Sitecore is a reliable DXP that can centralize your content operations, but implementing it on your own can be overwhelming. To get the full value out of Sitecore, having a trusted partner is crucial.
Although there are many CMS and DXPs on the market, Sitecore has plenty of advantages for businesses of all kinds. It offers benefits for both content editors and developers, making it an ideal choice for those with or without a dedicated IT team.
However, choosing the right Sitecore partner can be challenging, as they come in different shapes and sizes. To ensure you get the right fit, we provide a checklist of questions to ask when selecting a partner, including what to expect from them.
If you're considering implementing Sitecore as your CMS of choice, partnering with a Sitecore implementation partner can help ensure that you're reaping 100% of the benefits that Sitecore has to offer. A Sitecore implementation partner can provide the necessary expertise to help you design, develop, and deploy your Sitecore implementation, whether you're using it as a traditional CMS or a headless CMS.
Here are some signs that you need a Sitecore Partner:
- Your site is slow to load despite efforts to fix it.
- Deployments have bugs that weren't fully tested.
- Your team is not trained to use your site effectively.
- You have issues when personalizing components.
- You can't build or update the website on your own.
- You don't have the expertise to conduct A/B testing.
- You feel frustrated trying to publish and edit content.
- Your site was created without a Sitecore Architecture Document.
- You can't manage content using the Sitecore Experience Editor interface.
Expectations from the Right Sitecore Partner
Choosing the right Sitecore partner is crucial to get the most out of your investment. Here are some signs that you’ve selected the right technical partner in Sitecore:
1. The Importance of Experience with Sitecore
Choosing the right Sitecore partner is crucial to the success of your CMS implementation. While an impressive portfolio is important, it is not the only factor to consider.
An experienced Sitecore partner is one that has been recognized by Sitecore as one of the best implementation agencies. They have extensive knowledge and experience in implementing Sitecore and can provide you with guidance on how to navigate the platform effectively.
When selecting a Sitecore partner, it is important to consider their experience with the platform. An experienced partner will have a deep understanding of your business needs and will be able to create a customized implementation that fits your specific requirements.
An experienced partner will also be proactive in suggesting improvements to your implementation, keeping you up to date with the latest updates and features, and providing comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment.
2. The Importance of a Clearly Defined Plan for Sitecore Implementation
A clearly defined plan is essential for a successful Sitecore implementation. An experienced Sitecore partner will begin with a technical audit and in-depth discovery process to understand your business and goals for your Sitecore implementation.
Next, they will create a Sitecore Architecture Document that provides a comprehensive plan for your implementation, including details on content structure, required modules, and editing permissions. Your partner will also structure a plan for executing the implementation, using Sitecore best practices and optimizing for technical performance.
This planning stage is critical for ensuring that everyone involved in the implementation is on the same page and that the project is completed to spec, on time, and on budget. By working closely with a Sitecore partner, you can ensure that your implementation is tailored to your specific business needs and goals.
3. Smooth Deployments with a Reliable Sitecore Partner
A reliable Sitecore partner will follow a detailed QA process for all deployments. They will have outlined this process during the planning stage and obtained your approval for it.
Before the deployment reaches you for approval, the code will have been comprehensively tested and verified by your Sitecore partner. They will work diligently to catch all potential bugs, so once it reaches the staging environment, your feedback should be mostly cosmetic.
Your Sitecore partner will then implement your changes and repeat the rigorous testing process once more. Once you are fully satisfied with how things look and function, they will publish to a live environment.
A solid QA process is crucial for reducing the frequency of bugs and minimizing their impact on your site experience. A reliable Sitecore partner will not rush implementations or deployments. They will follow a detailed QA process to ensure smooth deployments and prevent bugs from interfering with your site experience.
4. Personalized Training and Documentation with Your Sitecore Partner
Sitecore implementations are unique to each business and require personalized training and documentation to ensure self-sufficiency. A reliable Sitecore partner will work with you to understand the specific needs of your team and provide personalized training to help you confidently use the platform.
You might be interested in how QEdge helped Cochlear with Sitecore Personalization. Click to read:
The Sitecore partner who architected and built your site will provide all the necessary training and documentation you need to complete your job headache-free. They want you to feel fully satisfied with your Sitecore implementation and will go the extra mile to ensure that you have the necessary knowledge to use the platform effectively.
An empathic Sitecore partner will work with your team to understand their unique learning styles, job functions, and how they are expected to use Sitecore. They will provide personalized training that is tailored to your team's specific needs.
Some Sitecore partners go the extra distance by providing recordings of online training that you can keep for future reference and share with future team members. This additional documentation can be invaluable in ensuring that your team members have access to the information they need to use Sitecore effectively.
5. Confidence in Your Next Steps with a Reliable Sitecore Partner
A successful Sitecore implementation is one where the client feels completely self-sufficient to create, manage, edit, and make changes to their site. A knowledgeable Sitecore partner who follows Sitecore best practices can make your implementation easy and intuitive to use.
Once your Sitecore implementation is complete, you should feel confident in your ability to add or edit content, manage permissions, create new sections of the site, and run A/B and multivariate tests. The Sitecore Experience Editor interface lets you edit content in-line and preview exactly what the page will look like while you’re working on it, giving you the freedom and flexibility to build out new sections of your site any way you like, all on your own.
While you may forget how to do certain things from time to time, having a reliable Sitecore partner you can trust is essential. You should feel comfortable calling your Sitecore partner whenever you're having an issue or have questions. A trustworthy Sitecore partner will be there to help you whenever you need it, providing ongoing support and guidance to ensure that you can continue to use the platform effectively.
10 Questions to Ask Before Partnering with a Sitecore Agency
Choosing the right Sitecore agency can make or break your Sitecore implementation. Here are ten questions to ask before partnering with a Sitecore agency:
- How much work do you currently outsource? Understanding the agency's outsourcing practices can give insight into their level of control over their projects.
- Do you have any Sitecore-certified employees? Sitecore certification is essential for ensuring that the agency has the necessary expertise to work with the platform.
- Do you have Sitecore MVPs in your company? Sitecore MVPs are highly respected members of the Sitecore community and can provide valuable insights into Sitecore best practices.
- How long have you been a Sitecore Partner? A long-standing partnership with Sitecore can indicate a level of trust and expertise.
- How many Sitecore projects have you completed? The number of completed Sitecore projects can give insight into the agency's experience level.
- How active is your team in the Sitecore community? Active participation in the Sitecore community can indicate a commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest Sitecore best practices.
- What is your level of certification, and what does it entail? Understanding the agency's level of certification can help you gauge their expertise with the platform.
- Besides Sitecore, which other technologies do you work with? Understanding the agency's technological expertise can help you evaluate its ability to integrate Sitecore with other systems.
- Do you have Sitecore libraries or templates that could speed up the work? Sitecore libraries and templates can help speed up the implementation process and ensure consistency across projects.
- How do you make sure your clients stay current on Sitecore's best practices? Ongoing education and support are critical for ensuring the long-term success of your Sitecore implementation.
QEdge: An Experienced Sitecore Partner
Sitecore is a DXP created to elevate your operations and empower your teams. It has plenty of features that can improve your business outcomes and enable you to create omnichannel digital experiences. However, when poorly implemented, it does more harm than good.
That’s when calling a Sitecore partner like QEdge can help. QEdge is a certified Sitecore Partner. Our implementation process starts with a comprehensive technical audit to gain a full understanding of your business and create personalized recommendations for the next steps.
The best Sitecore partner will start the journey with you by listening to what you have to say and making recommendations about your particular use case. Then a complete assessment of your site’s status to uncover hidden issues and determine the best course of action to help you meet your goals.
More about How to Choose Sitecore Partner
Are you ready to kickstart your Sitecore implementation? Contact us, and let’s get started.
