Sitecore is a commercial content management system (CMS) that requires licensing fees for use, add-ons, and support. Despite the mounting fees, many enterprise-level companies rely on the CMS for their websites. Soon, those same clients must decide between staying with Sitecore as it transitions to a cloud architecture or migrating to another platform. Let’s explore the latter journey, shall we? Here’s why we think you should consider a Sitecore to WordPress migration.
What Is WordPress?
According to W3Techs, WordPress powers over 43% of all websites. That includes complex, large-scale websites such as NBA, Monster, Time, and Campbells. Heck, even NASA and the White House depend on WordPress. If you’re under the impression that WordPress can’t do what Sitecore can, you would be wrong.
Flexible, Free, and Open-Source CMS
Known for its flexibility and ease of use, WordPress is a free and open-source CMS built on the PHP and MySQL platforms. Because of its open-source nature, WordPress is a highly cost-effective website solution because there is no demand for investing in expensive licenses just for using the software. Plus, add-ons come with additional fees, too.
Affordable Add-Ons
Additionally, WordPress has a vast library of free and premium plugins and themes that allow for extensive customization without complex coding. While some add-ons mean an additional cost, they are generally a third of the price of premium extensions available for other platforms.
Hosting Flexibility
Companies can use WordPress freely, as it is open-source and not tethered to any specific hosting provider. If a website grows and evolves, it’s easy to transfer it to a new host. Any business, regardless of size, can choose the features and functions that suit their needs and that of their preferred web host, giving them the flexibility and freedom they require.
Ease-of-Use
Moreover, its user-friendly interface means that businesses can easily manage their content, reducing the reliance on professional web developers and further cutting down operational expenses.
These factors combined make WordPress an affordable and scalable choice for businesses of all sizes.
Differences Between Sitecore and WordPress
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between Sitecore and WordPress:
Why WordPress Is Better Than Sitecore
There are several reasons why WordPress is a better choice than Sitecore for many businesses. Here are a few of the most important reasons:
- Cost: WordPress is a free and open-source CMS, while Sitecore is a commercial CMS with a high price tag. This can save businesses a significant amount of money over the long term.
- Flexibility: WordPress is a flexible CMS that can create any website, from simple brochureware sites to complex e-commerce platforms. Sitecore is a more specialized CMS better suited for certain types of websites.
- Easy to switch hosts: Companies relying on Sitecore are limited to Sitecore hosting. With WordPress, any web hosting company that offers managed WordPress hosting can be relied upon to power a WordPress website without being locked into a specific host vendor. Switching hosts is easy.
- Scalability: WordPress is a very scalable CMS that can easily be scaled up or down to meet the needs of a growing or shrinking business. Sitecore is not as scalable and may be unable to keep up with the demands of a large enterprise.
- Security: WordPress is a very secure CMS regularly updated with security patches. Sitecore has had some security vulnerabilities and may not be as secure as WordPress.
- User-friendliness: WordPress is a very user-friendly CMS that is easy to use, even for non-technical content managers. Sitecore is a more complex CMS that may require technical expertise and/or training.
If you run an enterprise-grade business looking for a CMS that is cost-effective, flexible, scalable, secure, and user-friendly, then WordPress is a better choice than Sitecore.
Client Example: Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) WordPress Migration
IPG is a leader in the development, manufacturing, and sale of a variety of paper and film-based tapes and protective packaging for industrial and retail use. IPG manages 13 websites in different languages, and at one point, 10 of them were on Sitecore. This made the product management process across all websites cumbersome.
IPG’s team required flexibility to adjust branding and colors while maintaining a templated design to provide consistency. That’s when WebDevStudios suggested WordPress Multisite.
First, our team analyzed IPG’s relevant data to develop a data mapping plan. From there, we developed a custom script to map the application and product categories from the existing Sitecore platform to the new WordPress installation.
Normally, WP All Import and WPML, a WordPress translation plugin, can be used in conjunction to migrate data in multiple languages from one site to another; however, the structure of Sitecore’s content required an additional step.
Our team created a customized solution that allowed us to add code to the migration and translation plugins, allowing customized functions for a successful migration with accurate translations. These customized functions then allowed us to process the Sitecore backup information and transform it into several files that the WordPress Core import tool and WP All Import could use.
Additionally, other customizations were later added to various IPG websites that included WooCommerce, global site elements, Gutenberg blocks, and custom post types post templates. Today, IPG remains a WebDevStudios client, retaining our ongoing website development and support services.
Let’s Chat About Your Sitecore to WordPress Migration
In conclusion, Sitecore and WordPress are two very different CMS platforms. Sitecore is a commercial CMS known for the additional costs of having enterprise-level features and functionality. WordPress is a free and open-source, known for its flexibility, ease of use, and nominal costs.
If you are a business that is looking for a CMS that is cost-effective, flexible, scalable, secure, and user-friendly, then WordPress is a better choice than Sitecore. Contact WebDevStudios for more information on your migration.