Optimizely CMS Implementation

Optimizely CMS 13 Implementation and Migration

Optimizely CMS 13 is a major platform shift. It moves Optimizely CMS onto .NET 10 and introduces a more modern content management experience built around headless delivery, visual authoring, Opti ID, Optimizely Graph, Content Manager, and deeper integration with the broader Optimizely One ecosystem.

Vanitech helps businesses assess, upgrade, rebuild, and support Optimizely CMS solutions. Whether you are running CMS 11, CMS 12, or planning a new CMS 13 implementation, we can help you choose the right migration path, reduce risk, and modernise the parts of the platform that matter most.

For many teams, CMS 13 is not just a package upgrade. It is a chance to clean up old Episerver-era patterns, replace legacy search, review third-party packages, improve content models, modernise frontend delivery, and prepare the platform for Graph-powered content experiences.

Our Optimizely Services

Optimizely CMS 13 Development

We build and modernise Optimizely CMS 13 websites, content platforms, and headless applications. Depending on your goals, we can support traditional CMS delivery, React-based frontend components, Next.js or other headless frontends, Optimizely Graph delivery, and integration with commerce, CRM, PIM, analytics, search, and marketing systems.

Our CMS 13 work can include:

• CMS 13 architecture planning
• .NET 10 solution setup and package alignment
• Content type, block, page, and media model development
• Visual Builder and Content Manager readiness
• Opti ID and admin access planning
• Optimizely Graph setup and query planning
• Headless application configuration where suitable
• React or Next.js frontend development
• DXP deployment and release support

Migration from Optimizely CMS 12 to CMS 13

CMS 12 to CMS 13 migration builds on the .NET foundation introduced in CMS 12, but it still needs careful planning. CMS 13 targets .NET 10, introduces breaking API changes, changes the site management model into an application model, makes Opti ID and Optimizely Graph central to the platform, and removes several older features that were deprecated in CMS 12.

Vanitech can help with:

• CMS 12 codebase and package audit
• .NET 10 readiness review
• Third-party NuGet package compatibility checks
• Removal or replacement of obsolete CMS 12 APIs
• Migration away from Search & Navigation / Episerver Find where required
• Optimizely Graph planning and query updates
• Application model configuration for migrated sites
• Database backup, migration, rollback, and deployment planning
• Editorial testing across create, edit, preview, and publish workflows

We pay special attention to third-party packages, old initialization patterns, service registration, custom scheduled jobs, content type tabs, search implementations, and any code that relied on deprecated CMS 12 behaviour.

Migration from Optimizely CMS 11 to CMS 13

CMS 11 to CMS 13 is a bigger modernization path because CMS 11 is based on the older .NET Framework generation. In most cases, the safest approach is not a single jump. We assess whether the project should move through CMS 12 first, rebuild selected layers, or use a parallel migration where CMS 13 is created cleanly and content, integrations, and frontend functionality are migrated in planned stages.

For CMS 11 projects, we can support:

• Legacy Episerver/CMS 11 technical audit
• .NET Framework to modern .NET migration planning
• CMS 11 to CMS 12 bridge planning where appropriate
• CMS 12 to CMS 13 upgrade planning after the modern .NET move
• Content model cleanup and block architecture review
• Replacement of legacy plugins, dynamic properties, mirroring, and old package dependencies
• Search & Navigation / Episerver Find replacement strategy
• Content migration, media migration, redirects, and SEO preservation
• Frontend rebuild or React/Next.js modernization

The right path depends on the age of the codebase, package dependencies, hosting model, custom integrations, search usage, editor workflows, and how much frontend modernization the business wants to take on at the same time.

Optimizely Graph and Search Modernization

CMS 13 moves search, content discovery, preview, and delivery closer to Optimizely Graph. Search & Navigation, previously known as Episerver Find, is not supported in CMS 13, so projects using Find need a replacement strategy.

We can help migrate listing pages, site search, faceted search, autocomplete, content discovery, and headless delivery queries to Optimizely Graph or to another search provider where a custom search stack is a better fit.

Visual Builder, Content Manager, and Editorial Experience

CMS 13 introduces a more modern editorial direction, with Visual Builder replacing older on-page edit patterns as the default editing experience and Content Manager relying on Graph for content discoverability. We can help prepare content models, blocks, media, preview flows, permissions, and editor documentation so teams can adopt the new experience smoothly.

React and Headless Frontend Development

Vanitech can pair Optimizely CMS with React, Next.js, or other modern frontend approaches. For CMS 13 headless applications, we can design frontend architecture around Optimizely Graph, preview tokens, structured content models, reusable components, SEO, accessibility, and performance.

• Component-based architecture for reuse and maintainability
• React or Next.js components mapped to Optimizely blocks and pages
• Headless content delivery through Optimizely Graph
• SEO-friendly routing, metadata, schema, and sitemap generation
• Fast frontend rendering and Core Web Vitals optimisation

System Integration and DXP Support

Optimizely often sits at the centre of a larger digital ecosystem. We can integrate CMS 13 with CRM, ERP, PIM, DAM, commerce, analytics, search, marketing automation, forms, authentication, and custom business systems.

We can also support Optimizely DXP planning, deployment pipelines, environment strategy, Integration/Preproduction/Production rollout, content migration validation, launch support, and post-launch monitoring.

Why Choose Vanitech for Optimizely CMS 13?

• Practical experience with Optimizely/Episerver architecture and upgrade paths
• Migration planning for CMS 11 to CMS 13 and CMS 12 to CMS 13
• Strong understanding of .NET modernization, package compatibility, and breaking changes
• React, Next.js, and Graph-powered headless frontend capability
• Search modernization from Episerver Find/Search & Navigation to Optimizely Graph or another provider
• SEO, redirects, performance, accessibility, and content model cleanup included in the migration conversation
• Long-term support after launch, not just the upgrade itself

Ready to Move to Optimizely CMS 13?

If you are running Optimizely CMS 11 or CMS 12, now is the time to plan your CMS 13 path carefully. Vanitech can help you audit the current platform, identify upgrade risks, plan the .NET 10 migration, replace unsupported features, modernise search, and prepare the frontend for the next generation of Optimizely delivery.

Contact us or email us at info@vanitech.com.au to discuss your Optimizely CMS 13 project.