Contentful implementation

Contentful is a leading platform  headless Content Infrastructure, delivered as pure SaaS (Software as a Service). It allows you to manage content in a single, central location and distribute it to any digital channels (websites, mobile apps, IoT, social media) completely independently of the presentation layer.

SYZYGY offers comprehensive implementation services, helping companies leverage Contentful’s flexibility and scalability to build modern, multi-channel experiences. As experts in composable architecture and front-end technologies, we create high-performing, future-proof ecosystems that are perfectly tailored to the client’s business strategy.

In our approach to projects, we prioritise transparency and direct collaboration. This means that right from the very first discussions about your project, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the team members who will be directly involved in its implementation. We avoid the practice of ‘putting staff on display’ – the people you speak to are the very same ones who will be working on your project. This means that from the very start, you know who you are working with, and we can better understand your needs and expectations.

We assign each client a dedicated team of specialists who focus exclusively on their project. This approach guarantees not only a better understanding and commitment, but also significantly better results than in a model where staff work on several projects simultaneously. By agreeing a fixed rate in advance, we ensure cost transparency – we eliminate hidden charges and underestimation of the scope of work, which are often a problem in fixed-price models.

Our approach to team building ensures the equal involvement of all team members at every stage of the project. This ensures that every individual, regardless of their role and specialism, understands and identifies with your challenges and needs. Such collaboration fosters better communication and a more effective understanding of your expectations, which directly contributes to the project’s success.

Starting a partnership with us is more than just signing a contract. We ensure that the entire process is perfectly tailored to your company’s needs. We guide you step by step through the stages of the project so that the Enterprise CMS we implement not only meets your expectations but also helps you achieve your business goals.

The Discovery Phase is a crucial stage that allows us to understand your company’s specific needs in the context of implementing an Enterprise CMS, such as Contentful and Magnolia. During this stage, we not only identify key business requirements, but also explore how best to leverage the capabilities of these advanced CMS systems to support your objectives.

Many clients consider it too risky to sign an implementation contract with a company that only wants to confirm the budget after the Discovery phase. We fully understand this, which is why our services also include the Discovery phase itself, following which you will receive ready-to-use material for preparing a request for proposal (RFP). Thanks to a precisely defined backlog and all the other artefacts from the Discovery phase, your company will be able to launch a tender, invite other companies to bid, and compare ‘apples with apples’ in the proposals.

Design and planning

Based on the information gathered, we draw up a detailed implementation plan. This plan covers the selection of the Enterprise CMS we will use, the system architecture design, the integration strategy with other systems, and the implementation schedule. Together with you, we review the preliminary interface designs created by our UX/UI team based on research and data, to ensure that they are not only functional but also effectively guide users, for example, through the purchasing process.

We begin the process of installing and customising the selected Enterprise CMS to meet your company’s specific needs. At this stage, our developers design and implement bespoke modules and features that extend the system’s capabilities, tailoring them precisely to your organisation’s requirements. We do not focus solely on technical details — it is equally important to us that the platform’s design is consistent with your brand image. Further development of the system also involves implementing solutions, testing them during your company’s day-to-day operations, and continuously improving them based on the feedback we receive from you.

We integrate the CMS with your existing business applications, such as ERP and CRM systems or analytics tools. This allows data to flow easily between systems (ideally without your team having to intervene), thereby boosting operational efficiency. Our experience in integrating complex systems enables us to quickly resolve any issues and ensure that all tools work seamlessly together.

If you are switching from another CMS to a new one, we handle data migration. Our team carefully plans and executes the migration process to ensure that all relevant information, including user data, content and configuration settings, is transferred securely. We provide comprehensive support and monitoring throughout the process, minimising downtime and the risk of data loss.

Before the official launch of the system, we carry out a series of tests designed to identify and rectify any errors. We also organise training sessions for your staff so that they can use the new tool effectively. This approach allows for a faster market launch, as staff are better prepared to use the new CMS right from the start.

The next stage is the ‘go-live’, i.e. the launch of the CMS into production. At this stage, we can either conclude our collaboration or proceed to step three.

Once your CMS has been implemented, our work doesn’t stop there. Depending on your needs, we offer further optimisation and development, which we carry out within the scope of an additional budget.

We provide ongoing technical support, allowing your team to focus on day-to-day business operations without having to worry about the technical aspects of the system. We regularly update the CMS and introduce new features based on ongoing performance analysis and feedback received. These measures ensure that the system effectively supports the growth and achievement of your company’s business objectives.

Implementing a professional headless system such as Contentful is an investment in the scalability and speed of your business. This process involves not only programming, but above all the strategic design of a content model (Content Modelling) and integration with a modern front-end. Such a project typically requires at least several months of work by a team of experts, which is why we work with clients whose implementation budget starts at 500 000 PLN (120 000 EUR)

In the case of Contentful, as a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, the structure of fixed costs differs from that of traditional systems:

• Subscription: The cost of the platform depends on the plan selected (Free, Basic or Enterprise). For large organisations (Enterprise plan), prices are set individually by the provider and usually start at several thousand euros per year.
• No infrastructure costs: By choosing Contentful, you eliminate the costs associated with maintaining your own servers, databases and – most importantly – paid system updates. These responsibilities are taken on by the service provider.
• Maintenance and development costs: These focus primarily on expanding the front-end and optimising the user experience, rather than on maintaining the CMS ‘engine’ itself.

• I’ve been using my current system for several years now. Do you offer migration services from legacy systems to Contentful CMS?

Yes, we specialise in migration processes from traditional ‘monolithic’ systems to modern headless architecture. In the case of Contentful, however, we’re not talking about a simple version update (e.g. from 1.0 to 2.0), but a transformation of the way content is managed. During the Discovery phase, we analyse your current data model and determine the best way to migrate your assets to Contentful. If your current solution has significant technical debt, switching to Contentful will free you from costly and complex server updates, as Contentful, being a SaaS system, updates automatically.

• Which companies use Contentful CMS and why do they opt for a headless approach?

Contentful is used by global leaders such as IKEA, Netflix, BMW and Audible. These companies choose this solution because it allows them to publish content across multiple channels simultaneously (website, mobile app, smartwatches, in-store displays) from a single platform. If you’d like to see how Contentful performs in your industry, it’s worth taking a look at the ‘Case Studies’ section on the manufacturer’s website. As an enterprise-grade system, Contentful is valued for the scalability and security required by the biggest players in the market.

• How long will it take, roughly, to implement the Contentful CMS?

Implementing Contentful usually takes several months, but thanks to its headless architecture, the process can be more agile than with traditional systems. A key stage is the Discovery phase (creating the 1.0 backlog), which takes a few weeks. In Contentful, it is extremely important to design the content model correctly – this is the foundation that determines how easy it will be for your editors to work later on. Only after defining the data structure and integrating with the frontend are we able to precisely determine the work schedule.

• How do I maintain the Contentful platform? What skills do I need?

One of the biggest advantages of Contentful as a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining server infrastructure, databases or installing security patches for the CMS itself – the provider takes care of all that. Your expertise (or the support of a partner such as SYZYGY Warsaw) should focus on developing the front-end and integrations with external services (e.g. e-commerce, CRM). This means that, instead of spending your budget on ‘maintaining the status quo’, you can invest in new features that genuinely grow your business and respond to changing trends in design and UX.

Leave us your email address and we’ll arrange a meeting. We understand that implementing a new CMS can be complex and challenging. Our aim is to understand your needs and tailor a solution that will streamline your operations and boost efficiency. We’ll get in touch within 24 hours to discuss the details and plan the next steps.