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.