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How React works in a composable architecture

The Contentstack TeamDec 29, 2022

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React is a JavaScript library widely frequented by web developers who plan on building composable elements for dynamic interfaces. By default, it is a declarative and flexible framework for altering web and app data without having to refresh the DOM every time. 

A React CMS splits the roles of designers and developers, placing them into a front-end or back-end role respectively. React is a collection of designated components used to maintain a structured front end, for performing actions like validating forms, controlling states, arranging layouts and passing in data. 

Described as a headless infrastructure, the three main ingredients of a React CMS are React, REST API and GraphQL. These libraries allow you to scale content across many channels and devices by eliminating codebase dependencies that would be prevalent in a traditional CMS environment.  

When should you use a React CMS?

A React CMS is ideal for editing the elements that users interact with, from buttons to dropdowns on your website. And for organizing larger projects, complex code logic is grouped by matching patterns to help you track the state of apps. 

It will update your source code in the DOM to reflect changes in app requirements so the content gets delivered without any compatibility issues. This is achieved by tracking the modified versions of your components to back up your data before the system restarts. 

If you prefer something more substantial than drag-and-drop customization, then you should consider getting a React CMS to access native API configurations and code blocks that are fully decoupled from the presentation layer. 

This will save you time on having to manually update plugins or extensions, so you can divert resources to creating and deploying the app through its API-based integrations. 

Moreover, a React CMS has been shown to improve performance by allocating less memory to track component changes. To get around loading delays, it will use the virtual DOM to render only the assets that are found at the URL. 

Instead of receiving just the themes and templates, you have complete control over the content layout for fetching chunks of data from API calls to populate your web pages with the desired elements. 

How a React CMS works with APIs to distribute content

When React is combined with a CMS, it lets you preview the output of workflows before you publish them onto a page. A React CMS is able to transmit on-demand data between the client and server or even during compilation time, to dictate how objects are rendered on a webpage. 

Using a composable model, you can call the API to request information from root directories or databases on the server, dividing your website functionality into closed environments that will not interfere with each other. 

From a technical standpoint, React CMSes make it possible to edit visual elements through your site’s HTML, by tying it back to the schema of GraphQL as you fill in the fields or toggle the settings. 

It’s also great for patching bugs in your JS bundles that might otherwise lead to delayed page interactions or even downtime on the server. Rather than create a project from scratch, the composable architecture makes it easy to reuse content over multiple channels. 

In addition, you can search for third-party integrations on the market to help you build streamlined apps that contribute to the overall React ecosystem. As such, swapping out components is the way to go when your team is pressed for time on the next feature release. 

By employing API-first methods, you won’t have to monitor CMS servers or databases in messy clusters, unlike what happens in traditional CMS solutions. 

What are the benefits and features of a React CMS?

A React CMS ensures the continuous operation of components on the app, giving you composable options to import modules that perform what you need on the client. 

Once you understand the fundamental components, it becomes easier to develop and maintain web apps by leveraging just the required functionality to deliver consistent user interactions. 

To manage your databases, it utilizes GraphQL to recover queries from the app data in a structured format. As a substitute for REST, GraphQL caches and updates databases with new entries, thereby combining them with Apollo or Axios packages to execute your API requests. 

Another aspect is the custom editing experience, which generates dynamic content in an organized manner, so you can avoid a conflict of interest when loading HTML and JSON files in succession. 

If you’re looking for a specific feature to implement, such as a login page or shopping cart to enhance the user experience, you can learn about them in detail through the support documentation. 

The goal is to stabilize your app’s performance during page loads to improve the accessibility of various media types. To see the CMS in action, you can simply declare the permission and hierarchy of API objects using the default arguments. 

But before you map out the visuals, it’s best to have a clearly defined scope of the app by taking measures to scale it in conjunction with your network or server capacity. 

Choosing a React CMS to decouple your web services

For enterprise workflows, React APIs are a must-have that can shorten the time to market by automatically cleaning content backlogs and preparing for site migrations. Since there are lots of options for React CMSes, you’ll have to narrow down which libraries are capable of handling your app’s payload. 

If you want a composable CMS focused on developers, get one that offers a large collection of third-party frameworks or extensions in order to cover all bases of your React app. For example, you may need conditional fields to verify user accounts or support for SQL to join multiple tables containing product details. 

Another advantage is being able to override protocol errors or software failures that are detrimental to performance indicators before they end up on the latest build. This ensures development is productive and has room to grow into cross-platform capabilities. 

The cost of implementation is well worth it for specialized use cases that cover static site generators, mobile apps and web services. In return, this puts custom assets, webhooks and test scenarios at your fingertips, so you can keep adding integrations with other tools without worrying about the impact on existing code.

With headless CMS functionality, you can frame API responses and multiple SaaS solutions around predictable outcomes to close the gap between React and your site content. 

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of a composable architecture, see our article “Why a composable CMS is right for you.” 

Schedule a free demo to experience the benefits of a composable CMS with Contentstack’s headless CMS-based digital experience platform. 

 

About Contentstack

The Contentstack team comprises highly skilled professionals specializing in product marketing, customer acquisition and retention, and digital marketing strategy. With extensive experience holding senior positions in notable technology companies across various sectors, they bring diverse backgrounds and deep industry knowledge to deliver impactful solutions.  

Contentstack stands out in the headless composable DXP market with an impressive track record of 87 G2 user awards, six analyst recognitions, and three industry accolades, showcasing its robust market presence and user satisfaction.

Check out our case studies to see why industry-leading companies trust Contentstack.

Experience the power of Contentstack's award-winning platform by scheduling a demo, starting a free trial, or joining a small group demo today.

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Dec 08, 2023 | 8 min. read

How cloud content management could change your business in 2024

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These include the following: Faster time-to-market By starting with the API contract up front, development teams don't have to start from scratch when implementing a new feature or service. They can also work on various components of the application simultaneously. All this reduces overall development time, enabling businesses to bring their products to market faster. Better user experience With a clear API contract, developers can create consistent, reliable, and efficient user interfaces, improving user experiences.  Improved developer experience A well-documented API fosters better collaboration and understanding among development teams, leading to a smoother developer experience (DX) and higher-quality end products. Scalability API-first design is inherently more scalable, as it promotes using microservices architectures, allowing your applications to grow and evolve with ease. 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The right platform can fast-track your API-first strategy API-first is the future of enterprise architecture, and a composable digital experience platform (DXP) like Contentstack can help organizations achieve their API-first goals faster. Contentstack is headless CMS and supports a modular framework powered by APIs that can integrate with your tech stack to help your organization achieve incredible velocity, expanded capabilities, and better customer experiences. However, this approach requires careful planning, technical expertise, and the proper support.  Contentstack is a leading provider of composable DXPs. We offer comprehensive support, including onboarding, professional services, and support plans to ensure your team is successful.  We also have a vibrant community of developers and partners that can offer insights and advice, as well as the Contentstack Academy, which offers extensive training and certification. 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Sep 22, 2023 | 5 min. read

Is integrating your digital asset management system with a DXP a good idea?

In today's digital world, organizations are constantly looking for ways to improve the experiences they provide to their customers. One way they can accomplish this is to integrate their existing digital asset management (DAM) system with a digital experience platform (DXP). In this blog, we'll look at how a DXP and a DAM system differ when it makes sense to integrate your existing DAM system with a DXP and some of the benefits of this type of integration. What is a digital asset management system? A DAM system stores organizes, and manages digital content, including images, videos, graphics, and documents for use across an organization. DAM systems are typically used by companies that must control a large volume of digital assets while also remaining compliant with regulations applicable to their industries. DAM software securely stores and preserves data from loss while limiting access via workflows and user controls. While DAM systems are great for protecting and storing critical digital assets, there often must be a way to seamlessly deliver these assets to customers on the front-end presentation layer. That's where the digital experience platform can make the difference. What is a digital experience platform (DXP)? A DXP software platform helps organizations create, manage, and deliver exceptional digital experiences across multiple channels. Composable DXPs enable organizations to integrate their existing tech stack, including their DAM system, into one platform to create more streamlined and seamless user experiences (UX). A headless CMS is an essential component of the composable DXP because this decouples the back end from the front end so that each area can be developed separately. Yet, they can still communicate via an application programming interface (API) so that assets on the back end can easily be called up for delivery to multiple channels, including websites, smartphones, native apps, and social media. When it makes sense to integrate a DAM system and DXP While a DXP alone can serve as a central repository for storing and managing all types of digital assets, replacing an existing DAM system may sometimes be feasible. Or an organization may be unwilling to move large volumes of data from their DAM system to a DXP. However, while the DAM software securely stores digital assets with workflows and user controls, it only sometimes provides an easy way for organizations to leverage these assets to improve user and customer experience. A DXP and DAM system integration can help an organization to centralize the management of its digital assets, improve the searchability and discoverability of these assets, and streamline omnichannel delivery while at the same time protecting assets from unauthorized use. A DXP can be integrated with your full tech stack, including the DAM system, proprietary software, analytics tools, marketing automation, CRMs, and more. One of the excellent capabilities of a composable DXP is its modular and decoupled CMS so that apps and integrations can take place over time for seamless, uninterrupted user and customer experiences. This puts the organization in control of prioritizing when integrating each of its systems with the DXP and when to roll out new features and functionality. 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To learn more about our composable DXP, schedule a demo today.

Sep 01, 2023 | 4 min. read

Does your organization need a digital asset management (DAM) system?

Delivering excellent customer experiences in the digital age requires a lot of content in various formats. That's why businesses are generating and storing more content than ever before. However, organizing, managing, and assessing this content can become a real challenge with more volume. Digital asset management (DAM) systems can help organizations solve this problem. In this blog post, we will explain what a DAM system is and cover its essential components. We'll also explore the benefits of implementing a DAM system, how to choose the right platform, best practices for implementing DAM, and more. What is a digital asset management (DAM) system? DAM systems store, organize, and distribute digital assets, and they have features like tagging, version control, and history tracking for efficiently managing these assets. They serve as repositories for many different types of content, including images, videos, documents, audio files, presentations, and more.  A DAM platform serves as a single source of truth for all the different teams in an organization, from marketing to business development, enabling collaboration between these teams. How does a DAM system differ from a content management system (CMS)? A traditional CMS only manages the content for your website. DAM software can manage content across your organization, allowing content to be used across multiple channels, not just your website. On the other hand, a DAM system can't publish content to your website or other channels. Your organization will still need a CMS or digital experience platform (DXP) to push digital assets to your website and other channels. To learn more about improving efficiency by integrating a DAM system with a DXP, read our blog, "Is integrating your digital asset management system with a DXP a good idea?" Again, the DAM system stores digital assets so they're easy to access and manage, while a CMS or DXP distributes them to where they need to be seen – for example, websites, mobile apps, and social media. Four main benefits of leveraging DAM software There are many reasons why businesses need to have a well-organized and efficient DAM system. First, it can help improve content creation and collaboration efficiency. When all of a business's digital assets are stored in one centralized location, it's easier for team members to locate and access the assets they need for marketing campaigns and other initiatives. It's also easier to share these assets and collaborate about them with others in the organization. This can save time and resources, improve the quality of content, and optimize the speed at which it can be delivered. Second, a well-organized DAM system can help improve the search and retrieval of digital assets. When assets are correctly tagged, and metadata is managed effectively, it's easier for users to find the necessary assets quickly. This can save time and frustration and help ensure the right assets are used for suitable projects. Third, a DAM system can ensure consistent branding and messaging across all the business's digital assets. When assets are stored in a centralized location and tagged with consistent metadata, ensuring they all use the same branding and messaging is easier. Lastly, a DAM system reduces unnecessary duplication and wasted resources. When assets are stored in one central location, tracking which assets have been used and when they are more accessible can help prevent team members from creating duplicate assets, saving time and money. Essential components of DAM systems Are platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive considered DAM systems? The answer is no. Even though these platforms provide some basic capabilities for managing digital assets, they need to have DAM platforms' robust features and functionality. Efficient DAM systems have several essential components. These include: Centralized storage A DAM system should provide a centralized repository for storing all digital assets across an organization, making them easier to locate and use when needed. Tagging and metadata management A DAM system should allow users to tag and manage metadata for their digital assets. This makes searching and retrieving assets easier and helps ensure consistent branding and messaging. Version control A DAM system should provide version control for digital assets. This means users can track asset changes over time and revert to previous versions if necessary. History tracking A DAM system should track the history of all changes to digital assets. This makes it easy to see who made changes to assets, when the changes were made, and why the changes were made. Search and retrieval A DAM system should have robust search and retrieval capabilities, enabling the assets to be located even without an exact filename. Collaboration A DAM system should allow users to easily collaborate on digital assets across many different teams in an organization. Security A DAM system should provide robust security features to protect digital assets from unauthorized access. Reporting A DAM system provides useful reporting features that can help businesses track how their digital assets are being used and how often specific assets are used. This can help to identify over or under-utilized assets. Choosing the right platform Choosing the right DAM system is essential for any business that wants to improve its digital asset management. Here are a few points to consider when shopping for the right system. Organizational needs and goals: What are the specific needs of your organization? What is the main reason for implementing DAM software? What plans does the business hope to achieve once the system is implemented? Features: What features does your organization require? Does it need a system with version control? Does the system need to integrate with existing software? Is this also an excellent time to upgrade your CMS or implement a new DXP? Scalability: How much growth do you expect in the future? Do you need a system that will evolve as your business scales or changes? Cost: How much will your company spend on a DAM system? Once you have considered these factors, it's time to narrow down your choices. Check out our Marketplace for DAM providers who partner with Contentstack. Implementation best practices Once you have chosen a DAM system, be mindful of these implementation best practices. Get buy-in from stakeholders. A successful DAM implementation requires the support of all stakeholders from the top down in an organization. Communicate the benefits of DAM to everyone affected by the system and gather feedback. Set realistic expectations. DAM is not a magic bullet. It takes time and effort to implement and manage a DAM system effectively. Expect to see results after some time. Be flexible. As your needs change, you may need to adjust your DAM system. Be prepared to make changes as required. Start small and scale up. Don't try to implement a DAM system that is too complex or ambitious for your organization. Start with a few assets and users, then gradually expand the system as required. Get help from a consultant. If you're unfamiliar with DAM software, consider seeking the advice of a consultant. A consultant can help assess business needs, choose a DAM system, and implement the system successfully. What to expect during implementation There are four basic steps when implementing a DAM system: Configuring the DAM system. Once your organization has chosen a DAM solution, it must be configured to meet the specific needs of your business. This includes setting up user permissions, creating metadata fields, and configuring workflows. Migrating your assets to the DAM system. This is the process of transferring your existing assets to the new DAM system. It is essential to do this carefully to avoid data loss or corruption. Training users. Once digital assets have been migrated to the DAM system, users must be trained to use it. This includes teaching them how to search for assets, manage permissions, and create workflows. Monitoring and maintaining the DAM system. Once the DAM system is up and running, you must watch it to ensure it performs as expected. This includes monitoring the system's performance, security, and compliance. Measuring success Here is a sample of the metrics you can track to measure your DAM implementation's success and demonstrate a return on investment. Asset retrieval time: How long does finding and retrieving the necessary assets take? Collaboration efficiency: How easy is it for team members to share and collaborate on digital assets? Cost savings: How much money have you saved by implementing a DAM system? Productivity improvements: Have you seen any improvements in productivity since implementing a DAM system? Brand consistency: Are your digital assets more consistent with your brand guidelines than pre-implementation? Future Trends in Digital Asset Management DAM systems are constantly evolving. Here are a few trends to watch for in the future: AI-powered metadata tagging and auto-classification: AI can automate the tagging and classification of digital assets. This can save businesses time and resources. Integration with emerging technologies: Companies increasingly integrate DAM systems with technologies like AR/VR and voice assistants. This makes it easier for businesses to share digital assets with their customers and partners. Evolving role of DAM in a dynamic digital landscape: DAM is becoming increasingly important in a dynamic digital landscape. Businesses need to manage their digital assets effectively to stay competitive. Learn more DAM systems can be a valuable asset for organizations of all sizes. Businesses can improve their digital asset management, productivity, and brand consistency by choosing the right DAM system and implementing it correctly.  Schedule a free demo today to learn more about Contentstack's composable digital experience platform or how this can work with a DAM system to improve user experience.

May 23, 2023 | 5 min. read

5 best practices for improving customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction, a measure of how much a company’s products or services meet or exceed its customer’s expectations, continues to dominate the business world. Customer satisfaction directly correlates with and translates to customer happiness, which is reflected in your business ratings. It is an important metric that helps measure how well a business is meeting the needs and expectations of its customers. Therefore, understanding and enhancing customer satisfaction is critical to ensuring long-term success for your business. Why customer satisfaction matters With more than 96% of customers claiming that customer service is essential to brand loyalty, it’s no secret that customer satisfaction is vital for your business's growth. It is the key to keeping your current customers and retaining new ones. Customer satisfaction directly affects customer loyalty, and it affects how customers may intend to associate with your brand in the future. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that your customers are happy with your products and services. Customer satisfaction provides insight into things that need improvement or ways to improve your services or product to serve your customers better. A high level of customer satisfaction shows that a business is providing quality products or services, meeting customer expectations and delivering an overall positive experience. In today's digital world, understanding the market from the end user's perspective is the need of the hour. For example, in a product-based SaaS organization, recognizing customer requirements, curating the product according to their needs, and understanding best practices for improving customer satisfaction can help you get an edge over your competitors. Top 5 best practices for improving customer satisfaction So, what factors affect customer satisfaction? How do you improve it? Understanding what drives customer satisfaction is a must to improve it. Here are the top five best practices for improving customer satisfaction in your SaaS business: Provide convenience with in-app chat features Convenience lets customers use your products or services without hassle. There’s comfort in knowing that everything will be taken care of, no matter what. A virtual assistant or chatbot is one way to provide convenient customer service. The in-app product chat feature provides the easiest way for customers to connect with your support team or agent. Customers always look for an easy way to connect quickly with the support team in case they need help while using the product or if they have any feedback about a feature. However, there should not be limitations to reaching out to the support team or agent only via chat support; an email or contact number should be available to expedite the process. Deliver the human touch with personalization Delivering a personalized customer experience helps establish a strong emotional bond with your customers. Research suggests that 80% of customers are more likely to buy products or services from a brand offering them personalized experiences. Providing a human touch or lively experience is essential, which is not the case when implementing a chatbot for answering queries. Customers expect to get the most relevant answers to their queries with little back and forth. Most of the time, organizations implement a chatbot by designing it to provide the most appropriate answers to the questions asked by the customers. However, after a certain point, bots are not self-sufficient to answer these accurately. In such instances, a live customer support agent can interact with the client to gather the required information by probing for correct questions. This gives additional assurance to the client that the team is looking into their query and that they will get a resolution soon. Track response and turnaround times (FRT and TAT) The quicker the response to a customer’s complaint, the better it is for the customer and the business. First Response Time (FRT) and Turn Around Time (TAT) are the most critical factors in engaging customers. First response time (FRT) is a metric used to measure the time it takes for a business to respond to a customer's initial inquiry or request for assistance. For example, this could be a customer support email, phone call, or message on social media. FRT is crucial because it directly impacts customer satisfaction. Customers generally expect a quick response to their inquiries, and delays in response time can lead to frustration and a negative experience. A prompt first response time can help establish trust and build a positive relationship between the customer and the business. When customers reach out to the support team, they expect an initial reply or acknowledgement of their query. A prompt reply or acknowledgement assures customers that the organization is dedicated to understanding their problems and helps win customer trust and improve satisfaction. In customer service, turnaround time (TAT) is often used to measure the time it takes to resolve customer inquiries or complaints. This includes the time it takes to provide a first response (FRT) plus the time it takes to resolve the issue entirely. A low TAT generally indicates that a business can quickly and efficiently resolve customer issues, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. Organizations should serve customer requests 24/7, across all time zones. It is important to share regular updates on specific cases, so use a unique reference number that can be shared with the client so that they can reach out for updates. Resolving customer-reported bugs in a timely manner helps unblock users and positively affects the organization. Once a bug is resolved and/or an enhancement is implemented, updating customers with a unique reference number is a key factor in improving customer satisfaction. Obtain customer feedback Obtaining customer feedback is essential for enhancing customer satisfaction as it helps businesses gain insight into their customers' needs, preferences and pain points. By acting on this feedback, businesses can make necessary changes to meet customer needs and expectations better, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty. Feedback helps identify the gaps between customers and businesses. Understanding customer needs via feedback is very important so details can be discussed with the product team to implement them within the current functionality. A transparent approach to customer feedback collection ensures customers are heard, improving their overall experience. Ensure customer success with proper onboarding Earlier in the onboarding process, determining the customer's end goal for using your solution and defining milestones to achieve that goal improves your customer's experience and assures them that they are in the right hands moving forward. Connecting with customers is important. Schedule regular meetings to understand their workflow and hand-holding (when necessary) until they are fully live. This is usually done with dedicated customer success managers and solutions architects assigned to specific customers. It helps them achieve their use case, clear any roadblocks with the product and get technical guidance when needed. CSMs also help clients to expedite resolving the important features or bugs they may experience. A wonderful onboarding experience engages the customers better, making them less likely to churn and more likely to make repeat purchases. Also, a solid onboarding experience makes customers feel valued while increasing their product adoption. Final thoughts The right strategies and best practices can help improve customer satisfaction, propelling your SaaS product's trajectory toward reduced churn and increased business revenues. Investing in contemporary customer satisfaction strategies (artificial intelligence, visual tools and an omnichannel approach) enhances your ability to offer personalized experiences. Most importantly, increased customer satisfaction keeps your customers returning and is directly linked to growing your business' topline revenue.