Why choosing the right CMS matters

Consumer behavior is changing. The internet has easily become the primary method for researching and evaluating products and services for consumers, partners, and B2B customers around the globe. Businesses that don’t recognize and adapt to this shift are set to get into big trouble in the long run.

As many types of products and services are becoming increasingly digital, it’s essential for businesses to fully integrate new tech with digital experiences and make full use of digital projects that accommodate evolving consumer preferences and provide real value.

A huge part of this equation rests on your choice of content management system. Your CMS is the foundation of your digital experiences, which means choosing the right one is paramount. Here are some of the key reasons why.

Don't lag behind, future-proof your digital experiences!

Stay ahead of disruption

According to a study from Grand View Research, the global digital transformation market size is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 22.5% from 2020 to 2027. This means more or less complete digital domination. Across all industries, businesses are preparing themselves to meet this sea of change head on, and the best prepared are sure to emerge at the top of the pile.

According to Harvard Business Review, 40% of the top 15 highest-valued tech companies worldwide were replaced between 2009 and 2019, and this disruption trend will continue. It's now a matter of "transform or perish."

Winning on the digital battlefield will require a lot more than legacy back-end software that might be held together with safety pins. At best, an archaic system with too many moving parts will keep your IT department too busy with repairs to innovate, and at worst it’ll torpedo the value of your digital experiences. What you really need is a simple and flexible CMS that is designed to scale with your business.

Don't miss: 6 keys to unlock business value with digital transformation »

It will make you more profitable

DXC Technology has found that 68% of senior company executives have seen profitability increase over the past three years as a result of digital transformation, while 74% envisage a rise in profits because of their digital strategy.

But bear in mind, not all content management systems are created equal. Not all systems are capable of giving you the flexibility and simplicity you’ll need to grow and scale. Choosing the wrong platform will mean that you end up with digital experiences that have cost a lot of money, but don’t get you anywhere.

Bottom line: Your CMS should help you to act smarter, faster, and to achieve greater results.

It’ll make you more efficient

In 2019, the US Federal government spent 80% of the IT budget on Operations and Maintenance. This spending mainly included aging legacy systems, which not only created risks for cyber security, but also strangled efficiency.

Choosing your CMS means keeping up with an ever changing landscape. As experiences and touchpoints become more digital, the importance of an agile CMS that can adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace will be key to providing great digital experiences to your customers and ensuring your long term survival.

See also: How to increase content team productivity with your CMS »

Your customers will thank you

Much is happening online and the digital experience trends are clear: Smart home devices that allow you to do everything from remotely control your lights to automate your grocery purchases have moved many tasks online. And more are set to follow.

Your business must move to where your customers are, and if your customers aren’t already online, they will be very soon. Today, website users are more demanding than ever, which means that a customized site with personalized user experiences, the highest accessibility standards, and support across all devices is critical. Covering touchpoints across the entire customer journey in every channel is, in other words, essential. 

Read more: Why your CMS is the most valuable tool for your customer journey »

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A majority of businesses are struggling to keep pace with advances in web technology, which is costing them huge amounts of time and energy, and often preventing them from reaching their goals.

Choosing the right CMS will ensure that your website and digital experiences are built to meet the demands of the future. But most importantly, it will give your web developers and editors the flexibility they need to innovate.

First published 1 June 2018, updated 18 August 2021.