More on Open Text’s WCM Product Plans

In the interests of continuing an open dialogue about our WCM product plans, I thought a second post was in order to provide more background and to discuss next generation product planning. We care about our customers and partners, and believe a transparent and open conversation in a social medium is a good way to communicate our future plans, provided straight from us. Through this process, we expect good feedback and ideas, and yes, some criticism along the way.

I’ll go into more detail below, but for those who want the highlights, here they are:

1. We appreciate all your feedback and ideas. We are sharing as much as we can while we continue exploring the best options for our customers.
2. For Web Solutions (Red Dot) customers: You will continue to be supported and your product will continue to be improved. We are putting the finishing touches on an upcoming release and we are working on a roadmap that will take you into the future.
3. For Vignette Customers: We have released Vignette Portal 8.0 and will soon release a major update to VCM 8.0. We will continue to invest in VCM as part of the Open Text ECM portfolio and the Next Generation initiative.
4. For new customers considering Open Text: Open Text offers one of the most complete portfolios of web solutions in the industry, is the 6th fastest growing technology company according to Forbes, and is dedicating a sizeable engineering staff to advance our leadership in WCM.

Turning to the topic at hand, Jon Marks ‘ comment asks two fundamental questions: What is relevant today and how will the rationalization of the Vignette acquisition affect the future of WCM at Open Text. I believe that with our continued investment and support of the existing two product families and the commitment to launch the next major version of our products as a version that respects the heritage of both preceding product versions, we are doing what customers expect for their maintenance dollar and what does justice to the tradeoff between upgradeability and innovation.

We have committed to continue to develop the technology our customers are currently on well beyond the launch date of our next generation product. We understand that Web requirements change over time and that customers are looking for the right moment to upgrade or redesign their sites. We believe that our next generation product will be very compelling and set a new bar in Web content management.

Again: We will provide an upgrade path for customers coming from Web Solutions and for customers coming from Vignette Content Management once we get to the next generation, but we will be proudly offering products we have available today as they will be state of the art for the next 2-3 years (confirmed by Gartner who has clearly put the Open Text offerings into the leadership quadrant in their most recent WCM analysis).

To put things into further perspective, Open Text is investing in WCM engineering staff and we expect to have the largest engineering force assigned to this area in the entire industry. We are very proud to serve more than 5,000 customers using our Web offerings (WCM, Community, Social, Portal) and we have every intention to keep all of them moving forward with us as WCM is a strategic R&D investment for the company.

Now to reiterate the tactical questions posed by Jon:
1. How does the new offering we are talking about fit into the overall architecture?
2. Which products will this new offering replace?


To the first question: For those of you who know these two product lines, I know that you will agree with me when I say that the strengths and use cases of both the Vignette Content Management and the Open Text Web Solutions offerings approach the WCM problem from two different starting points. Web Solutions customers are largely looking for a web site centric, easy-to-deploy and prescriptive WCM system that helps them to empower their web authors. Vignette customers in contrast really like the ability to create powerful online experiences that also supports a fair amount of unique application logic, served with a standard set of content and authoring capabilities. From a technical persona perspective, we are serving the webmaster/designer persona with our Web Solutions offering and the web developer with the Vignette offering. From a project perspective, we are serving the persona of a page-oriented method of content entry with Web Solutions and a more content-centric approach with Vignette. To address these very different needs in the market, and fit within the overall architecture of ECM from Open Text, we will continue to invest in these products separately and strengthen their unique persona use cases moving forward.

To address the second question: It is easy to read with all the comments floating around out there that something HAS to be replaced or is going away – but that is not true. I think most would agree with me in saying that the ideal WCM system should offer a balance of the two characteristics above in the same system. We have an innovation team that is evaluating the technology acquired from Vignette as part of our ongoing WCM advancements. Looking at the evolution of the Web over the last 5 years alone, we have seen AJAX, HTML5, Visual Studio, Web Services, SEO and Social constructs erupt onto the scene. Open Text is committed to investing in the future of our products for the benefit of our customer’s goals and success. We have acquired the best user experience and prescriptive application knowledge through Web Solutions (RedDot) and expertise in defining a highly scalable, dynamic and extensible WCM foundation through Vignette. We have an innovation team looking at the next iteration of Web Content Management, one that we are categorizing as Web Business, one that will redefine the way people work, find information, interact and uplift the traditional product value-chain to what we call the Web-centric value chain.

To support this vision, we are developing a Next Generation WCM solution (names still not decided at this early stage) and are including the expertise and concepts from Vignette into the mix. There has been speculation that we are trying to merge the code from Web Solutions and Vignette Content Management, but that is not the case (and in some cases not possible). This is an evolution of core WCM capabilities and the designs for this project have been in the works for a good year now. With the acquisition of Vignette, we gained new IP and philosophies that we want to add to our existing plans.

Rather than replacing an existing offering, this Next Generation WCM application will be an incremental offering. We have such a great (read “many” and “wonderful”) customer base using all of our WCM solutions. Our goal is to deliver a first iteration of the Next Generation WCM in 24 months. Upgrade to this Next Generation offering is an option from our existing WCM systems – but NOT a requirement. We do expect it to be a compelling offering, one that customers will want to move to when the time is right. This includes our WCM Presentation Server and WCM Content Server customers as well.

Do we have all of the answers now? No. As with any good engineering project we are writing requirements, designing, estimating, prototyping and working through the quality metrics. Do we have a design in mind? Yes. Can’t share that here, but if you want to get a glimpse into how it is formulating in our minds, take a look at our Vignette Media product which is available today. It offers the application and persona orientation that we are looking for with a commercial packaging that addresses the needs of both use case scenarios in the new Social oriented world of tomorrow.

Will competitors try to take advantage of the current situation and offer replacement promotions and claim that they can do what Open Text does? Sure. But the questions to ask them are not only if the technology is proven, stable and feature rich, but is there a cohesive direction, worldwide support, referenceable customers and an ecosystem of partners to tap into as well. And is there the kind of R&D vision, investment and commitment to innovative solutions as we’ve made?

Open Text has a strong vision for Enterprise Content Management, one that addresses the core business challenges of people, processes and content within a secure, compliant and agile methodology. Across documents and archives, to Web and rich media, Open Text is leading in our vision and execution supported with a strong leadership and partner community.

I hope the above provides the clarity you were looking for. As said before, we will provide detailed roadmaps during our Content World user conference in October. If you can, come along and see for yourself – we have a talented team working on our WCM portfolio and it would be a shame to miss what they have to say.

Exciting Road Ahead for WCM at Open Text

Over the last week or so, we have been following the opinions and concerns expressed on social media channels about the future of Web Content Management (WCM) solutions at Open Text. Clearly there is tremendous interest in the industry about our plans.

Naturally, customers and partners who have made significant investments in technology, skills and deployed solutions are concerned about what the acquisition of Vignette means for them - both for the Web Solutions Group (formerly Red Dot) and for Vignette customers and partners. We completely understand this, because the Web has become the most important channel to engage customers, partners and employees.

Among very insightful comments I also found some inaccuracies, along with the usual attempts by competitors to spread uncertainty and fear. In this post I want to set the record straight by clarifying our current strategy, eliminate confusion and engage in an open dialog about the implications for our customers and partners.

We are very fortunate to have two great WCM solutions, both with a loyal following of partners, professionals and an impressive list of customers. While both are WCM products, they serve different needs - very well I might add. Each has a unique set of capabilities that makes it more desirable for a specific set of customers.

WCM is fundamental to the Open Text vision. We are committed to our customers and we are making the best decisions possible for existing customers and partner community to provide the best WCM solution moving forward. We have reflected on the successes and challenges of the Gauss and Obtree incorporation into RedDot. We are bringing this knowledge into the conversation on how to best utilize Vignette technologies in light of the strong customer base for both Vignette Content Management and our Web Solutions.

Plans for Open Text’s Web Solution Offerings

Last week, we announced initial product plans for our Vignette and Open Text Web Solutions offerings. Here are some of the key points:

• We will continue to develop both Vignette Content Management and Open Text Web Solutions (RedDot) as complementary offerings to meet the full range of WCM needs we see in the market. We will continue to develop and advance both products (more on this below).

• We will not be asking customers to migrate to one platform or another.
  

• We will strengthen our investment to stay ahead of the evolution of Web Content Management as we believe it is foundational for all organizations.
  

• Within 24 months, Open Text plans to launch an offering that combines key strengths of Open Text Web Solutions and Vignette Content Management as a new industry-leading WCM platform. Customers will not be asked to migrate to this new platform if it doesn’t suit their business needs.

• We will release Vignette Content Management version 8.0 and Vignette Portal version 8.0 this year.
  

• The recently released Web Solutions 10.0 will be followed by another feature-rich release of Web Solutions in the first half of 2010.

• Vignette Social Media Solutions (Community Applications and Community Services) will be part of a new Social Marketplace offering, which will be added to Open Text’s Social Media solutions. Current Open Text WCM customers (RedDot) will be able to take advantage of this new Social Marketplace package.
  

Responding to Specific Concerns

Let me try to answer specific questions and concerns expressed in blogs and tweets:

• We are not merging the code for Web Solutions and Vignette Content Management. That would not make sense as many people have pointed out. Don’t expect a hybrid. What we are talking about is taking capabilities and best practices from each (and maybe a few pieces of technology) to create a new offering. For example, the social media and Recommendations technologies from Vignette could enhance the Web Solutions product in the relatively short term.

• For customers who want to move from one solution to the other, there will probably be upgrade pricing but we haven’t gotten that far yet. We are also looking at tools and best practices to migrate content as well as opportunities for interoperability. A few of our customers have both Web Solutions and Vignette and are making the best use of both.

• As stated earlier, Open Text will continue to develop both Web Solutions and Vignette Content Management. It completely makes sense for organizations to deploy on either product based on which one fits their needs best. Statements about Open Text not continuing development of Web Solutions (RedDot) after 2010 are incorrect.We are in the process of planning further releases of the product and will share a 2011 timeline at Content World. The recently released Web Solutions 10.0 will be followed by the 10.1 release of Web Solutions in the first half of 2010.

• Both Web Solutions and Vignette Content Management have very flexible delivery options. As an example, one of the largest banks in the world is using Vignette Content Management with .net for delivery/presentation. WCM products are naturally designed to integrate and interoperate with heterogeneous systems. There is no need to choose sides between .net and Java.

• Regarding comments on our recent earnings call about “migrating RedDot to the Vignette platform,” the intention is not to combine two products into one or to create an entirely new product from the ground up. Those are not viable options. Both products will continue to be developed. In that discussion on the call, Web Solutions’ ease of use, ease of customization and user interface were discussed. The intention is to take some of those concepts (not the actual code) and implement them on the Vignette platform. At the same time, Web Solutions would continue to be developed and remain a viable option for existing customers.

We don’t have all the answers yet, but as our own Scott Bowen, SVP, Open Text, told CMSWire last week, we are committing the R&D resources and funding to succeed.

If you want to learn more

• Visit with us at Content World. We’ve committed to reveal to our customers a detailed product roadmap at our Content World Conference in October. We’re confident customers will like what they will hear. (In fact, the customers who have gotten a sneak peek have responded very positively to our roadmap.) I encourage all our customers to join us in Orlando. For more information on Content World visit www.opentext.com/contentworld

• Read the press release. A few days ago Open Text made a formal announcement about the initial plans.
  

• Follow us on Twitter. Stay on top of the news. Pick up our Twitter feed.

• Share your thoughts. Post a comment on this blog. I promise to do my best to respond as accurately and as thoroughly as I can.

There is a lot more we will be able to share in the coming weeks and we look forward to continuing the conversation. Our ultimate goal is to provide the best WCM solutions to all of our customers.

Are you open for business?

Once again, I am focusing on a consumer website which had so much potential but failed to deliver. I was looking to take my daughters to a tea room this weekend and there was a quaint shop down the street I wanted to try. I went to their web page to find out what time they opened. After 15 minutes of wandering the site, I could not find their hours listed anywhere.

They had obviously spent quite a lot on their web site - great design and lots of information about specialty teas and events. But no hours. I had to resort to picking up the phone and listening to a voice recording to tell me that they were not open on Sunday afternoons (which is when I wanted to go). Lesson 101 in web design - make the most important information easy to find.

Upon further searching on Google, there was a post that the store had closed. What was odd is that their website is still up and running, and their phone is still active, but now there are people who have claimed it to be closed. So, I could either try calling during business hours or potentially waste my time driving over there and risk it being closed.

Now, this leads to a different dilema that I have always been hesitant about - the information accuracy of the web. If a site is geared to accept user reviews and not moderate it, which is a lot of work and goes against the concept of Web 2.0, the site will become just more noise in the search engine results page that we have to wade through. I always check the dates of the posting to see how relevant the comment is, perhaps the company has moved and started new or addressed older issues, but reading through postings meant to harm or mis-inform is no fun.

Some advise, if you choose to accept this mission; keep the most relevant information top of the page and monitor your brand sentiment out there.

Sprucing up the place

After a brief summer hiatus, school is back in session and it is time to get back to the business of website reviews. Over the summer, our house was damaged in a hail storm and I spent hours going through the painful process of getting insurance adjusters to estimate the damage and plans to get it all fixed. Searching for painters, roofers, glass replacement has brought me to one site in particular.

Behr paint has a great site for ideas and step-by-step instructions for designing your favorite room. In particular, take a look at the Inspiration and Project Center sections, nicely displayed prominently at the top of the page. I love the interactive tool that lets you view the room you want.

I took a look at the Disney Princess rooms in particular and really liked the fact that the site gave the paint color names and options. For those who are first taking the plunge to spruce up the house before the holidays or looking at staying put for a while and want to give a new feel to the place, Behr's site is a great resource and easy to navigate. Just what I like best!