The Sitecore production release on Tuesday, Feb. 10, changed the page publishing process with the implementation of workflows. See Publishing Content with Workflows for more information.
SitecoreAI is an enterprise web content management system, or CMS, used by units across campus to create and publish websites. The system allows for creating robust websites with templates and pre-built components, simplifying the website management experience. In addition to webpage components, University Communications and Marketing and MSU IT have worked to build various additional functionalities, such as event calendar, news story, academic program finder and people directory tools into the system.
The system is governed from an enterprise standpoint, considering the user experience across all MSU websites, to meet audience needs and help units provide a seamless, quality experience for website visitors who may view several MSU-related websites during one or more web viewing sessions. Units can suggest new features and enhancements for consideration in the system.
University Communications and Marketing provides training and documentation resources for SitecoreAI, and the team supports users across campus.
Learn more about platform benefits and view a video demo below.
Platform Benefits
- Pre-built MSU component blocks enable custom page layouts without custom development.
- Page, partial page and site templates to make creating new sites even easier.
- Functionality to easily drag-and-drop components onto a page.
- A WYSIWYG, or what you see is what you get, editor called Pages allows authors to edit content and layout in one view.
- Ability to edit right on the screen instead of toggling between data source and display views.
- Preview page options for mobile, tablet and desktop.
- An Explorer tool that provides advanced content editing, where users can add tags and access additional editing features.
- Auto-save for content changes to prevent lost work.
- Integrated digital asset management functionality makes adding images to websites an easy process.
- Access is granted via MSU’s Okta single sign on, so users can log in with their MSU Net ID.
- Ability to embed third-party forms. Native Sitecore form support is coming soon.
- Sitecore is already working to add generative AI functionality to systems to assist with tasks like writing headlines.
- SitecoreAI offers a set of personalization capabilities for in-session visits.
- SitecoreAI is composable, meaning that system compatible products can be combined and integrated to meet business needs.
- As a software-as-a-service, or SaaS, product, SitecoreAI lives in the vendor’s cloud and can be updated as soon as new features and capabilities are ready. This means more frequent updates and enhancements.
- We’ll be able to address newly available technologies as they become available, such as generative artificial intelligence, or genAI.
- All units using SitecoreAI benefit from the learnings attained over time through optimization and testing. Users can continuously improve components and websites to benefit audience members’ digital experience and to improve conversions of business goals, such as admissions applications or donations.
- All updates are quality tested to ensure proper functionality with existing websites before deployment.
- SitecoreAI is built on a modern architecture that positions MSU for the future and provides flexibility to easily connect complimentary systems to Sitecore.
- SitecoreAI is headless, meaning the data stored in the system can be presented anywhere (e.g., website, app, display screen).
- The architecture of SitecoreAI is designed to be edge friendly (referring to computing architecture). This can improve Core Web Vitals and page speed scores, ultimately helping to maximize website SEO.
- Pages are served up from what is called “the edge.” Basically, there are web servers all around the country. The website will be made available on servers throughout the country so that users access the site at the server closest to their location, with faster page load times.
Website Project Process
Every project is different but there are some common features. Learn about project elements and how to get started.
Getting Started
To join Sitecore, a unit contacts University Communications and Marketing. From there, the program manager will work with the unit to explore the scope of the website, discuss the process and initiate proper next steps.
Sitecore Learning and Resources
SitecoreAI Documentation
Explore the documentation library to learn more about SitecoreAI's features and components.
Training Calendar
In addition to on-demand video resources and the documentation library, University Communications and Marketing also offers live training (via Teams) for Sitecore users.
Best Practices for any CMS Platform
Digital Experience Program
Learn more about the MSU Digital Experience Program initiatives to improve audience experiences and enhance communications workflows.
Experience Design
Best practices for website information architecture, navigation, page structure and mobile-first design.
Search Engine Optimization
Best practices and learning resources related to search engine optimization at the content level.
Analytics and Measurement
Best practices and learning resources for website analytics, Key performance indicator, or KPIs, and performance measurement.