Acquia Articles / Blogs / Perficient https://blogs.perficient.com/category/partners/acquia/ Expert Digital Insights Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:31:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://blogs.perficient.com/files/favicon-194x194-1-150x150.png Acquia Articles / Blogs / Perficient https://blogs.perficient.com/category/partners/acquia/ 32 32 30508587 What To Expect When Migrating Your Site To A New Platform https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/26/what-to-expect-when-migrating-your-site-to-a-new-platform/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/26/what-to-expect-when-migrating-your-site-to-a-new-platform/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:59:30 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=377633

This series of blog posts will cover the main areas of activity for your marketing, product, and UX teams before, during, and after site migration to a new digital experience platform.

Migrating your site to a different platform can be a daunting prospect, especially if the site is sizable in both page count and number of assets, such as documents and images. However, this can also be a perfect opportunity to freshen up your content, perform an asset library audit, and reorganize the site overall.

Once you’ve hired a consultant, like Perficient, to help you implement your new CMS and migrate your content over, you will work with them to identify several action items your team will need to tackle to ensure successful site migration.

Whether you are migrating from/to some of the major enterprise digital experiences platforms like Sitecore, Optimizely, Adobe, or from the likes of Sharepoint or WordPress, there are some common steps to take to make sure content migration runs smoothly and is executed in a manner that adds value to your overall web experience.

Part I – “Keep, Kill, Merge”

One of the first questions you will need to answer is“What do we need to carry over?” The instinctive answer would be everything. The rational answer is that we will migrate the site over as is and then worry about optimization later. There are multiple reasons why this is usually not the best option.

  • This is a perfect opportunity to do a high-level overview of the entire sitemap and dive a bit deeper into the content. It will help determine if you still need a long-forgotten page about an event that ended years ago or a product that is no longer being offered in a certain market. Perhaps it hasn’t been purged simply because there is always higher-priority work to be done.
  • It is far more rational to do this type of analysis ahead of the migration rather than after. If nothing else, it is simply for efficiency purposes. By trimming down the number of pages, you ensure that the migration process is shorter and more purposeful. You also save time and resources.

Even though this activity might take time, it is essential to use this opportunity in the best possible manner. A consultant like Perficient can help drive the process. They will pull up an initial list of active pages, set up simple audit steps, and ensure that decisions are recorded clearly and organized.

Step I – Site Scan

The first step is to ensure all current site pages are accounted for. As simple as this may seem, it doesn’t always end up being so, especially on large multi-language sites. You might have pages that are not crawlable, are temporarily unpublished, are still in progress, etc.

Depending on your current system capabilities, putting together a comprehensive list can be relatively easy. Getting a CMS export is the safest way to confirm that you have accounted for everything in the system.

Crawling tools, such as Screaming Frog, are frequently used to generate reports that can be exported for further refinement. Cross-referencing these sources will ensure you get the full picture, including anything that might be housed externally.

An Analyst Uses A Computer And Dashboard For Data Business Analysis And Data Management System With Kpi And Metrics Connected To The Database For Technology Finance, Operations, Sales, Marketing

Step II – Deep Dive

Once you’ve ensured that all pages made it to a comprehensive list you can easily filter, edit, and share, the fun part begins.

The next step involves reviewing and analyzing the sitemap and each page. The goal is to determine those that will stay vs candidates for removal. Various different factors can impact this decision from business goals, priorities, page views, conversion rate, SEO considerations, and marketing campaigns to compliance and regulations. Ultimately, it is important to assess each page’s value to the business and make decisions accordingly.

This audit will likely require input from multiple stakeholders, including subject matter experts, product owners, UX specialists, and others. It is essential to involve all interested parties at an early stage. Securing buy-in from key stakeholders at this point is critical for the following phases of the process. This especially applies to review and sign-off prior to going live.

Depending on your time and resources, the keep-kill-merge can either be done in full or limited to keep-kill. The merge option might require additional analysis, as well as follow-up design and content work. Leaving that effort for after the site migration is completed might just be the rational choice.

Step III – Decisions and Path Forward

Once the audit process has been completed, it is important to record findings and decisions simply and easily consumable for teams that will implement those updates. Proper documentation is essential when dealing with large sets of pages and associated content. This will inform the implementation team’s roadmap and timelines.

At this point, it is crucial to establish regular communication between a contact person (such as a product owner or content lead) and the team in charge of content migration from the consultant side. This partnership will ensure that all subsequent activities are carried out respecting the vision and business needs identified at the onset.

Completing the outlined activities properly will help smooth the transition into the next process phase, thus setting your team up for a successful site migration.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/26/what-to-expect-when-migrating-your-site-to-a-new-platform/feed/ 0 377633
Creating a Detailed Content Audit & Mapping Strategy for your Next Site Build https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/18/creating-a-detailed-content-audit-mapping-strategy-for-your-next-site-build/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/18/creating-a-detailed-content-audit-mapping-strategy-for-your-next-site-build/#comments Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:15:46 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=377355

The mark of a successful website is more than just a collection of pagee. It’s a structured ecosystem where every piece of content serves a purpose, or it should. When building a new site or migrating to a new platform, content mapping is a critical step that determines how information is organized, accessed, and optimized for performance. Without a thoughtful strategy, businesses risk losing valuable content, creating navigation confusion, and impacting search visibility. It should be a process that is constantly reviewed and refined.

Content mapping starts with a deep understanding of what already exists and how it needs to evolve. This process is especially important when working with both structured and unstructured data—two very different types of content that require distinct approaches. Structured data, such as product catalogs, customer profiles, or metadata, follows a defined format and is easier to categorize. Unstructured data, including blog posts, images, and videos, lacks a rigid framework and demands extra effort to classify, tag, and optimize. While structured data migration is often straightforward, unstructured content requires strategic planning to ensure it remains accessible and meaningful within a new digital experience.

Why a Content Audit is Important

A content audit is the first step in developing a solid content mapping strategy. This involves evaluating existing content to determine what should be migrated, what needs to be refined, and what should be left behind. Without this step, businesses risk carrying over outdated or redundant content, which can clutter the new site and dilute the user experience.

A well-executed audit not only catalogs content but also assesses its performance. Understanding which pages drive the most engagement and which fail to connect with audiences helps inform how content is structured in the new environment. This process also highlights gaps—areas where fresh content is needed to align with business goals or audience expectations.

Beyond performance, content audits reveal inconsistencies in voice, formatting, or taxonomy. A new site presents an opportunity to standardize these elements, ensuring that every piece of content follows best practices for branding, SEO, and user experience.

Taxonomy and Metadata

Once content is audited and mapped, the next step is defining a clear taxonomy and metadata strategy. Taxonomy refers to how content is classified and grouped, making it easier for users to navigate and find relevant information. Metadata, on the other hand, provides the structured details that power search functionality, personalization, and content recommendations.

Without proper taxonomy, even high-quality content can become buried and difficult to access. Establishing consistent tagging, categorization, and metadata ensures that content remains discoverable, whether through site search, filtering options, or AI-driven recommendations. This is particularly important when transitioning to platforms like Acquia, Sitecore, or Optimizely, where personalization and dynamic content delivery depend on well-structured metadata.

Additionally, URL consistency and redirect strategies play a crucial role in maintaining SEO authority. A content mapping plan should account for how legacy URLs will transition to the new site, preventing broken links and preserving search rankings.

Scalability and Future Growth

Content mapping is not just about migrating existing assets—it’s about creating a structure that supports long-term digital success. The best content strategies anticipate future growth, ensuring that new content can be seamlessly integrated without disrupting site architecture.

This means designing a content model that accommodates personalization, omnichannel distribution, and AI-driven enhancements. As businesses scale, the ability to dynamically deliver content across different devices and user segments becomes increasingly important. Content mapping lays the foundation for this flexibility, making it easier to adapt and evolve without requiring constant restructuring.

A Seamless Digital Experience

A well-planned content mapping strategy transforms website migration from a logistical challenge into a strategic opportunity. By auditing existing content, defining clear taxonomy and metadata structures, and building for scalability, businesses can create a site that is not only organized but optimized for engagement and performance.

Content is the heart of any digital experience, but without proper mapping, it can become fragmented and difficult to manage. Taking the time to strategically align content with user needs, business goals, and technological capabilities ensures that a new site isn’t just a fresh coat of paint—it’s a true step forward in delivering meaningful digital experiences.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/18/creating-a-detailed-content-audit-mapping-strategy-for-your-next-site-build/feed/ 1 377355
Perficient Honored as a 2024 Acquia Partner Award Winner https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/12/perficient-honored-as-a-2024-acquia-partner-award-winner/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/12/perficient-honored-as-a-2024-acquia-partner-award-winner/#respond Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:36:01 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=377158

Perficient is thrilled to announce its recognition as a winner in the 2024 Acquia Partner Awards for DXP Champion of the Year. This esteemed accolade highlights Perficient’s commitment to delivering superior customer outcomes, driving innovation, and achieving outstanding revenue performance within the Acquia partner ecosystem.

Acquia, a leader in open digital experience software, honored 22 organizations worldwide for their exceptional use of Acquia technologies. These awards celebrate partners who have set new standards for technical excellence by implementing high-quality solutions that help customers improve marketing outcomes and enhance business results.

“We’re honored to be recognized as Acquia’s DXP Champion & Partner of the Year! This award is a testament to the strong partnership we’ve built, working hand in hand to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end digital solutions that drive success for our clients. Together with Acquia, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital experience space!” said Joshua Hover, DXP Platforms at Perficient. “We are proud to be recognized alongside such an esteemed group of partners and remain committed to advancing the digital experience landscape through our innovative solutions.”

Partner of the Year – Perficient

Perficient is a leader in DXP solutions, helping organizations modernize their platforms and drive long-term success. As one of Acquia’s first Elite Partners and a multi-year Partner of the Year award winner, we have a proven track record of delivering innovative, future-ready digital experiences. Our expertise in strategy, development, and optimization ensures our clients stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

“At Perficient, we are dedicated to not only delivering top-tier digital solutions but also forming lasting partnerships that foster our clients’ growth and success,” said Roger Walker, Senior Business Manager of the Perficient Acquia practice. “This recognition from Acquia reinforces our commitment to aligning with our clients’ needs, helping them achieve their digital transformation goals, and driving measurable business impact.”

Acquia empowers ambitious digital innovators to craft the most productive, frictionless digital experiences that make a difference to their customers, employees, and communities. We provide the world’s leading open digital experience platform (DXP), built on open-source Drupal, as part of our commitment to shaping a digital future that is safe, accessible, and available to all. With Acquia Open DXP, you can unlock the potential of your customer data and content, accelerating time to market and increasing engagement, conversion, and revenue.

Learn more at : https://www.acquia.com/partner-of-the-year

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/02/12/perficient-honored-as-a-2024-acquia-partner-award-winner/feed/ 0 377158
Tracking Milestones in Website Implementation Projects https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/31/tracking-milestones/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/31/tracking-milestones/#respond Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:58:51 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=376709

When a project kicks off, one of the first things a project manager must do is make sense of the timeline and determine when key functionalities will be completed. This can be a daunting task, but here are some helpful tips to gain clarity on what will be completed and when for tracking milestones in your website implementation project.

Review the SOW for Milestones

Once you receive a project, the first step as a project manager is to read the SOW (Statement of Work). Sometimes, milestones will be identified in the SOW, providing a great foundation to start from. If you weren’t involved in the drafting process, meet with key individuals who created the document to gain context on why those milestones were agreed upon. You can also review the milestones with all stakeholders during your project kickoff to understand their expectations regarding delivery.

Create Milestones

If there are no milestones in the SOW, or if stakeholders have provided feedback for additional milestones, start documenting high-level milestones that your project will need. For example, every website implementation project will typically include a project kickoff, development cycle, UAT (User Acceptance Testing), and launch. From there, you can collaborate with your project team and stakeholders.

Breaking Down Milestones

If you find that you need to add more milestones for tracking purposes, I find it helpful to use epics. This approach works well for website implementation projects, as you can identify key functionalities as epics and assign user stories/tasks under them. For example:

  • Homepage
  • Product Listing Page
  • Product Details Page
  • Checkout
  • Payment Gateway Integration

Prioritization

After identifying additional milestones, collaborate with your team and stakeholders to prioritize them. A best practice is to prioritize based on milestones that are high-risk but high-value, followed by those that are low-risk but high-value. This method allows your team to tackle high-risk, high-value work early on, providing more time to address any hurdles.

Assign Dependencies

The next step is to assign dependencies to your milestones, if applicable. Ensure that for a milestone to be completed it doesn’t rely on another milestone being finished first. For example, you might have epics for Checkout and Payment Gateway Integration. You can’t fully mark the Checkout milestone as complete until the Payment Gateway Integration finishes, since it’s necessary for checkout to function.

Time Allocation

It’s beneficial to understand how long each milestone will take to complete. Since many projects run agile, this can be challenging, as teams typically don’t assign estimates to user stories or tasks until the sprint starts. What I’ve found helpful is to work with your lead developer and architect to obtain high-level estimates of how much time it will take to complete epics based on the information gathered during requirements sessions. After conducting a sprint refinement meeting at the beginning of your sprint, compare to see if the overall estimate has changed. Start by getting a high-level number to identify where you will spend development time.

Assign Expected Due Dates

Once you’ve prioritized, identified dependencies, and gathered high-level estimates for your milestones, you can begin assigning expected due dates. Begin with the first milestone and its expected due date. Then, assign due dates for subsequent milestones based on the next business day after completing the previous milestone, plus the estimated hours needed for completion.

Do you have any other tips or ideas on how to approach milestones? Feel free to leave a comment!

Checkout my other blog posts on UAT and Website Project Management.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/31/tracking-milestones/feed/ 0 376709
Creating a Mega Menu using Acquia Site Studio https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/21/creating-a-mega-menu-using-acquia-site-studio/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/21/creating-a-mega-menu-using-acquia-site-studio/#respond Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:42:36 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=375991

Mega menus are an expandable menu feature with a multitude of options within a single interface, utilizing a dropdown format.

Mega menu designs can vary in complexity. They are particularly beneficial for managing a considerable amount of content or providing a quick overview of a sub-category of pages.

Mega Menu Img 1

Steps to create:

Required:

Acquia Site Studio: (https://www.acquia.com/drupal/site-studio) 

Menu Item Extras module: (https://www.drupal.org/project/menu_item_extras)

Adding a field to your menu:

A field can be added to the menu through the “Structure -> Menus” section. To initiate this process, you must edit your existing menu or create a new one. Once in the menu editor, the next step is to add a field. This field can be of any type based on your requirements.  

Since this is a Site Studio example, we’re going to choose a “Site Studio – Layout Canvas” field. This way we’re able to drop any component into the menu.

Mega Menu Img 2

Adding content to your new menu field:

Depending on the type of field you are using, you may need to edit the “Manage Display” options for that specific field. 

In our example, we associate the mega menu “content” with the first-level menu item.  

This menu item functions as the designated location for displaying your content. So, that’s the exact menu item where you should add your content.

Mega Menu Img 7

Mega Menu Img 3


Rendering your menu item field on a Site Studio menu template:  

To learn more about creating a multi-level menu, refer to Acquia’s documentation here. 

Begin by building your menu structure. Once you have the menu structure in place, identify the location where you want your layout canvas field to be displayed within the menu. In our example, we are placing the second-level menu AND our “layout canvas” field inside the first level of the menu. 

The wrapper will act as a dropdown that will be toggled.

Mega Menu Img 4

You can utilize various elements to insert your “content” from your Drupal menu. For this example, we will use the Inline element.

Mega Menu Img 5

Adding your token to the inline element:

Next, we’ll need to locate the token associated with the field we added to our menu item. 

Within your element, use the token browser to locate the token under the “Custom menu link” dropdown. In our example, we called it “Mega Menu Canvas”. 

Mega Menu Img 6

Save the menu template and refresh your website. Hover over the parent menu item to which you added the mega menu! 

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/21/creating-a-mega-menu-using-acquia-site-studio/feed/ 0 375991
Drupal CMS is here, what it means for you and your organization. https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/16/drupal-cms-is-here-what-it-means-for-you-and-your-organization/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/16/drupal-cms-is-here-what-it-means-for-you-and-your-organization/#respond Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:19:32 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=375772

In a previous blog post I discussed various content authoring approaches within Drupal and the importance of selecting the right one for your specific situation. Towards the end I mentioned a new iteration of Drupal(Starshot). It is now here, Startshot, i.e. Drupal CMS was released on Jan 15th. As it becomes part of the Drupal Ecosystem, here are 5 key areas to consider when tackling a new project or build.

 

1. What is Drupal CMS?

Drupal CMS is a tooling built on top of Drupal 11 Core. This takes some of the most commonly used configurations, recipes, modules and more, puts them into an installable package and offers it for a great starting point for small to moderate complexity websites and portals.

 

2. What are the advantages of Drupal CMS?

As mentioned above, Drupal CMS is a pre-bundled installation of Drupal 11 Core, Contributed modules, Recipes and configuration that provides a rapid starting point for marketing teams.

The advantages include quicker time to market, easier configuration of toolings for cookie compliance, content workflows, permissions, multilingual support and more. Drupal CMS as a product will enable marketing teams to build and maintain a web presence with limited technical staff requirements. You may be able to take advantage of an implementation partner like Perficient and have much smaller learning curve for web editors and managers as opposed to a completely custom build on top of Drupal Core.

The ability for a CMS to be spun up with limited customization and overhead, is a big departure from traditional Drupal development which required extensive experience and technical support. This will be a huge time and budget saver for certain situations and organizations.

Another advantage of Drupal CMS is that is built upon the standard Drupal 11 core. This allows a site to evolve, grow and take advantage of the more complex technical underpinnings as needed. If you start with Drupal CMS, you are not handcuffed to it, and have the entire Drupal open source ecosystem available to you as you scale.

 

3. What are the disadvantages of Drupal CMS?

Or course, no situation is a win-win-win, so what are the tradeoffs of Drupal CMS?

The major disadvantages of Drupal CMS would come to light in heavily customized or complex systems. All of the preconfigured toolings that make a simple to moderately complex site easier on Drupal CMS can cause MORE complexity on larger or completely custom builds, as a technical team may find themselves spending unnecessary time undoing the unnecessary aspects of Drupal CMS.

Another (for the meantime)disadvantage of Drupal CMS is that it is built on top of Drupal 11 core, while Drupal 11 is a secure and final release, the community support historically lags. It is worth evaluating support for any contributed modules for Drupal 11 before making the decision on Drupal CMS.

 

4. Drupal 10, Drupal 11, Drupal CMS, which is the right choice?

With all of the advantages and disadvantages to various Drupal Core and CMS versions. It can be a large choice of what direction to go. When making that decision for your organization, you should evaluate 3 major areas. First, look at the scale of your technical team and implementation budget. A smaller team or budget would suggest evaluating Drupal CMS as a solution.

Secondly, evaluate your technical requirements. Are you building a simple website with standard content needs and workflows? Drupal CMS might be perfect. Are you building a complex B2B commerce site with extensive content, workflow and technical customizations? Drupal Core might be the right choice.

Finally, evaluate your technical requirements for any needs that may not be fully supported by Drupal 11 just yet. If you find an area that isn’t supported, it would be time to evaluate the timeline for support, timeline for your project as well as criticality of the functional gaps. This is where a well versed and community connected implementation partner such as Perficient can provide crucial insights to ensure the proper selection of your underlying tooling.

 

5. I am already on Drupal 7/8/9/10/11, do I need to move to Drupal CMS?

In my opinion this is highly dependent of where you currently are. If you are on Drupal 7/8, you are many versions behind, lacking support and any upgrade is essentially a rebuild. In this case, Drupal CMS should be considered just like an new build considering the points above. Drupal 9/10/11, an upgrade to Drupal 10/11 respectively might be your best bet. Drupal CMS can be layered on top of this upgrade if you feel the features fit the direction of your website, but it is important to consider all the above pros and cons when making this decision. Again, a trusted implementation partner such as Perficient can help guide and inform you and your team as you tackle these considerations!

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/16/drupal-cms-is-here-what-it-means-for-you-and-your-organization/feed/ 0 375772
Four B2B E-Commerce Trends for 2025 https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/14/four-b2b-e-commerce-trends-for-2025/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/14/four-b2b-e-commerce-trends-for-2025/#respond Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:53:17 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=375585

It’s that time of year when everyone comes out with their trends to watch for 2025. While it may seem a bit of a cliche, 2025 has several innovations taking hold that should prove exciting for anyone willing to grab the opportunity.

The way businesses buy and sell is changing faster than ever, and B2B companies are at a tipping point. It’s a segment of business that is often slow to change and adopt new practices. However, more organizations are moving away from traditional processes, embracing online platforms to streamline operations, expand their reach, and deliver better customer experiences. This shift isn’t just a trend—it’s a revolution. Recent research shows that the global B2B e-commerce market is expected to surge from $28.86 trillion in 2025 to $60.49 trillion by 2030, growing at an impressive annual rate of 15.95% (Mordor Intelligence).

These numbers make it clear that businesses that fail to adapt risk being left behind. To stay competitive, it’s critical to understand the key trends shaping the future of B2B e-commerce. In this article, we’ll discuss four trends for B2B in 2025 and how businesses should use them to drive growth.

Trend 1: Hyper-Personalization in B2B Purchasing

Let’s face it—personalization isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s a game-changer quickly becoming a requirement, especially in the B2B world. Buyers today don’t just expect personalized experiences—they demand them. Long gone are the days when a one-size-fits-all catalog could satisfy your clients. Modern B2B customers want solutions that feel tailor-made for their business and deliver them seamlessly.

Hyper-personalization takes this concept to the next level. Businesses can offer customized product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and personalized purchasing portals by leveraging AI and data analytics. Imagine being able to present each client with a tailored experience based on their buying history, preferences, and unique business needs. It’s not just about making sales but building trust and long-term relationships.

If you’re not sure where to start, the key is data. Drive deep into your customer data to uncover patterns and preferences. Then, use that information to craft experiences that feel truly individualized. AI-powered platforms make this easier than ever, helping you predict client needs and meet them proactively.

Want to explore this topic in more detail? Check out my previous blog on Micro-Moments in E-Commerce, where I break down the strategies and tools you can use to make personalization a cornerstone of your business.

Trend 2: Omnichannel Excellence for B2B Buyers

Buyers expect more than just a seamless shopping experience—they expect consistency, no matter how or where they engage with your business. Think about your purchasing habits. Whether browsing on your phone, checking inventory on your laptop, or following up with a sales rep in person, you expect everything to align. Your clients are no different. They want to start a transaction on one channel and finish it on another without skipping a beat.

For example, a buyer researching your product catalog online adds items to their cart but pauses to confirm specs with a colleague in the warehouse via a mobile device. Later, they call their account manager to finalize the purchase. If your system isn’t fully integrated, they’ll need to repeat information or deal with errors, which is a frustration no one wants.

Omnichannel excellence means ensuring that every touchpoint—your e-commerce platform, mobile experience, customer portal, or sales team—works flawlessly. This requires more than technology; it’s about aligning your processes and teams to deliver a unified experience.

Here’s the good news: Omnichannel strategies drive serious results when done right. Research shows that companies with strong omnichannel engagement retain 89% of their customers, compared to just 33% for those with weaker strategies. This retention can translate into significant revenue growth in B2B, where relationships are king.

To get started, focus on unifying your systems. Ensure your CRM, e-commerce platform, and inventory management tools speak the same language. And don’t forget your team—sales, support, and marketing must be aligned to provide consistent messaging and service across channels.

Trend 3: Embracing Headless Commerce for B2B Agility

Businesses are turning away from a single implementation platform to headless commerce to keep up with growing demands and shifting buyer expectations. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, headless commerce is about separating the front end—the part your customers interact with—from the back-end systems that manage inventory, orders, and data. You’ll often hear this referred to as a “best in category” concept. This separation allows for customization and speed that traditional, monolithic platforms can’t match.

Why does this matter for B2B? Your buyers expect tailored experiences that adapt to their needs; headless commerce makes delivering that possible. For example, imagine offering each of your major clients a custom storefront where they can see products, pricing, and order histories unique to their account—all without overhauling your entire back-end system.

The numbers back up the importance of this trend. The global headless commerce market is projected to grow at an impressive CAGR of 22.5%, reaching $13.2 billion by 2035 (Modern Diplomacy). By 2025, 35% of businesses are expected to adopt headless platforms to meet the demand for more personalized, scalable solutions.

For B2B businesses, headless commerce isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about getting ahead. The ability to quickly update your user experience, scale as your business grows, and seamlessly integrate with third-party tools puts you in a position to outpace competitors while delivering exceptional service to your buyers.

Going headless is not without risk and should not be undertaken lightly. The key to a good headless strategy is to accept that with greater flexibility comes an elevated cost of ownership. I’m not just referring to a monetary cost of ownership—though that is part of it—but also to the investment of your team members’ time in managing multiple systems.

Trend 4: The Rise of Social Commerce in B2B

When you think of social commerce, it’s easy to picture consumer brands selling trendy products on Instagram or Facebook. But here’s the thing: B2B companies are catching on and social commerce is quickly becoming a powerful tool for engaging clients, building relationships, and even driving sales. In fact, 75% of B2B buyers now use social media to inform their purchasing decisions. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Facebook aren’t just for networking anymore—they’re where decision-makers research solutions and connect with potential partners. (Demand Sage)

The rise of social commerce in B2B makes perfect sense. Today’s buyers, just like consumers, value authenticity and accessibility. They want to see real-world applications of your products or services, hear success stories from peers, and interact with your brand personally and immediately. Imagine hosting a LinkedIn Live demo of your latest software, where potential clients can ask questions in real time or share customer testimonials on Twitter that spark new inquiries. These interactions don’t just showcase your offerings—they build trust and credibility.

And the momentum behind social commerce is undeniable. Nearly half of all brands, including those in the B2B space, plan to increase their social commerce investments in the coming year. Meanwhile, the global social commerce market is projected to grow from $1.52 trillion in 2025 to an incredible $5.32 trillion by 2030, at a CAGR of 28.53%. (Mordor Intelligence)

If your B2B strategy doesn’t include social commerce, now is the time to rethink your approach. Engaging with clients where they already spend their time online is no longer optional—it’s essential for staying relevant and competitive. As 2025 approaches, leveraging social platforms can help you build meaningful connections, showcase your expertise, and drive growth in a fresh and forward-thinking way. Out of the four trends we’ve discussed so far, I see this one as requiring the lowest lift to get started and the highest amount of pushback in an industry known to be slow to adopt new marketing methods. However, the data supports this as a solid growth opportunity.

Conclusion

2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for B2B e-commerce. With market share growing and new technologies reshaping how businesses connect with their customers, it’s an exciting time to be part of this space. Trends like hyper-personalization, omnichannel experiences, and headless commerce are more than just buzzwords—they’re the key to staying competitive and thriving in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

But with so much change on the horizon, the question isn’t just about recognizing these trends—it’s about acting on them. How will your business leverage the opportunities that 2025 brings? Whether creating seamless buying experiences, building trust through social platforms, or reimagining your digital infrastructure, the growth potential is enormous.

At Perficient, we specialize in helping businesses like yours capitalize on the latest B2B e-commerce trends. Our experts can guide you through the complexities of digital transformation and equip you with the tools and strategies to succeed in this dynamic market. Let’s work together to position your business for success in 2025 and beyond.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out to us today and discover how we can help you lead the way in B2B e-commerce.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/14/four-b2b-e-commerce-trends-for-2025/feed/ 0 375585
Micro-Moments in Ecommerce & DXP: Capturing Customers at Their Most Intent-Driven https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/02/micro-moments-in-ecommerce-dxp-capturing-customers-at-their-most-intent-driven/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/02/micro-moments-in-ecommerce-dxp-capturing-customers-at-their-most-intent-driven/#respond Thu, 02 Jan 2025 20:36:16 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=375005

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, ecommerce professionals must seize fleeting opportunities to engage consumers. These opportunities, known as micro-moments, represent brief, intent-driven actions where customers turn to their devices to address an immediate need—whether to know, go, do, or buy. Understanding and leveraging these moments can dramatically enhance customer engagement and drive sales.

What Are Micro-Moments?

Micro-moments are the building blocks of modern consumer behavior. Google introduced this concept to explain how digital interactions have shifted toward shorter, more targeted engagements. According to a Think with Google article, 96% of smartphone users now turn to their devices to quickly search for information. This statistic shouldn’t be a shock to anyone in modern society; everyone has had a question regarding a product or need that we recognize at the moment and pulled out our phones to perform a quick search. For ecommerce, this means adapting strategies to meet consumers where and when they need you most.

Here is a practical example of this behavior in action. A clothing retailer identified a spike in mobile searches for “best winter jackets” during cold snaps in the Midwest and Southern United States. By creating optimized product and landing pages for these searches, the retailer achieved a 30% increase in sales, according to Google on Micro-Moments case study. This case highlights why micro-moments are not just theoretical but actionable opportunities.

The Four Types of Micro-Moments

In ecommerce and DXP, success takes foresight and planning on the part of the brand to meet customers at pivotal moments in their journey. Not to boil things down to an overused phrase, but it’s amazing how lucky one is in business is proportional to how much preparation performed. By understanding the distinct types of micro-moments, companies can create their own fortunate by preparing themselves to engage consumers effectively and create meaningful interactions. Below, we break down the four micro-moment types and explore how to capture them to boost your ecommerce strategy.

  1. I-Want-to-Go Moments: These moments are dominated by location-specific needs, such as finding store availability or curbside pickup options, dominate these moments. Ensure your mobile platform provides location-based services, easy navigation, and real-time inventory updates. Depending on your business, this micro-moment is either completely irrelevant or an untapped business market.Imagine that you’re a DIYer replacing your kitchen sink. I could stop right there with that description, and you would most likely know what’s coming next. You will inevitably need something from the hardware or plumbing supply store. Since customers can’t order the part and wait for it to be delivered, they will look for the closest retailer.If you have a brick-and-mortar presence, you can capture that moment by providing the customer with a dealer locator – preferably one that does geolocation. What if you were able to offer in-store pick-up? Cut down the time the Customer is trying to find the item in the store. They order online, run into the store, and are on their way.
  2. I-Want-to-Do Moments: This type of micro-moment is the most misunderstood in the ecommerce and DXP space. The misunderstanding is because the moment isn’t about directly selling a product. It is counterintuitive to the primary conversion of any online business application: to convert sales. It can be hard to quantify via KPI (there are methods, but that is not the topic of this blog), but the goal is not to sell a product today. It’s to establish yourself as the trusted resource for the sale tomorrow. In this type of micro-moment, Customers are seeking tutorials or advice for a given industry or field, not about specific products. By offering how-to videos, product usage guides, and interactive customer support, brands can secure loyalty and encourage further engagement. Again, this isn’t about specific products but the industry you serve. What are your products used for? Talk about that! Position your site as a go-to location for industry knowledge.
  3. I-Want-to-Buy Moments: These moments are the most straightforward. The Customer knows what they need and wants to buy it quickly. Removing any obstacles that would slow down the transaction is the key to capturing these moments. Amazon set the standard for capturing these micro-moments with its “Buy Now” options. The Amazon one-click shopping method doesn’t work for every type of ecommerce engagement, but the idea behind it does. Review your checkout or product quoting process. Are you asking for information that you don’t need? Are there too many steps? Look for fields on your form that the Customer may not know right off the top of their head. If the Customer has to leave their device to find the information you are asking for, they will not return and complete the transaction, as the moment will be gone.
  4. I-Want-to-Know Moments: There is a distinction between a wanting-to-know moment and a wanting-to-buy moment. In the former, the Customer generally knows they have a need but is not entirely sure what product would best meet that need. They will complete their transaction, but first, they want to compare options, read reviews, and seek advice.The goal for capturing this micro-moment is to position your business as the subject matter expert in the field: product review blogs, videos, detailed descriptions, and product comparisons of relevant metrics. Take a moment and consider your product offering from the Customer’s point of view; what information does the average Customer need to know when considering your products? While you want to position yourself as the subject matter expert on the product offering, it is equally important to recognize that you may not know your average Customers’ primary concerns as well as you think you do. Contact your Customer Service team and find out the most asked questions. What are the most returned products and why?

Strategies to Capture Micro-Moments

  1. Be There: Real-Time Presence: Review your marketing strategies. Identify the micro-moment each initiative aligns with. Adjust your strategy to account for areas you are not capitalizing on. Confirm that you have an active, long-term plan for SEO and Accessibility; both of these items are paramount.
  2. Be Useful: Offer Relevant and Actionable Content: Reorganize your content to make it easy for customers to find the information they want based on their micro-transaction. Use resources like FAQs, product reviews, and social proof to add value and instill confidence in potential buyers.
  3. Be Quick: Prioritize Speed and Simplicity. Page speed and intuitive navigation are critical. Ensure fast-loading websites and provide seamless user experience through one-click actions and minimal conversion steps. A key question to ask yourself at every step is, “Are we asking for this information because it will help the customer, or are we asking this information because it will help marketing?”. Focus on the customer, and the marketing data will follow naturally.
  4. Be Humble: Understand Your Customers. It might sound harsh, but I base these next statements on twenty years of B2C / B2B experience. Do not assume your customers know your product line as well as you do. Additionally, do not assume you understand how customers shop for your product catalog. Unless you have data to support your claim that “you know how your customers shop,” you don’t.
  5. Be Proactive: Make Your Own Luck. Like SEO and accessibility, personalization and micro-moment capture are not one-time initiatives. A dedicated initiative must be created to review, maintain, and improve micro-moment capture.

Tools and Technologies for Leveraging Micro-Moments

  • Data Analytics: Track customer behavior to identify high-impact micro-moments. Build metrics around micro-moments and methods of tracking them. Hard data on behavior is key to measuring the impact of your initiatives. Vanity metrics are great, but measurable conversions to specific transaction points are better.
  • Mobile-First Design: This shouldn’t even be considered optional in modern web development. Intuitive mobile design is not just a best practice but a requirement.
  • AI and Machine Learning: Personalize recommendations based on predicted customer intent. If you have not already begun developing a personalization strategy for long-term growth, you need to do it now. Mobile-first used to be nice to have, but then it quickly became a must-have, and those who hadn’t jumped on it early were left behind and lost market share. AI and personalization are now at the nice-to-have stage but are already transitioning into the must-have zone.
  • Robust Search: Invest in on-site search tools that provide a robust search experience. According to multiple search engine companies such as Algolia or SearchStaxs, 50% of visitors to your site will use the on-site search engine as their first interaction unless they come directly into a relevant landing page. Do not miss out on capturing these customers because your on-site search doesn’t provide appropriate results quickly.

 

Challenges and Considerations

While micro-moments have undeniable potential, they also present challenges. Balancing personalization with data privacy regulations is critical. Prioritize the most impactful moments for your initiative strategy and then make incremental changes based on metrics, customer feedback, and A/B testing. Accept that it is part of the long-term cost of ownership and not a single expenditure. Additionally, recognize that your product data must be in good order before starting a campaign to capture micro-moments. Poor data will dramatically increase your acquisition cost per Customer—garbage data in and out. Read more about the importance of good data as a foundation in my previous blog here.

Conclusion

Micro-moments are reshaping the ecommerce landscape by redefining customer expectations. Brands that anticipate and address these moments will gain a significant competitive edge. As you refine your ecommerce strategies, consider how to better capture and capitalize on these nuanced but powerful interactions.

Take action today: contact Perficient to help analyze your current touchpoints and determine micro-moment strategies. Don’t get left behind, be ahead of the curve and watch your engagement soar.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2025/01/02/micro-moments-in-ecommerce-dxp-capturing-customers-at-their-most-intent-driven/feed/ 0 375005
Conducting UAT for Your Website https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/conducting-uat-for-your-website/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/conducting-uat-for-your-website/#respond Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:58:03 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=374861

As project managers for website implementations, we oversee the user acceptance testing process (UAT) to ensure the development lifecycle is successful. Conducting UAT for your website is a critical phase in your project. For many project managers, this process can feel daunting because they must figure out all the areas that need testing and determine how extensively to test them. Additionally, they often find it challenging to identify the systems, customers, and internal resources that should participate in this testing. If you’re wondering how to start planning, I’ll share the steps I follow to get started.

  • Identify All Systems Impacted

    Determine all systems impacted by your project. Even if these systems or integrations are not changing due to your project, you will still need to validate that data is updating accurately and within the expected timeframe.

Some of these systems are but not limited to:

      • PIMs (Product Information Manager)
      • DAMs (Digital Asset Management)
      • CRMs (Customer Relationship Management)
      • OMSs (Order Management Systems)
      • Analytics Tools (GA4 and GTM)
      • Marketing Platforms
      • Payment Gateways
      • 3Rd Party Search Tools
      • Accessibility Tools
  • Document Test Cases

    After you identify the impacted systems, contact the product owners or subject matter experts for those systems to assist you in writing test cases. You can involve anyone in the process of writing test cases, including business analysts, product owners, subject matter experts, quality control engineers, and others. Start this process by outlining a step-by-step description of what the user should experience and what the end result should be. If any integrations change, the business analyst or project manager must answer questions as you write test cases, since the expected results might shift due to the project.

    Pro-Tip – Write out the step-by-step approach in a document stored in a shared repository. This could be a spreadsheet on a shared drive that multiple people can access. This setup will allow team members to update the document with test cases, rather than having different versions floating around in everyone’s inboxes. It may also be easier to have separate documents for each system or major functionality you are testing. Users testing only one system or major functionality might feel confused when they look at test cases for areas they aren’t familiar with. Separating everything will help reduce this confusion.

  • Begin Testing

    Once you’ve received approval to begin testing, have the tester refer to the document with the test cases. As they go through each step, they can mark it as passed or failed. If they fail a step, they should provide a comment explaining why and include a screenshot if necessary.

  • Prioritize Feedback

    After testing is complete, review the feedback in the test case documents and set a priority for each of the failed test cases with your team’s input. These priorities can be classified as critical, high, medium, or low. Critical and high priorities indicate key steps that are showstoppers for launching the project. Assign these when key functionality severely impacts the customer or business experience and prevents users from completing their intended goals, such as placing an order or viewing incorrect information. You can assign low priority to cosmetic issues that do not hinder user engagement on your website.

  • Collect Estimates

    Make sure to collect estimates from your team regarding the level of effort required to address the feedback from UAT. This is important for tracking the timeline and budget for your launch. Once you’ve received the estimates, you can assign estimated completion dates based on the level of effort and available resources.

  • Retest

    As you resolve and review feedback from retesting, continue to prioritize it and collect estimates.

  • Involve Customer Service Representatives

    Once you feel your site is in a great place, invite customer service representatives or anyone in your organization who interacts with customers to test it. This will allow them to familiarize themselves with the changes and test what they interact with. If you are a B2B company, it might be beneficial to get feedback from a customer you work with consistently while you are conducting UAT for your website.

Have any other tips or ideas on how to approach conducting UAT for your website? Feel free to leave a comment! Make sure to checkout additional blogs on website project management such as Website Project Management Tips.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/conducting-uat-for-your-website/feed/ 0 374861
The Importance of Clean Data in the Age of AI for B2B Ecommerce https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/the-importance-of-clean-data-in-the-age-of-ai-for-b2b-ecommerce/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/the-importance-of-clean-data-in-the-age-of-ai-for-b2b-ecommerce/#respond Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:45:16 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=374857

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing B2B ecommerce, enabling capabilities such as personalized product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and predictive analytics. However, the effectiveness of these AI-driven solutions depends heavily on the quality of the underlying data. Despite AI’s potential, poor data governance remains a significant challenge in the industry. A recent Statista survey revealed that 25% of B2B ecommerce companies in the United States have fully implemented AI technologies, while 56% are experimenting with them.

As AI adoption grows, B2B companies must address data quality issues to leverage AI’s benefits fully. Anyone who has spent time in the B2B industry will acknowledge that quality data is often a struggle. This article explores the critical importance of clean data in AI applications and offers strategies for improving data governance in the B2B ecommerce sector.

Common Symptoms of Bad Data Governance

Bad data governance is a pervasive issue in the B2B ecommerce landscape, particularly in industries like manufacturing, where complex supply chains and product catalogs create unique challenges. Here are some of the most common symptoms:

  1. Duplicate Records: Customer and product data often contain duplicate entries due to inconsistent data entry processes or a lack of validation protocols. For example, a single customer might appear in the database multiple times with slight variations in name or contact information, leading to inefficiencies in communication and order processing.
  2. Inconsistent Formatting: Manufacturing and distribution often involve extensive product catalogs, and inconsistencies in SKU formats, product descriptions, or units of measurement can disrupt operations. For instance, some entries might use “kg” while others use “kilograms,” confusing systems and causing inventory management and procurement errors.
  3. Outdated or Missing Data: Stale data, such as outdated pricing, obsolete product details, or inactive customer accounts, can lead to misinformed decisions. Missing data, like incomplete shipping addresses or contact details, can result in delayed deliveries or lost opportunities.
  4. Siloed Data Systems: Many B2B companies, especially in manufacturing, rely on disparate systems that don’t communicate effectively. A lack of integration between ERP systems, CRMs, and ecommerce platforms leads to fragmented data and manual reconciliation efforts, increasing the risk of errors.
  5. Unreliable Vendor and Supplier Information: Manufacturing businesses often deal with a large network of suppliers, each with varying formats for invoices, contracts, and delivery schedules. Poorly managed supplier data can result in delayed production, stockouts, or overordering.

Why is Bad Data Governance So Prevalent in B2B Manufacturing?

Unlike B2C industries, where streamlined data processes are often a core focus, manufacturing businesses face unique challenges due to their operations’ complexity, reliance on legacy systems, and decentralized structures. Understanding why these problems are so prevalent is key to addressing the underlying causes and fostering long-term improvements.

  1. Complexity of Operations: Manufacturing involves numerous moving parts—raw materials, suppliers, distributors, and customers—making data governance inherently more challenging. The sheer volume of data generated across the supply chain increases the likelihood of inconsistencies.
  2. Legacy Systems: Many B2B manufacturing companies rely on outdated legacy systems not designed for modern ecommerce integration. These systems often lack robust data validation and cleaning mechanisms, perpetuating bad data practices.
  3. Decentralized Operations: Manufacturing companies frequently operate in multiple locations, each with its own systems, processes, and data entry standards. This decentralization contributes to a lack of standardization across the organization.
  4. Focus on Production Over Data: In traditional manufacturing mindsets, operational efficiency and production output take precedence over data accuracy. Thus, data governance investments may be considered a lower priority than equipment upgrades or workforce training.
  5. Limited Awareness of the Impact: Many B2B organizations underestimate the long-term impact of bad data on their operations, customer satisfaction, and AI-driven initiatives. The focus often shifts to immediate problem-solving rather than addressing root causes through improved governance.

By recognizing these symptoms and understanding the reasons behind poor data governance, B2B manufacturing companies can take the first steps toward addressing these issues. This foundation is critical for leveraging AI and other technologies to their fullest potential in ecommerce.

Why Clean Data Governance is Non-Negotiable in the AI Era

AI thrives on data—structured, accurate, and relevant data. For B2B ecommerce, where AI powers everything from dynamic pricing to predictive inventory, clean data isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation for success. Without clean data governance, AI systems struggle to provide reliable insights, leading to poor decisions and diminished trust in the technology.

As the B2B commerce world embraces AI, those who recognize and prioritize addressing a systemic industry problem of bad data will quickly move to the front of the pack. Garbage in, garbage out. Implementing AI tools with bad data will be doomed to failure as the tools will be ineffective. Meanwhile, those who take the time to ensure they have a good foundation for AI support will overtake the competition. It’s a watershed moment for the B2B industry where those who recognize how to get the most value out of AI while those who refuse to alter their own internal workflows because “that’s the way it’s always been done” will see their market share diminish.

  1. Accuracy and Relevance: AI models rely on historical and real-time data to make predictions and recommendations. If the data is inaccurate or inconsistent, the AI outputs become unreliable, directly impacting decision-making and customer experiences.
  2. Scalability and Growth: In an era where B2B companies are scaling rapidly to meet global demands, clean data ensures that AI systems can grow alongside the business. Bad data governance introduces bottlenecks, stifling the scalability of AI-driven solutions.
  3. Customer Experience: AI-powered personalized recommendations, accurate delivery timelines, and responsive customer service are critical to building customer trust and loyalty. These benefits rely on clean, well-governed data. A single misstep, like recommending the wrong product or misquoting delivery times, can damage a company’s reputation.
  4. AI Amplifies Data Issues: Unlike traditional systems, AI doesn’t just process data—it learns from it. Bad data doesn’t just result in poor outputs; it trains AI systems to make flawed assumptions over time, compounding errors and reducing the ROI of AI investments.
  5. Competitive Advantage: Clean data governance can be a differentiator in a competitive B2B market. Companies with well-maintained data are better positioned to leverage AI for faster decision-making, improved customer service, and operational efficiencies, giving them a significant edge.

Ignoring data governance in the AI era isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a liability. Poor data practices lead to inefficient AI models, frustrated customers, and, ultimately, lost revenue. Moreover, as competitors invest in clean data and AI, companies with bad data governance risk falling irreparably behind.

Clean data governance is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative in the AI-driven B2B ecommerce landscape. By prioritizing data accuracy and consistency, companies can unlock AI’s full potential and position themselves for long-term success.

How B2B Companies Can Address Bad Data Governance

Tackling bad data governance is no small feat, but it’s a journey worth undertaking for B2B companies striving to unlock AI’s full potential. The solution involves strategic planning, technological investment, and cultural change. Here are actionable steps businesses can take to clean up their data and ensure it stays that way:

  1. Conduct a Comprehensive Data Audit
  2. Standardize the Data Entry Process
  3. Implement Master Data Management (MDM)
  4. Leverage Technology for Data Cleaning and Enrichment
  5. Break Down Silos with Integration
  6. Foster a Culture of Data Ownership
  7. Commit to Continuous Improvement

The first step is conducting a thorough data audit—think of it as a spring cleaning for your databases. By identifying gaps, redundancies, and inaccuracies, businesses can reveal the full extent of their data issues. This process isn’t just about finding errors; it’s about creating a baseline understanding of the company’s data health. Regular audits prevent these issues from snowballing into more significant, costly problems.

Once the audit is complete, it’s time to set some ground rules. Standardizing data entry processes is critical for ensuring consistency. Clear guidelines for formatting SKUs, recording customer details, and storing supplier information can prevent the chaos of mismatched or incomplete records. Employees should be trained on these standards, and tools like automated forms or validation rules can make compliance seamless.

Of course, even the best data entry standards won’t help if different systems across the organization aren’t communicating. That’s where Master Data Management (MDM) comes in. By centralizing data into a single source of truth, companies ensure that updates in one system are automatically reflected across all others. With MDM in place, teams can work confidently, knowing that their data is accurate and consistent.

But standardizing and centralizing aren’t enough if you’re already sitting on a mountain of messy data. Performing this step by hand is significantly time-intensive. Enter data cleaning and enrichment tools. AI-powered solutions can quickly identify and correct errors, deduplicate records and fill in missing fields. These tools don’t just clean up the past; they automate routine processes to keep data clean moving forward.

For many B2B companies, fragmentation is one of the biggest hurdles to clean data. Silos between ERP systems, CRM platforms, and ecommerce tools create inconsistencies that ripple across the business. Breaking down these silos through system integration ensures a unified flow of data, improving collaboration and decision-making across departments. This requires a thoughtful integration strategy, often with the help of IT experts, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

Clean data isn’t just a technical problem—it’s a cultural one. Companies must foster a culture of data ownership, where employees understand the importance of the data they handle and feel accountable for its accuracy. Assigning clear responsibilities, such as appointing a Chief Data Officer (CDO) or similar role, can ensure that data governance remains a priority.

Finally, data governance isn’t a one-and-done project. Continuous improvement is essential. Regular review of data policies and feedback from team members help refine processes over time. Establishing KPIs for data quality can also provide measurable insights into the success of these efforts.

By taking these steps, B2B companies can move from reactive problem-solving to proactive data management. Clean, well-governed data isn’t just the backbone of AI success—it’s a strategic asset that drives better decisions, smoother operations, and stronger customer relationships. In an increasingly data-driven world, those who master their data will lead the way.

Conclusion: Turn Your Data into a Competitive Advantage in the AI Era

In the rapidly evolving landscape of B2B ecommerce, integrating AI technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for growth and efficiency. However, as we’ve explored, the effectiveness of AI is intrinsically linked to the quality of the underlying data. Companies risk undermining their AI initiatives without robust data governance, leading to inaccurate insights and missed opportunities.

Perficient stands at the forefront of addressing these challenges. With extensive experience in implementing comprehensive data governance frameworks, we empower B2B organizations to harness the full potential of their data. Our expertise encompasses:

  • Product Information Management (PIM): We assist in managing all aspects of your product data—from SKUs and descriptions to stock levels and pricing—ensuring consistency and accuracy across all platforms.
  • Digital Asset Management (DAM): Our solutions help organize and distribute digital assets related to your products, such as photos and videos, enhancing the efficiency of your operations.
  • Data Integration and Standardization: We streamline your data processes, breaking down silos and ensuring seamless communication between systems, which is crucial for effective AI implementation.

Investing in clean data governance is not just a technical necessity but a strategic imperative. With Perficient’s expertise, you can transform your data into a powerful asset, driving informed decision-making and sustainable growth in the AI era.

 

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/31/the-importance-of-clean-data-in-the-age-of-ai-for-b2b-ecommerce/feed/ 0 374857
Acquia Cloud Site Review – A Crucial Step for Success https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/30/acquia-cloud-site-review-a-crucial-step-for-success/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/30/acquia-cloud-site-review-a-crucial-step-for-success/#respond Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:02:59 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=374743

In the dynamic world of digital experiences, maintaining a high-performing and secure website is paramount. For organizations leveraging the power of Acquia Cloud, proactive site reviews are essential for optimizing performance, identifying potential risks, and ensuring a smooth and successful digital journey. This blog post will delve into the significance of Acquia Cloud Site Reviews, outlining their purpose, key components, and the invaluable insights they provide.

 

Why Conduct Acquia Cloud Site Reviews? 

Acquia Cloud Site Reviews offer a comprehensive evaluation of your website’s health and performance within the Acquia ecosystem. These reviews provide valuable insights that can: 

  • Enhance Performance: Identify and address performance bottlenecks, such as slow page load times, high resource consumption, and inefficient caching mechanisms. This leads to improved user experience, higher conversion rates, and enhanced search engine rankings. 
  • Strengthen Security: Proactively uncover and mitigate security vulnerabilities, including outdated software, misconfigurations, and potential attack vectors. Regular reviews help ensure your website remains protected from malicious threats. 
  • Optimize Costs: Identify areas for cost optimization within your Acquia Cloud environment. This may include right-sizing your infrastructure, optimizing resource utilization, and identifying unused services. 
  • Improve Stability: Pinpoint potential instability issues, such as code errors, database inconsistencies, and environmental factors that could lead to unexpected downtime. 
  • Ensure Compliance: Verify compliance with industry standards and best practices, such as security regulations and accessibility guidelines. 

 

When to Conduct Acquia Cloud Site Reviews 

Regular Acquia Cloud Site Reviews are recommended at various stages of your website’s lifecycle: 

  • Post-Launch: Conduct a thorough review shortly after launching a new website or significant updates to identify any unforeseen issues and ensure smooth operation. 
  • Before Major Releases: Prior to major website releases or marketing campaigns, perform a comprehensive review to anticipate potential performance bottlenecks and ensure a seamless user experience. 
  • Annually or Biannually: Schedule regular reviews at least annually or biannually to proactively identify and address emerging issues, optimize performance, and ensure ongoing stability. 
  • After Significant Changes: Conduct reviews after significant changes to your website’s infrastructure, codebase, or content to assess the impact and ensure continued optimal performance. 
  • When Facing Performance Issues: If you experience performance degradation, unexpected downtime, or security incidents, a thorough review can help pinpoint the root cause and implement corrective measures. 

 Acquia Cloud Site Review Graph

 

 

Key Components of an Acquia Cloud Site Review 

A comprehensive Acquia Cloud Site Review typically includes the following key components: 

SLA Impact Assessment: 

  • Evaluate potential impacts on Service Level Agreements (SLAs) based on identified issues. 
  • Analyze historical performance data to identify potential future risks. 
  • Recommend proactive measures to ensure continued SLA adherence. 

 

Application Information: 

  • Gather detailed information about your website’s architecture, including:  
    • Name (Application Name) 
    • Hosting environment (e.g., Acquia Cloud Platform, Acquia Cloud Edge) 
    • Subscription 
    • Organization 
    • Drupal Version 
    • Drush Version 
    • Deployed Code 

Issue Summary: 

  • Provide a concise overview of the most critical issues identified during the review. 
  • Prioritize issues based on severity and potential impact. 
  • Clearly communicate the urgency and importance of addressing each issue. 

Issue Summary

 

 Issues: 

  • Detailed descriptions of all identified issues, categorized by severity (e.g., critical, major, minor). 
  • Include specific recommendations for remediation and potential workarounds. 
  • Provide supporting evidence, such as performance data, code snippets, and security scans. 

Issues

 

Warnings: 

  • Identify potential future problems or areas of concern. 
  • Provide proactive recommendations to mitigate risks and prevent future issues. 
  • Highlight potential areas for improvement in website performance, security, and scalability. 

Warnings

 

Audit Synopsis: 

  • Summarize the key findings and recommendations of the review. 
  • Provide an overall assessment of your website’s health and performance within the Acquia ecosystem. 
  • Outline a roadmap for addressing identified issues and improving website performance. 

Audit Synopsis

 

Benefits of Acquia Cloud Site Reviews 

  • Improved Website Performance: Enhance website speed, reduce page load times, and improve user experience. 
  • Enhanced Security: Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities, protecting your website from attacks. 
  • Reduced Downtime: Minimize unexpected downtime and ensure business continuity. 
  • Optimized Costs: Identify opportunities to optimize resource utilization and reduce hosting costs. 
  • Increased Agility: Proactively address issues and adapt to changing business needs. 
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Gain valuable insights into website performance and make informed decisions.

 

Conclusion 

Acquia Cloud Site Reviews are an invaluable tool for organizations seeking to maximize the value of their Acquia Cloud investment. By proactively identifying and addressing potential issues, you can ensure optimal website performance, enhance security, and deliver exceptional user experiences. I hope this comprehensive blog post provides a valuable overview of Acquia Cloud Site Reviews.

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/30/acquia-cloud-site-review-a-crucial-step-for-success/feed/ 0 374743
Website Project Management Tips https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/11/27/website-project-management-tips/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/11/27/website-project-management-tips/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 22:13:34 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=372688

Are you a project manager who has just been handed a new website implementation or redesign project for the first time? Maybe you have a project assigned to you, but you don’t usually manage projects. If so, here are five website project management tips to keep in mind as you run your project:

  1. Identify Key Stakeholders

    Identify all key stakeholders who need to know about the project but aren’t involved in the day-to-day work. As you work closely with many resources on your project, remember that other departments and individuals in your organization will also feel the impact of the changes. Keep these departments informed about the changes and ask for their feedback. This will encourage them to champion your project and adopt changes sooner. It also allows them to make necessary adjustments on their end before you complete your project. Waiting to inform key stakeholders later could delay the project launch if they need to make critical adjustments.

  2. Arrange Meetings in Advance

    One of the toughest parts of being a project manager is finding time for everyone to meet. I joke that that its like solving a Rubik’s Cube. The more stakeholders you have, the harder it is to schedule meetings, especially at the beginning of a project when you’re collecting requirements. A pro tip is to block recurring meetings ahead of time for requirements collection. You might not have all the topics fully identified, but scheduling these meetings in advance will speed up the process and prevent scrambling to arrange ad hoc meetings.

  3. Collect Data Early

    As you start a re-platforming project, identify all integrations and data that are crucial to your website. Often, data is inconsistent or needs cleaning. At the project’s outset, review all data points with your team and architect to identify what you need to clean up. Depending on the scope, this can take significant time. Assign someone on your team to handle the data cleanup and estimate how long it will take. Waiting until the end of the project could impact your launch date.

  4. Create an Action Log

    Develop a centralized action log that everyone on the project can access. When development work is ready for testing, you’ll receive feedback from multiple team members. Having a single document for feedback allows team members to input their comments and track progress on fixes. This reduces the chances of team members mentioning the same feedback multiple times. If team members start sending emails, you might lose or overlook action items, especially if you leave some members off the email chain. A centralized document provides visibility for everyone and streamlines communication.

  5. Schedule Regular Updates with Senior Leadership

    Regular check-ins with senior leadership are essential for you to showcase the great work your team is doing on the project. Even if there are hiccups or things aren’t going according to plan, keeping senior leadership in the loop is important. You never know what valuable input or advice they might have. They can also help identify or unblock major risks that arise during your project.

There are many other tips I could share to ensure your project’s success, but these are the key items I recommend based on my years of experience managing multiple website implementations. Stay tuned for more insights and website project management tips, or feel free to leave a comment with any questions or suggestions!

]]>
https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/11/27/website-project-management-tips/feed/ 0 372688