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HCL Digital Experience vs. Xperience by Kentico vs. Needle

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    HCL Digital Experience

    Score9.9 out of 10
    N/AHCL Digital Experience is based on the former IBM Web Content Manager and IBM WebSphere Portal products, acquired by HCL Technologies from IBM in late 2018. The product allows the user to create, manage and deliver engaging omnichannel digital experiences to audiences with responsive content, targeted offers, seamlessly integrated applications and consistent branding across channels (web, mobile, and hybrid mobile/web applications and more).N/A

    Xperience by Kentico

    Score7 out of 10
    N/AKentico is a web content management system for building websites, online stores, intranets, and Web 2.0 community sites. Kentico CMS uses ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL Server for development via its Portal Engine, using Visual Studio, or through Microsoft MVC.

    $9,999

    Subscription license

    Needle

    Score10 out of 10
    N/ANeedle is an eCommerce platform built around targeted discoveries, tailored responses, and customer loyalties.N/A
    Pricing
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Kentico Xperience Business
    $9,999 / year
    Subscription license
    Kentico Xperience Business
    $14,999
    Perpetual license
    Kentico Xperience Enterprise
    $17,999 / year
    Subscription license
    Kentico Xperience Enterprise
    $29,999
    Perpetual license
    Kentico Xperience Corporate
    Upon request
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Free Trial
    NoYesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptionalNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Features
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of HCL Digital Experience and Xperience by Kentico and Needle
    Feature
    HCL Digital Experience
    5.0
    5 Ratings
    47% below category average
    Xperience by Kentico
    9.0
    25 Ratings
    11% above category average
    Needle
    -
    Ratings
    Role-based user permissions5.05 Ratings9.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform & Infrastructure
    Comparison of Platform & Infrastructure features of HCL Digital Experience and Xperience by Kentico and Needle
    Feature
    HCL Digital Experience
    4.1
    5 Ratings
    64% below category average
    Xperience by Kentico
    9.0
    22 Ratings
    12% above category average
    Needle
    -
    Ratings
    API4.14 Ratings9.021 Ratings00 Ratings
    Internationalization / multi-language4.15 Ratings9.019 Ratings00 Ratings
    Web Content Creation
    Comparison of Web Content Creation features of HCL Digital Experience and Xperience by Kentico and Needle
    Feature
    HCL Digital Experience
    2.9
    5 Ratings
    84% below category average
    Xperience by Kentico
    8.6
    26 Ratings
    19% above category average
    Needle
    -
    Ratings
    WYSIWYG editor7.04 Ratings8.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Code quality / cleanliness3.15 Ratings8.026 Ratings00 Ratings
    Admin section3.15 Ratings8.026 Ratings00 Ratings
    Page templates1.15 Ratings9.026 Ratings00 Ratings
    Library of website themes1.15 Ratings7.013 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile optimization / responsive design4.04 Ratings9.024 Ratings00 Ratings
    Publishing workflow1.14 Ratings10.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Form generator3.02 Ratings10.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Web Content Management
    Comparison of Web Content Management features of HCL Digital Experience and Xperience by Kentico and Needle
    Feature
    HCL Digital Experience
    1.9
    5 Ratings
    111% below category average
    Xperience by Kentico
    8.0
    26 Ratings
    19% above category average
    Needle
    -
    Ratings
    Content taxonomy1.15 Ratings9.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    SEO support2.15 Ratings7.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Bulk management2.13 Ratings10.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Availability / breadth of extensions2.14 Ratings8.025 Ratings00 Ratings
    Community / comment management2.13 Ratings6.024 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Small Businesses
    Yext
    Score6.9 out of 10
    Yext
    Score6.9 out of 10
    Ecwid by Lightspeed
    Score10 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Sitecore Digital Experience Platform
    Score8.9 out of 10
    Sitecore Digital Experience Platform
    Score8.9 out of 10
    Shopify
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Progress Sitefinity
    Score7.9 out of 10
    Progress Sitefinity
    Score7.9 out of 10
    IBM Digital Commerce
    Score9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (11 ratings)
    8.0
    (45 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    5.7
    (6 ratings)
    9.1
    (22 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    8.0
    (4 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    HCL Digital ExperienceXperience by KenticoNeedle
    Likelihood to Recommend
    HCLSoftware
    HCL DX does really well at managing and maintaining the site. It allows the business to basically maintain the site while IT spent time developing new and enhanced functions. The main issue I currently have with HCL DX is not directly with the product but it does play a role. It is difficult finding skilled resources to support HCL DX in my experience.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    Kentico is a robust and flexible CMS platform that is great for managing multiple websites and multiple environments (dev, stage, and production for instance). It makes content management very easy and makes it easy to keep the environments synced with the same content. However, the Kentico CMS does require a bit more technical understanding to get it set up properly and requires a bit more effort and support than, say, free open-source options.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Pros
    HCLSoftware
    • With Version 8.5, IBM Web Content Manager introduced in place editing capabilities which allow authors to make content edits on sections of the page instead of going to the content itself. This feature allows authors to make changes in context of the page and preview changes within the actual look and feel of a live page.
    • Projects provide a collaborative atmosphere for the author community so that authors can interact and work as a team to manage inter-dependent content changes under one project and publish all changes at once, instead of working separately on individual content changes. This brings awareness across authors in an organization and easy knowledge share.
    • IBM Digital Data Connector is a cool feature that allows [users] to integrate external content sources onto the portal using IBM Web Content Manager presentation components. This allows UI/UX designers to present integrated external data in any manner they want, manage UI changes with an underlying approval process and leverage syndication to push changes live immediately.
    • IBM Web Content Manager offers a targeted content feature that allows business users to deliver personalized content to customers based on customer demographic information, browsing history and other transaction related information. Any rules created follow the publishing process thereby making it just a configurable item resulting in less turn around to turn on the feature on a website.
    • IBM Web Content Manager offers 'multi lingual solution' out of the box which allows content creation for almost all popular languages.
    • Syndication feature has improved a lot and it now provides a detailed views comprising of 'failed items', 'items that have syndicated successfully, 'items in queue'. Failed items view provides detailed and clear cut information of what resulted in failure helping IT to troubleshoot problems easily.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    • I love the intuitive top and left navigation within the content management platform. I can easily find what section, sub-section, and page I'm looking to edit
    • For creating content, the WYSIWYG editor is so intuitive; it feels like you're working on an MS Word doc!
    • The tab for adding metadata in simple fields takes away the headache of having to hunt and peck through code to add H1 tag, page description etc.
    • The image library is easy to edit and manage
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Cons
    HCLSoftware
    • IBM Web Content Manager should provide some easily usable connectors through a GUI to connect to bring content from custom data sources including connecting to Salesforce and custom databases.
    • Should further optimize and enhance creation of rich and responsive content driven UIs on various digital channels.
    • Should further optimize and enhance content personalization features.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    • Kentico needs to invest in more enterprise class environment management utilities -- example: global CDN support via the CMS is sorely lacking. There are work-arounds, but it should be more elegant.
    • The Kentico staging module could be improved to support the concept of bundled releases. Current staging module functionality is good, but could be improved.
    • Kentico ecommerce support is a touch immature. While content management is superb, Kentico lags in this area when compared to many open source ecommerce engines.
    • Kentico is lacking MVC support. 99% of the time this isn't an issue for the end-user or business user, but can be a hurdle for technology teams depending on the team's makeup.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Likelihood to Renew
    HCLSoftware
    IBM products always moves forward to adapt to new requirements and technologies. I have used versions 6, 6.1, 7 and 8 of IBM WCM, and I know IBM is ready to revamp the tool based on emerging needs, and still provide the capabilities to migrate your old system to the newer versions.
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    We are locked into Kentico for the long haul. It provides us with an easy and flexible solution for a very non technical company to create a site and have the features they want, especially with the inclusion of EMS into our license. Now we have a true platform to build and grow our solutions.
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    HCLSoftware
    New versions has increased user experience facilitating usability.
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    It seriously is one of the best interfaces I have ever used. I also love the fact that I can use UI personalization to secure any functionality by user or role that I don't want that role to have access to. The best part is the customization of the UI, I can add in any button, tab, or menu item I want through it, no code required.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    HCLSoftware
    We had some issues related with performing and the support was suitable and sucessful.
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    Their support staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and will work with you until your issue is fixed. This could take a few phone calls back and forth, but they are very diligent in helping you.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    HCLSoftware
    Implementation was successful due to Websphere application server used.
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    The system provides many opportunities to integrate and enhance the platform and makes it easy to do so.
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    HCLSoftware
    Magento and Prestashop are E-commerce CMS platforms. They are used in a different scale of application than WCM.
    Concerning Joomla, it's a useful CMS forsmaller website. Once again this is an other scale of application than WCM Liveray can compete WCM 7 concerning the : ¤ specific development ¤ security ¤ responsive
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    I've used Sitecore, Ektron, Joomla!, WordPress, and SharePoint (if you want to count that as a competitor for CMS). Kentico 8 blows them all out of the water. Nothing is more intuitive in the way that content is created, the way the site is setup, and how efficient rollouts can be with Content Staging.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    HCLSoftware
    • Negative: Very complex architecture for on-premise deployments (too many servers to installed)
    • Positive: Easy customization
    • Negative: Architecture limited to cloud solutions
    • WCM is an old product and needs an update
    • Blog, and community are not integrated in Digital Manager for discussion
    • Templates are not available to integrate basic services (FileNet, more complex BPM , e-commerce)
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Kentico software
    • Kentico has enabled faster speed to market for SMEs. They are empowered to enter content them selves while still having that content go through editorial review to ensure tone of voice and brand are maintained.
    • Deploying Kentico has freed up web developer resources from manual content entry enabling them to build more useful solutions to support the business efforts
    • Tapping into the Kentico event pipelne allows us to trigger external system events when product content is published.
    Read full review
    Needle
    No answers on this topic
    ScreenShots

    Xperience by Kentico Screenshots

    Screenshot of Application listScreenshot of Marketing AutomationScreenshot of Kentico DashboardScreenshot of Data ProtectionScreenshot of Persona InsightsScreenshot of Campaign Management