Is AI the next step forward in the evolution of content management systems?

Berners-Lee launched the world’s first website on 20 December 1990. He created it on a computer from NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs after he left Apple.

This website was little more than a simple text page containing basic information about the World Wide Web. At that time, content management systems (CMS) did not exist yet. The ones that existed back then were rather simple compared to today’s websites. The origin of CMS can be traced back to the late 1990s, when they were developed to make websites easier to manage and maintain, which was needed at the time.

The first popular forerunners of today’s content management systems were Roxen, Blitzen and Vignette. However, the widespread use of these systems did not begin until the early 2000s when open-source CMS platforms such as Joomla! (2005) and WordPress (2003) were launched on the market. These platforms made it possible for people with limited technical skills to create and manage websites. Today, on the other hand, there are a variety of open-source and commercial CMS available that are used by millions of websites worldwide.

The evolution of content management systems

Looking back, CMS systems have been on an amazing journey, going from simple text editors to highly customisable platforms that can now be used for a wide range of applications.

Over the past decades, content management systems have evolved to become tools that have fundamentally changed websites. The evolution of these systems reflects not only technological advances, but also the changing needs of consumers, developers and businesses – a clear sign of how technology continues to change and adapt as needed. This is also an issue we will have to address in the future as requirements change.

Can artificial intelligence (AI) be the tool needed to make the next step in the evolution of content management systems?

How a combination of CMS and AI tools generate added value – maximum effect with the minimum amount of work?

Ongoing advances in AI are providing businesses with a great opportunity to find innovative solutions to meet the many challenges they face.

In the specific context of content management systems, integrating AI tools also opens up a whole host of possibilities,

with the following three areas offering the greatest potential:

• Content creation: AI can be used to create text and images, which make it possible to produce high-quality content more easily and faster, among other things.
• Content optimisation: By analysing user data, AI can help personalise and tailor content to the person or group it is being targeted at.
• Content management: AI tools can, for example, help automatically organise and tag content, which makes it much easier and more efficient to find in the content management system.

This combination of CMS and AI thus promises to deliver the maximum impact with the minimum amount of work.

AI + CMS: who stands to benefit?

The synergy between content management systems and AI offers major benefits across a range of industries and stakeholders. At this time, there are four main stakeholder groups:

1. Companies and organisations

Automatic content creation, optimisation and management speeds up work and makes it more efficient. This saves both time and money, since companies are able to reduce staff costs and employees can focus on strategic tasks. In addition, they can gain an edge on their competitors by offering a better customer experience.

2. Editorial staff

AI tools support automatic content creation, including automatically generated texts, which not only increases efficiency but also reduces costs. In addition, AI assists in analysing existing content and makes suggestions on how to improve the content to maximise its effectiveness. Companies can also save a lot of time by automating recurring tasks, which content creators in turn can use to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their work. This leads to high-quality content as well as innovative approaches to reach the target group more effectively.

3. End users

Firstly, AI allows you to create personalised experiences by providing content and recommendations that are tailored to the specific interests and preferences of the target audience. This means that users receive custom content that better meets their individual needs.

Secondly, AI tools produce much better search results. They optimise search algorithms to deliver more accurate and relevant results. This means that users find exactly what they need when searching for information, which makes the browsing experience much faster and more pleasant.

4. Developers and technology providers

The combination of AI and CMS allows developers to find new ways to create innovative applications and services. This not only creates space for technological advances, but also for creative solutions that can revolutionise the way we produce and use content.

Companies that offer advanced CMS with integrated AI may also be able to position themselves as pioneers on the market. By taking on this pioneering role, they can reach a broad range of customers and establish themselves as innovative, forward-looking providers. It would unquestionably be a major mistake not to AI seriously and instead let your competitors take a leading role in this arena.

Are there useful tools available now? Or are we still waiting for the right ones to arrive?

There are a variety of AI tools that interface with content management systems available at this moment. These use AI to optimise and automate various aspects of content management.

A number of providers, including some of our technology partners, already offer proprietary integrated solutions for voice assistants, content optimisation and personalisation, intelligent search results and image generation, for example.

Conclusion

AI tools are no longer mere hype. In today’s digital world, they are extremely important tools. These tools represent not just an evolution but a revolution in content management.

Companies that understand the technology and use it well will be able to set themselves apart from their competitors and ensure their long-term success in the digital world. I believe we can look forward to a bevy of useful AI tools coming onto the market soon.

Would you like to learn more about other exciting topics from the adesso world? Then take a look at our blog posts published so far.

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