For an enterprise to attain an international presence, it needs to develop multiple brands and websites to cater to the needs of different markets and localize its content to make it relevant to diverse audiences. This can include delivering content in multiple languages or presenting it in a format depending on the common consumer behaviors associated with that region. This level of personalization is best accomplished with a multi-tenant CMS.
Global brands are increasingly recognizing the need to optimize their online presence through efficient content management systems (CMS). The shift from traditional to Multi-Tenant CMSs marks a significant evolution, offering unparalleled advantages for businesses looking to streamline operations, maintain brand consistency, reduce costs, and scale effectively.
What is a multi-tenant CMS?
A multi-tenant CMS is a centrally hosted CMS instance with one central database serving multiple “tenants,” each of which can manage and control their host independently. For instance, most effective SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) applications are multi-tenant, as the cloud-hosted application serves thousands of customers, with updates and bug fixes happening centrally, not on a per-user or per-tenant basis.
Multi-Tenant software includes all the necessary infrastructure needed to serve multiple clients. Clients share both a single CMS and a single database. Users who enter the data tag specific points in the database with identifying markers for a specific client, which helps the software determine the client to which the data pertains.
Since a multi-tenant CMS allows for the sharing of content, resources, and files, brands can scale with multiple websites and applications, knowing that their campaigns have consistent brand messaging and all teams have access to the same centralized resources. Also, marketers can create content for one site and share the same content across multiple sites or channels without the need to create duplicate content for each channel.
The limitations of a single-tenant solution
Many enterprises still use traditional, single-tenant CMS solutions to develop multiple websites and applications. On a small scale, these single-tenant solutions are manageable, but when it comes to delivering a consistent experience at the enterprise level where there are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites, single-tenant solutions immediately show their limitations.
While single-tenant solutions may enable users to create multiple sites, each instance has its own set of files, folders, databases, and content repositories. When you have to manage thousands of sites individually, you can imagine how resource-intensive this can get.
In the single-tenant environment, developers maintain, update, and upgrade each instance individually, and marketers create and manage content for each site. So when a large enterprise grows, developers can't keep up with the overwhelming workload, and marketers manually duplicate their content, leading to inconsistencies and errors in their brand messaging.
This is why enterprises NEED multi-tenant CMS solutions.
The benefits of a multi-tenant CMS
Streamlined Website Management
One of the hallmark benefits of a Multi-Tenant CMS is the simplicity it brings to website management. With the capability to run multiple sites or microsites from a single platform, marketers and developers can oversee all digital content through a unified interface. This consolidation eliminates the need for navigating multiple systems, dramatically reducing the complexity and time spent on website administration. Moreover, updates and maintenance tasks are simplified, as they can be rolled out across all sites simultaneously, ensuring a cohesive experience for users and administrators alike.
Consistency
Maintaining a consistent brand identity across all digital channels is paramount for global brands managing a portfolio of products or services. A Multi-Tenant CMS excels in this regard, offering tools and features that standardize branding elements while allowing for the localization of content. This ensures that, regardless of the geographical market or specific brand under the corporate umbrella, all digital experiences resonate with the core brand values and aesthetics, fostering a stronger, more unified brand image.
Cost Reduction
The cost savings realized through the adoption of a Multi-Tenant CMS cannot be overstated. Companies can significantly reduce software, hosting, and operational costs by centralizing the digital infrastructure onto a single platform. Unlike single-tenant systems, which require separate resources for each site, a Multi-Tenant CMS leverages shared resources effectively, eliminating redundancies and optimizing resource utilization. This not only lowers initial setup costs but also minimizes ongoing expenses related to upgrades, maintenance, and support.
Scalability
In an age where agility and growth are critical to success, the scalability of a Multi-Tenant CMS offers a clear competitive advantage. As businesses expand, enter new markets, or launch new products, the ability to quickly and easily add new microsites or adjust existing ones is crucial. A Multi-Tenant CMS is designed with scalability in mind, enabling brands to adapt their digital presence to changing business needs without the complexity of building new infrastructure from scratch.
The key to growing your brand presence
Whether your brand already operates in many locations or you plan to grow in the near future, building with a multi-tenant solution like dotCMS can help you achieve your goals. With a lower total cost of ownership, scalability, and easy maintenance, brands are finding that multi-tenant CMSs are the best path for growth.