Upgrading to Xperience by Kentico

In the fast-paced world of digital solutions, staying ahead of the curve is essential for businesses looking to maintain a competitive edge. Xperience by Kentico (XbyK) represents a substantial leap forward from previous versions, incorporating a modern technology stack and offering an ever-increasing suite of advanced features designed to enhance digital experiences. We take a look at the things to consider for businesses upgrading their existing Kentico implementation or migrating from another content management system (CMS), and why it’s worth looking at Xperience by Kentico. 

Migrating from Kentico 13 to Xperience by Kentico 

Migrating from Kentico 13 to Xperience by Kentico is made simple thanks to Kentico's development of an open-source migration toolkit. This toolkit, created and supported by Kentico, aims to transfer as much data from Kentico 13 as possible to match the current features of Xperience by Kentico. As new features are added to the platform, Kentico will continue to update and support the toolkit. 

Since the toolkit is open-source, Zeroseven can easily extend its capabilities to support any additional custom features available on client websites. While there are differences between the development of a website built with Kentico 13 and with Xperience by Kentico, there are also a lot of similarities in terms of the structure of the code and elements that allow Zeroseven to reuse existing code from Kentico 13 website in Xperience by Kentico solutions, making the transition from Kentico 13 to Xperience by Kentico an upgrade rather than a re-platform. 

Kentico Portal Engine and older versions 

To use the migration toolkit with a provided migration path, the source must be a Kentico MVC website. For websites built on the Kentico Portal Engine, there is limited support for migrating all widget data and page content within the migration toolkit. However, thanks to Kentico MVP Trevor Fayas, there is a pathway to achieve a full migration without starting from scratch. 

Shortly after the release of Kentico 13, Trevor developed an extension for Kentico 12 Portal Engine websites that transforms content to be compatible with the Kentico 13 MVC structure. This tool can be used along with the migration toolkit to ensure existing widget content is available for migration to Xperience by Kentico. Zeroseven has successfully used this extension in several migrations from Kentico 12 Portal Engine to Kentico 13 MVC, making it a valuable tool in the upgrade process from Portal Engine to Kentico 13 and Xperience by Kentico. 

Migrating from Other Platforms 

With Zeroseven's extensive experience in Kentico development and understanding of the universal migration toolkit, we can help you transition your current website to Xperience by Kentico as seamlessly as possible. 

The migration toolkit provided by Kentico is designed to be extendable for use beyond Kentico platforms. While Kentico has focused on supporting migrations from Kentico 13 and earlier, the toolkit allows developers to customize each migration step. For companies considering moving to Xperience by Kentico from other CMS solutions, knowing that a migration path is available might be the deciding factor in choosing Xperience by Kentico as your next CMS/DXP. 

Should Everyone Upgrade to Xperience by Kentico? 

Kentico 13 will be supported until December 31, 2026. The significant difference between Xperience by Kentico and its predecessor, Kentico 13, is that Xperience by Kentico was completely rebuilt from the ground up on the new technology stack. While it has been available for some time, it hasn’t always been ready for mass adoption. Kentico aimed to release the product early and provide ongoing monthly updates to enhance the platform continuously allowing early adopters to get in as soon as their required features were made available. 

Xperience by Kentico (XbyK) is now the flagship product for Kentico and is receiving serious ongoing investment and development, however there are a few features familiar to long-term Kentico users that are not yet ported over. Kentico have made public the roadmap for features on the Xperience by Kentico platform and have advised their partners to openly provide feedback on the requirements of their clients so that upcoming features can be prioritised as needed by clients. 

In summary 

As Kentico continues to evolve, upgrading to Xperience by Kentico presents a promising opportunity for many organizations. With its ever-increasing feature set, ongoing updates, and a well-supported migration toolkit, Xperience by Kentico offers a modern and scalable solution that can meet the needs of today’s digital landscape. While Kentico 13 will remain supported for several more years, transitioning to Xperience by Kentico soon allows businesses to leverage the latest advancements and prepare for future growth. 

For organizations considering this transition, Zeroseven’s deep expertise in Kentico development and migration ensures a smooth and efficient upgrade process. By understanding the nuances of the migration toolkit and exploring the available pathways, we can help you make the most of this opportunity and ensure your website is ready for the future. 

If you have any questions about the migration process or need guidance on whether Xperience by Kentico is the right fit for your business, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you navigate this transition and achieve your digital goals with confidence.