The Sitecore XM Cloud Blueprint Summary

Everything You Need to Know About Sitecore XM Cloud

The Sitecore XM Cloud Blueprint

Welcome to The Sitecore XM Cloud Blueprint, your comprehensive guide to understanding, evaluating, and planning your move to Sitecore XM Cloud. Over five emails, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about Sitecore XM Cloud—from benefits to pricing and migration strategies—to help you make the best decision for your organization.

This page consolidates all the content from the series so you can easily reference it in one place. Feel free to use the table of contents to easily navigate to each section.

Table of Contents

Day 2: How Does XM Cloud Compare? Let’s Break It Down

If you’re evaluating Sitecore XM Cloud, you’re probably asking: How does it compare to other Sitecore platforms? Knowing the differences is key to deciding if XM Cloud is the right choice for your organization—and we’re here to help.

Where Does XM Cloud Fit In?

Sitecore offers three major platforms, each serving unique needs:

  • Sitecore XM Cloud: A cloud-native, headless CMS with near-limitless scalability, automatic updates, and blazing-fast performance. Ideal for organizations prioritizing agility and modern digital strategies.
  • Sitecore XP: A robust all-in-one platform with advanced marketing and analytics. Powerful but resource-intensive, with costly upgrades and limited scalability.
  • Sitecore XM: A streamlined CMS focused on content management, offering fewer marketing tools but easier maintenance and lower costs.

PS—Are you reading this from your phone? While this simplified table works great for quick comparisons, it’s best viewed on a desktop. For the full, in-depth feature breakdown, check out our blog: Sitecore XM Cloud vs. XP vs. XM →

Feature XM Cloud XP XM
Headless CMS ✔️ Optional Optional
Multi-Language & Multi-Site ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Visual In-Page Editing ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Drag & Drop Page Building ✔️ SXA SXA
No-Code Layout Templates ✔️ SXA SXA
GraphQL Support ✔️ Headless Services Headless Services
Development Framework JavaScript MVC MVC
Hosting Environment Vercel or Netlify Azure, AWS, etc. Azure, AWS, etc.
Composable Architecture ✔️ ❌ ❌
JAMStack Compatibility ✔️ Optional Optional
Automatic Upgrades ✔️ ❌ ❌
Infrastructure Maintenance Included Not Included Not Included

Why XM Cloud Stands Out

Here’s why XM Cloud is the future of Sitecore:

  • 🚀 No More Upgrades: Unlike XP and XM, XM Cloud updates automatically, bringing new features almost weekly—no costly upgrade cycles required.
  • ⚙️ Simplified DevOps: XM Cloud’s "Deploy" tool enables one-click blue/green releases with zero downtime, while XP and XM require custom scripts or manual effort.
  • 📈 Performance: XM Cloud uses serverless platforms like Vercel and Netlify, delivering content via a global CDN for near-unlimited performance. XP and XM rely on traditional servers with scaling and compute limitations.
  • 🔍 Enhanced Page Building: With XM Cloud’s "Page Builder," marketers can easily create pages with drag-and-drop functionality, a significant upgrade from XP and XM’s Experience Editor.
  • 🧩 Headless-Only: XM Cloud is natively headless, offering a streamlined, modern experience. XP and XM are hybrid platforms, supporting both headless and .NET MVC.
  • 🎯 Tactical Personalization: XM Cloud personalizes at the edge for lightning-fast responses, covering 90% of most organizations’ needs without the complexity of xDB or xConnect.
  • ⚡ Developer-Friendly: XM Cloud simplifies development with shared cloud environments and fast-starting Next.js applications, eliminating the frustrations common with XP and XM.

Comparing Your Sitecore Options

XM Cloud offers unmatched flexibility, performance, and modern tools—but every organization is different. This blog will help you understand if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Want to dive deeper now? Check out our blog comparing Sitecore XM, XP, and XM Cloud →.

Day 3: How XM Cloud Transforms Your Workday

Imagine a platform that doesn’t just improve your website—it revolutionizes how your entire organization works. That’s the promise of Sitecore XM Cloud: faster workflows, reduced costs, and more time to focus on what really matters.

Let’s take a closer look at how XM Cloud benefits your organization, marketing team, and IT department:

Benefits for Your Organization

🌟 Future-Proof Technology: XM Cloud’s headless architecture adapts to emerging trends, keeping your organization ahead of the curve.

💰 Lower Costs: A SaaS delivery model reduces expenses tied to upgrades, infrastructure, and maintenance.

🚀 Accelerated Time-to-Market: Seamless integration across development, authoring, and publishing means faster delivery of new initiatives.

📈 Scalability and Performance: Built on serverless platforms like Netlify and Vercel, XM Cloud easily handles increased traffic without performance issues.

💡 Competitive Edge: Continuous updates ensure your platform evolves, helping you respond to market demands faster than your competition.

🔗 Easier Integrations: Modern APIs reduce integration complexity and costs, while common skillsets make hiring easier.

Benefits for Marketing Teams

📋 Visual Authoring Made Easy: The drag-and-drop Page Builder app simplifies content creation, ensuring brand consistency without needing IT support.

⏩ Faster Campaign Launches: Create and deploy campaigns in record time using marketer-friendly templates and tools like the Sitecore Components app.

💡 More Innovation, Less Frustration: Empowered with tools to build and customize components, marketers can experiment, personalize, and engage audiences faster than ever.

🌍 Consistent Content Across Channels: XM Cloud’s headless architecture ensures uniform brand experiences, no matter where your content appears.

Benefits for IT Teams

🛠️ Simplified Maintenance: With XM Cloud’s SaaS model, automatic updates eliminate the need for manual patches, server management, or compliance checks.

🚀 One-Button Deployments: XM Cloud’s Deploy app streamlines releases, minimizing errors and ensuring no downtime.

⚡ Faster Development: Real-time updates and reduced reliance on .NET MVC enable quicker iterations and less overhead for developers.

🔗 Easy Integrations: API-first architecture seamlessly connects with modern frameworks, microservices, and even AI.

💡 Focus on Strategy, Not Maintenance: Freed from routine infrastructure tasks, IT teams can focus on innovation and high-value projects.

Day 4: Understanding the Cost of Sitecore XM Cloud

Let’s talk about the big question: How much does Sitecore XM Cloud cost?

The good news? XM Cloud is competitively priced. We’ve worked with organizations of all sizes—those already on Sitecore making the move and others evaluating the market for a net-new CMS. The common thread? XM Cloud has a fit for everyone, and we’ve helped them find the right price and the right approach.

Key Factors That Influence XM Cloud Pricing

1️⃣ Number of Projects and Environments

  • A standard setup includes one project with three environments: development, testing, and production.
  • Need more? Additional projects or environments may be required based on your organization’s complexity.

2️⃣ Website Traffic Volume

  • XM Cloud scales with your site’s unique visitor sessions. Higher traffic = higher costs, but also higher ROI when handled efficiently.

3️⃣ Front-End Hosting and Delivery Platform (Optional)

  • As a headless CMS, XM Cloud requires a delivery platform like Vercel or Netlify.
  • Sitecore can bundle these into your license, simplifying your setup while affecting pricing.

4️⃣ Additional Considerations

  • Concurrent CMS Users: More users may increase costs.
  • Edge Bandwidth and Storage: Global content delivery through Experience Edge impacts bandwidth and storage needs.
  • Integrated Sitecore Products: Adding products like CDP, Personalize, or Search will adjust pricing but amplify your capabilities.

Why XM Cloud’s Pricing Stands Out

💡 Flexible for All Sizes: XM Cloud accommodates a range of budgets, from small non-profits to large enterprises.

💰 Built-In Value: SaaS eliminates the need for costly upgrades and server maintenance, delivering both immediate and long-term savings.

🤝 The Right Partner Matters: Choosing the right partner, like Fishtank, ensures you get the best price and an implementation that’s as smooth as it is strategic.

We don’t just implement XM Cloud—we make it work for your unique business needs, all while delivering some seriously exceptional results.

Why the Right Partner Matters

Choosing the right partner is critical when transitioning to XM Cloud. Here’s why organizations trust Fishtank:

🤝 Strategic Pricing Expertise: We work with you to find the best fit for your organization’s needs and budget, offering transparent and fair pricing every step of the way.

⚙️ Tailored Implementation: Our approach ensures the migration process aligns with your goals, delivering a seamless and efficient transition to XM Cloud.

🏆 Certified XM Cloud Experts: As a Sitecore-certified partner with multiple successful XM Cloud projects under our belt, we bring unmatched expertise to every implementation.

💡 Proven Success: With years of experience and award-winning results, we’ve helped organizations of all sizes realize the full potential of XM Cloud.

When you combine Sitecore XM Cloud with Fishtank’s deep expertise, you’re choosing a partner committed to your success—because your success is our mission.

Sitecore XM Cloud isn’t just competitively priced—it’s a platform that scales with your business and delivers unmatched value.

Want more details now?

Read Our Blog: Understanding Sitecore XM Cloud Pricing →

Email 5 - Time To Make The Move?

By now, you’ve seen how Sitecore XM Cloud can transform your organization. But making the move to XM Cloud requires careful planning. Whether you’re enhancing your current website or starting fresh, understanding the considerations for migration is crucial.

Choosing Your Path to XM Cloud

  • 🚀 Upgrade Only — You want to migrate your existing site as is to Sitecore XM Cloud: For organizations happy with their current website, this path transitions your site to XM Cloud, gaining features, performance, and operational benefits without redesigning.
  • ⚡ Upgrade Plus — You want to make some strategic enhancement or redesign aspects to create additional value: Ideal for sites needing targeted improvements, this option focuses on enhancing key features while migrating, ensuring your website evolves as part of the move.
  • 🌟 Re-invent — You have a new business need, a new design, or a new website to launch: For outdated sites, this is your opportunity for a complete rebuild. Align your website with business goals, unlock XM Cloud’s full potential, and embrace a modern digital strategy.

Safeguard Your Move to XM Cloud

1️⃣ You Can Start from Any Version

  • If you’re already on Sitecore, you’re ahead of the game—no matter which version you’re on, you can make the move to XM Cloud.
  • If your site is built on Sitecore 10.3+ using Headless Services and SXA, you’re in the best position to migrate with minimal complexity. Already using Headless Services? You’ve significantly reduced the effort required to make the move.

2️⃣ No Existing SItecore Modules

  • Custom modules from previous Sitecore versions won’t be compatible with XM Cloud. You’ll need to assess which features can be replaced with built-in XM Cloud functionality.

3️⃣ Private Network Integrations

  • If your website integrates with systems behind your firewall, ensure you have a secure way to expose them to XM Cloud.

4️⃣ Content Delivery Customizations

  • Avoid customizations to content delivery pipelines, especially content resolvers and the layout service, to ensure compatibility.

5️⃣ Public-Facing Logins

  • Sites with public login functionality will need their architecture updated for XM Cloud’s headless framework.

6️⃣ Sitecore Forms Compatibility

  • Forms from Sitecore XP aren’t directly compatible with XM Cloud Forms, so these tools will need to be rebuilt for the new platform.

7️⃣ Content Migration

  • Existing content can be migrated using scripts (we’ve developed this process), but it’s highly recommended to involve experts. Content references, mappings, and structure updates need to be carefully handled to ensure a smooth transition.

What's Next

Let’s create a roadmap that ensures your move to XM Cloud is seamless, efficient, and impactful.

Book a Free Consultation →