Sitecore reminds us a bit of a Rube-Goldberg machine. At the end of the day, it may do the job and pour juice into a glass, but the way to get there is so convoluted you'd be better off with a juicer. It is one of the leaders among CMSs for the enterprise market. Still, if you use it only because of reputation, habit, or sheer inertia, you are overpaying for something the competition can provide more simply and effectively.


Rube-Goldberg machine is this cartoonish concept of a contraption designed to perform a simple task, like pouring juice into a glass, in an overly complicated way, using a series of chain reactions involving various devices and mechanisms. 

Content management shouldn't be complicated, but with Sitecore, it is. At least according to many user reviews on Gartner and G2. "Editors are confused." "Platform's back office doesn't cater to editors at all." "There are too many different steps needed to make a small change" - to quote a couple of them. 

Web development can be a complex process, but developing a website also shouldn't take years like it sometimes does with Sitecore. Licensed developers are hard to find and expensive, plus they need to be REALLY skilled and experienced since Sitecore requires a steeper learning curve. 

Comparing the popular Gartner and G2 rankings, we can clearly see that Kentico fares much better in value/price ratio, time to market, return on investment, support, and, above all, ease of use.
 

COMPOSABLE DXP, BUT NOT REALLY

It's no secret that Kentico and Sitecore compete fiercely in the DXP market for large businesses, and we, as a Kentico Gold Partner, are not really objective. But let's just look at the basics. 

Big companies should always be at the forefront of digital innovation. With its specific infrastructure and a large corporation responsible for its development, Sitecore is not the best tool to innovate. 

While Sitecore may position itself as such, it has not evolved into a fully composable digital experience platform. It remains a collection of acquired technologies "gathered under one roof." Converting such a patchwork into a seamless SaaS experience presents a formidable challenge. "I really dislike the monolith approach of suite-based products. I have yet to see it create more value than hand-picking products and sticking them together" - to quote yet another user review from G2. 

In contrast, the versatile Kentico presents all functionalities seamlessly through a single interface, each replaceable via APIs. The platform exhibits effortless integration with third-party technologies while also functioning as a comprehensive DXP, all without imposing any obligations. It can be used as headless and offers - to a greater extent than Sitecore - Software-as-a-Service solution. 

Kentico's scalability and adeptness in swiftly deploying novel features are unparalleled assets. These attributes should weigh heavily for enterprises aspiring to flexibly amplify their digital presence while broadening their online repertoire.
 

BOUGHT THE LICENSE? OK, BYE

Kentico takes pride in its customer-centric philosophy, emphasizing tailored solutions for each client. On the other hand, Sitecore's support stands out as one of the product's frequently mentioned shortcomings.

The extended duration and substantial expenses associated with resolving present website issues and the vendor's sluggish responsiveness to the market's call for innovations are impediments to unhindered digital advancement.
 

A VESSEL RESISTANT TO COURSE CORRECTION

Naturally, Sitecore also has positive reviews, a substantial enthusiast following, and notable strengths. Its commendable aspects include personalization options, integrated eCommerce modules, and support for omnichannel strategies.

While the comparison to the whimsical Rube-Goldberg machine was indeed a touch of embellishment for publicity, a more apt analogy might liken it to an overloaded ship with a fuel-guzzling engine and a cumbersome course correction process—Sitecore's hefty infrastructure results in needless operational expenses, demanding an abundance of setup and resources. Upgrades and deployments, as some reviews highlight, can be considerably challenging.

On the other hand, even a sophisticated website can be developed using Kentico within a span of two months, and its scalability remains effortless for years ahead. By sidestepping unnecessary intricacies, you can access all the functionalities of Sitecore (albeit in a more user-friendly manner) at a fraction of its price and maintenance expenses.

Interested in migration from Sitecore to Kentico? Contact us for your free consultation.