Quick Takeaways

The digital landscape has been experiencing its most profound transformation since the dawn of e-commerce: AI search. By 2026, traditional search engine traffic is projected to decline by 25%, with AI-powered assistants and conversational agents intercepting customers before they ever reach your website. For CMOs and digital marketing leaders, this isn’t a distant threat; it’s the new reality already reshaping acquisition and growth strategies. Read on to learn more about why websites aren’t dead and how to think about AI search optimization.

The Restaurant That Forgot About Delivery

Imagine you’re running a renowned restaurant. For years, customers walked through your beautiful front doors, admired your meticulously designed dining room, and experienced your brand exactly as you intended. You invested heavily in that storefront, the lighting, the ambiance, and the path from entrance to table. It was your competitive advantage.

Then delivery apps appeared. Suddenly, most of your customers never saw your dining room. They ordered through third-party platforms, and your carefully crafted experience was reduced to food in a box. Some restaurants panicked and tried to block delivery altogether. Others thrived by recognizing a fundamental truth: the front door had moved.

This is precisely what’s happening to your website in 2026. And if you’re still optimizing primarily for traditional search traffic, you’re polishing the brass on the door fewer customers are using.

When the Front Door Moves

According to Gartner’s latest research, traditional search engine volume will drop 25% by 2026 as AI chatbots and virtual agents become the new intermediaries between brands and buyers. But here’s what most analyses miss: this isn’t about search dying; it’s about search fragmenting across dozens of new surfaces where decisions happen before anyone clicks.

McKinsey’s data reveals that 50% of consumers now intentionally seek out AI-powered search engines, with the majority saying it’s their top digital source for making buying decisions. By 2028, an estimated $750 billion in U.S. revenue will flow through these AI-powered channels.

Think about what this means for your Acquisition and Growth teams. The assumptions underlying every pipeline model, every traffic projection, and every cost-per-lead calculation are all becoming obsolete simultaneously. And how we embrace AI search optimization matters.

The Zero-Click World and Optimizing for AI Search

Here’s the uncomfortable reality facing marketing leaders: zero-click searches are approaching 70% of all queries. AI Overviews now appear in approximately 60% of Google search results, with projections suggesting this will exceed 75% by 2028. When users get their answers directly on the search results page or through conversational AI, they don’t visit your website. They don’t become trackable visitors. They don’t enter your funnel.

For Acquisition teams built around website traffic as the primary metric, this creates an existential crisis. Deloitte predicts that by 2026, one-third of adults in developed countries will view at least one AI-generated search summary daily, but only 10% will use standalone AI applications. The search habits haven’t disappeared; they’ve just moved to interfaces where your brand needs to be present in a fundamentally unique way.

Botify’s research is even more stark: most high-intent queries, product discovery, comparisons, specifications, and troubleshooting are being resolved inside AI search engines without any click-through. Their mandate for brands is clear: “Stay visible without clicks.” If you aren’t mentioned in AI answers, you’re effectively invisible to potential customers, regardless of how good your content is or how high you rank traditionally.

The Conversational Commerce Revolution

But the disruption doesn’t stop at search. The entire purchase journey is being reinvented through conversational AI. Consider these data points: 57% of Gen Z and 48% of millennials now consult AI assistants when shopping online, and global chat-based spending is projected to exceed $32.67 billion by 2035.

This means your Growth teams aren’t just competing for visibility, they’re competing to be the source AI agents recommend when business buyers ask, “Who should I consider for enterprise marketing automation?” or “What’s the best digital transformation partner for mid-market manufacturing?”

Companies implementing AI-driven customer management are already seeing remarkable results: 50% increases in customer acquisition, 20% rises in upselling and cross-selling, and in some cases, 2,300% increases in AI-driven traffic. Meanwhile, those who don’t optimize for AI discover risk not just traffic decline, but complete invisibility in the buying journeys of their ideal customers.

The Path Forward: AI Search Optimization

The brands winning in 2026 won’t be the ones with the most website traffic. They’ll be the ones AI agents trust and cite. This requires a fundamental shift in how Acquisition teams think about digital presence. Instead of optimizing a single owned property (your website), you’re building an ecosystem of signals that teach AI who you are, what you solve, and why you’re credible:

• Original research and data that AI systems can’t find elsewhere.
• Structured content with proper schema markup that machines can parse
• Consistent entity definitions across all digital touchpoints
• Authority signals from media mentions, expert commentary, and genuine thought leadership
• Real customer evidence in the form of detailed case studies and outcome data

Businesses also need visibility wherever audiences are searching, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s AI Overviews. The old approach of ranking on page one is dead. The new approach is being the answer AI provides.

The Front Door Hasn’t Disappeared, It’s Multiplied

Here’s the paradox your Growth team needs to embrace: websites aren’t dying, but they’re no longer the only place customers experience your brand first. The front door has multiplied into dozens of potential entrances, some you control, many you don’t.

Smart restaurant operators didn’t fight delivery apps. They refined their food for travel, ensured their listings were perfect, and made sure every touchpoint, from app description to packaging, reinforced their brand. They recognized that while the experience had changed, the fundamentals of quality, consistency, and reputation mattered more than ever.

The same is true for your digital presence. The brands that will dominate aren’t the ones mourning lost traffic or trying to game AI algorithms. They’re the ones building genuine authority, creating content that deserves to be cited, and ensuring that whenever AI looks for a credible answer in their space, they’re impossible to overlook.

Your website will still matter enormously. But it will be a destination for pre-qualified, high-intent visitors who’ve already been introduced to your brand by AI. The front door has moved. The question is: are you standing at the new entrance?

Key Takeaways for CMOs

For CMOs and marketing leaders, the implications are profound and immediate. Here are a few potential steps to consider for reclaiming your search visibility and stabilizing your operations:

• Traffic will decline, but that’s not the whole story. Brands that optimize for AI visibility are seeing higher-quality, higher-converting visitors.
• Shift the budget toward AI visibility and authority-building. Companies investing in AI search optimization, structured data, and authoritative content are capturing a disproportionate share while competitors chase vanishing traditional traffic.
• Measure what matters in an AI-first world. Move beyond page views to track: AI citation rates, brand mention frequency in AI responses, and conversion quality from AI-referred traffic.
• Integrate Acquisition and Growth around AI-first principles. The highest-performing teams treat AI as infrastructure, not a tool, embedding intelligence into ICP definition, content strategy, channel orchestration, and performance measurement.
• Build trust signals AI can recognize. E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), consistent brand voice, original research, and structured content architecture are the new currency of digital marketing.

The future of digital presence isn’t about having the best website; it’s about being the brand AI trusts enough to recommend. For marketing leaders willing to lead this transformation, the opportunity is extraordinary. The front door has moved. Will you be there to greet your customers?

References and Inspirations

• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wilreynolds_ai-optimization-in-2026-heres-what-i-am-activity-7419437187718361088-b4d6
• https://www.mirakl.com/blog/top-5-ai-trends-in-b2b-reshaping-commerce-in-2026
• https://www.omnibound.ai/blog/b2b-marketing-strategies
• https://infuse.com/insight/ai-implementation-handbook-for-b2b-gtm-in-2026/
• https://www.demandgenreport.com/demanding-views/demand-gen-report-2026-trends-calltrackingmetrics-erika-rollins/51087/
• https://www.devstars.com/blog/2026-b2b-marketing-playbook/
• https://noblestudios.com/b2b/b2b-marketing-playbook-2026/
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/natalie-marcotullio_a-convo-with-9-top-b2b-marketers-almost-activity-7415040040214679552-YnHm
• https://www.demandgenreport.com/demanding-views/demand-gen-report-2026-trends-gartner-marketing-practices-christy-ferguson/51078/
• https://whitehat-seo.co.uk/blog/inbound-marketing-trends
• https://www.lakeb2b.com/blog/b2b-growth-strategy-2026-ai-paradox/
• https://www.columnfivemedia.com/top-b2b-marketing-agency-for-ai-saas/
• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-mayo-649abb8_best-marketing-strategy-for-2026-marketing-activity-7414301267742814208-FzdV
• https://keomarketing.com/marketing-analytics-attribution-guide-150191-4

Customer expectations are not just rising; they are skyrocketing. By 2026, the brands that create real customer loyalty won’t be the ones that send clever emails or spruce up their loyalty programs. They’ll be the ones who can almost read their customers’ minds, anticipating needs before customers have to ask. I think of it like this:

If Great CX in 2025 were a skilled short-order cook, it would have expertly filled every customer’s order as it came in. Great CX in 2026 is the master chef who knows your favorite dish before you even sit down, having already prepped the ingredients and timed everything perfectly for your arrival.

This leap from reacting to anticipating is already underway, and it is about to redefine what “Great CX” really means. With this post, I plan to explore what predictive engagement looks like, why it matters for your business, and how you can start cooking up this future today.

The Big Shift: From answering questions to reading minds

For ages, customer experience has been about responding. We’re answering questions, fixing hiccups, gently nudging conversions, and recommending next best actions. Predictive engagement changes everything. Instead of waiting for customers to reach out, we’ll use smart data and AI to understand what is coming and act with intention. Imagine a couple of predictive scenarios:

A customer’s delivery is running a bit late. Instead of them anxiously checking, tracking, or calling support, your system detects the delay, automatically offers alternative options, and sends a friendly, proactive update.

A customer is thinking about leaving for another brand. Predictive models can spot those early signals and trigger tailored, helpful offers before customers even consider shopping elsewhere. This proactive approach transforms customer relationships into something far more intuitive and supportive.

Four big ideas shaping CX in 2026

Given the ever-shifting nature of customer expectations, I tried to pinpoint what I think will cause the biggest changes for CX teams in 2026.

1. Hyper-Personalization Gets Real. Personalization still, oftentimes, means sending different messages to different defined segments. In 2026, it means real-time, adaptive journeys explicitly tailored to each person. Generative and predictive AI will power “next-best-experience” decisions, making every interaction feel incredibly relevant and perfectly timed.
2. Conversational AI Becomes Your Best Server. Chatbots are no longer just for FAQs. They are becoming intelligent assistants that can resolve issues, escalate with all the right context, and learn from every chat. The best experiences will combine smart automation with real human empathy, so customers always feel understood.
3. Service Fixes Itself. Predictive insights will flow into operations, allowing systems to fix problems before they even impact customers. Think of billing errors being corrected automatically or parts being replaced before they fail. This minimizes disruption and keeps things running smoothly.
4. Trust Becomes Your Brand’s Superpower. As AI takes center stage, transparency and ethics matter more than ever. Customers expect clear explanations of how their data is used and confidence that decisions are fair. Brands that build trust into every experience will truly shine.

Building your smart CX kitchen

Delivering predictive CX is not about adding just one more gadget. It is about creating a unified, event-driven ecosystem. This includes:

• A solid data foundation that brings together customer profiles and real-time signals.
• An AI and decisioning layer to predict intent and recommend the most helpful next steps.
• Experience orchestration to trigger proactive outreach across all your channels.
• Operational automation for those self-healing processes.
• Governance and trust controls for transparency and clear explanations.

How to start cooking up the future

• Map your most important customer journeys. Start by identifying those key signals that hint at intent, risk, or value.
• Build smart decision-making logic. Set clear boundaries for automation and when to bring in human help.
• Perfection is the enemy of progress. Pilot a few proactive ideas that move the needle from a CX perspective, things like helpful delivery updates or churn prevention, to get started.
• Scale your conversational AI to make sure customer context follows them across all channels.
• Measure what works and keep optimizing and experimenting.
• Make trust a core ingredient by using transparent notices and carefully overseeing your AI models.

Looking ahead – answering the question before it’s asked

Predictive CX is not just a nice-to-have for customers; it is a game-changer for your business. It boosts retention by catching churn risk early, reduces service costs by preventing avoidable contacts, and drives revenue by surfacing the right offer at the perfect moment. Plus, it makes your operations far more efficient by avoiding downstream issues.

Customer experience is shifting fast. In the next year, anticipation will be a customer expectation. The brands that win will combine data, predictive intelligence, and automation built on trust and transparency. Begin laying the groundwork today so you can deliver experiences that feel effortless and intuitive.

In today’s marketing landscape, speed and precision aren’t luxuries—they’re expectations. Real-time engagement has become the baseline, and marketers need tools that can respond the moment a customer acts.

Having worked across a range of marketing automation platforms, I’ve seen how each handles this challenge differently. What stands out in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights – Journeys is how it brings real-time responsiveness and data-driven decision-making into a single, unified flow without excessive workarounds or patchwork integrations.

This post shares how real-time journeys can simplify campaign delivery, improve timing, and enhance how teams design and manage customer experiences, particularly when the pressure is on to scale fast and stay compliant.

Why Real-Time Journeys Are a Game Changer

In many traditional platforms, journey logic runs on scheduled evaluations or requires syncing data between systems. Real-time journeys flip that: they listen to user actions as they happen and respond without delay.

This means cleaner architecture, less manual upkeep, and better alignment between marketing and sales.

Key Advantages

Event-Based Triggers That Actually Work

Form submissions, link clicks, custom interactions—they all kick off journeys in real time. No batch processing or lag.

Segmentation That Doesn’t Live in a Silo

Unlike other tools where segmentation often lives outside the campaign builder, CIJ uses unified Dataverse data. I can build segments based on behaviors, preferences, and even CRM activity without exporting lists or building middle-layer syncs.

Clear, Flexible Branching

From a user experience standpoint, the journey builder is intuitive but also powerful. I can design complex logic with conditions, delays, and channel preferences, and the flow stays clean and understandable.

Built-In Consent Management

Compliance and consent aren’t afterthoughts. They are built into every journey. This simplifies cross-channel delivery while keeping you on the safe side of privacy regulations.

Channel-Ready (and Expandable)

Out of the box, you can orchestrate journeys across email, SMS, push notifications, and even custom channels if needed.

Example Use Case: Real-Time Inquiry Follow-Up

Let’s say you work for a university admissions team. Your marketing strategy includes a lead form where prospective students can request information about academic programs. These inquiries need to be followed up quickly and efficiently—ideally with personalized communication and a clear path toward scheduling a campus visit.

Here’s how a real-time journey in Dynamics 365 could automate that experience:

• A student fills out the “Request Info” form on your website
• Within seconds, they receive a personalized email acknowledging their request
• If they click a specific CTA (like “Schedule a Visit”), they’re routed into a journey branch that sends visit prep material
• If they don’t click after 2 days, they receive a gentle follow-up email
• Behind the scenes, the contact’s record is updated, and an alert is logged in CRM for the admissions advisor

No manual intervention. No delays. No data syncing. Just a clean journey that responds to interest in real time, while keeping your team informed.

Why This Matters

If you’re in marketing ops or campaign strategy, real-time journeys simplify things you’ve likely hacked together before:
– Real-time reactions without external tools
– Unified data access without integration overhead
– Journey paths that are scalable, visual, and respectful of consent

This isn’t just a shift in tooling. It’s a shift in how we build customer experiences.

Final Thought

With real-time journeys, I’m not just building email campaigns. I’m designing responsive experiences that meet users where they are. If you’ve worked with other automation platforms, you’ll feel the difference right away.

I think about the early ATMs now and then. No one knew the “right” way to use them. I imagine a customer in the 1970s standing there, card in hand, squinting at this unfamiliar machine and hoping it would give something back; trying to decide if it really dispensed cash…or just ate cards for sport. That quick panic when the machine pulled the card in is an early version of the same confusion customers feel today in digital banking.

People were not afraid of machines. They were afraid of not understanding what the machine was doing with their money.

Banks solved it by teaching people how to trust the process. They added clear instructions, trained staff to guide customers, and repeated the same steps until the unfamiliar felt intuitive. 

However, the stakes and complexity are much higher now, and AI for financial product transparency is becoming essential to an optimized banking UX.

Today’s banking customer must navigate automated underwriting, digital identity checks, algorithmic risk models, hybrid blockchain components, and disclosures written in a language most people never use. Meanwhile, the average person is still struggling with basic money concepts.

FINRA reports that only 37% of U.S. adults can answer four out of five financial literacy questions (FINRA Foundation, 2022).

Pew Research finds that only about half of Americans understand key concepts like inflation and interest (Pew Research Center, 2024).

Financial institutions are starting to realize that clarity is not a content task or a customer service perk. It is structural. It affects conversion, compliance, risk, and trust. It shapes the entire digital experience. And AI is accelerating the pressure to treat clarity as infrastructure.

When customers don’t understand, they don’t convert. When they feel unsure, they abandon the flow. 

How AI is Improving UX in Banking (And Why Institutions Need it Now)

Financial institutions often assume customers will “figure it out.” They will Google a term, reread a disclosure, or call support if something is unclear. In reality, most customers simply exit the flow.

The CFPB shows that lower financial literacy leads to more mistakes, higher confusion, and weaker decision-making (CFPB, 2019). And when that confusion arises during a digital journey, customers quietly leave without resolving their questions.

This means every abandoned application costs money. Every misinterpreted term creates operational drag. Every unclear disclosure becomes a compliance liability. Institutions consistently point to misunderstanding as a major driver of complaints, errors, and churn (Lusardi et al., 2020).

Sometimes it feels like the industry built the digital bank faster than it built the explanation for it.

Where AI Makes the Difference

Many discussions about AI in financial services focus on automation or chatbots, but the real opportunity lies in real-time clarity. Clarity that improves financial product transparency and streamlines customer experience without creating extra steps.

In-context Explanations That Improve Understanding

Research in educational psychology shows people learn best when information appears the moment they need it. Mayer (2019) demonstrates that in-context explanations significantly boost comprehension. Instead of leaving the app to search unfamiliar terms, customers receive a clear, human explanation on the spot.

Consistency Across Channels

Language in banking is surprisingly inconsistent. Apps, websites, advisors, and support teams all use slightly different terms. Capgemini identifies cross-channel inconsistency as a major cause of digital frustration (Capgemini, 2023). A unified AI knowledge layer solves this by standardizing definitions across the system.

Predictive Clarity Powered by Behavioral Insight

Patterns like hesitation, backtracking, rapid clicking, or form abandonment often signal confusion. Behavioral economists note these patterns can predict drop-off before it happens (Loibl et al., 2021). AI can flag these friction points and help institutions fix them.

24/7 Clarity, Not 9–5 Support

Accenture reports that most digital banking interactions now occur outside of business hours (Accenture, 2023). AI allows institutions to provide accurate, transparent explanations anytime, without relying solely on support teams.

At its core, AI doesn’t simplify financial products. It translates them.

What Strong AI-Powered Customer Experience Looks Like

Onboarding that Explains Itself

• Mortgage flows with one-sentence escrow definitions.
• Credit card applications with visual explanations of usage.
  
• Hybrid products that show exactly what blockchain is doing behind the scenes. The CFPB shows that simpler, clearer formats directly improve decision quality (CFPB, 2020).

A Unified Dictionary Across Channels

The Federal Reserve emphasizes the importance of consistent terminology to help consumers make informed decisions (Federal Reserve Board, 2021). Some institutions now maintain a centralized term library that powers their entire ecosystem, creating a cohesive experience instead of fragmented messaging.

Personalization Based on User Behavior

Educational nudges, simplified paths, multilingual explanations. Research shows these interventions boost customer confidence (Kozup & Hogarth, 2008). 

Transparent Explanations for Hybrid or Blockchain-backed Products

Customers adopt new technology faster when they understand the mechanics behind it (University of Cambridge, 2021). AI can make complex automation and decentralized components understandable.

The Urgent Responsibilities That Come With This

GenAI can mislead customers without strong data governance and oversight. Poor training data, inconsistent terminology, or unmonitored AI systems create clarity gaps. That’s a problem because those gaps can become compliance issues. The Financial Stability Oversight Council warns that unmanaged AI introduces systemic risk (FSOC, 2023). The CFPB also emphasizes the need for compliant, accurate AI-generated content (CFPB, 2024).

Customers are also increasingly wary of data usage and privacy. Pew Research shows growing fear around how financial institutions use personal data (Pew Research Center, 2023). Trust requires transparency.

Clarity without governance is not clarity. It’s noise.

And institutions cannot afford noise.

What Institutions Should Build Right Now

To make clarity foundational to customer experience, financial institutions need to invest in:

• Modern data pipelines to improve accuracy
• Consistent terminology and UX layers across channels
• Responsible AI frameworks with human oversight
• Cross-functional collaboration between compliance, design, product, and analytics
• Scalable architecture for automated and decentralized product components
• Human-plus-AI support models that enhance, not replace, advisors

When clarity becomes structural, trust becomes scalable.

Why This Moment Matters

I keep coming back to the ATM because it perfectly shows what happens when technology outruns customer understanding. The machine wasn’t the problem. The knowledge gap was. Financial services are reliving that moment today.

Customers cannot trust what they do not understand.

And institutions cannot scale what customers do not trust.

GenAI gives financial organizations a second chance to rebuild the clarity layer the industry has lacked for decades, and not as marketing. Clarity, in this new landscape, truly is infrastructure.

Related Reading

• The Personalization Gap Is Hurting Financial Services, Here’s How to Close It: A discussion of how personalization shortfalls are holding back financial services from meeting customer expectations. 

• Closing the Gap Between Expectations and Experience in Financial Services: Analysis of rising customer expectations and why legacy systems struggle to keep up. 

• Trust Is the New Currency in Financial Services and Customers Are Setting the Terms: A look at how trust, speed, transparency, and control are reshaping what customers expect from their institutions. 

References 

• Accenture. (2023). Banking top trends 2023. https://www.accenture.com
• Capgemini. (2023). World retail banking report 2023. https://www.capgemini.com
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2019). Financial well-being in America. https://www.consumerfinance.gov
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2020). Improving the clarity of mortgage disclosures. https://www.consumerfinance.gov
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2024). Supervisory highlights: Issue 30. https://www.consumerfinance.gov
• Federal Reserve Board. (2021). Consumers and mobile financial services. https://www.federalreserve.gov
• FINRA Investor Education Foundation. (2022). National financial capability study. https://www.finrafoundation.org
• Financial Stability Oversight Council. (2023). Annual report. https://home.treasury.gov
• Kozup, J., & Hogarth, J. (2008). Financial literacy, public policy, and consumers’ self-protection. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), 263–270.
• Loibl, C., Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Koeninger, J. (2021). Consumer financial behavior in digital environments. Journal of Economic Psychology, 87, 102438.
• Lusardi, A., Mitchell, O. S., & Oggero, N. (2020). The changing face of financial literacy. University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School.
• Mayer, R. (2019). The Cambridge handbook of multimedia learning. Cambridge University Press.
• Pew Research Center. (2023). Americans and data privacy. https://www.pewresearch.org
• Pew Research Center. (2024). Americans and financial knowledge. https://www.pewresearch.org
• University of Cambridge. (2021). Global blockchain benchmarking study. https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk

In my previous post, Simplifying Redirect Management in Sitecore XM Cloud with Next.js and Vercel Edge Config,  I explored how Vercel Edge Config can completely transform how we manage redirects in Sitecore XM Cloud. Traditionally, redirects have lived inside Sitecore – often stored as content items or within custom redirect modules – which works well until scale, speed, and operational agility become priorities.

That’s where Vercel Edge Config steps in. By managing redirects at the edge, we can push this logic closer to users, reduce load on Sitecore instances, and make updates instantly available without redeployments. The result is faster performance, easier maintenance, and a cleaner separation of content from infrastructure logic.

In this short follow-up, I will walk you through a step-by-step migration path  from auditing your current redirects to validating, deploying, and maintaining them on Vercel Edge Config. Along the way, I will share practical tips, lessons learned, and common pitfalls to watch out for during the migration process.

Audit Existing Redirects

• Export all existing redirects from Sitecore or any external sources where they might be managed.
• Identify and remove obsolete redirects, especially those pointing to pages that no longer exist or have already been redirected elsewhere.
• Combine duplicate or overlapping entries to ensure a single source of truth for each URL.
• Validate destination URLs – make sure they’re live and resolve correctly.
• Categorize by purpose – for example, marketing redirects, content migration redirects, or structural redirects.
• If you want to store them separately, you can even use different Edge Config stores for each category. This approach can make management easier and reduce the risk of accidental overrides – I have demonstrated this setup in my previous blog.
• Keep it simple – since we’re dealing with static one-to-one redirects, focus on maintaining clean mappings that are easy to review and maintain.

Define a Flexible JSON Schema

Once you have audited and cleaned up your redirects, the next step is to decide how they will be structured and stored in Edge Config. Unlike Sitecore, where redirects might be stored as content items or within a module, Edge Config uses a key-value data model, which makes JSON the most natural format for managing redirects efficiently.

The goal here is to define a clear and reusable JSON schema that represents your redirects consistently – simple enough to maintain manually, yet flexible enough to scale across multiple environments or stores.

Here’s the schema I used in my implementation:

{
  "/old-page": { 
    "destination": "/new-page", 
    "permanent": true 
  },
  "/legacy-section": { 
    "destination": "/resources", 
    "permanent": false 
  }
}

• Each key (for example, “/old-page”) is the source path that should be redirected.
• Each value contains two properties:
  • destination – the target path where the request should redirect.
  • permanent – a boolean flag (true or false) that determines whether the redirect should use a 308 (permanent) or 307 (temporary) status code.

Automate the Export

Once you’ve finalized your redirect list and defined your JSON structure, the next step is to automate the conversion process — so you can easily transform your audited data into the format that Vercel Edge Config expects.

In my implementation, I created a C# console application that automates this step. The tool takes a simple CSV file as input and converts it into the JSON format used by Edge Config.

The CSV file includes three columns: source, destination, permanent. The application reads this CSV and generates a JSON file in the format mentioned in the above section. You can find the complete source code and instructions for this utility on my GitHub repository here: ConvertCsvToJson

• You can collect and audit redirects collaboratively in a CSV format, which non-developers can easily work with.
• Once finalized, simply run the console application to convert the CSV into JSON and upload it to Vercel Edge Config.
• If you have multiple redirect categories or stores, you can generate separate JSON files for each using different input CSVs.

Validate & Test

Before you roll out your new redirect setup, it’s important to thoroughly validate and test the data and the middleware behavior. This stage ensures your redirects work exactly as expected once they’re moved to Vercel Edge Config.

A solid validation process will help you catch issues early – like typos in paths, invalid destinations, or accidental redirect loops – while maintaining confidence in your migration.

Gradual Rollout

Once your redirects have been validated locally and in your preview environment, the next step is to roll them out safely and incrementally. The advantage of using Vercel Edge Config is that updates propagate globally within seconds – but that’s exactly why taking a controlled, phased approach is important.

After validating your redirects, roll them out gradually to avoid unexpected issues in production. Begin by deploying your Next.js middleware and Edge Config integration to a preview/test environment. This helps confirm that the application is fetching from the correct store and that updates in Edge Config appear instantly without redeployments.

Once everything looks stable, publish your redirect JSON to the production Edge Config store. Changes propagate globally within seconds, but it’s still good practice to test a few key URLs immediately. If you have logging or analytics set up (such as Analytics or custom logs), monitor request patterns for any unusual spikes, new 404s, or unexpected redirect hits.

If you’re using multiple Edge Config stores, roll them out one at a time to keep things isolated and easier to debug.
And always keep a simple rollback plan – because Edge Config maintains backup- it creates a backup each time the json is updated, you can always rollback to the previous version, with no redeploy required.

Monitor & Maintain

Once your redirects are live in Vercel Edge Config, it’s important to keep an eye on how they behave over time. Redirects aren’t a “set and forget” feature especially on sites that evolve frequently.

Use logging, analytics, or Vercel’s built-in monitoring to watch for patterns like unexpected 404s, high redirect activity, or missed routes. These signals can help you identify gaps in your redirect set or highlight URLs that need cleanup.

Review and update your redirect JSON regularly. Legacy redirects may become irrelevant as site structures change, so a quick quarterly cleanup helps keep things lean. And since your JSON is version-controlled, maintaining and rolling back changes stays simple and predictable.

If you use multiple Edge Config stores, make sure the separation stays intentional. Periodically check that each store contains only the redirects meant for it—this avoids duplication and keeps your redirect logic easy to understand.

Consistent monitoring ensures your redirect strategy remains accurate, fast, and aligned with your site’s current structure.

Migrating redirects from Sitecore to Vercel Edge Config isn’t just a technical shift – it’s an opportunity to simplify how your site handles routing, clean up years of legacy entries, and move this logic to a place thats faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain. With a thoughtful audit, a clear JSON structure, and an automated export process, the migration becomes surprisingly smooth.

As you move forward, keep an eye on the small details: avoid accidental loops, stay consistent with your paths, and use the permanent flag intentionally. A few mindful checks during rollout and a bit of monitoring afterward go a long way in keeping your redirect setup predictable and high-performing.

Ultimately, this approach not only modernizes how redirects are handled in an XM Cloud setup – it also gives you a structured, version-controlled system that’s flexible for future changes and scalable as your site evolves. Its a clean foundation you can build on confidently.

We’re pleased that Perficient has been honored with a second award for our transformative work with a budget-friendly international airline. The Silver W3 Award in the Mobile Apps & Sites – Travel & Tourism category from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) celebrates our commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences that drive real-world impact.

The W3 Awards, now in their 20th year, spotlight the best in digital creativity across websites, mobile apps, video, social media, and emerging tech. With thousands of global entries, only the top 20% earn Silver distinction—making this achievement especially meaningful.

A Budget-Friendly Airline, Reimagined

Our award-winning submission showcased how Perficient partnered with the international airline to modernize their digital experience and better serve budget-conscious travelers. The project focused on:

• Enhancing mobile usability for travelers booking international flights
• Streamlining the user journey from search to checkout
• Improving accessibility and performance across devices

The result? A mobile experience that’s not only intuitive and visually engaging but also aligned with the organization’s mission to offer affordable travel without compromising quality. You can read the full success story here.

Celebrating Digital Excellence

The W3 Awards are judged by AIVA, a prestigious panel of experts from top-tier organizations including Disney, Netflix, Deloitte Digital, and IBM. Entries are evaluated against a standard of excellence, not each other, ensuring that every winner truly represents the best in their category.

Looking Ahead

This award is a testament to the talent and dedication of our teams who consistently push boundaries to deliver impactful digital solutions. We’re proud to be recognized among the industry’s top innovators and look forward to continuing our work with clients to elevate digital experiences across industries.

In this episode of “What If? So What?”, Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Wally Burchfield, former senior executive at GM, Nissan, and Nissan United, to explore what’s driving transformation in the automotive industry and beyond. 

 Wally’s perspective is clear: in a world obsessed with automation and data, the companies that win will be the ones that stay human. 

 From “Build and Sell” to “Know and Serve” 

 The old model was simple: build a car, sell a car, repeat. But as Wally explains it, that formula no longer works in a world where customer expectations are shaped by digital platforms and instant personalization. “It’s not just about selling a product,” he said. “It’s about retaining the customer through a high-quality experience one that feels personal, respectful, and effortless.” Every interaction matters, and every brand is in the experience business. 

 Data Alone Doesn’t Build Loyalty – Trust Does 

 It’s true that organizations have more data than ever before. But as Wally points out, it’s not how much data you have, it’s what you do with it. The real differentiator is how responsibly, transparently, and effectively you use that data to improve the customer experience. 

 “You can have a truckload of data but if it doesn’t help you deliver value or build trust, it’s wasted,” Wally said. 

 When used carelessly, data can feel manipulative. When used well, it creates clarity, relevance, and long-term relationships. 

 AI Should Remove Friction, Not Feeling 

 Wally’s take on AI is refreshingly grounded. He sees it as a tool to reduce friction, not replace human connection. Whether it’s scheduling service appointments via SMS or filtering billions of digital signals, the best AI is invisible, working quietly in the background to make the customer feel understood. 

 Want to Win? Listen Better and Faster 

 At the end of the day, the brands that thrive won’t be the ones with the biggest data sets; they’re the ones that move fast, use data responsibly, and never lose sight of the customer at the center. 

 Listen to the full conversation with Wally Burchfield for more on how trust, data, and AI can work together to build lasting customer relationships—and why the best strategies are still the most human. 

Subscribe Where You Listen

Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Overcast | Watch the full video episode on YouTube

Meet our Guest – Wally Burchfield

Wally Burchfield is a veteran automotive executive with deep experience across retail, OEM operations, marketing, aftersales, dealer networks, and HR. 

He spent 20 years at General Motors before joining Nissan, where he held multiple VP roles across regional operations, aftersales, and HR. He later served as COO of Nissan United (TBWA), leading Tier 2/3 advertising and field marketing programs to support dealer and field team performance. Today, Wally runs a successful consulting practice helping OEMs, partners, and dealer groups solve complex challenges and drive results. A true “dealer guy”, he’s passionate about improving customer experience, strengthening OEM-dealer partnerships, and challenging the status quo to unlock growth. 

Follow Wally on LinkedIn  

Learn More about Wally Burchfield

Meet our Host

Jim Hertzfeld is Area Vice President, Strategy for Perficient.

For over two decades, he has worked with clients to convert market insights into real-world digital products and customer experiences that actually grow their business. More than just a strategist, Jim is a pragmatic rebel known for challenging the conventional and turning grand visions into actionable steps. His candid demeanor, sprinkled with a dose of cynical optimism, shapes a narrative that challenges and inspires listeners.

Connect with Jim:

LinkedIn | Perficient

As a global AI-first consultancy, we’re driving meaningful results through AI-powered innovation and digital transformation, creating lasting impact for businesses and their customers. Our thought leaders actively engage with top global analyst firms, including Forrester, IDC, and more. These partnerships not only validate our capabilities but also amplify the impact we deliver to our clients every day. So far, we’ve secured 35 analyst report inclusions in 2025. 

Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Software-Defined Vehicles 

Perficient was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT Professional Services for Software Defined Vehicles 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc# US51813124, September 2025). The IDC MarketScape evaluated software defined vehicles (SDV) professional service providers, creating a framework to compare vendors’ capabilities and strategies. 

“We’re proud of our long-term partnerships with clients that have led to continuous improvements and innovations in the automotive ecosystem. Whether we’re powering subscription-based monetization, unlocking predictive insights, or creating more connected and personalized customer experiences, Perficient is helping drive what’s next in mobility.” 

Justin Huckins, director of digital strategy and automotive industry lead, Perficient

According to IDC, Perficient “excels in its off-board SDV capabilities with advanced data analysis platforms supporting multiple automotive use cases and guides OEMS through strategic tools like the Envision framework and maintains strong partnerships with top-tier tech and automotive players. Customers appreciate its marketing campaigns and messaging around automotive offerings” 

Read More: Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for Software-Defined Vehicles

Perficient’s Continued Inclusion in IDC Market Glances 

For the third year in a row, Perficient has been included in the category of IT Services Providers in the IDC Market Glance: Customer Experience Services, 2Q25 report (doc #US52469525, June 2025). According to IDC, “Agentic AI and GenAI are working their way into marketing and sales technologies and services, beginning with a pragmatic focus on automating, improving and scaling existing business processes and offerings. New AI-based business models have yet to emerge, but AI is already putting existing CX services under pressure to change.” 

Two additional IDC Market Glance reports were both healthcare-focused: IDC Market Glance: Payer, 1Q25 (doc# US53200825, March 2025) and IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions, 1Q25 (doc# US52221325, March 2025.)  

In the IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions report, Perficient is included in the newly introduced categories of IT Services and SI Services. We believe our inclusion underscores our expertise in leveraging AI-driven automation and advanced analytics, optimizing technology investments, and navigating evolving industry challenges. 

Highlighted in Forrester Landscapes 

Perficient has been recognized in Forrester’s report, The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Our clients rely on us not only for engineering and implementation, but also for the high-value strategic work that drives connected product success. 

Explore More: Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy

Perficient was included in The Digital Transformation Landscape, Q2 2025. In this landscape, Perficient is recognized as a large-sized consultancy with an industry focus on financial services, healthcare, and industrial products, with a geographical presence in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.  

Perficient was also included in The AI Technical Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Forrester defines AI Technical Services as: “The delivery capability of repeatable and scalable AI solutions, encompassing AI and data infrastructure, governance, training, and innovation.” We help clients harness the power of AI to solve complex business challenges and create meaningful transformation. 

Perficient Insights Contributed to Forrester Research 

Perficient’s work with a leading automotive manufacturer’s GenAI virtual assistant was included in Forrester’s report titled Design GenAI-Powered Experiences Responsibly. At the Forrester CX Summit North America in 2024, the author of this report, Principal Analyst Gina Bhawalkar, presented Perficient’s work with this automaker during her session. 

Perficient was interviewed by Forrester for their report titled The Future of Commerce (US). Perficient’s commitment to innovation and ability to deliver high-impact solutions positions us to meet the growing demand for AI-driven, intelligent commerce in an ever-evolving landscape. Our experts were also interviewed for the Forrester report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms. We believe our inclusion in the research for this report reflects our expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs through AI-powered transformation.

“AI is redefining what’s possible in digital experience. The convergence of agentic and Generative AI is empowering brands to create more human, adaptive, and intelligent interactions at scale.”

Mark Polly, principal of customer experience platforms, Perficient.

 

Perficient Director Priyal Patel is quoted in Forrester’s report, Becoming An Intelligent Healthcare Organization Is An Attainable Goal, Not A Lost Cause. “Today’s decisions should be guided by long-term thinking, envisioning your organization’s business needs five to 10 years into the future,” says Priyal, emphasizing the importance of a shared strategic vision. 

Deepening Analyst Relationships to Amplify Perficient’s Impact

Perficient continues to gain recognition from leading analyst firms like Forrester and IDC, reinforcing our global presence and growing influence in AI and emerging technologies. Visit our Analyst Coverage page to explore additional mentions and stay informed on how we’re shaping the future of technology. 

At Perficient, our Sales team is at the forefront of shaping the future of AI-first transformation for some of the world’s most innovative enterprises and admired brands. Our sales professionals serve as trusted advisors, strategic partners, and essential contributors to creating bold solutions that define who we are as a global digital consultancy. 

We offer a platform for sellers to directly impact major industries around the world, and the opportunities we offer here are boundless. Professional and personal growth starts at Perficient.  

What Sets Our Sales Team Apart?  

Perficient’s Sales team builds trusted partnerships with Fortune 500 and Global 2000 clients, helping them rethink, reimagine, and redefine their digital futures. We deliver solutions that move business forward by combining the entrepreneurial spirit and agility of a startup with the stability and reputation of an award-winning, AI-first global consultancy.  

READ MORE: Perficient Accelerates Growth for the Biggest Brands 

Another major advantage of being part of Perficient’s Sales team is the opportunity to sell alongside the biggest names in tech. We are elite partners of Adobe, Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, and Google, among other industry-leading technology innovators. These partnerships bring great value to the conversations our sales teams have with clients, offering credibility, co-selling opportunities, and access to cutting-edge solutions. 

Our sellers receive the enablement and partner support they need to build strategic pipelines and close high-impact deals. At the same time, they gain the advantage of working on innovative solutions that go beyond the basics—integrating AI, data, and design in ways that truly differentiate our offerings in the market. 

“Perficient is a place where you can grow, it’s a very demanding environment but with hard work and success there is lots of opportunity,” said Jake Corn, account developer. “We have a real entrepreneurial culture; you are expected to own your own business but you have all of the resources to help you. Leadership will step in to help you out wherever needed.” 

LEARN MORE: Perficient’s Strategic Partnerships 

Culture Driven by Collaboration 

Our teams of skilled strategists and technologists around the world bring an unmatched level of dedication, drive, and passion in everything we do to boldly advance business. We are committed to building the future of AI and making a difference. These universal traits not only make Perficient a formidable force in the market, but they also contribute to a unique people experience. In fact, we’ve been named a USA Today Top Workplace for two years in a row, serving as a reflection of our commitment to building a people-first culture and positive employee experience. 

t for two years in a row, serving as a reflection of our commitment to building a people-first culture and positive employee experience. 

Perficient understands that it’s our people who make a difference, which is why we’ve made a promise to challenge, champion and celebrate our people through the Perficient People Promise. 

READ MORE: Unveiling the New Perficient People Promise 

As part of our people-first approach, our Growth for Everyone initiative drives continuous professional development with real pathways for advancement.  From leadership training and mentorship programs to enablement resources built specifically for sellers, we’re committed to helping you move forward—whether that’s into new markets, new roles, or new levels of impact. And because our Sales teams are embedded across industries and technologies, you’ll always be learning something new, surrounded by peers who are just as invested in your success as you are. Our sales professionals work side-by-side with delivery experts, technical consultants, and partner managers to shatter boundaries for our clients, ensuring they receive end-to-end support at every stage of the project. 

LEARN MORE: Shattering Boundaries with Perficient’s Digital Expertise and Global Strategy 

When you join Perficient, you’re joining a global team that’s forging the future, together. 

What We Look for in Sales Talent 

We’re always looking for curious, driven professionals who know how to open doors and build real relationships. If you’ve sold consulting or professional services before, and you enjoy connecting the dots between business needs and digital solutions, you’ll feel right at home here. 

Many of our sales roles involve working closely with clients in local markets, so having a strong network and staying informed about regional opportunities can be a significant advantage, especially for those focused on growing existing accounts. We’re also focusing on roles tied to specific technologies and would welcome those with a background in navigating the world of platforms like Adobe, Salesforce, Microsoft, or Oracle.  

Whether you’re stepping into your first consulting sales role or bringing years of experience to the table, you’ll find the support, mentorship, and growth opportunities to chart your own career path. 

Ready to be part of an AI-First, collaborative, and purpose-driven culture? 

Explore our open sales roles and take the next step in your career. 

The world of digital experiences is evolving more quickly than ever before, and let’s be honest, artificial intelligence (AI) is more than just a trendy term these days. It’s becoming a business necessity.

AI is no longer a “nice to have” for companies that use Sitecore as their Digital Experience Platform (DXP). It’s turning into the difference between falling behind and meeting customer expectations.

In this blog, we’ll explore:

• How AI is transforming Sitecore
• Current AI tools and integrations
• Real-world use cases
• What’s next for Sitecore and AI

Let’s get started!

Why AI Matters in Sitecore Digital Experience Platform?

Sitecore has long been known for managing content, personalization, commerce, and customer data at scale.

However, as digital complexity grows, traditional rule-based systems start to struggle, especially when:

• Audience segments are too granular
• Data is too vast to process manually
• Real-time personalization is required

This is where AI makes a real difference.

Fact Check:

Gartner’s 2024 Magic Quadrant for DXP reports:

“AI-based personalization increases customer engagement compared to rule-based systems.”

Source: Gartner DXP Report 2024

Current AI Capabilities in Sitecore

Sitecore Stream: Enterprise-Grade AI Across the Stack

Sitecore Stream, launched in 2024–2025, is Sitecore’s newest AI-powered platform.

It brings smart, brand-aware copilots, automated workflows, and secure content management – all designed to help teams work faster and deliver better digital experiences.

Key Capabilities:

• Brand-Aware AI: Upload brand guidelines and style references so AI generates only on-brand content
• AI Copilots: Assist in writing, summarizing, ideating content, and setting up campaigns directly inside Experience Hub and Content Hub
• Agentic Workflows: Multi-step campaign orchestration with autonomous task execution (e.g., campaign brief → draft → assign → publish)
• Grounded AI via RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) on Azure OpenAI for enterprise-grade security and control

All thanks to Mahima Patel for laying out this detailed overview in her excellent blog post “Why AI-Led Experiences Are the Future – And How Sitecore Stream Delivers Them”.

Sitecore Stream brings AI capabilities to Sitecore products, transforming how marketers work in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Source: Sitecore Stream

Sitecore Personalize: AI-Powered Real-Time Personalization

Sitecore Personalize leverages advanced AI and machine learning to deliver real-time individualized experiences across channels.

Key Features:

• AI-driven experimentation (A/B & multivariate testing)
• Predictive personalization using behavioral data
• Real-time decisioning & context-aware content delivery
• Built-in Code Assistant (2025): Helps non-technical users write JavaScript/SQL snippets for:
  • Personalization conditions
  • Session traits
  • Audience exports
  • Experiment logic

Sitecore Personalize uses AI/ML models to predict visitor actions based on historical data and real-time interactions.

Sources: Sitecore Documentation – Personalize AI Models & Dylan Young Blog – First Look at Sitecore Personalize Code Assistant (2025)

Sitecore Content Hub: AI-Generated Content

Sitecore Content Hub integrates directly with OpenAI (ChatGPT) and other generative AI providers.

This streamlines content creation, editing, and distribution workflows.

Use Cases:

• Automated content drafts for blogs, emails, and campaigns
• Product descriptions and metadata generation
• SEO-focused content suggestions
• Social media copywriting
• Translation assistant (2025): Auto-translates components/pages using AI

In 2023, Sitecore announced direct integration with generative AI for Content Hub.

Sources: Sitecore Press Release – AI & Content Hub Integration (2023)

AI-Powered Search & Recommendations

Sitecore partners with Coveo, SearchStax, and Azure Cognitive Search to offer intelligent, personalized discovery experiences across websites and commerce platforms.

• Semantic search using NLP
• AI-powered relevance tuning based on user behavior
• Personalized recommendations for content, products, and CTAs
• Predictive search and autocomplete

Coveo for Sitecore uses machine learning to adjust search relevance automatically based on user behavior.

Sources: Coveo for Sitecore Documentation – Get started with Coveo Machine Learning in Sitecore

AI in Sitecore XM Cloud: The SaaS Evolution (2025)

Sitecore XM Cloud is evolving fast and AI is at the heart of it.

Whether you’re building pages or analyzing performance, AI helps you work smarter, not harder.

• Suggest Page Layouts: Get smart layout ideas while editing pages, based on your goals.
• Improve Components: AI recommends tweaks to improve SEO, conversions, or accessibility.
• Predict What Works: Built-in insights tell you how your content is performing—and what to test next.
• Help Developers Too: From faster component setup to AI-generated code and test helpers, dev’s get a boost too.

These features are part of Sitecore’s ongoing investment in AI, highlighted at Sitecore Symposium 2024 and expanded throughout 2025 with Sitecore Stream.

Sources: Sitecore Symposium Keynote 2024 – Roadmap XM Cloud Developer Experience

Generative AI for Sitecore Development Teams

AI isn’t just for marketers – it’s transforming Sitecore development workflows too.

Developer Use Cases:

• AI-assisted code generation & scaffolding
• Automated testing with Copilot & ChatGPT plugins
• AI-based Sitecore log summarization

Challenges & Considerations

AI in Sitecore brings opportunities – but also some challenges:

• Data Privacy: GDPR, CCPA compliance is crucial
• Bias in AI Models: Requires careful monitoring
• Integration Complexity: AI tools need thoughtful orchestration
• Vendor Lock-In: Cloud service dependencies (OpenAI, Azure, Coveo)

What’s Next? The Future of AI in Sitecore

Here’s what’s coming in the next wave of Sitecore AI innovation:

• AI-based Content Performance Prediction
• AI-driven Brand Compliance & Tone Checking
• Conversational Interfaces for Commerce (ChatGPT Plugins)
• Hyper-Personalization via AI CDP (Customer Data Platform)

Conclusion

AI is no longer a “nice-to-have” in Sitecore – it’s essential.

From content creation to personalization and commerce optimization, AI is enhancing every layer of the Sitecore ecosystem.

If you’re in Sitecore development, marketing, or digital strategy, now is the time to embrace AI to future-proof your digital experiences.

References & Further Reading

• Sitecore Personalize Documentation
• Sitecore Content Hub AI Integration Announcement
• Coveo for Sitecore AI Search
• Gartner Magic Quadrant for DXP 2024
• Sitecore Symposium 2024 Keynote Highlights
• Sitecore Stream
• Dylan Young Blog – Sitecore Personalize Code Assistant

Let’s be honest, code reviews can be tedious. You open a pull request, scroll through hundreds of lines, spot a couple of obvious issues, and approve. Then, two weeks later, a bug shows up in production… and it’s traced back to a line you skimmed over.

Sound familiar?

That’s exactly why I decided to try Qodo AI, an AI-powered code review assistant that promises to help you review smarter, not harder. And after two months of using, I can confidently say: Qodo AI is a game-changer.

This blog walks you through:

•  What Qodo AI is
•  How to use it effectively

What is Qodo AI?

Qodo AI is an intelligent assistant that plugs into your Git workflows and automatically reviews pull requests. But it’s not just a smarter linter. It goes beyond style rules and dives deep into:

• Bug-prone patterns
•  Missed test coverage
•  Security vulnerabilities
•  Code cleanup and refactoring suggestions
•  Best practice recommendations

It’s like having a seasoned engineer on your team who never gets tired, misses nothing, always explains why something needs fixing.

How to Use Qodo AI (Step-by-Step)

1. Connect Your Repo

Qodo integrates seamlessly with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. I connected it to my GitHub repo in under 5 minutes.

You can configure it to scan all branches or just specific PRs.

2. Open a PR and Watch It Work

Once a pull request is opened, Qodo jumps into action. It adds inline comments and a summary report—highlighting issues, test gaps, and suggestions.

3. Act on Insights, Collaboratively

What sets Qodo apart is how clear and contextual its suggestions are. You don’t get vague warnings—you get:

• A plain-language explanation
• The rationale behind the issue
• Suggested fixes or safer alternatives

Our developers started using Qodo’s comments as mini code lessons. Juniors appreciated the clarity; seniors appreciated the time saved.

Final Thoughts: Qodo AI is the Real Deal

We often talk about tools that “shift left” or “boost developer productivity.” Qodo AI delivers on both fronts. It’s a powerful, practical, and collaborative solution for any dev or QA team that wants to ship better code, faster.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely—especially if:

• You want faster, smarter code reviews
• You care about test coverage and edge cases
• You’re working in a security-conscious industry
• You mentor junior developers or maintain high-stakes codebases

Qodo AI didn’t replace our code review process. It enhanced it.

Ready to give it a shot?
Visit https://qodo.ai to explore more. Let me know in comments if you try it—or already have.

Meet Sean Brundle, Lead Technical Consultant, Sitecore 

Sean’s dedication to excellence and passion for continuous growth have defined his 10-year journey at Perficient, culminating in his recent promotion to Lead Technical Consultant. As a remarkable people leader, his commitment to professional development and mentoring his team across diverse technologies exemplifies Perficient’s promise to challenge, champion, and celebrate every colleague.  

Sean supports a broad range of clients within Perficient’s Customer Experience Platform (CXP) Managed Services department—primarily in the Sitecore business unit (BU)—by monitoring infrastructure applications, addressing performance issues, tracking latency, and maintaining robust security. Through these efforts, he delivers top-tier applications, expert recommendations, and security solutions that ensure clients maintain fast, secure websites with maximum reliability and minimal downtime. 

Continue reading to discover how Sean’s proactive client approach and obsession over outcomes have driven growth for Perficient’s DevOps practice.  

READ MORE: Perficient’s Customer Experience Expertise 

Sean’s Early Career Journey

Sean began his career in 2015 as an IT Specialist Intern at a marketing technology company and quickly advanced the following year to Project Specialist, building content in Sitecore and conducting in-depth content analysis.  

In 2017, he transitioned to the technical side of the business. As a Technical Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist, he sharpened his QA expertise by driving automation projects and pioneering numerous new processes within the department. Sean’s enthusiasm for software development and IT converged in 2018, when the company launched its DevOps department and entrusted him with the role of Junior DevOps Engineer. In this position, Sean played a key role in architecting many of the core standards and operational processes that continue to underpin Perficient’s DevOps practice today.  

Establishing a CXP Managed Services Department 

Sean’s passion for DevOps reached a defining moment in 2019 when he was promoted to DevOps Engineer. By anticipating client needs and fostering collaboration within his team, Sean led the creation and expansion of the Managed Services department, which later evolved into Perficient’s CXP Managed Services department. This milestone marked a significant turning point in Sean’s career and stands as one of his proudest achievements.  

“While supporting our clients, we noticed recurring challenges with some hosting providers. These experiences highlighted an opportunity for us to create our own Managed Services department. I helped lead that initiative and created the different tools and processes we use today. We started off with two or three clients and now have over 10 different clients expanding to various platforms. It was a cool initiative that I was able to have a major hand in leading.” 

Driven by a genuine commitment to people-first leadership, Sean’s forward-thinking approach has been pivotal in delivering greater value—empowering both colleagues and clients to accelerate growth and achieve meaningful results.  

“Our team is highly proactive. We focus on making recommendations and helping clients make their applications much better and faster before difficulties arise. We’ve spent a lot of time analyzing different client systems, and I’ve implemented specific processes and tooling that accelerate our work and identify issues the client might not even be aware of.”  

Building Expertise, Strengthening Client Engagement, and Leading with Purpose

Sean joined Perficient as a Technical Consultant through an acquisition in 2020 and quickly advanced to Senior Technical Consultant by 2022. Now serving as a Lead Technical Consultant, he works closely with the Managed Services team to deliver proactive client support, leveraging his expertise to inform tooling and offerings that optimize application and infrastructure development.  

Sean stays ahead in the fast-changing digital world by actively working with different platforms and technologies, continuously learning emerging best practices, and reading up on the latest innovations. Motivated by a results-driven mindset and devotion to client success, he has built lasting relationships through consistent delivery excellence and continues to shatter boundaries with cutting-edge solutions.  

“Identifying performance gaps, presenting those insights to the client, implementing solutions, and then demonstrating the impressive speed improvements we’ve achieved—that’s incredibly rewarding. Seeing the client’s excitement energizes my team and me, and it motivates me to keep enhancing their offerings. This ongoing effort helps strengthen client relationships.”  

Sean’s people-first leadership shines through his collaborative work with colleagues and clients. Anchored by more than a decade of IT industry experience, he has become a trusted advisor and influential mentor. 

Empowering Teams and Clients Through Strategic Leadership  

Sean has continuously advanced his technical knowledge by working with diverse clients and technologies, while also expanding his credentials with certifications such as Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate, Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect.  

READ MORE: Accelerating Professional Growth Through Certifications  

Alongside his professional development, Sean has deepened his client engagement and relationship-building skills. He leads quarterly, in-depth reviews of his team’s progress and client successes, delivering strategic presentations that highlight untapped tooling opportunities—driving measurable value and strengthening long-term client relationships. Additionally, Sean completed Perficient’s Consultant Curriculum program, where he acquired strategies for effectively identifying and addressing client needs. 

READ MORE: Learn About Perficient’s Award-Winning Growth for Everyone Programming 

Sean has developed outstanding leadership skills that inspire collaboration, enhance team dynamics, and deliver impactful results. He embodies true team spirit by empowering individuals to grow and excel, driving collective success with passion and purpose.

“At Perficient, my role has given me a lot of opportunities to lead and mentor other engineers. I’ve really taken on that role and enjoy uplifting team members. Sharing knowledge, helping to support them, and seeing them grow has been really exciting. Focusing on helping my team rather than just myself benefits the entire team and department.”  

In mentoring his colleagues, Sean champions open communication as the foundation for building trust, setting clear expectations, and fostering meaningful learning experiences. 

“I think that listening and having clear communication has been valuable in my leadership growth. When assigning a task to someone you’re mentoring, it’s important to follow up, but not be too strict. Providing clear steps, setting actionable goals within a certain timeframe, maintaining consistent communication, and helping them when they get stuck makes a difference. I’ve noticed many team members respond well to this approach.”  

Sean’s empathetic leadership naturally promotes transparency across teams and time zones, driving seamless global collaboration. He works regularly with Perficient’s Nagpur office to monitor different applications and infrastructures, gaining cutting-edge insights from diverse multicultural perspectives.  

“There are times when I’m working with a team of colleagues who all come from different cultural backgrounds. This influences how they communicate or approach certain tasks. Being able to adapt to these differences and learn from them has significantly helped my growth as a leader.”

LEARN MORE: Perficient’s Global Footprint Enables Genuine Connection  

Unlocking Potential Through Shared Knowledge and Cross-Functional Collaboration 

Within Perficient’s Sitecore BU, Sean’s team fosters continuous learning through a dedicated Confluence platform for role-specific skills and monthly meetings to discuss new technologies and processes. Sean takes great pride in Perficient’s broader culture of cross-functional collaboration. 

“We have a lot of different BUs at Perficient, and they’re able to work together to support each other. Perficient colleagues are great about coming together as a team, supporting everyone, and enabling knowledge sharing that benefits both our team and our clients. I think it’s a big benefit with Perficient.” 

Charting New Waters Through Relentless Innovation 

Sean shatters boundaries and drives excellence through continuous innovation, fueling both individual and team success. 

“I try to push my team and myself to constantly seek better ways to serve our clients and improve ourselves—exploring better approaches, speaking up, and testing ideas we haven’t tried before. I strive to do this as often as I can.”  

While Sean champions continuous growth, he also emphasizes the value of experiential learning and resilience in the face of setbacks.

“Do not be afraid to fail. If you take on a new role or responsibility—even if you make mistakes— you will grow and learn. I’m lucky to have a lot of responsibility, and there are times when I have to learn from my mistakes, but it makes me much stronger and a better consultant engineer.” 

Just as Sean explores new technologies with curiosity and determination, he embraces the wonders of nature—reaching new heights through rock climbing and kayaking while cherishing time outdoors with his son. 

“Outside of work, I try to spend as much time with my son as I can. He’s almost 2 years old and loves to play outside, so we try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. I go rock climbing occasionally, and I also love being on the water. If I get the chance, I try to take out our kayaks. More than anything, I focus on spending quality time with my son and enjoying the outdoors as much as we can together.” 

MORE ON GROWTH FOR EVERYONE  

Perficient continually looks for ways to champion and challenge our workforce, encourage personal and professional growth, and celebrate the unique culture created by the ambitious, brilliant, people-oriented team we have cultivated.  These are their stories. 

Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient on our Careers page. Connect with us on  LinkedIn here.