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Oct 03, 2024 • 2 Minute Read • Richard Cabral, Technical Director
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When Innovation Hits the Right Note: Sitecore Symposium 2024
Oct 28, 2024 • 3 Minute Read • Deepthi Katta, Technical Director
I’m excited to share the highlights of this year’s Sitecore Symposium in Nashville, the music city. As an MVP and long-time Sitecore enthusiast, this is my favorite event of the year. It’s an opportunity to engage with the who’s who of the Sitecore world and to dive into the latest innovations and insights.
MVP Summit Recap
This year’s Symposium had a slightly different twist: it started with the MVP Summit. Personally, I wasn’t sure I loved the shift in the schedule since we’re so used to wrapping up Symposium with the Summit. But change can take time to settle in, and overall, it was an excellent experience.
One of the standout moments of the MVP Summit was the presence of key Sitecore executives, including CEO Dave O’Flanagan and CMO Kathie Johnson. It was fantastic to have them directly address our questions about the evolving and expanding Sitecore product stack. Sitecore's roundtable discussions with MVPs are always dynamic and full of deep insights. Sitecore truly knows how to make its MVPs feel valued and appreciated. They capped off the summit with a fun-filled evening, a testament to the community spirit that makes Sitecore so special.
The symposium continued with Partner Connect, where Verndale, as a Platinum Partner, had a proud moment, winning three awards: Customer Success, Strategic Excellence, and Solution Partner Innovation. It was a huge achievement for us at Verndale, and I couldn’t have been more proud.
Themes, Products, & Keynotes
As always, the Solution Pavilion was a hub of energy and innovation. The booths from partners across the globe showcased some amazing offerings. I have to admit, I’m biased, but Verndale’s booth looked incredible. Our team put together some fantastic showcases for clients looking to explore Sitecore’s diverse product stack. My favorite was our XM Cloud Accelerator, a solution allowing clients to get onto XM Cloud in record time using our proprietary Forge library. Plus, it didn’t hurt that we had our shiny new awards on display.
The theme of this year’s symposium was “Power to Build.” In his keynote, Dave O’Flanagan highlighted how proud Sitecore is of the solutions that customers have built using their technology. He also emphasized how the future is poised to be supercharged with the promise of AI. An important shift from the last symposium is the focus on choice—the message now is that customers have the power to choose the Sitecore product that best suits their needs. It’s no longer just about pushing XM Cloud; it’s about giving customers the freedom to decide how to move forward with Sitecore.
One of my favorite moments was the fireside chat with Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky. It was incredibly inspiring to hear her speak. Despite having won 14 Olympic medals, she was so humble and motivating. She shared a family mantra that really resonated with me: “Take the lead, keep the lead.” It’s a powerful message that applies to all aspects of life.
Introducing Sitecore Stream: AI for DXP
A standout highlight this year was the introduction of Sitecore Stream. Designed to reimagine marketing from an AI-first perspective, it deeply integrates AI into the DXP stack to boost marketing productivity and drive growth. It’s not just about adding AI; as Dave said, it’s about creating intelligence. Sitecore Stream, which is available as an add-on across all Sitecore products, includes three core capabilities: Brand-Aware AI, Generative Copilots, and AI-Enhanced Workflows. These tools are designed to be smart, strategic, and secure, helping marketers reach their goals faster than ever. The beauty is that the AI tool can also be integrated with older versions of Sitecore.
Building Connections & Looking Ahead
There was truly something for everyone at this year’s Symposium, regardless of your role in the Sitecore ecosystem. Verndale had two sessions where we showcased how two of our customers, MarineMax and WorldStrides, used Sitecore’s products to solve their challenges and achieve their goals.
Of course, no symposium is complete without a party, and this year’s was held in downtown Nashville. With live music, great food, and lots of dancing, it was the perfect way to wrap up a week packed with learning, connections, and excitement for the future of Sitecore.
All in all, it was an incredible experience. We walked away with a deep sense of inspiration, a wealth of new knowledge, and a ton of excitement for what’s coming next from Sitecore. The inspiring theme, giving clients the power to build, perfectly aligns with Verndale's goal of empowering you with the tools and guidance to move forward and transform your digital future. If you're interested in learning more, reach out to start a conversation.