Future of Content Management: Highlights from CMS Kickoff 2024
The recent CMS Kickoff 2024, hosted by Boye & Co, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors in the content management space. As a leading Digital Experience Composition provider, Fastr was present to showcase our commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital experiences.
Unlike traditional Content Management Systems, Fastr works seamlessly with any CMS, liberating users from the constraints of blocks and templates. Our platform empowers users to expand their design and orchestration capabilities, as well as run content experiments with greater frequency, fostering a new era of creativity and flexibility in digital content creation.
Key Themes and Trends: Hot Takes That Dominated Discussions
Agility in Content Creation
In a rapidly changing digital landscape, the need for agility in content creation was a hot topic. What is the role of the CMS? The focus should be on the content, not on its presentation on the web. Managing all the information and building a content model that is useful (by humans and AI) is the job. Content labels should reflect what the content is (i.e. product name) not where it should be used (i.e. headline).
The Rise of AI and Automation
Deane Barker, Global Director of Content Management at Optimizely, delivered a thought-provoking perspective, stating that "AI is an arms race" and predicting that the next content tool will be "prompt management systems." He also pointed out that "Composable has lost all meaning," as both sides lay claim, rendering it devoid of marketing value. With pure headless vendors now offering web management tools, the content management landscape has become a race to the middle, and according to Barker, "the last mile of content delivery has fractured."
Page Builders as Coping Mechanisms
Jeff Eaton, Partner at Autogram, led a session titled "Buried in Blocks" and declared that Page Builders are "a coping mechanism for uncertain requirements inside organizations." Our take: customer expectations for content experiences evolve too quickly to be held back by blocks. When your creative teams have the flexibility to design and orchestrate dynamic experiences without limits, they thrive.
Final Thoughts
CMS Kickoff 2024 was a resounding success, offering a glimpse into the future of content management. Our thanks to Janus Boye and team, the staff at the host venue (St. Pete’s stunning and historic Don Cesar Hotel), and all the participants for bringing their insights and ideas to the group.
As we reflect on the "hot takes" from this event, we're excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for the industry and the transformative role Fastr is poised to play.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to pioneer the evolution of digital experiences!