What is AEM Edge Delivery Services & Is it a Replacement for Wordpress in the Mid-Market?
What is Adobe's new Edge Delivery Services, how does it relate to AEM, and how does it change the architecture and the economics of launching a best-of-class site for your enterprise? There has been a wide gap, in the past, between the entry-level tech for small business sites and the "enterprise-class" tech like AEM, Acquia, Optimizely or Sitecore. How does Adobe's new tech change the math on this?
Also available on Apple Podcasts and as an audio or video podcast on Spotify.
AEM Edge Delivery Services is a new approach to content management that enhances speed and usability, making it more accessible for mid-sized businesses. It allows for easier content creation using familiar tools, while ensuring fast delivery to users by pushing data closer to them. This innovation addresses the challenges of traditional content management systems, offering a more efficient and user-friendly solution.
In this episode of Arbory Digital Experiences, we dive into the intricacies of Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Edge Delivery and its implications for mid-sized businesses. With the digital landscape evolving rapidly, understanding these technologies is crucial for companies looking to enhance their online presence.
What is AEM Edge Delivery?
AEM, short for Adobe Experience Manager, is a comprehensive content management system that has been around for years. It is designed to manage large websites and handle various content types, including documents, images, videos, and more. Edge Delivery is a new set of technologies developed by Adobe that enhances the capabilities of AEM by improving speed and usability, as well as development time (under-appreciated and HUGE).
Key Features of AEM Edge Delivery
Enhanced Speed
One of the core tenets of AEM Edge Delivery is speed. Adobe's vision for AEM was to create a content management system that not only solves complex problems but does so quickly. Edge Delivery achieves this by compositing pages and content in a way that minimizes loading times, ensuring that major brands do not have to compromise on performance.
User-Friendly Content Creation
AEM Edge Delivery simplifies the content creation process. It allows users to author content in familiar tools such as Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and SharePoint. This means that non-technical users can easily create and manage content without needing extensive training or technical expertise. The separation of content from styling and presentation further enhances usability, making it accessible to a broader range of users.
Document-Based Architecture
Unlike traditional systems that rely heavily on databases, AEM Edge Delivery utilizes a document-based architecture. This allows for greater flexibility in content management, enabling users to create and manage content in a more intuitive manner. When paired with the new Document Authoring (DA) UI detailed in the podcast (but not yet formally launched!), this system supports collaborative editing and real-time previews, making it easier for teams to work together on content.
Please get in touch with us if you're interested in exploring DA.
Proximity to Users
The concept of pushing data closer to users is central to Edge Delivery. By utilizing a content delivery network (CDN), AEM ensures that content is served from locations geographically closer to the end user. This reduces latency and enhances the overall user experience, similar to how restaurants like Five Guys source fresh ingredients locally to provide a better dining experience.
Addressing the Needs of Mid-Sized Businesses
For mid-sized businesses, the transition to AEM Edge Delivery can be a game changer. Previously, the costs associated with implementing AEM were prohibitive, often requiring specialized talent and significant investment. However, with the new improvements in Edge Delivery, mid-sized businesses can now consider AEM as a viable option.
Cost Considerations
While AEM is very much doubleplus not free, the potential for improved efficiency and user experience can justify the investment. Mid-sized businesses that are already using managed hosting services or custom plugins may find that transitioning to AEM Edge Delivery is a logical next step. The ability to leverage Adobe's powerful marketing tools once integrated into the AEM ecosystem adds further value.
Please give our podcast a listen, and reach out if you’d like to discuss how new infrastructure models like this might work for your environment! Please reach out!
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 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
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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!