Optimizely CMS 12 Tips for a Successful Upgrade

Optimizely CMS 12 is a significant change for anyone used to working with previous versions of the Optimizely CMS.

In this post, we’ll explain what’s changed, why you should upgrade, and the best practices to follow for a successful upgrade.

What Is Optimizely CMS?

Optimizely CMS is a modern content management system that gives marketers and developers the capabilities to deliver engaging digital experiences across any channel.

Enterprises can choose from a coupled, decoupled, or headless architecture that allows them to scale quickly and easily integrate additional services and components, such as personalization and translation, to meet business requirements.

Optimizely CMS provides unlimited content layouts, drag-and-drop building, and previews for a complete view of content. With the help of Graph, Optimizely’s GraphQL service, content can be delivered to any channel.

Read More: What Is Optimizely?

Moving From Optimizely 11 to 12 (Why Upgrade to Optimizely 12)

Current users of Optimizely CMS 11 may wonder if it makes sense to upgrade to Optimizely CMS 12 or remain with their existing CMS. Here are a few reasons why businesses should upgrade:

• Support for .NET Framework: Optimizely v12 uses ASP.NET Core instead of ASP.NET Framework. This is important because Microsoft will no longer offer the same level of support for the ASP.NET 4 stack. On the other hand, ASP.NET continues to grow in popularity due to its server-side programming, APIs, and integration capabilities. Also, the performance of .NET 6 is vastly improved compared to ASP.NET 4.
• Upcoming Releases: While it may be tempting to remain on Optimizely v11, going forward, Optimizely will only be releasing bug fixes and security updates for CMS 11, meaning that there will be no new feature developments or enhancements.
• Windows Server: Upgrading from CMS 11 to CMS 12 enables enterprises to move their infrastructure from Windows Server to Linux or the cloud.
• Unlock New Opportunities: Long-term users of CMS 11 can use the need to upgrade to CMS 12 to redesign their website and unlock new opportunities to enhance the user experience and improve conversion.
• Improved User Experience: Optimizely v12 offers improved performance and scalability, making it faster for both end users and content editors. Additionally, Optimizely v12 supports more headless-style deployments. Developers can build digital experiences using their chosen frameworks, whether ASP.NET 5 or JavaScript.

Best Practices for an Optimizely v12 Upgrade

Following best practices throughout the upgrade process is essential to ensure a smooth transition and fully leverage Optimizely v12's advanced features and performance improvement.

1. Define the scope: The first and most crucial step of an Optimizely v12 upgrade is to define the project's scope. Have a clear understanding of the technical and budgetary constraints, whether a website redesign will be part of the process, the connected systems, and other upgrades that might need to occur concurrently.

2. Plan the upgrade: Like with any new tool implementation, upgrading to Optimizely v12 will require extensive changes to code and configurations and may require some downtime. Planning the upgrade to avoid critical campaigns and business events can reduce the complexity of the entire process.

3. Assess resource availability: Once the scope of the upgrade project has been outlined and a proposed timeline has been established that won’t negatively impact the business, the next step is to assess available resources. The upgrade can be performed internally if you have an extensive team of experienced Optimizely developers. Alternatively, you can get assistance from an Optimizely partner who can provide the technical expertise.

Available Resources

Optimizely provides several resources to make upgrading to CMS 12 easier:

• Upgrade Assistant Tool: The upgrade assistant tool automates transitioning from an ASP.NET Standard project to an ASP.NET Core project. This includes upgrading some references and classes that .NET Core uses to set up the environment.
• Optimizely Documentation: Extensive documentation is also available to help guide the upgrade process.

Tips For The Upgrade Process

If you’re a developer performing an upgrade from Optimizely v11 to v12, these often overlooked tips can help ensure a smooth transition.

1. Back up the project frequently (before the upgrade and after each step).

2. Install post-ASP. NET Core on Windows with IIS (Internet Information Services). Before upgrading, you must install this .NET Core hosting bundle because the .NET core application runs in your IIS. Without the bundle, Optimizely 12 won’t work.

3. Follow the steps in the documentation and troubleshoot with the help of the Optimizely community.

4. Don’t try to make everything work from the beginning. Instead, use the upgrade tool and proceed step by step, with the flexibility to roll back to a previously saved version if necessary.

5. Assess and remediate plugins. The upgrade assistant will carry over most plugins, but others won’t, so it’s essential to double-check that the expected features are still working correctly. You can reference the Optimizely Add-Ons page to see if a plugin is available for the version of .NET you are using.

Challenges to Watch For

While performing an Optimizely upgrade, some challenges might occur, which developers must be ready for.

• Different Plugins: There may be cases of some plugins and add-ons not installed in CMS 12 that were present in CMS 11. Alternatives will need to be found to replicate the same features and functionality.
• Code Compatibility: In many cases, custom code won’t be compatible with the new version, so those customizations must be rewritten.

Get Expert Assistance For Optimizely Upgrade

Upgrading your Optimizely CMS can unlock a host of benefits, including improved performance, enhanced security, access to new features, and a more streamlined user experience. However, some challenges can occur without the proper knowledge.

Oshyn is an experienced Optimizely partner with the skillset to support organizations with everything from upgrades and migrations to implementation and custom development. When TCDRS wanted to migrate from their legacy Sharepoint website to Optimizely, they turned to Oshyn for assistance with the migration and a website redesign. Their new responsive website decreased their bounce rate by over 40%.

Learn more about how Oshyn provided Optimizely assistance by reading our case study: New Optimizely Implementation Provides a More Capable, Mobile-Friendly CMS.