This post builds on our original GenStudio for Performance Marketing in 5 Minutes overview. In that post, we explored what GenStudio is, how to get started, and where it fits in the content creation process.
Since then, we’ve continued testing GenStudio and tracking its evolution. Here’s what we’ve learned—and what’s new.

Real-World Use Cases for GenStudio

GenStudio helps marketers scale content creation and personalization. Here are a few high-impact use cases:

• Reuse content from past campaigns across multiple channels
• Personalize content by product, offer, or audience segment
• Localize content for different languages and regions
• Optimize content using performance insights

These use cases make GenStudio a powerful tool for performance marketing teams.

What’s New in GenStudio

Adobe continues to enhance GenStudio with new features and integrations. Since our initial review, here are some of the most notable updates:

• Multilingual content creation in 12 languages
• Video support for LinkedIn and Meta templates
• Rich text formatting in content variants
• Starter templates to accelerate creative production
• Workfront Proof integration for streamlined reviews

You can find the full list of updates and fixes on Adobe’s release notes page.

What’s Working and What We’d Like to See

Development Considerations

GenStudio is primarily UI-based, which makes version control tricky. We recommend managing template versions outside the platform. Keeping multiple versions inside GenStudio can confuse users and clutter the workspace.

However, deleting templates can break experiences built from them. Proceed with caution.

Although rudimentary, it is possible to use the search tool to find a template and then create an experience from that template. It can be used while navigating templates, or when creating new content and prompted for a template, as in the example pictured below. 

Activation Channels Are Expanding

GenStudio now supports activation to Meta, Google Campaign Manager 360, and LinkedIn. Adobe has also announced upcoming support for:

• Microsoft Advertising
• Snap
• TikTok

Integration with Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO) is now available as well.

Managing Multiple Brands

We’ve added several brands to our GenStudio instance, including the one behind LumaX—our shopping experience site that demonstrates Edge Delivery Services, StreamX, Adobe Commerce, and Adobe Experience Platform integrations.

Adobe has previewed a Unified Branding Service in webinars, but we’re still waiting on official documentation and guidance on how to use it across applications.

Visualizing the Experience

The infographic below shows how we’ve structured GenStudio for performance marketing. Your experience may vary depending on your configuration and rollout stage.

Click the image to enlarge the infographic.

Final Thoughts

We’re excited about GenStudio’s momentum and its growing list of features. As we continue building experiences that align with our clients’ needs, here are the things we’d love to see from Adobe in the future:

• Best practices for image generation
• Guidance on organizing assets
• Faster performance and load times

As GenStudio evolves, so does the opportunity to reimagine how we create, personalize, and activate content at scale. We’re committed to exploring what’s possible—and sharing what we learn—so our clients can stay ahead in a fast-moving digital landscape.

In today’s world of AI-powered development tools, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are often compared side by side. Both promise to make coding easier, debugging faster, and problem-solving more efficient. But when it comes to solving real-world enterprise issues, the difference in their effectiveness becomes clear.

Recently, I faced a practical challenge while working with Sitecore 10.2.0 and Sitecore SXA 11.3.0, which presented a perfect case study for comparing the two AI assistants.

The Context: Node.js & Sitecore Compatibility

I was troubleshooting an issue with Sitecore SXA where certain commands (npm run build, sxa r Main, and sxa w) weren’t behaving as expected. Initially, my environment was running on Node.js v14.17.1, but I upgraded to v20.12.2. After the upgrade, I started suspecting a compatibility issue between Node.js and Sitecore’s front-end build setup.

Naturally, I decided to put both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT to the test to see which one handled things better.

My Experience with Microsoft Copilot

When I first used Copilot, I gave it a very specific and clear prompt:

I am facing an issue with Sitecore SXA 11.3.0 on Sitecore 10.2.0 using Node.js v20.12.2. The gulp tasks are not running properly. Is this a compatibility issue and what should I do?

Copilot’s Response

• Copilot generated a generic suggestion about checking the gulp configuration.
• It repeated standard troubleshooting steps such as “try reinstalling dependencies,” “check your package.json,” and “make sure Node is installed correctly.”
• Despite rephrasing the prompt multiple times, it failed to recognize the known compatibility issue between Sitecore SXA’s front-end tooling and newer Node versions.

Takeaway: Copilot provided a starting point, but the guidance lacked the technical depth and contextual relevance required to move the solution forward. It felt more like a general suggestion than a targeted response to the specific challenge at hand.

My Experience with ChatGPT

I then tried the same prompt in ChatGPT.

ChatGPT’s Response

• Immediately identified that Sitecore SXA 11.3.0 running on Sitecore 10.2.0 has known compatibility issues with Node.js 20+.
• It suggested that I should switch to Node.js v18.20.7 because it’s stable and works well with Sitecore.
• Recommended checking SXA version compatibility matrix to confirm the supported Node versions.
• Also guided me on how to use Node Version Manager (NVM) to switch between multiple Node versions without affecting other projects.

This response was not only accurate but also actionable. By following the steps, I was able to resolve the issue and get the build running smoothly again.

Takeaway: ChatGPT felt like talking to a teammate who understands how Sitecore and Node.js really work. In contrast, Copilot seemed more like the suggestion tool, it offered helpful prompts but didn’t fully comprehend the broader context or the specific challenge I was addressing.

Key Differences I Observed

Takeaways for Developers

1. Copilot is great for boilerplate code and inline suggestions – if you want quick syntax help, it works well.
2. ChatGPT shines in debugging and architectural guidance – especially when working with enterprise systems like Sitecore or giving code suggestions.
3. When you’re stuck on environment or compatibility issues, ChatGPT can save hours by pointing you in the right direction.
4. Best workflow: Use Copilot for code-writing speed, and ChatGPT for solving bigger technical challenges.

Final Thoughts

Both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are powerful AI tools, but they serve different purposes.

• Copilot functions like a code suggestion tool integrated within your IDE.
• ChatGPT feels like a senior consultant who understands the ecosystem and gives you actionable advice.

When working on complex platforms like Sitecore 10.2.0 with SXA 11.3.0, and specific Node.js compatibility issues, ChatGPT clearly comes out ahead.

The future of service isn’t reactive; it’s intelligent, predictive, and AI-powered. At Dreamforce 2025, join Perficient and Salesforce for a roundtable built for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize their service strategy. If you’re responsible for uptime, field service, or asset performance, this session is for you. 

Take part in a focused, 40-person discussion where industry peers share how they use AI, IoT, and asset data to reshape aftermarket service. Learn how early adopters reduce operational risks and control rising service costs. 

Led by: 

• Lester McHargue – Director, Salesforce Manufacturing, Perficient 

• Nanda Chitrala – Sr. Director, Manufacturing Solutions & Strategy, Salesforce 

• Lance Fettig – Sr. Director, Business Consulting, Salesforce 

What You’ll Gain 

The manufacturers getting ahead are the ones transforming their service models now. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to: 

• Enable smarter scheduling with real-time asset visibility  

• Prevent asset failures using predictive insights  

• Ensure accurate billing with the right data and tools  

• Drive new revenue models through Servitization 

This session is a chance to see what’s working on the ground and ask the questions that matter to your business. 

Event Details 

Reserve your session spot with the Dreamforce Agenda Builder today: Transform Aftermarket with Asset Service Management 

Dates & Times:
Tuesday, Oct 14 |  2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PDT (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12
Wednesday, Oct 15 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM PDT (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12

Let’s Rethink Aftermarket Service: Smarter, Faster, and Powered by AI 

Manufacturers are transforming service operations with AI, IoT, and asset intelligence. This roundtable offers a chance to learn what early adopters are doing to reduce costs, prevent downtime, and unlock new revenue. 

If you’re interested in meeting with our team during Dreamforce or would like to connect ahead of the event, visit our event page to schedule a 1:1 meeting with our AI strategy team or connect with executive leadership onsite. 

As digital experience platforms (DXPs) evolve, Adobe continues to lead the way in embedding artificial intelligence to help organizations deliver more personalized, efficient, and scalable customer experiences. Forrester’s report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, explores how vendors like Adobe are integrating agentic AI and generative AI (GenAI) to streamline experience operations and empower practitioners. 

Adobe is among the leaders in this space, offering tools that help teams simulate ideas, analyze impact, and activate personalized experiences across channels, all within a unified platform. 

Agentic AI Turns Insights Into Action

Adobe’s DXP ecosystem, including Adobe Experience Platform and Adobe Sensei, is increasingly powered by agentic AI — intelligent agents that support marketers and developers in orchestrating and optimizing customer journeys. These agents are designed to reduce manual effort, surface actionable insights, and automate tasks across the experience lifecycle. 

Perficient Adobe Consulting Principal Robert Sumner has seen firsthand how Adobe’s orchestration capabilities can be extended to deliver more seamless digital experiences across platforms. 

“Adobe’s suite enables orchestration to happen naturally across its tools, but we often help clients go further by integrating these capabilities across platforms to create a seamless journey,” said Sumner.  

Creativity Meets Efficiency With GenAI

Adobe is also at the forefront of GenAI innovation. From generating brand-consistent content to enabling marketers to build data-driven briefs and presentations within Microsoft 365 via Adobe’s copilot, GenAI is transforming how teams create and collaborate. 

Sumner mentioned that Adobe’s GenAI tools are already delivering measurable impact for clients. He said, “We’re seeing Adobe’s GenAI tools help clients scale content creation and experimentation. But success depends on aligning these capabilities with business goals and ensuring strong governance.”  

Perficient Named 2025 Gold Globee® Winner for Best Artificial Intelligence Service Provider | Learn More

Responsible AI Adoption

Adobe’s AI capabilities are powerful, but success depends on strong data foundations, human oversight, and change management. That’s why we work closely with clients to ensure these pillars are in place, enabling responsible and effective adoption of AI. 

We’re honored to have contributed to the research in an interview for Forrester’s report , The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms. We believe it reflects our deep expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs like Adobe. Whether it’s integrating predictive analytics, deploying cognitive copilots, or improving data governance, our teams are leading the way in enabling AI-powered transformation. 

If you’re exploring how to bring AI into your DXP strategy, we invite you to connect with us and keep the conversation going. 

Access the report here (available to Forrester subscribers or for purchase).  

Learn more about our Adobe expertise here.  

Contact us to learn more. 

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant embedded across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and empower users with intelligent automation. Built on Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and GPT-5, and tightly integrated with Microsoft Graph, Copilot transforms how professionals interact with tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Microsoft Copilot is an LLM-powered AI assistant by Microsoft, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Under the Copilot brand, Microsoft has released a variety of products. Here’s a timeline of key releases:

Core Features of Microsoft Copilot

Copilot offers a wide range of capabilities. Specifically, it supports:

• Data Analysis: Analyzes large datasets, identifies trends, and generates insights.
• Document Creation: Drafts reports, emails, and presentations using natural language prompts.
• Project Management: Tracks tasks, schedules meetings, and summarizes conversations.
• Workflow Automation: Automates repetitive tasks like data entry and report generation.
• Communication: Summarizes emails, drafts responses, and manages inboxes.
• Security & Privacy: Honors Conditional Access, MFA, and data boundaries.

These features span across multiple Microsoft 365 apps, making Copilot a versatile productivity tool.

How Microsoft Copilot Works as an AI tool

At its core, Copilot combines:

• Large Language Models (LLMs) from OpenAI
  • It orchestrates large language models (like GPT-4 /GPT-5 via Azure OpenAI) to understand, generate, and summarize content in context.
• Microsoft Graph for contextual enterprise data
  • Copilot uses Microsoft Graph and semantic indexing—adding metadata and vector embeddings to content—enhancing intelligent retrieval when generating responses.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) for understanding user intent
• Uses plain language prompts to perform complex tasks
• Microsoft 365 APIs for secure integration

 Microsoft Copilot Workflow

Security & Compliance

• Data Access: Copilot only accesses data that the user is authorized to view.
• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit.
• MFA & Conditional Access: Fully supported for enterprise-grade security.

 Advantages of Microsoft Copilot

Copilot delivers several benefits:

• Automation: Reduces manual tasks like writing and formatting.
• Data Insights: Analyzes trends and creates visualizations.
• Contextual Intelligence: Uses enterprise data for tailored responses.
• Time Savings: Speeds up routine work and decision-making.
• Security: Honors user permissions and governance policies.

As a result, organizations can achieve measurable productivity gains.

Day-to-Day Uses in the Software Industry

For Developers

• Code Suggestions: GitHub Copilot offers real-time code completions.
• Documentation: Drafts technical documentation in Word.
• Data Analysis: Uses Excel + Python for forecasting and modeling.
• Meeting Summaries: Teams Copilot summarizes stand-ups and action items.

For Project Managers

• Task Tracking: Automates task updates and reminders.
• Presentation Creation: Builds stakeholder decks from project data.
• Email Drafting: Summarizes threads and drafts follow-ups.

For QA/Testers

• Bug Reporting: Drafts structured bug reports.
• Test Case Generation: Suggests test scenarios based on requirements

Industry Applications Uses

• Retail: Optimize shift scheduling and inventory
• Finance: Automate reporting and investment analysis
• Healthcare: Streamline clinical documentation
• Education: Personalize learning and automate grading
• Government: Draft public communications and manage budgets

Business Impact of Using Microsoft Copilot

1. Boosted Productivity

Automates repetitive tasks like drafting emails, generating summaries, or designing slides—freeing up more time for strategic work

2. Time Savings

• UK civil servants saved approximately 26 minutes daily (entry users averaged 37 minutes).
• TAL insurer saved up to 6 hours a week per employee.

3. Creativity & Quality Enhancements

Helps generate polished content, insightful visual designs, and improves presentation efficacy.

4. Seamless Integration

Works natively within existing Microsoft tools, reducing learning curves and ensuring smooth adoption.

5. Executive Workflow Optimization

Satya Nadella uses GPT-5–powered Copilot for prompts like meeting prep, project updates, time categorization, and decision analysis

Scaling Copilot—Building Intelligence for Your Organization

1. Copilot Connectors

Ingest data from ERP, CRM, and internal systems to enrich Copilot’s knowledge base, letting it reason over broader, organization-specific content, while respecting access controls.

2. Copilot Agents

Build or use prebuilt AI agents to automate workflows—e.g., employee onboarding, sales leads creation, IT requests—right from within Copilot.

Agents can:

• Take real-time actions (database updates, triggering flows)
• Tailor automation to your context

3. Copilot APIs

Use the Copilot Retrieval API to programmatically access enterprise data indexes and integrate AI capabilities into custom applications or workflows, with full compliance and governance.

How to Integrate Microsoft Copilot into Microsoft 365

Prerequisites

• Active Microsoft 365 subscription (E3/E5 or Business Standard/Premium).
• Microsoft Copilot license.
• Admin permissions for organizational deployment.

Integration Steps

1. Enable Copilot in Admin Center
   1. Go to Microsoft 365 Admin Center → Apps → Enable Copilot.
2. Assign Licenses
   1. Allocate Copilot licenses to users.
3. Configure Security & Compliance
   1. Ensure Conditional Access, MFA, and data governance policies are in place.
4. Deploy Across Apps
   1. Activate Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Where Copilot is Natively Embedded

• Word: Draft and edit documents.
• Excel: Analyze data and automate calculations.
• PowerPoint: Design presentations with AI.
• Outlook: Manage emails and calendars.
• Teams: Summarize meetings and manage tasks.
• OneNote: Organize notes and generate summaries.
• It also integrates with SharePoint, Planner, Project, and Power Platform for extended automation and data insights.

Why Microsoft Copilot is a Game-Changer

• By combining AI intelligence with enterprise data, Copilot transforms how businesses operate:
• Reduces manual effort.
• Improves decision-making.
• Enhances collaboration.
• Delivers measurable productivity gains across all departments.

Conclusion

In summary, Microsoft Copilot is not just a productivity tool—it’s a strategic AI partner that empowers professionals across industries. From automating mundane tasks to enhancing creativity and collaboration, Copilot is reshaping the future of work.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve earned our 8th Adobe specialization in Adobe’s Real-time Customer Data Platform. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences and deepens our already robust Adobe partnership.

View our other specializations in the Adobe partner directory.

What is Adobe’s Real-time CDP?

Real-time Customer Data Platform is a powerful solution that enables organizations to unify customer data from multiple sources in real-time, creating actionable profiles that drive personalized, omnichannel experiences. As customer expectations continue to rise, Real-time CDP empowers brands to activate their data with precision, speed, and relevance.

Why This Specialization Matters

Achieving an Adobe specialization is no small feat. Adobe’s rigorous program evaluates partners on their technical expertise, successful implementations, and proven customer impact. This new Real-time CDP specialization validates Perficient’s ability to architect and deploy scalable data solutions that help clients unlock the full potential of their customer data.

Delivering Real-time Impact Across Industries

Our team has already helped leading brands across industries leverage Adobe’s Real-time CDP to:

• Break down data silos and unify fragmented customer information
• Build real-time, privacy-compliant customer profiles
• Activate audiences across channels for personalized engagement
• Drive measurable business outcomes through data-driven marketing

“This specialization is a testament to our team’s deep expertise in Adobe Experience Cloud and our ability to help clients harness real-time data to deliver meaningful customer experiences,” said Lynn Brading, Global Adobe Alliance Director at Perficient.

How We’re Innovating and Growing With Adobe

As we continue to expand our Adobe capabilities, this specialization reinforces our position as a trusted advisor for enterprise organizations seeking to modernize their digital ecosystems. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with Real-time CDP or looking to optimize an existing implementation, Perficient is ready to help.

Let’s Connect

Explore our Adobe partner page to learn more about our specializations, success stories, and how we can help you turn data into a strategic advantage.

At Perficient, we believe that championing innovation begins with the bold leaders who live it every day. Today, we’re proud to recognize Madhu Mohan Kommu, a key driver in our Databricks Center of Excellence (CoE), for being named a Databricks Champion, one of the most coveted recognitions in the Databricks ecosystem.

This honor represents more than technical mastery; it reflects strategic impact, thought leadership, and the power to drive transformation across industries through smart architecture and scalable data solutions. Achieving Databricks Champion status unlocks priority access to exclusive events, speaking engagements, and community collaboration. It’s a mark of excellence reserved for those shaping the future of data and AI, with Madhu as a stellar example.

The Journey Behind the Recognition

Earning Champion status was no small feat. Madhu’s five-month journey began with his first Databricks certification and culminated in a nomination based on real customer impact, platform leadership, and consistent contributions to Perficient’s Databricks CoE. The nomination process spotlighted Madhu’s technical depth, thought leadership, and innovation across enterprise engagements.

From Spark to Strategy: A Legacy of Impact

Since 2019, Madhu has led initiatives for our enterprise clients, delivering platform modernization, transformation frameworks, and cutting-edge data quality solutions. His expertise in the Spark Distributed Processing Framework, combined with deep knowledge of PySpark and Unity Catalog, has made him a cornerstone in delivering high-value, AI-powered outcomes across industries.

“Personally, it’s a proud and rewarding milestone I’ve always aspired to achieve. Professionally, it elevates my credibility and brings visibility to my work in the industry. Being recognized as a Champion validates years of dedication and impact.” – Madhu Mohan Kommu, Technical Architect

Strengthening Perficient’s Position

Madhu’s recognition significantly strengthens Perficient’s role as a strategic Databricks partner, expanding our influence across regions, deepening pre-sales and enablement capabilities, and empowering customer engagement at scale. His leadership amplifies our ability to serve clients with precision and purpose.

Looking Ahead: Agentic AI & Beyond

Next up? Madhu plans to lead Perficient’s charge in Agentic AI within Databricks pipelines, designing use cases that deliver measurable savings in time, cost, and process efficiency. These efforts will drive value for both existing and future clients, making AI innovation more accessible and impactful than ever.

Advice for Future Champions

Madhu’s advice for those on a similar path is to embrace continuous learning, collaborate across teams, and actively contribute to Perficient’s Databricks CoE.

What’s Hot in Databricks Innovation

From Lakehouse Federation to Mosaic AI and DBRX, Madhu stays at the forefront of game-changing trends. He sees these innovations not just as tools, but as catalysts for redefining business intelligence.

Madhu’s story is a powerful reflection of how Perficient continues to lead with purpose, vision, and excellence in the Databricks community.

Perficient + Databricks

Perficient is proud to be a trusted Databricks elite consulting partner with 100s of certified consultants. We specialize in delivering tailored data engineering, analytics, and AI solutions that unlock value and drive business transformation.

Learn more about our Databricks partnership.

In this article, we will cover all the remaining actions available in Mission Control.

Base Code Deploy

The Optimizely team continuously improves the platform by introducing new features and releasing updated versions. To take advantage of these enhancements and bug fixes, projects must be upgraded to the latest version. After upgrading the project, it needs to be deployed to the appropriate environment. This deployment is carried out using the “Base Code Deploy” option in Mission Control.

How to deploy the Base Code

• Log in to Mission Control.

• Navigate to the Customers tab.

• Select the appropriate Customer.

  

• Choose the Environment where you want to deploy the base code changes.

  

• Click the Action dropdown in the left pane.

• Select Base Code Deploy.

  

• A pop-up will appear with a scheduler option and a dropdown showing the latest build version.

  

• Click Continue to initiate the deployment process.

• Once the process completes, the base code is successfully deployed to the selected environment.

Reference: Base Code Deploy – Optimizely Support

Extension Deployment

There are many customizations implemented according to project requirements, and these are developed within the extension project following Optimizely framework guidelines. To make these changes available in the environment, we need to deploy the extension project code. This can be done using the Extension Deployment option available in Mission Control.

Deploy Extension Code

• Log in to Mission Control.

• Navigate to the Customers tab.

  

• Select the appropriate Customer.

• Choose the Environment where you want to deploy the extension code.

  

• Click the Action dropdown in the left pane.

• Select Extension Deployment.

  

• A pop-up will appear with an optional scheduler and a dropdown showing available extension build versions.

  

• Select the desired extension version to deploy.

• Click Continue to initiate the deployment process immediately.

• Once the process completes, the extension code is successfully deployed to the selected environment.

Reference: Extension Deployment – Optimizely Support

Production User Files Sync

In any project, there are numerous user files—especially images—which play a crucial role in the website’s appearance and user experience. During development, it’s important to keep these files synchronized across all environments. Typically, the files in lower environments should mirror those in the production environment. Since clients often update files directly in production, the “Production User Files Sync” option in Mission Control becomes extremely useful. It allows developers to easily sync user files from production to lower environments, ensuring consistency during development and testing.

How to sync production user files

• Log in to Mission Control.

• Navigate to the Customers tab.

• Select the appropriate Customer.

  

• Choose the lower environment where you want to sync the user files.

• Click the Action dropdown in the left pane.

• Select User File Sync from the list of available options.

• A pop-up will appear with an optional scheduler and a Source Environment dropdown containing all environments available for the selected customer.

• Select Production as the source (or any environment as required), then click Continue to start the sync process.

• Depending on the size of the user files and network parameters, the process might take several minutes to complete.

Reference: Production User Files Sync – Optimizely Support

Production Database Sync

This option allows you to synchronize data from the production environment to a lower instance.
Note: Data cannot be synced from a lower instance back to production.

Critical Requirements

• Matching Website Keys
  
  • The website keys in both the production and target environments must match.
  • If they do not, the site may experience a startup failure and become unstable.

• Version Compatibility

  • The target environment must be running on a version that is equal to or newer than the source (production) version.

  • Both source and target environments must be on one of the last three supported long-term versions, or their corresponding short-term support versions.

  • If version requirements are not met, the sync process will fail.

• Data Loss Warning

  • This is a destructive operation—it will overwrite data on the target (lower) environment.

  • Ensure that no critical or important data exists in the sandbox or lower instance before initiating the sync.

The Production Sync option does not replicate all data, but it does synchronize several key components. Below is the list of data that gets synced:

Product Data

• Product settings (e.g., ERP Managed, Track Inventory, Quote Required)

• Attribute values

• Category assignments

• Product content (metadata and rich content)

• Product specifications

• Child variants

• Pricing and cost

• Product number and URL segment

• Warehouse inventory (stock levels)

• Shipping information

Category Data

• Category details (name, description)

• Category hierarchy

• Assigned products

• Category content (metadata and content)

• Attribute values

CMS Content

• CMS customizations made via out-of-the-box widgets (non-code changes)

• Variant page customizations and display rules

Additional Data

• Attribute types and values

• Variant types

• Customer records

• Website users

Data Not Synced from Production to Sandbox

The following areas are excluded from the Production Sync process and remain unchanged in the target sandbox environment:

• System Configuration
• Integration Job Settings
• Admin & User Data

  • Exceptions

    • If a production admin user has made changes to data being synced (like CustomerOrders, Content, etc.), that admin user is also synced to the sandbox.

    • Admin user roles are also synced to preserve permission context.

    • To prevent role duplication:

      • All sandbox roles are appended with -1.

      • Production roles retain their original names.

    • If a matching admin user exists in both environments:

      • The production user and roles are retained.

      • Sandbox-only users receive roles with the -1 suffix.

• Logs and Cache

Sync production data

• Log in to Mission Control.

• Navigate to the Customers tab.

• Select the appropriate Customer.

  

• Choose the lower environment where you want to sync the production data.

• Click the Action dropdown in the left pane.

  

• Select Production Database Sync from the list of available options.

• A pop-up will appear with:

  • • An optional scheduler, and

    • A Source Environment dropdown (select the production environment).

  

• Click Continue to initiate the sync process.

•  This is a large-scale data transfer operation. The sync process may take several minutes to complete, depending on the volume of data.

Note: Optimizely does not provide a rollback option for this process. Once the deployment is complete, any changes—such as modifications to stored procedures or database scripts—restored it.

Reference: Production Database Sync – Optimizely Support

The financial services industry is undergoing significant change. While there’s real opportunity for growth and innovation, firms also face tough challenges, like disconnected data systems, the complexities of adopting AI effectively, and increasing pressure to retain customers.

As 2025 wraps up, one thing is becoming clear: outdated technology and fragmented data strategies are making it harder for institutions to move forward with confidence.

Why Data and Legacy Systems Are Holding Firms Back
Financial institutions handle a tremendous amount of client data, but it’s often spread across multiple systems that don’t talk to each other. Advisors and relationship managers can end up spending more time piecing together information than working with clients.

This kind of fragmentation slows down operations and makes it harder to see the full picture when making decisions.

At the same time, many firms are finding it difficult to modernize their technology. Legacy systems may have served their purpose in the past, but they weren’t built for the speed, personalization, or regulatory demands of today’s environment.

The results are delays, inefficiencies, and a growing risk of losing clients to competitors who are quicker to adapt.

Current Events: Data, AI, and the Customer Retention Gap
A Tableau and Forrester report points to a widening gap between organizations’ enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and their ability to implement it effectively.

The reality is clear: while many financial institutions express interest in AI-powered insights, far fewer are deploying these tools at scale. The gap between AI interest and AI implementation is costing firms both efficiency and loyalty. At the same time, customer expectations are rising. Clients are looking for proactive, personalized financial guidance, and if they don’t find it, they’re willing to switch providers.

The FSC Advantage
This is where FSC (Financial Services Cloud) breaks down barriers. By offering a unified data strategy, FSC enables financial institutions to eliminate silos and create a single, reliable source of truth across the organization.

Advisors gain the clarity they need to make faster, smarter decisions, while clients benefit from more consistent and personalized engagement.

Salesforce’s AI-powered cloud solutions are projected to generate nearly $948 billion in new revenue for customers by 2028, highlighting the growing impact of modern financial technology. With 1.4 billion financial accounts already powered by Financial Services Cloud, institutions are clearly shifting toward platforms that offer scale, intelligence, and efficiency.

By centralizing data and embedding AI into everyday workflows, FSC helps firms operate more effectively, deliver personalized experiences, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Is Your Technology Ready for What’s Ahead?
The challenges facing financial institutions won’t disappear on their own. Data silos, outdated systems, and stalled AI adoption are real barriers to growth, but they are not insurmountable. By embracing a modern, unified approach, firms can transform these obstacles into opportunities.

Now is the time for financial leaders to take a hard look at their technology stacks and ask:

• Are our data strategies enabling growth or limiting it?
• Are we truly leveraging AI to enhance client engagement, or simply talking about it?
• Are we delivering the seamless, personalized experiences today’s clients expect?

Firms that can confidently answer “yes” to these questions will stand apart in the years ahead. Those that can’t risk falling further behind.

Ready to Modernize? FSC Can Help You Get There
This series has explored the forces reshaping financial services: the demand for digital-first engagement, the generational transfer of wealth, and the barriers that hold many institutions back.

The common thread across all three challenges is clear: firms that embrace modernization and client-centric strategies will be positioned to lead, while those that hesitate risk falling behind.

FSC is built to help institutions adapt with tools that unify data, enable personalization at scale, and empower firms to connect with the next generation of investors.

To take the next step, explore our latest guide, or connect with Perficient to learn how FSC can accelerate your transformation journey.

The financial services industry stands at the edge of the largest wealth transfer in history. Over the coming decades, an estimated $124 trillion will shift from Baby Boomers to their heirs, primarily Gen X, Millennials, and eventually Gen Z.

This generational shift brings both complexity and opportunity.

Firms that take time to understand the evolving expectations of younger investors will be better equipped to maintain trust and relevance, while those that don’t may struggle to retain long-standing client relationships.

The Generational Shift is Underway
The Baby Boomer generation has been the backbone of wealth management for decades, but today their children and grandchildren are stepping into decision-making roles. Gen Xers are already managing significant assets, while Millennials, now the largest generation in the workforce, are quickly building wealth through careers, entrepreneurship, and inheritance. Gen Z, digital natives just beginning their financial journeys, are poised to become influential clients over the next decade.

Each of these groups brings distinct preferences to the table. They value transparency, personalized engagement, and digital fluency. Many expect financial guidance to align with their broader life goals, from home ownership and entrepreneurship to sustainability and social responsibility.

Meeting these expectations requires a shift in how financial institutions engage, communicate, and deliver value.

Current Trends: From Reports to Real Life
Reports from Cerulli Associates and Merrill highlight how intergenerational wealth transfer is reshaping financial planning. One of the most significant findings is the rise of “giving while living”, a trend where families choose to distribute wealth earlier to support education, home purchases, or charitable causes, rather than waiting until inheritance.

This shift introduces new complexities for advisors. Financial strategies now need to account for multi-generational planning, tax implications, and the interpersonal dynamics that come with transferring wealth.

Increasingly, clients are looking for guidance that goes beyond managing assets, they want support in making financial decisions that reflect their family values and long-term goals.

The FSC Advantage
Navigating these changes requires more than traditional wealth management. FSC’s (Financial Services Cloud) household-centric model offers a powerful advantage. By viewing the client relationship through the lens of the entire household, rather than focusing on individual accounts, FSC helps firms build deeper, multi-generational connections.

This approach enables financial institutions to:
• Personalize engagement tools to meet the expectations of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
• Align with next-gen values, such as digital-first service, sustainability, and inclusive financial planning.
• Bridge communication gaps between generations, ensuring that advisors remain trusted partners throughout the wealth transfer process.

Equally important, FSC empowers firms with the technology and insights needed to adapt in real time. By combining data-driven decision-making with a client-first philosophy, institutions can remain relevant and competitive in a fast-changing market.

Your Call to Action: Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Investor
The great wealth transfer is not a distant event; it is happening now. Firms that hesitate risk losing clients as assets move to the next generation. The good news is that institutions that act today can position themselves as indispensable partners in this transition.

Financial leaders must ask:

• Are our engagement models built to resonate with Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z?
• Do we have the tools to connect meaningfully across households, not just individual investors?
• Are we prepared to meet the expectations of digitally fluent, value-driven clients?

Now is the time to modernize client engagement strategies and build resilience for the decades ahead. To explore actionable steps and learn how FSC can support your firm in capturing the next generation of investors, download our latest guide.

And stay tuned for the final post in our “Chaos to Clarity” series, where we’ll explore how FSC helps financial institutions overcome some of the industry’s biggest challenges from data silos to AI adoption.

My 30-year technology career has taught me many things…and one big thing: the companies that treat technology as a cost center are the ones that get blindsided. In manufacturing, that blindside is already here — and it’s wearing the name tag “AI.”

For decades, manufacturers have been locked into rigid systems, long upgrade cycles, and siloed data. The result? Operations that run on yesterday’s insights while competitors are making tomorrow’s moves. Sound familiar? It’s the same trap traditional IT outsourcing fell into — and it’s just as deadly in the age of smart manufacturing.

The AI Advantage in Manufacturing

Oracle Fusion AI for Manufacturing Smart Operations isn’t just another software upgrade. It’s a shift from reactive to predictive, from siloed to synchronized. Think:

• Real-time anomaly detection that flags quality issues before they hit the line.
• Predictive maintenance that slashes downtime and extends asset life.
• Intelligent scheduling that adapts to supply chain disruptions in minutes, not weeks.
• Embedded analytics that turn every operator, planner, and manager into a decision-maker armed with live data.

This isn’t about replacing people — it’s about giving them superpowers. Read more from Oracle here.

Proof in Action: Roeslein & Associates

If you want to see what this looks like in the wild, look at Roeslein & Associates. They were running on disparate, outdated legacy systems — the kind that make global process consistency a pipe dream. Perficient stepped in and implemented Oracle Fusion Cloud Manufacturing with Project Driven Supply Chain, plus full Financial and Supply Chain Management suites. The result?

• A global solution template that can be rolled out anywhere in the business.
• A redesigned enterprise structure to track profits across business units.
• Standardized manufacturing processes that still flex for highly customized demand.
• Integrated aftermarket parts ordering and manufacturing flows.
• Seamless connections between Fusion, labor capture systems, and eCommerce.

That’s not just “going live” — that’s rewiring the operational nervous system for speed, visibility, and scale.

Why Standing Still is Riskier Than Moving Fast

In my words, “true innovation is darn near impossible” when you’re chained to legacy thinking. The same applies here: if your manufacturing ops are running on static ERP data and manual interventions, you’re already losing ground to AI‑driven competitors who can pivot in real time.

Oracle Fusion Cloud with embedded AI is the equalizer. A mid‑sized manufacturer with the right AI tools can outmaneuver industry giants still stuck in quarterly planning cycles.

Where Perficient Comes In

Perficient’s Oracle team doesn’t just implement software — they architect transformation. With deep expertise in Oracle Manufacturing Cloud, Supply Chain Management, and embedded Fusion AI solutions, they help you:

• Integrate AI into existing workflows without blowing up your operations.
• Optimize supply chain visibility from raw materials to customer delivery.
• Leverage IoT and machine learning for continuous process improvement.
• Scale securely in the cloud while keeping compliance and governance in check.

They’ve done it for global manufacturers, and they can do it for you — faster than you think.

The Call to Action

If you believe your manufacturing operations are immune to disruption, history says otherwise. The companies that win will be the ones that treat AI not as a pilot project, but as the new operating system for their business.

Rather than letting new entrants disrupt your position, take initiative and lead the charge—make them play catch-up.

In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, agility, scalability, and collaboration aren’t just nice to have—they’re business-critical. If your organization is still on Microsoft SharePoint On-Premises, now is the time to make the move to SharePoint Online. Here’s why this isn’t just a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic leap forward.

1. Work Anywhere, Without Barriers

SharePoint Online empowers your workforce with secure access to content from virtually anywhere. Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or on the go, they can collaborate in real time without being tethered to a corporate network or VPN.

2. Always Up to Date

Forget about manual patching and version upgrades. SharePoint Online is part of Microsoft 365, which means you automatically receive the latest features, security updates, and performance improvements—without the overhead of managing infrastructure.

3. Reduce Costs and Complexity

Maintaining on-premises servers is expensive and resource-intensive. By moving to SharePoint Online, you eliminate hardware costs, reduce IT overhead, and streamline operations. Plus, Microsoft handles the backend, so your team can focus on innovation instead of maintenance.

4. Enterprise-Grade Security and Compliance

Microsoft invests heavily in security, offering built-in compliance tools, data loss prevention, and advanced threat protection. SharePoint Online is designed to meet global standards and industry regulations, giving you peace of mind that your data is safe.

5. Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365

SharePoint Online integrates effortlessly with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Power Automate, and Power BI—enabling smarter workflows, better insights, and more connected experiences across your organization.

6. Scalability for the Future

Whether you’re a small business or a global enterprise, SharePoint Online scales with your needs. You can easily add users, expand storage, and adapt to changing business demands without worrying about infrastructure limitations.

Why Perficient for Your SharePoint Online Migration 

• 35% boost in collaboration efficiency
• Up to 60% cost savings per user
• 73% reduction in data breach risk
• 100+ IT hours saved each month