Good morning,
University Communications and MSU IT are excited to announce a system upgrade for Sitecore. We will be transitioning from Sitecore XP to Sitecore XM Cloud in 2024. The new system offers many benefits over the current system, including a streamlined process for managing content, but it will require departments with sites in XP to rebuild their site and migrate content to XM Cloud by Jan. 31, 2025. Please continue reading to learn about some of the benefits of XM Cloud and important information about the transition process.
When is this happening?
Work has already begun! University Communications and MSU IT have been working with our agency of record, RDA, on the foundational work for the system. We’ve been rebuilding components in the new system, developing site and page templates and testing everything extensively. We want to ensure that the system is fully functional and that all the components are working well before we invite others into the system.
This foundational work is scheduled to be completed in April 2024, and we plan to begin scheduling department migrations in May 2024. Please note this timing could change to accommodate testing and development needs.
What does this mean for our website?
The new system is not just an upgrade but a rebuild from the ground up. This will require all websites currently in Sitecore XP that need to remain active to be migrated to Sitecore XM Cloud by Jan. 31, 2025.
Units have two options to consider regardless of whether their site has launched or is in process:
- If the website is no longer needed, University Communications and MSU IT can work with the unit to shut it down.
- If the website is needed, the unit can rebuild the site in Sitecore XM Cloud and migrate the content or rebuild in another system of its choosing. This must be done by the Jan. 31, 2025, deadline.
University Communications will provide support to content authors and site owners in the form of training, documentation and reference materials. Units also can work with our preferred vendor, RDA, if assistance with the build and migration is needed. Any work done by RDA will be at the department’s expense. Our goal is to make site migrations as smooth a process as possible.
What are the advantages of moving to XM Cloud?
Below are a few of the benefits of this new system:
- Improved workflows and tool integration for a better author experience: Sitecore XM Cloud has a more intuitive, drag-and-drop interface. Additionally, site templates and site section templates are available to speed page and site creation. The process of adding images to a website has been improved. Content changes are saved automatically throughout the production process, so there’s no risk of losing work. Campus communicators can focus on their content and make it work harder for their unit.
- Component enhancements based on author feedback and user testing: Components in Sitecore XM Cloud have been rebuilt based on learnings from MSU’s experience in the old system. The content author experience has been improved, where possible, and components have been updated based on feedback from units and from user testing.
- Cutting-edge technology and faster updates: Shifting to XM Cloud will allow MSU to grow our marketing and communications capabilities to take advantage of the latest product enhancements and future technology developments from our vendors. Rather than schedule large updates every few years, we can push out product and system updates much more quickly and frequently. We’ll be able to address newly available technologies as they become available, such as generative artificial intelligence, or genAI.
For more information about these benefits and others, please review the XM Cloud Benefits webpage.
What are the next steps?
We are sure that units will have questions regarding this process. We’ve created a webpage with Frequently Asked Questions, which we will update as more information becomes available.
We also will host information sessions where you can learn more and ask questions. Please look for an invitation to these in the coming weeks.
We will send a Migration Decision Form email out to site owners this spring. This form will allow you to indicate your course of action, so we can begin planning for your site migration (or site shutdown process).
We are excited about the prospects that this system upgrade brings for the university, but we recognize that there is a substantial amount of work involved in making it happen. The decision to shift to XM Cloud was not made lightly. We believe it is in the long-term best interest of the university to make this shift, and we appreciate your understanding and efforts to make the transition a reality. We will work to be as transparent as possible and share information as we can. In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact Katie Kelly (kkelly@msu.edu).
Regards,
Carmen Crist
Assistant Vice President for Marketing Operations
University Communications