Blog posts by Chris Osterhout

Navigating an Optimizely CMS 12 Upgrade

Wed, 10 May 2023 17:41:18 GMT

Content Management Systems (CMS) are critical components of many organizations' online presence, enabling them to manage, edit, and publish content with ease. However, as technology evolves, so must your CMS. With Microsoft's evolution of the ASP.NET framework and the introduction of .NET 6, a major Optimizely CMS upgrade will become inevitable for organizations that wish to continue receiving support for their Optimizely CMS platform. This blog will explore the important factors to consider when planning and executing an Optimizely CMS 12 upgrade, including timeline, project scope, internal resources, and potential partnerships.

3 Critical Episerver Strategies to Implement in 2020

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 21:46:19 GMT

With 2020 fast approaching and budgeting season in full swing, we get a lot of questions from Episerver customers asking which enhancements they should be budgeting for in the coming year. When answering this question we always try to evaluate the tactics an organization should implement to provide the most value in the shortest amount of time. In addition, it's critical to understand that every organization is at a different level of digital maturity, meaning a one-size-fits-all approach is not always possible. That being said, there are three key areas every organization should focus on regardless of its stage in the digital agility model.

3 Critical Episerver Strategies to Implement in 2020

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 20:46:19 GMT

10 Things Ektron Users Should Know about Migrating to Episerver

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:28:00 GMT

There are still a lot of Ektron clients out there that have not made the leap over to the Episerver platform. This could be for a variety of reasons including lack of budget, lack of business drivers, lack of confidence in the platform, etc. With a vast majority of digital budgets (including websites) being shifted from IT to Marketing, it is very likely that your website's business drivers will be evolving sooner rather than later. In which case, we have put together a list of the top ten things Ektron customers should know about Episerver:

How Much Will It Really Cost to Migrate from Ektron to Episerver?

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:15:00 GMT

As one of the most experienced agencies in the world when it comes to Ektron to Episerver migrations, we have definitely seen it all when it comes to pricing the migration between these two sophisticated CMS platforms. More often than not, we are approached by an organization looking for us to perform the migration and we walk through our process to ensure partnered success on the project.

4 Questions To Answer Before Moving To a New eCommerce Platform

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:00:00 GMT

Are you planning to migrate your website to a new eCommerce CMS platform? We share 3 strategic questions you should consider first.

4 Questions To Answer Before Moving To a New eCommerce Platform

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:00:00 GMT

For any organization that sells products to customers, the 21^st century is an exciting time. There have never been more opportunities to reach the right people with the right message at the right time, and a huge number of tools are available to create the experiences that will lead to success. However, this is something of a double-edged sword, since companies might have trouble standing out in the sea of digital noise competing for their customers’ attention.

In this fast-paced digital ecosystem in which the wants and needs of consumers are always changing, your organization may be considering switching to a new eCommerce content management system (CMS) in order to drive higher sales volumes. But before you make this change, you need to be sure you are ready to take advantage of these new tools. We’ve put together 4 strategic questions that you should consider:

1. Have you done a thorough discovery process?

Many times when organizations are getting serious about e-commerce, they look to the industry leaders such as Amazon for strategy. While this can be a solid first step, it often doesn't align the types of things being displayed on a webpage with the technical solutions required to make those things happen. For example, product recommendations, reviews, split shipments, product configurators, etc., require a solid technical strategy with both the e-commerce platform itself and the customer's fulfillment end-points. It is extremely important that an organization understands these logistics and has a technical blueprint on how these features will become a reality.

2. Do You Currently Have a Product Management Strategy For the Web?

How do you manage your product data? Are you currently manually entering the information into your eCommerce platform, or is the data managed from a central source, such as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform?

Note: when we refer to product data, this includes all data related to your products, including identification numbers such as UPCs and SKUs, descriptions, images, model numbers, size and color information, etc.

If you do use an ERP, it may not contain all the data you need. Often, organizations use their ERP to store internal data such as SKUs or basic descriptions for internal employees, but the customer-facing data is stored elsewhere. This problem can be solved by using a Product Information Management (PIM) system which provides richer, contextual data that can be synced to the web or other mediums, such as print advertising.

If your product data isn’t currently stored in one single system, you should look at implementing a PIM to get your data in order before selecting a new eCommerce platform. This will ensure that you are ready to take full advantage of the capabilities that are available when integrating your PIM with your CMS.

3. How Sophisticated Is Your Digital Strategy?

Your website is only one part of your overall digital strategy, which also should include email marketing, social media, and any other methods you use to engage with your customers. One question that can influence your eCommerce platform selection is how you handle product recommendations. Do you currently recommend products manually? Could your organization benefit from a programmatic approach to personalization?

When you begin the platform selection process, you’ll need to know whether a platform is capable of machine learning and autonomous personalization. Even if you don’t plan to use these tools immediately, you should be sure that the platform is capable of scaling to meet these requirements, since as your business grows, you’ll need to be able to take advantage of the tools that will allow you to provide the most value to your customers.

4. Are You Really Ready To Invest In eCommerce Migration?

For mid-market eCommerce sites, the implementation costs of migrating to a new CMS platform can range from $150,000 to $300,000. Before you jump in with both feet, make sure you understand the level of investment required to migrate to a new platform.

One thing to remember is that content and commerce are no longer separate channels. When selecting a CMS platform, it’s important to look for a solution that provides a unified content/commerce experience and also integrates seamlessly with back end systems such as your PIM, CRM, and marketing automation platforms.

If you’re considering a migration to a new eCommerce platform, we’d be happy to discuss your needs. Please feel free to contact us, and we’ll work with you to build a successful eCommerce strategy.

Creating a Blueprint for a Successful CMS Migration

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 18:00:00 GMT

In today’s fast-moving technological landscape, organizations need to make use of multiple interconnected systems, and the tools that they use are constantly evolving. In this environment of regular change, companies may find that their current systems don’t provide them with the capabilities that they need to meet their business goals.

If you’ve determined that you need to migrate away from your current content management system (CMS) to a more enterprise platform (or if you’re an Ektron customer who is thinking about migrating to Episerver, you’re probably wondering how to get started, and what you need to be aware of in the migration process.

In reality, there are a lot of ways to get started, but the approaches that companies take often break down into two categories. Let’s look at each of these, the reasons why they won’t necessarily lead to the best results, and how a different approach can help you plan for success in your digital strategy:

Option 1: Determine a Price, Then Move Forward

From a business perspective, it makes sense to nail down the cost of migrating your website, so you can plan your budget accordingly. Unfortunately, the price of a CMS migration is usually not a single, solid number, but a range that can vary depending on your organization’s needs and the complexity of the migration.

While an estimated cost of migration can be helpful as a baseline, it won’t help you understand what the true cost of the migration will be. This is why we encourage our clients to form partnerships rather than asking for quotes.

Option 2: Create a Proof of Concept

Clients often ask for or software manufacturers will offer a proof of concept (POC), demonstrating what the website will look like following the migration to a new CMS platform. This option usually requires significant investment, either in the software platform the POC is built on or with the firm who is creating the POC.

While this solution may be helpful in understanding how your site could theoretically function on the new platform, a POC is not a fully functional site, and it won’t help you understand how to get from where you are now to where you want to be following your migration.

A Better Solution: Create an Implementation Blueprint

One analogy that we often return to when we discuss website redesigns and CMS migrations is a comparison between a new website and a house. If you’re building a new house, one of the first things you will do is create a blueprint. This helps you understand how all the pieces of the house will fit together, and it helps you ensure that the house will be structurally sound and provide you with a space where you want to live.

The same holds true when building a new website. Before you get started, you’ll need an implementation blueprint that defines, qualifies, and quantifies everything needed to build the site, ensuring that it is created correctly and includes all the technical functionality and integrations you need to meet your business goals.

As is true of the blueprint for a home, an implementation blueprint for your website will require a cost, but this minimal investment can help you understand your options and make informed decisions on the road ahead.

Getting It Right the First Time

At Diagram, one thing we stress when approaching website redesign and migration projects is the importance of doing things right the first time. Creating an implementation blueprint will allow you to understand everything you need to know in order to move to your new platform, allowing you to do so in a realistic time frame and with minimal change requests.

When planning a website migration, stakeholders often consider three aspects: quality, time, and price. You may have seen a diagram like this that states that only two of these three aspects are possible:

Ideally, you want to get as close to the middle of that picture as you can, even if it’s not going to be possible to complete your migration in a manner that is good, fast, and cheap. However, creating an implementation blueprint is the key to getting as close to that ideal state as possible, and it will provide an essential foundation for the success of your migration project.

If you have any questions about how we can help you create an implementation blueprint for your own website project, please contact us, and we’ll not only help you migrate to a platform that meets your needs, but we’ll work with you to build a successful digital strategy. If you have any questions, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

How Much Will It Really Cost to Migrate from Ektron to Episerver?

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:00:00 GMT

PIM, ERP, CMS, AMS, MAP, CRM…What does it all mean?

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:10:00 GMT

Learn about the different integrated systems that make up your digital strategy and how they can bring value from an eCommerce standpoint.

What’s the Difference Between a CMS Migration and a Website Redesign?

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 18:30:00 GMT

Learn about the three areas website owners need to consider when planning a migration to Episerver: website design, CMS technology, and content.

What’s the Difference Between a CMS Migration and a Website Redesign?

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 18:30:00 GMT

Coming off the heels of the Episerver Ascend 2018 conference, we are getting more and more requests from existing and prospective clients for information about migrating to Episerver. There seems to be an uptick in the amount of excitement from Ektron customers toward migrating to the Episerver Digital Experience Cloud Service based several criteria including its simplified PaaS approach.

Ektron and Episerver: Thinking About the Future

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:15:00 GMT

The future of the converged Episerver/Ektron platform has become clearer, should Ektron users begin planning to migrate to Episerver?

Creating a Blueprint for a Successful CMS Migration

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:45:00 GMT

What's the best approach to a website migration project? We look at how creating an implementation blueprint can build a solid foundation for your migration.

Tips for a Stress-free Episerver Migration

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 18:00:47 GMT

Migrating from one CMS platform to another CMS platform can be a daunting task, and a migration to the Episerver platform is no different.

Should I Upgrade Ektron or Migrate to Episerver?

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 18:00:00 GMT

WSOL's Chris Osterhout shares some direction on if you should upgrade Ektron or migrate to Episerver.

Don't Make these Mistakes when Migrating from Ektron to Episerver

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 17:00:47 GMT

While migrating from Ektron to Episerver can seem overwhelming, there are a few areas that you can focus on to ensure the project's success.

Episerver Takes Gartner Leaders Quadrant for Third Year Running

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:45:29 GMT

For a third year in a row, Episerver has been recognized as a leader in WCM (web content management) by Gartner researchers as part of their Magic Quadrant.

3 Things to Consider Before Investing in HubSpot Website Templates

Wed, 10 May 2017 16:48:00 GMT

A website template or site pack might seem like a simple solution for a site redesign, but we let you know what to consider before you purchase them.

The Myth of the Light Website Redesign

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:41:50 GMT

We share 4 reasons the 'light website redesign' doesn't actually exist and may end up costing you more in the long run than a full website redesign.