Implementation of Magnolia CMS

Magnolia CMS is more than a classic content management system – it is a flexible platform that combines intuitive operation, headless architecture and Digital Experience Platform (DXP) capabilities. It facilitates the work of marketing teams, reduces content creation time and provides full control over publications.

If your organisation needs a scalable solution that integrates with your existing IT ecosystem and streamlines your content processes, Magnolia could be a hit. And we’ll make sure its implementation runs smoothly and delivers real results for your business.

In large organisations, content is dispersed across multiple departments, systems and channels. Magnolia centralises content management, allowing content to be easily edited and published in different places simultaneously.

• Layout pages from pre-designed components – quickly create pages, landing pages and content without involving developers.
• Combination of classic and headless CMS – content can be edited visually and simultaneously distributed via API to various channels, including mobile apps, e-commerce etc.
• Support for multiple sites, brands and translations – from a single dashboard, content can be managed for different markets and branches of the company, ensuring consistency of communication.

Magnolia provides flexibility and control over content across the organisation, streamlining publishing processes and reducing the time to implement changes.

An organisation with a complex IT infrastructure requires flexibility and the ability to integrate with existing systems.

• Open architecture and ready-to-use connectors – Magnolia integrates ‘out of the box’ with CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), e-commerce (SAP Commerce, Adobe Commerce), PIM/DAM and marketing automation tools. It also enables easier integration with other systems with the help of programming work.
• No dependence on a single vendor (vendor lock-in) – open to integration with multiple systems and ecosystems from other software vendors.
• Deployment flexibility – Magnolia works in both on-premise and cloud models, allowing the solution to be customised to meet individual business needs.

This allows organisations to grow their IT ecosystem without the risk of technology lock-in, while adapting the CMS to meet changing business requirements.

Audiences expect content tailored to their preferences and companies need tools to effectively measure the effectiveness of communications.

• User segmentation and dynamic personalisation – content can be tailored to target groups in real time – easy integration via cookies into CRM systems.
• Support for A/B/n testing – ability to compare different content variants and automatically select the best.
• Integration with analytics and AI – use data to optimise content strategy and make automatic content recommendations.

Magnolia helps organisations to engage audiences more effectively, increase conversions and deliver valuable user experiences.

CMS is an investment for years – Magnolia provides long-term stability and the ability to grow with the growing needs of the organisation.

• More than 19 years in the market – continually improving the technology and adapting the system to meet the requirements of large organisations.
• Global network of partners – support from experts who help maintain and develop the CMS in line with the latest trends.
• Continuous updates and development roadmap – ensuring system stability and introducing new features in line with customer expectations.

As a result, organisations can count on long-term support, system stability and the confidence that the implemented CMS will grow with their business.

The Discovery phase is a key stage that allows us to understand the specific needs of your business in the context of implementing Magnolia CMS. During this phase, we not only identify your key business requirements, but also look at how best to use the capabilities of this CMS to support your objectives.

The specific nature of systems such as Magnolia requires a thorough understanding of both your expectations and those of your customers. Through initial analysis and assessment, we can avoid the risk of implementing a system that does not meet the actual requirements of your business.

Check “Several examples of Magnolia CMS implementations: From e-commerce to global brands”

We can quickly create a Proof of Concept and test key features against the specific needs of your business, allowing for early adaptation and optimisation of the system before full implementation.

Accurate planning and definition of requirements at an early stage increases efficiency and reduces implementation time, which directly translates into lower costs for the entire project.

At the end of the Discovery phase, we deliver a complete report that provides a solid basis for future project decisions. This strategic approach enables long-term planning and adaptation as your business grows.

Based on the results of the Discovery phase, we are able to accurately estimate future implementation costs. This gives you financial clarity and allows you to better manage your project budget.

The Discovery phase is not only a time to understand the technical requirements, but also an opportunity to build the foundations for a sustainable and effective collaboration, which is crucial when implementing a complex CMS.

Many clients find it too risky to sign an implementation contract with a company that only wants to confirm the budget after Discovery. We completely understand this, which is why we also have the Discovery phase itself in our services, after which you will receive ready material to prepare a request for proposal (RFP). With a precisely defined backlog and all the other artefacts from Discovery, your company will be able to put out a tender, invite other companies and compare ‘apples to apples’ in bids.

Based on the information gathered, we develop a detailed implementation plan. This plan includes the design of the system architecture, the strategy for integration with other systems and the implementation schedule. Together with you, we review the initial interface designs that our UX/UI team creates based on research and data to ensure that they are not only functional, but also effectively guide users, for example in the purchasing process.

We integrate the CMS with existing business applications, such as CRM systems or analytical tools. This allows data to flow easily (and, ideally, without the involvement of your team) between systems, increasing operational efficiency. Our experience in integrating complex systems allows us to quickly resolve any issues that may arise and ensure that all tools work harmoniously.

If your business is migrating to Magnolia from another CMS, we handle the 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 securely transferred. We provide comprehensive support and monitoring throughout the process, minimising downtime and risk of data loss.

Before the official launch of the system, we conduct a series of tests to detect and fix any bugs. This approach allows the product to be rolled out more quickly, as staff are better prepared to use Magnolia CMS from the outset.

What follows is the so-called go live, or production launch of the CMS. At this stage, we can end our cooperation or proceed to step three.

Even if you decide not to have your system further maintained by our team, we guarantee that the implemented CMS will work according to the parameters we agreed on beforehand – both in terms of performance, stability and integration with other systems. We ensure that the infrastructure is fully ready for your team to maintain on its own, and that all processes are well documented and tested.

Once your CMS has been implemented, we do not have to stop working on it. Depending on your needs, we offer further optimisation and development, which we carry out within an additional budget.

We provide ongoing technical support, so your team can focus on day-to-day business operations without worrying about the technical aspects of the system. We regularly update the CMS and introduce new features based on ongoing performance analysis and feedback received. Such measures ensure that the system effectively supports the development and achievement of your company’s business goals.

The implementation of the CMS we mention above involves a minimum of several months’ work by a team of several people. This is why we work with clients who are prepared to invest a minimum of PLN 500 thousand in a new solution.

On top of this, there are the costs of licences – in the case of an on-premise implementation, the licence price for an Enterprise class system currently starts at around PLN 200,000 per year.

When it comes to maintenance costs, it all depends on the Enterprise Class solution you choose and the level of support you need for your business.

If you’re wondering what affects the cost of a CMS implementation, check out this article, which discusses the key cost factors and will help you better estimate the budget for your project:

We are an official partner of Magnolia and, over the years of working with large multinational corporations (e.g. Kyocera, Mazda Motor Europe), we have gained experience in implementing and maintaining complex digital marketing transformation solutions. Our projects include complex CMS implementations that require not only technical expertise, but also a deep understanding of diverse markets and industry specifics. As a result, we are able to advise organisations on the solutions that are best suited to their growth and enable them to achieve their strategic goals with optimum budget utilisation.

• I have had my system for several years, do you migrate and upgrade the old solution to the current version (e.g. from CMS version 1.0 to 2.0)?

In order to be able to answer this question with certainty, we should go through the Discovery phase together and, during this phase, decide whether the best solution is to update the current version of the system or to implement a completely new one.

If your CMS has not been properly looked after, no one has taken care of it and it has a large technology debt, it may be more cost-effective and safer for your business to implement a new CMS than to update the old one.

• Which companies are using Magnolia CMS?

Of course, many companies and organisations are using enterprise CMS solutions such as Magnolia. If you are looking for examples and want to see in which industries the solution works best, then look on the website of the solution manufacturers, for example Magnolia presents its customers and how they have benefited from implementing the solution into their business.

• Approximately how long will such an implementation take?

At least a few months – that’s the only answer we can give you before the initial discussion. The CMS we are writing about is a complex system and the backlog 1.0 (Discovery phase) process alone can take several weeks of intensive collaboration with you and your team. During this time, we want to understand and define your goals so that we can deliver them effectively. It’s important to us that at each stage you are assured that our actions are effective and leading to success. Only after this stage are we able to more accurately assess how long the entire implementation will take.

• How will I maintain the platform? What competences do I need?

Implementing a system that ‘just works’ is usually not enough, as there are a myriad of external factors that still need to be paid attention to. Precisely for this reason, updates to the frameworks used, external tools, etc., are essential to maintain an adequate level of security.

We also assume that if you need the solution we offer, it is important to you in a business context, so it should be developed in line with the growth of your business and user requirements (new design trends, changing audience habits and expectations, etc.). We also offer maintenance and development services for your CMS.

Leave us your email and we will arrange a call. As an official Magnolia partner, we will help you plan your implementation to best suit your organisation’s needs. Whether it’s content migration, integrations or process optimisation, together we will find the best solution. We will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details and plan your next steps.