They are so ubiquitous that some 64 million websites are powered by some form of CMS; it’s therefore fair to assume you’re reading this article thanks to one of them offering a quick, easy and low-code way to publish content.

However, in recent years, CMSs have evolved in line with the explosion in data-processing technology, coupled with the growth of APIs and AI – not to mention online threats.

But, despite the advances that have been made, we’re on the cusp of fundamental change in the industry as the market adjusts to next-generation platforms – fuelled by innovation in the cloud.

Below I’ve summarised my top predictions for the CMS market as we prepare to enter 2022.

CMS’ will Realise the Benefit of the Cloud

Digital transformation has been a buzzword over the last few years, with SMEs as well as large enterprises moving operations to the cloud and adopting online productivity and collaboration services. Lockdowns and the move to remote working necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic have given organisations of all sizes a major reality check and, (some might say) greatly accelerated the move to the cloud, a vital component of digital transformation initiatives.

The move was so overwhelming that just a few months into the pandemic, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the company had seen two years of digital transformation in two months as its customers expedited the adoption of cloud solutions.

We’re seeing the same shift happen in the CMS market – with cloud-based CMSs now at the forefront of the industry. In fact, according to Gartner, by 2025 cloud-native platforms will serve as the foundation for more than 95% of new digital initiatives — up from less than 40% in 2021. But what’s driving this accelerated growth?

A cloud-based CMS brings with it a huge number of benefits for businesses. It doesn’t just help manage and publish content quickly, it underpins everything involved in a leading business strategy. From helping integrate third party services – including microservices – to enhancing data collection and analysis, organising a CRM system or enabling a brand to rapidly expand its online presence during a major launch; a modern CMS is integral to driving enhanced value across a business’s digital assets. In addition, the cloud fuels collaboration with other business functions and can provide the tools needed to enable ‘non-tech’ users to drive change and accelerate business growth.

Ultimately, we’ll see a reduction in the basic ‘lift-and-shift’ workloads, as increasing numbers of companies look to take full advantage of the cloud as part of their website.

Data Protection and Cybersecurity to Remain a Critical Business Issue

As growing numbers of organisations shift their CMS and other businesses critical operations to the cloud, there will be an increased need for them to boost their website security and data protection capabilities. According to research by PwC, two thirds (66%) of UK business leaders expect the threat from cyber criminals to increase over the next 12 months, meaning safe and secure platforms will continue to be paramount for businesses, especially those that hold sensitive customer data through their websites and portals.

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A cloud-based CMS can effectively act as a guardrail, guiding users away from making errors and potentially causing a content security risk. A robust and compliant CMS platform is the first line of defence against constantly changing cyber-crimes and can provide an added layer of security to your website management in several ways, such as integrating firewalls, vNets and private endpoints; creating configurable role-based access control and added traceability to keep an audit trail and ensure employees can only access information they need to do their jobs; as well as automatically scanning for unsecured content.

Machine Learning and AI will Automate more Business Processes

The speed at which an organisation can respond to changes can mean the difference between success and failure in any given sector. AI and machine learning are key ways that businesses can streamline processes and back-end operations, with increasingly sophisticated algorithms being used to automate everything from data-driven ad retargeting to forecasting and enhanced security.

As these technologies become more ingrained and democraticised across the tech ecosystem, we can expect to see more businesses turning to AI and machine learning in 2022 to drive growth and strip out complex back-end processes. In the CMS sector, AI and machine learning will also help make the user experience more intuitive, helping people even without a technical background navigate the platform.

Overall, we’re in for an exciting 2022, and we can expect to see the cloud continue to drive growth for clients and businesses across the globe. Whilst there’s still so much uncertainty fuelled by the pandemic and new variants, one thing is clear: businesses can’t afford to sit back and take their web presence for granted; if they do, they may be in for a rude awakening.