and competitive advantage in composable enterprises.There will also be a close integration with the MACH Alliance’s new Community Platform, which was created for both end-user individuals and MACH-certified members to network, share content, and discuss ideas both at the event and long after the conference concludes.“The Composable Conference is where bold ideas meet practical execution,” said <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/the-sommelier-of-machtails-sommsations-danielle-diliberti-uncorks-composability">Danielle Diliberti</a>, event co-host and CEO of Sommsation. “As businesses build for the future and reimagine customer experiences, this event creates space for honest conversations about the challenges, breakthroughs, and strategies shaping the future of composable approaches and MACH.”To learn more about The Composable Conference and register to attend, <a href="www.machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">click here.</a> <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3>  <img style="width:24.53%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/03/image-1742910054704.png" /><h4 id="the-composable-conference-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">The Composable Conference 2025</a></h4>April 22-24 – Chicago, USAExperience the future of composable and MACH principles in “The Windy City” and dive even deeper into the innovative world of MACH architecture and its benefits for your business. Building on the momentum of MACH THREE, this conference will provide your teams with the expert, impartial guidance needed to craft a winning transformation strategy and leverage the latest advancements in automation and Al to maximize efficiency and drive your organization forward. This event is ideal for executives, business leaders, technologists, and everyone in between who is looking to harness the power of composable. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://machalliance.org/events/composable-conference-25">Secure your spot today.</a> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

‘The Composable Conference 2025' Takes Shape as MACH Alliance Announces Speakers and New Events

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Build with the power of code – without coding

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Hungry for Composable? New Research Shows a Growing Appetite for MACH Technologies

Contentstack just acquired Lytics, a real-time customer data platform. Here’s why it matters

The Sommelier of MACHtails: Sommsation’s Danielle Diliberti Uncorks Composability 

What's the MACH vibe in 2025? Here are 3 predictions (and more)

<hr /> Education beats at the heart of the <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/new-logo-new-leaders-mach-alliance-announces-key-appointments-and-brand-refresh">MACH Alliance</a>. And rightly so. Even as the market embraces more composable technology solutions, there's still a lack of general awareness of what MACH truly represents – both from an architectural standpoint and from business and philosophical perspectives. This might sound a bit obtuse or even highfalutin, but there has always been a missing link when drawing distinctions between MACH and the rest of the composable landscape. It's more than just the Microservices, API-first, Cloud SaaS, and Headless posturing that maketh one “MACH Certified.” And much of that can get lost in translation. That's why the organization's charter has leaned heavily on education as a core tenet, and that commitment has been steadily evolving over the last few years. Now, the Alliance offers a more robust eLearning program called <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach">rideMACH</a>, a culmination of its educational vision and intentions (cool name, too).rideMACH has nearly tripled its enrollment in the last six months, a clear sign that the market is eager to learn – and hungry for resources. Now, the not-for-profit industry body has announced that it is further expanding the rideMACH program with additional courses and credentialing. To drive this investment, the MACH Alliance has appointed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-valade/">Dylan Valade</a>, senior director of digital marketing at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/">Abbott</a>, as the new Head of the MACH Alliance Education Council. Valade will help shape the overall program and oversee the curriculum.“As the Alliance matures, the Education Council aims to be an essential source of knowledge, upskilling how organizations adopt composable technology and the MACH approach,” Valade said. “The council’s success will lead to the expansion of rideMACH as a foundational educational tool for the community.”<h3 id="riding-the-education-wave-to-mach">Riding the education wave to MACH</h3>According to <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/insights-hub/mach-global-research-2024">MACH Alliance research</a>, 91% of IT decision-makers expect composable technology to be instrumental to their success in the next five years. This underscores the rising interest in MACH, but also reinforces the need to broaden the knowledge base of MACH architectures – and more importantly, close the skills gap. To help individuals and organizations embrace the open, transformative nature of composable technologies, the Alliance launched its <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach">rideMACH</a> program in April of this year, which has grown explosively.“Since its inception, rideMACH has been an invaluable program to hundreds of individuals. These champions have joined the program to help their organizations gain insights from real-world scenarios,” said Casper Rasmussen, president of MACH Alliance. “Brands and companies love the program too – clearly evidenced by our satisfaction scores, frequent learner engagement and the obvious pride in sharing on social media when they achieve a digital credential. It’s a testament to the validity of the program.”rideMACH offers two foundational courses: “Modern Tech With MACH” and “MACH Mindset.” Each track sends participants down a learning path that combines audio, video, and interactivity. Users are presented with a range of activities and case studies that bring MACH principles and concepts to life in tangible ways. Each learning path culminates in the earning of a digital badge.<h3 id="a-new-expansion-course-on-tco">A new expansion course on TCO</h3>Today, the Alliance is also launching an expansion course on <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach">Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)</a>, which will explore best practices around interoperability and highlight the cost efficiency and scalability of the MACH approach. Unlike a monolithic system, MACH solutions enable businesses to perform incremental changes to manage TCO. Cloud-native technologies in MACH architectures, for example, optimize operational costs and ensure companies pay only for what they need.rideMACH's e-learners have already chimed in with solid approval of the program. 95% agreed that the rideMACH learning paths helped them better understand the fundamental principles of MACH, while 96% agreed that the “Modern Tech with MACH” learning path helped them grasp the best practices for achieving a more successful MACH transformation or adoption. 87% felt better equipped to apply the key skills and qualities needed to build a MACH team.You can learn more about rideMACH<a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/ridemach#Join%20rideMACH"> here</a>.<h3 id="tapping-industry-expertise-to-elevate-education">Tapping industry expertise to elevate education</h3>Last summer, the MACH Alliance rolled out its new Education Council, which clearly focused on how the Alliance educates the community – specifically, developing a pathway to MACH and shaping the rideMACH program. Now, this year's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241014544034/en/MACH-Alliance-Strengthens-Position-as-a-Technology-Leader-Responding-to-Growing-Market-Needs-From-Business-Community">newly appointed Executive Council</a> has added Valade to head up education, bringing a MACH-user perspective that will help inform the council on how to best serve organizations and brands alike.Valade has been a long-time supporter of the Alliance, serving as an ambassador for over three years. He currently leads a digital services IT team at Abbott, a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Abbott's portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the complete spectrum of healthcare, with top businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional and branded generic medicines. With 114,000 employees, Abbott serves people in more than 160 countries. Valade works in the global delivery and support of Abbott's brand and investor/public relations sites, B2C eCommerce for consumer brands, B2B eCommerce, digital experience (including content CMS), digital transformation, and more. <h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>The MACH Alliance continues to assess and improve its value to members and the market at large. At the same time, it's working to shed its insulated perception. Gone are the days of persisting behind turgid velvet ropes and emitting a tone of exclusivity. Still, while the organization is communicating a more inclusive message around its advocacy of open ecosystems, it still struggles to overcome that perception gap – even with organizations that have failed to achieve membership (scour LinkedIn, and you'll find a plethora of grievances).And yet, that's the point: organizations seeking membership have to meet rigid requirements so evaluators and buyers have confidence when composing their stacks. There are certainly lessons to be gleaned from a lack of transparency, and I've heard from numerous vendors that the Alliance hasn't always provided clear steps for remediating an application after being rejected (it's worth noting that over 50% miss with their first submission).But this is where education is worth its weight in gold. The more practitioners and enterprises understand, the less uncertainty there will be around the systems, processes, and expectations. You know what they say about rising tides and lifting ships – and the same holds true here.Bringing on a marketing professional to manage and expand the education programs seems like a solid move. While gains have been made – particularly around penetrating the U.S. market – the Alliance needs to accelerate its investment in MACH's awareness. Having someone who understands how to market the right messages could be an additional asset around these initiatives. It's true what they say: Knowledge is power. But given its continued growth and persistent investment in education, the MACH Alliance is developing something more important: wisdom. <hr /> <h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaMeet industry leaders at our third 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" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a>

MACH Alliance Taps Dylan Valade of Abbott to Drive Expanding rideMACH Education Program

<hr /> For brands in any industry, competing on price can be a slippery slope. In some cases, it’s an elevator to the bottom floor – even an indicator of broader commoditization.There’s a case to be made for aggressively grabbing market share if conditions are ripe, like when products are experiencing higher-than-average churn or delivering a poor experience. Sometimes, buyers might already be looking to upgrade to an alternative and simultaneously trim the bottom line. If the timing’s right, a deep discount can lead to quick wins.For <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a>, the stars are apparently lining up for an ambitious play on price, and they’re throwing down the gauntlet. Yesterday, the composable digital experience platform and enterprise <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-content-management-system-cms">headless CMS</a> announced its new <a target="_blank" href="https://explore.contentstack.com/retire-the-legacy">“Retire the Legacy” offer</a>. The program is pointed at brands that feel trapped in their legacy CMS solutions and are struggling with long-standing technical debt entrenched in their marketing tech stacks. “Retire the Legacy” provides a sort of life ring for customers struggling to stand out amidst a brand relevancy crisis – something I’ve spoken about with <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-raises-57-5-million-in-series-b-round-qa-with-ceo-neha-sampat">Neha Sampat</a>, Contentstack’s founder and CEO, in multiple interviews. This program aims to de-risk the move to a modern DXP for new customers, helping them mitigate the barriers in a meaningful way. "We speak with hundreds of customers every month who are regularly disappointed by their legacy, monolithic CMS," Sampat noted. “These brands want to modernize, but they feel stuck, technologically and contractually. We're taking this all off the table, betting on ourselves and on the power of our technology to reimagine possible for these customers.”Not only is Contentstack banking on its value proposition as a leading composable DXP to move the needle for brands, but it’s also suggesting that customers who move to their platform can reduce their current license fees by 50%.That’s a big number. And, as you might guess, requires a bit of qualification. First, the “Retire the Legacy” offer only applies to customers who have existing DX implementations using <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/adobe-experience-manager">Adobe Experience Manager</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/paas/content-cloud/headless-cms.html">Oracle</a>. There are also explicit terms and conditions, which require attending a demo by December 31st, 2024. You can mull through some of the other T’s &amp; C’s <a target="_blank" href="https://explore.contentstack.com/retire-the-legacy">on their website</a>. Look, platforms are under increasing pressure to grow, particularly when there are expectations from investors to drive returns. It's not a shocker that this trifecta of specific competitors is the focus of this program (they are, indeed, legacy platforms). It tells us a lot about how Contentstack is reading the tea leaves across the competitive landscape, and where they see potential opportunity.Will a deal like this shake enough trees? Here are some things to consider.<h3 id="helping-brands-get-“unstuck”">Helping brands get “unstuck”</h3>Contentstack has consistently framed the existential ecosystem challenges over the last year. Its case is quite clear: brands are mired in the muck, trying to remain relevant in a market of fleeting loyalty, particularly in digital commerce and retail. In my last discussion with Sampat, we even touched on the state of physical stores as businesses drift towards digital. I recommend checking out a few of the recent <a target="_blank" href="https://cocktailsand.substack.com/p/second-serves-a-great-low-abv-cocktail">Cocktails &amp; Commerce</a> newsletters for some sobering stats (see what I did there?)We all know that consumers are being profusely bombarded with marketing detritus from every direction, and standing out is becoming increasingly difficult. Based on one metric from Contentstack, 90% of markets have seen their digital channels lose effectiveness. That’s a hit – and an urgent call to action.To compete in this digital-first world, brands have to deliver dynamic, personalized experiences that are automated and augmented by high-value AI applications. Additionally, marketers can’t be hamstrung by development – they need to be nimble and agile. By answering this call with the right blend of flexibility and scalability, Contentstack is codifying its value by giving brands more control over their destiny.<h3 id="the-whole-enchilada-for-half-the-cost?-">The whole enchilada for half the cost? </h3>With its “Retire the Legacy” program, Contentstack is putting its money where its mouth is – betting on its people, processes, and technology to deliver a sustainable outcome with 50% savings on existing licensing fees. On one hand, it speaks to their well-earned confidence. On the other, depending on the terms of a legacy licensing agreement (this is where the terms and conditions come in), it presents obvious risks. There are multiple dimensions to any deployment; my guess is that they’ve analyzed exactly how to eat the enchilada from every conceivable direction.At the core of its value play is the company’s headless CMS, which has been infused with a wide range of capabilities to support the needs of marketers. This includes some dynamite <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/seeing-in-a-headless-world-contentstack-introduces-new-visual-building-capabilities-for-marketers">visual building capabilities</a> – which we covered last month – buoyed by an API-first, cloud-native <a target="_blank" href="https://machalliance.org/mach-technology">MACH architecture</a>. This enables everything from personalization to <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-fires-up-brand-relevant-ai-powered-personalization-at-contentcon-2024">brand-aware GenAI</a> to enhanced automation and workflows.Underneath it all is the company’s signature <a target="_blank" href="https://www.contentstack.com/customer-care">“No-fail Promise,”</a> part of its Care Without Compromise platform. Powered by people, knowledge-based programs, and a bevy of resources, these vital structures have earned Contentstack a 98% customer satisfaction rating and a 97% customer retention rate. Those are gloat-worthy figures.This dedicated commitment to success is serving them well. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jguthmann/">Jasmin Guthmann</a>, Head of Contentstack’s corporate communication, states in a video on the site that supporting customers on every step of their composable journey is “just how we operate.” The proof is clear in Contentstack’s numerous success stories with global brands. <figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NZ9keroA5A"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-NZ9keroA5A" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure> <h3 id="so-what’s-the-real-deal-with-this-deal?">So what’s the real deal with this deal?</h3>I mentioned commoditization in the very beginning. “The Great Rebalancing” has cometh, and most platforms in our market have become… well, universal in what they offer (I guess that word is catching on). It doesn’t mean they do it all, or that everything is in perfect parity. I'd be suspicious of any platform making that claim, and I prefer messaging that clearly details what a product is as much as it isn't. But between the plethora of visual builders, headless capabilities, hosting, etc… many of the pure categorical differentiators have been washed away. That could make price a more pertinent factor.To further confuse the category dilemma, platforms like Contentstack have <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/forrester-dxp-wave-2023-vendor-commentary">joined the chorus of DXPs</a> on the analysts’ radars, giving them far more competitive clout in the evaluation matrix. At the same time, legacy vendors have been ebbing further into the land of composability (or a certain definition of the term). That includes Sitecore, which has been making headway with its <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/sonic-boom-sitecore-surges-past-500m-in-arr-heres-why-it-matters">XM Cloud</a>.Again, everyone’s ending up in the same place. Where does this land Contentstack? In a solid position – one where it can capitalize on the churn and disappointment that customers have with their legacy products. Even if a vendor is now offering more composable solutions, brands are looking to the future. And for many, these legacy vendors might feel like the past. It’s no mistake that we see AEM, Sitecore, and Oracle (maybe less so) in the competitive crosshairs. They’re big targets, but also the ones fighting their own legacy tech and the old paradigms around licensing. We’re not seeing this offer volleyed at open source platforms or other downstream targets – just the platforms with domain over large enterprise accounts. In this sense, it’s a logical strategy.About that 50% pitch: Sure, it’s a familiar tactic. Will it work? The devil’s in the details, and I think it depends on a number of factors. The real key for Contentstack is selling outcomes and focusing on where it shines. I’ve watched it nail its AI roadmap from the beginning, investing early in high-utility automation and rolling into <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-fires-up-brand-relevant-ai-powered-personalization-at-contentcon-2024">brand-relevant personalization</a>.Along with its AI-boosted roadmap, bolstering the soft benefits can be critical to expressing its differentiated value. This includes that “No-fail Promise,” which provides more confidence for brands considering a <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/mach-alliance-expands-certification-scope-to-include-offerings-within-larger-vendors">MACH strategy</a> – and we know those journeys can be fraught with peril. In this regard, Contentstack has been a sort of glue for MACH stacks, where performance accountability is often an open-ended question.Cutting costs is cool, and it may become a more decisive factor as economic conditions shift. But remember, buyers are smart. Odds are, they’re doing their homework, carefully weighing options beyond just the budget. Can this platform really deliver what I need? Can I compete more effectively? What exactly am I “future-proofed” for?As Contentstack’s CRO <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-rathje-b606356/">Todd Rathje</a> observed, brands are entrenched in a battleground that looks nothing like it did in the decades prior. They need an experience edge, and Contentstack has been delivering that in spades and at scale. But even with those advantages, it's a crowded range with more choice – and more confusion. As such, clear is the new clever.CMS vendors have to be flexible with their licensing and pricing models. It’s the SaaS way, and composable is where the traction is. But at the end of the day, it’s really all about the value they deliver. To that end, brands need to carefully consider their goals when making their selections. I like Contentstack. It has many of the pieces it needs to make a strong case in modern composable stacks. Maybe it can snare more share by offering a 50% deal like this, but it might already have 100% of what it needs to keep winning. <hr />Looking for guidance on Contentstack? If you’re evaluating platforms, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/cms-selection-service">talk to us. </a> <h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:26.74%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/10/sitecore-symposium-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2024"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">Sitecore Symposium</a> 2024</h4>October 15-18, 2024 – Nashville, TennesseeStandout digital experiences start here! Sitecore Symposium is the leading industry conference for digital professionals to learn about digital experience management, digital customer experience, and related marketing topics. Featuring 100+ sessions, 40+ top customer brands, and Sitecore's largest gathering of marketing leaders, technologists, and our partner ecosystem. <a target="_blank" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today!</a> <img style="width:29.58%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/01/cms-kickoff-2025-logo.png" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2025"><a href=" https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25">CMS Kickoff 2025</a></h4>January 14-15, 2025 – Tampa Bay Area, FloridaJoin us next January in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for the third annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff25/tickets">so secure your tickets today.</a>

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

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