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So, you've been on Sitecore Experience Platform (XP) for a while now. Maybe "a while" means a few years, or perhaps you're one of the seasoned veterans who've been leveraging its power for over a decade. You're in good company. Determining the perfect moment to move on from a platform as robust as Sitecore XP is a complex decision, one that depends on a whole host of factors aligning just right.
At Fishtank, we've seen many organizations in this exact spot. There are some common, and perfectly valid, reasons why you might still be on Sitecore XP:
We lovingly refer to long-term, happy (or unhappy) XP customer as "Forever XP" customers. A slightly tongue in cheek nod to their commitment and the platform's enduring nature. We even made "Forever XP" chocolate bars, playing off our Sitecore Snack newsletter.
If “Forever XP” is hitting home, this guide is for you. Whether you're planning to stay on XP for the foreseeable future or strategically preparing for an eventual migration to something like Sitecore XM Cloud, our goal here is to:
So let's go.
In our experience, Sitecore XP customers generally fall into one of four categories:
The majority of Sitecore customers are still on Sitecore XP or its content management-focused sibling, Sitecore XM. Many organizations are waiting for that "right strategic moment" to transition to XMC. If you're feeling like you're on XP longer than you initially thought, do not fear, there's still a considerable opportunity to optimize and innovate. (And if you are building the business case for an XM Cloud migration, our on-demand webinar on Sitecore XM Cloud benefits is a great resource.)
While XP is powerful, sticking with it long-term isn't without its hurdles.
So these are challenges that might sound familiar, but there may be tangible things we can do to get the most of out XP.
It’s difficult to feel like I wrote a decent article without making at least one chart or diagram, so here it is:
Items in gold can be implemented regardless of Sitecore version. Items in white are on a path of Sitecore modernization & headless development that contribute greatly to XM Cloud readiness, but not beneficial if you’re staying on traditional MVC-based architecture.
And a quick reminder - please connect with us, and we can create roadmap to help your organization navigate all of this.
This is huge. I'd estimate that approximately 90% of Sitecore environments are not optimally configured for performance and cost efficiency. This isn't a knock on anyone; but what you do to optimize environments in Azure has evolved, and your Sitecore experts are probably not infrastructure experts (and vice versa). This means there's usually massive opportunity for improvement, even in environments that seem "fine."
90% of Sitecore environments are not optimally configured for performance and cost efficiency
There are two key areas for optimizations in Azure:
The potential cost savings here are substantial. We typically see organizations saving $40,000 to $100,000 annually per environment as part of an engagement with us. If you're committed to multiple years on XP, these savings can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. These aren't just aspirational figures; they're real, achievable reductions.
What can you do with these savings?
If you're planning to stay on Sitecore XP for several more years, infrastructure optimization should be your number one priority. The financial impact alone makes it a high-ROI initiative.
Want to dive deeper? We've got an on-demand webinar that walks you through it: Slash Your Sitecore XP Azure Bill.
If you're running a Sitecore XP version below 10.3, upgrading to the latest version (Sitecore 10.4 as of this writing, with 10.5 on the horizon) is a critical recommendation.
This upgrade unlocks access to two very impactful modules:
Crucially, as of version 10.3, SXA includes proper support for headless services. This combination is potent. It allows you to:
Once you're on a compatible Sitecore version, installing SXA offers two major benefits:
Perhaps most importantly for the long view, sites built using SXA align architecturally with Sitecore XM Cloud. This positions you for a much smoother migration down the line.
Important Note: SXA is for building new sites or new sections. Installing the module doesn't magically convert your existing legacy pages. Those would need to be rebuilt or migrated to take advantage of SXA.
Sitecore Headless Services is your gateway to headless architecture. It transforms your CMS into a content repository that any application can query and consume data from.
This means your development team can use cutting-edge web platforms like Next.js and React to build your websites. You're moving from potentially legacy tech to the forefront of modern web development.
We’ve seen 30% increase in productivity when using headless services
The benefits are significant:
If you've gone headless, Experience Edge is the next logical step for high-performance content delivery. It can only be used on headless sites - that is sites using Sitecore Headless Services.
What does it do? Experience Edge provides a globally scaled content layer that your headless websites access to retrieve content. It essentially replaces the traditional content delivery (CD) servers in your Sitecore architecture for your headless sites.
Traditional CD vs. Experience Edge:
Benefits:
An important licensing note - Experience Edge is a separate product that must be purchased from Sitecore when used outside of XM Cloud. Ask your Sitecore rep.
Once you're leveraging Sitecore Headless Services, consider adding Vercel to your technology stack. Vercel is a platform for front-end frameworks and static sites, built to integrate with your newly headless Sitecore instance. At Fishtank, 95% of our customers ultimately end up using their enterprise tier of Vercel for one reason or another. We use also use Vercel ourselves.
So what are the tangible benefits?
Vercel helps organizations move faster and be more agile. It’s a powerful addition to a modern headless Sitecore setup.
Modernizing your deployment process is a key strategy to help your organization move faster and achieve more. Let's look at two key technologies:
Modernizing deployments streamlines workflows, reduces manual intervention, and creates more reliable processes.
Cloudflare is an incredibly strategic piece of technology that works exceptionally well as a front-facing layer for traditional Sitecore sites (and modern ones too!). While widely known for security, its performance and speed benefits are equally compelling.
We've seen incredible gains in performance and cost savings by leveraging Cloudflare
We've seen incredible gains in performance and cost savings by leveraging Cloudflare with Sitecore (check out our Azure cost savings webinar for documented proof).
Cloudflare offers:
By sitting between your users and your web server, Cloudflare adds a powerful value layer without requiring changes to your core infrastructure. It can dramatically transform slow or struggling sites into high-performing, reliable experiences. If you feel like your site is struggling with performance, Cloudflare can be a lifesaver.
Many XP customers want to maximize Sitecore's marketing features, and there are certainly legitimate use cases. However, you need to be realistic about the scale, complexity, and team expertise required.
The Challenge - Ideally, your entire marketing team (those responsible for personas, KPIs, campaigns, automation flows, emails) would be expert Sitecore users. The common reality? Often, it's only the core web team that uses Sitecore daily. Marketing teams might not be familiar with Sitecore's tools because their day-to-day work doesn't live there.
Recommended Approach: High-Value, Low-Investment Focus on initiatives that provide maximum impact with minimal complexity.
Alternative Personalization Strategies to Consider:
The key is to evaluate your goals. How critical is deep personalization to your success right now? Always consider alternatives before diving deep into complex Sitecore XP marketing feature implementations. We've written extensively about XP personalization vs. XM Cloud vs. Personalize if you want to explore further.
Fishtank is heavily involved in the AI space, and we know adding generative AI features to your website is an effective way to keep it relevant and competitive.
AI feature implementation is not limited by older Sitecore technology
The good news? AI feature implementation is not necessarily limited by older Sitecore technology stacks. You can add modern AI capabilities regardless of your current Sitecore XP version or architecture. Ensure you’re focusing client-side experiences (JavaScript-based) for your websites rather than server-side (Microsoft .NET based).
Fishtank's AI platform capabilities include:
AI provides significant value, especially for websites where content is impactful to the user experience. Even if your site is on an older Sitecore stack, AI can serve as a bridge technology, creating very modern user experiences without a full platform migration.
If you're truly not using (and don't plan to use) the advanced multi-visit marketing features of Sitecore XP (like xDB, marketing automation across multiple in-session, etc.), then scaling down to Sitecore XM (Experience Manager) might be a smart move.
Sitecore XM vs. XP:
Benefits of Moving from XP to XM:
Strategic Alignment with Future Platforms:
This isn't a required step for everyone, but if you're looking for cost savings and aren't using XP's full marketing suite, downgrading to XM while perhaps investing separately in Sitecore Personalize could be a cost-effective path to XM Cloud readiness.
If you’re not planning to adopt headless, there are still a few key things you can do to better position your organization for the long-term in Sitecore XP or Sitecore XM.
Combining these approaches can truly transform a frog into prince and give your website a huge boost without a huge reinvention.
While each change discussed provides standalone value, implementing several of them together positions you brilliantly for an eventual Sitecore XM Cloud migration. You're essentially building for a headless world while still on Sitecore XP, creating site structures that closely resemble XM Cloud architecture. This makes the future migration significantly easier.
Core Requirements for XM Cloud Readiness (on XP / XM):
Additional Enhancements for Even Better Alignment:
If you implement all of these, you've essentially created an "XM Cloud adjacent build" while still on your existing XP license. When you are ready to migrate, the path will be much smoother.
Optional Infrastructure Simplification - **Consider the XM downgrade if you're not using XP's full marketing suite. This prevents building out features that won't directly transfer and keeps your infrastructure lean.
The outcome? You'll be exceptionally well-positioned for a smooth, lower-risk XM Cloud migration when the time is right.
At Fishtank, our philosophy is always to do what's right for the business. Technology is a tool to achieve business goals, not the other way around.
When willingness and opportunity align, investing in Sitecore XM Cloud often makes immense strategic sense. But until that moment arrives, your focus should be on maximizing your current Sitecore XP investment. And trust me, Sitecore XP is still an solid, robust digital experience platform with untapped potential.
The tactical improvements we've discussed—platform upgrades, performance enhancements, cost savings through infrastructure optimization, supplementing with modern tech like Headless, Vercel, Cloudflare, and AI—can dramatically enhance your platform's value. They can make your Sitecore XP setup feel future-proof and modern, even while you remain on its more traditional architecture.
We're genuinely passionate about Sitecore and helping our clients succeed, whether that's on XP, XM, or the latest XM Cloud. We've even sent out those "Forever XP" chocolate bars as a fun way to connect with clients navigating these decisions.
If you'd like to explore how these strategies can apply to your specific Sitecore XP environment please reach out. We're happy to chat, no obligation, and help you work through your options to extract maximum value while planning for what's next. Promise. 🙂
