Adobe EDS: Revolutionising Content Management

The new Document Centred Content Management system

In digital publishing, the quest for the ideal content management system (CMS) is ongoing.

Subject Matter Experts create original content with word processors and spreadsheets, passing these documents through an approval process. When content is finally approved (and this can take a long time in regulated industries) is then passed to Content Authors to copy/paste sub-edit into the CMS for publishing.

Content Authors actually dislike CMS systems. The Content team receives original marketing text and fragments in Word/Excel documents from Subject Matter Experts (SME’s), which in regulated environments have been approved by Legal. The content team then are forced to use “components”, and “templates”, created by technicians; using “page properties” and dialog boxes to pull the whole piece together; they have to sub-edit the copy; because it often won’t fit in the constraints of the CMS. They then, often, have to back port the content to the original document format as a system of record. Returning the document to the SME with a link to the final web-page page.

Product Owners dislike CMS systems, especially in regulated industries. They have to get approval for every line of text they place on the web. Regulated industries like Pharmaceuticals, Automobile makers, and Insurers etc are legally bound to the content they publish and the corporations requirement is incredibly strict. One product owner I know of actually asked that the entire CMS be driven by pre-approved excel spreadsheets; however the technicians have built the components and templates around dialog boxes. He too had to use the copy paste methodology.

Enter Adobe Franklin/Edge Delivery Services, a system that stands out for its innovative approach to web publishing, promising to redefine efficiency and simplicity in the industry. With the Digital Domain Franklin Accelerator and processes, this system is not just another CMS—it's a game-changer.

What is Adobe Doing?

Adobe Franklin/ Edge Delivery Services is a cutting-edge document based CMS, named in tribute to Rosalind Franklin, whose work was crucial in deciphering DNA's structure. It has undergone a transformation from the "Helix" concept to the current "Edge Delivery Services," signifying its growth from a rudimentary tool to a comprehensive digital content management solution. It has shared all three names in its lifetime, Franklin, Helix and now Edge Delivery services. I’ll continue to call it Franklin for ease. My ease. Sorry Adobe marketing people.

Why This Matters

The significance of Edge Delivery services lies in its serverless architecture, which eliminates the complexities of server management, offering a seamless experience for content creators. It integrates effortlessly with tools that users are already familiar with, making content editing and management as intuitive as using everyday office applications. The addition of AI capabilities further refines content strategy, making EDS a compelling choice for those seeking to simplify their content management processes.

The Impact of EDS Core Technology: aem.js

At the heart of Franklin is aem.js, which is closely integrated with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). This synergy highlights Franklin's commitment to providing a powerful platform that capitalizes on Adobe's strong foothold in the creative and marketing realms.

Weighing the Benefits and Limitations

EDS is designed to deliver content with unparalleled efficiency, addressing the challenges of handling extensive information without compromising performance. It opens up the content management field to a broader audience, enabling more professionals to contribute effectively. However, it's essential to acknowledge that Franklin may not be the one-size-fits-all solution for every scenario, particularly where intricate customization and deep content structuring are paramount.

The Practical Impact and Future Outlook

By enabling direct content creation within tools like MS Word and Excel, EDS eliminates the redundant steps often associated with traditional CMS platforms, and creates performant high speed websites. This streamlined approach simplifies the content management process but also meets the stringent requirements of regulated industries, providing a more direct path to compliance,

Here are the key points to understand:

Purpose:
Document Authoring with Edge Delivery Services enables organisations to create, manage and deliver rich, interactive documents with near-instantaneous load times and fast turnaround from concept to go-to-market, with A/B testing.

Benefits:

Improved user experience: Documents load quickly, providing users with a seamless and engaging experience.

Increased productivity: Authors can create and update documents efficiently, as changes are reflected quickly.

Cost savings: Organisations can reduce infrastructure costs by leveraging Edge Delivery Services.

Scalability: The service is highly scalable, ensuring that documents can be delivered to many users without performance issues.

Components:

Authoring environment: Authors use Google or Word documents to create and edit web pages. Spreadsheets to provide configuration.

Edge delivery network: Documents are cached on edge servers strategically located worldwide, ensuring fast delivery to users.

Content delivery network: Documents are delivered to users from the nearest edge server, reducing latency and improving performance.

Technical setup:

Infrastructure: A technical team is required to set up the necessary infrastructure, DNS, GitHub and CDN.

Integration: The service can integrate with existing content management systems and workflows.

Use cases:

Documentation/manuals: Deliver complex technical documentation with interactive diagrams, videos and simulations.

Marketing collateral: Create engaging marketing materials such as brochures, presentations and reports.

Training materials: Develop interactive training modules that can be accessed from anywhere.

Legal documents: Share legal documents with clients and partners securely and efficiently.

Landing pages: Create campaign landing pages, pages for sharing with social media, etc