When we first set out to speak with major brands on how they currently use WordPress to create, collaborate and publish digital content, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. From our own experience of working closely with household names such as The Times, Gumtree and Amnesty International, we know first-hand why many leading large-scale organisations opt for WordPress, however we wanted to build a much broader view beyond our client base.
To achieve that, we launched the survey late last year, and with support from WordPress VIP, WP Engine, Pantheon, Altis, and several enterprise WordPress agencies, we received insights and opinions from over 100 brands. Compiled into a succinct report, feedback from brands including News Corp, Capgemini and the New Statesman gives us a unique, up-to-date snapshot of how the platorm is transforming the CMS landscape for global companies, while also providing valuable direction for the future.
Functionality is king
One of the strongest themes throughout the findings, is that functionality is the number one priority for enterprises when it comes to choosing the right CMS. Ranking higher than performance, scalability, and even cost, functionality was cited as very important by 70% of respondents. The ability to extend the platform is also crucial, with 95% of respondents confirming that their WordPress setup is integrated with other market-leading software solutions, ranging from marketing tech to translation tools.
This closely correlates with our own experience, as unlike other platforms with locked-in features, WordPress gives us the flexibility to build custom functionality and plugins that exactly match the requirements of the brands we work with. The result is improved workflows, fewer clicks and faster production (exemplified by our recent project for The Times).
Outstanding return
Particularly for large-scale organisations with lots of contributors, lots of content and lots of challenges, publishing systems can be a sizable investment across the short and longer term. As a result, it’s often crucial that an enterprise-level CMS has the power to make savings in other areas – such as publishing time or tech resources – while also paving the way for digital revenue streams.
In this respect, WordPress fares extremely well, with our survey highlighting that 74% of enterprise organisations believe that the platform delivers good or excellent return on investment. 59% also confirmed that they’re able to successfully monetize sites powered by WordPress, via a mix of advertising, affiliate marketing, and content paywalls.
Long-term solution
Importantly for both our industry and brands looking for a long-term publishing solution, our findings also suggest that the enterprise WordPress sector is set to grow. Since its inception as a blogging tool back in 2003, the platform has not only evolved to become the world’s leading CMS, today powering 40% of the Web, it’s also matured as a product, securing its position as an enterprise market-leader.
Notably, 59% of those surveyed have relied on the platform for over five years – an impressive length of service for any digital solution – and more significantly, 91% confirmed that they will continue to use WordPress in the future. This vote of confidence from 9 out of 10 enterprises is a key indicator that we’ll see even more major brands make the move to WordPress in the coming months and years, as the platform continues to enhance its offering.
Head over to soewp.com view the full results of State of enterprise WordPress 2023.
