Many website owners have been trying to figure out what they need to do to ensure that their website remains functional and how the changes to both Content Management System (CMS) platforms will affect both their short and long term business strategies. As experts in both Episerver and Ektron, we’ve been hearing from a number of clients who want to know about their options for the future of their websites, so we wanted to share our answers to some of the most common questions that we’ve been asked:
Is Ektron Going to Stop Supporting My Site?
Absolutely not. As long as you continue to pay your yearly maintenance fees, your Ektron site will continue to be supported. As you may know, these annual fees give you access to support from Ektron, as well as software and security upgrades. Paying these fees will allow you to keep your site up to date for as long as patches to Ektron continue to be released, which will ensure that it remains secure. Support will also continue to be offered by Episerver for the Ektron product, so you can rest assured that any issues or questions you may have about your Ektron site will be addressed.
How Long Will the Ektron Product Continue to Be Available and Supported?
While we do not currently have a definitive answer to this question, our best guess is that Ektron will continue to be supported for at least three years. It’s important to understand that Ektron has a very large install base that includes major companies like American Express, Sony, and Walmart, so discontinuing the product in the near future is very unlikely.
Beyond three years, it is difficult to predict what will happen. Technology changes and evolves quickly and aggressively, and the current Ektron product is very different from what it was three years ago, so guessing what will take place beyond the near future is difficult. However, we think that it is safe to say that Ektron will not be completely going away anytime soon.
How Much Will Episerver Cost Me?
Due to the nature of both platforms, this is a complicated question, with a variety of answers for multiple situations and several factors affecting the cost of the Episerver platform. The reality is that every account is different and each implementation is unique. However, Ektron customers will be able to leverage a certain percentage of their investment in the platform toward the acquisition of the Episerver software, allowing you to utilize the time and money that you’ve put into your Ektron site to achieve success on the new platform.
Since every customer’s purchase history is unique, it is important to contact your partner or Episerver account manager to discuss your options. If you’re not sure who your Episerver account manager is, please contact us, and we can help you determine the best way to proceed.
How Much Will it Cost to Migrate My Site to Episerver?
This is another complicated question with answers that will be different for each website or organization. However, planning for a migration to Episerver provides a great opportunity to evaluate whether you need to do a full website redesign, or a like-for-like migration, in which your site will look and function the same as it does currently, but will be powered by Episerver.
It’s important to determine a strategy which will take advantage of the new features that you will gain by migrating to Episerver, as they are distinctly different from what is available in Ektron today. Pulling together a blueprint for your migration, whether you will be doing it immediately or a year in the future, is essential for ensuring that your site is able to take advantage of the capabilities that the Episerver platform provides.
Should I Be Considering Other Platforms?
While it is always important to have platform-agnostic discussions about how your website can meet your business goals, the reality is that due to your ability to leverage your existing investment in Ektron, the cost of migrating to another platform would most likely end up being greater than the cost of migrating to Episerver. However, if you feel that you are not making the most of your investment in Ektron and would like to consider a platform like WordPress, we are happy to work with you to help you evaluate the options and determine the best way to achieve success in your online strategy.
A Bright Future
As news about the merged Episerver/Ektron platform continues to be released and the picture of what it will look like in the future comes into focus, we remain excited about the possibilities to come and the capabilities that will be made available to website owners and web developers. We think that the road ahead for Ektron clients who are considering migrating to Episerver is paved with opportunities to broaden your digital strategy and reach new levels of success in the online space. However, we understand that this is a time of uncertainty and that questions about what to expect are on everyone’s mind, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us for more information.
Do you want to know more about your options for migrating to Episerver, how your current license will affect your costs, or how to determine the best short and long term strategy for your website? Please contact us to speak with a Solutions Engineer, and we can work with you to make sure you are ready for whatever the future may hold.
