Migrating Legacy Websites to Adobe's Edge Delivery Services
TLDR: This blog post explores the challenges of migrating legacy websites to modern platforms, particularly focusing on Adobe's Edge Delivery Services. It discusses the complexities of legacy systems, the benefits of cloud migration, and how new AI-driven tools can streamline the process, ultimately enhancing user experience and reducing maintenance efforts.
The Legacy Website Challenge
Legacy websites often present significant challenges for enterprises. Many organizations invest in comprehensive content management systems (CMS) like Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) with the expectation that they will streamline operations and consolidate all web properties under one roof. However, the reality is often more complex.
The Hope of Consolidating All Websites on AEM
As organizations attempt to migrate their primary sites to AEM, they frequently encounter complications. The powerful features of AEM, such as multi-site management and translation capabilities, is a HUGE draw toward standardizing all corporate sites on AEM as the single platform-of-truth. However, the sheer volume can Many companies find themselves with multiple websites still operating on outdated platforms like WordPress or older versions of AEM.
The Need for Modern Solutions
With the rapid advancement of technology, the demands on web development teams have increased significantly. Beyond just maintaining a website, teams must now consider AI chatbots, generative engine optimization, and e-commerce functionalities. This expanded scope can stretch resources thin, making it challenging to keep up with the latest trends and technologies.
The Role of Adobe's Edge Delivery Services
Adobe's Edge Delivery Services have emerged as a game-changer in the realm of website migrations. This innovative solution has the potential to drastically reduce the time and labor required for migrations. For instance, what once took months can now be accomplished in just a few weeks. This efficiency is crucial for organizations looking to stay competitive in a fast-paced digital environment.
Doing a Website Migration in Way Less Time than you Think - Presuming You're Well-Architected
The introduction of new AI-driven tools, such as Site Optimizer and Experience Catalyst, has the potential to further streamline the migration process - or at least to streamline prototyping.
These tools leverage generative AI to automate site migrations, allowing organizations to focus on creative aspects rather than getting bogged down in technical details. This shift not only speeds up the migration but also enhances the overall user experience.
Note: Both of these products are separate SKUs that are not included in your AEM license. Definitely let us know if you're considering one of these tools for your migration or operations workload. It may be just another shiny thing that you don't really need, or could be absolutely transformative depending on your workload!
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Cloud Migration
One of the most significant hurdles organizations face when considering cloud migration is the cost-benefit analysis. Many are hesitant to move their infrastructure to the cloud, especially if they are currently hosting on-premise solutions. However, the labor savings and efficiency gains associated with Edge Delivery Services can make a compelling case for migration.
Justifying the Move to the Cloud
When evaluating the costs of maintaining legacy systems versus the benefits of migrating to the cloud, organizations may find that they are losing money by not making the switch. The reduced labor requirements and improved website performance can lead to a more favorable return on investment, making cloud migration an attractive option.
Conclusion
As we navigate the complexities of legacy website migrations, it is clear that solutions like Adobe's Edge Delivery Services offer a promising path forward. By embracing modern technologies and streamlining processes, organizations can enhance their digital experiences while reducing the burden on their development teams. The future of web management is here, and it is time to take advantage of these advancements to stay ahead in the digital landscape.
Podcast Speakers
Tad Reeves
Principal Architect at Arbory Digital
Tad has been working with Adobe products since 2010 and has extensive experience in website infrastructure. Starting in 1996, he has worn nearly every hat in website delivery from solution architecture to product management, and has over two decades of experience. He loves that Arbory Digital gives him the opportunity to provide honest and effective solutions, even if it means challenging prevailing sales perspectives. When Tad isn’t working, he enjoys mountain biking and exploring nature with his wife & 3 kids.
Like what you heard? Have questions about what’s right for you? We’d love to talk! Contact Us
More Podcast Episodes You Might Like
The adaptTo() 2024 Conference has just concluded, with an absolutely PACKED 3 days of highly-technical, AEM-centric sessions and discussions. In 3 weeks or so, the recordings of these sessions will be available, but in the meantime we got together with Marta & Michał Cukierman from StreamX to discuss our favorite sessions and what they mean for the AEM community.
How do you solve the constant problem of cache freshness and backend system latency in any modern CMS (especially AEM or Edge Delivery?) In this episode we talk to Michał Cukierman, CTO of Dynamic Solutions and co-founder of StreamX - a digital experience mesh for dramatically and reliably accelerating complicated dynamic content requests from the many constituent systems that make up a modern CMS deployment.
It’s not hyperbole that if you haven’t put considerable effort into rethinking your full site delivery stack in the last few months, you are going to want to. So please - stop reading this right now, pop in some headphones and take this podcast for a walk and consider how it might affect your environment!