As Sitecore enthusiasts, we're always excited about new developments and enhancements in their offerings. With the introduction of Sitecore XM Cloud, there's a buzz in the air, but it's important to understand that with innovation often comes certain limitations and restrictions. In this post, we'll dive into what features and functionalities are unavailable in XM Cloud, ensuring you have a comprehensive understanding before making any decisions.
Features and Modules
- XP/xConnect/xDB functionality including existing personalization rules (a new embedded personalization experience is available for XM Cloud)
- Marketing applications, including Experience Analytics, Experience Profile, FXM, Experience Optimization, List Manager, Campaign Creator, Path Analyzer, Marketing Automation and the Marketing Control Panel
- Email Experience Manager (EXM): has been replaced with the product Sitecore Send.
- Sitecore Forms: replace with an XM Cloud SaaS Forms version
- Custom search indexes: The SOLR instance is only available on the CM side. Making adjustments or using it in the head application is no longer possible.
- Identity server
- Sitecore Publishing Service: The content will only be published on the Experience Edge.
- Universal Tracker
- Device detection
- IP Geolocation
- SXA with MVC, and SXA Search components: replaced with the new technology stack, Experience Edge, React, NextJS
- Data Exchange Framework: has been replaced with Sitecore Content Serialization
Roles
XM Cloud does not contain any roles related to XP/xConnect functionality, such as the Marketing Automation Engine or xDB Processing. In addition, the following roles found in Sitecore Experience Manager are not in XM Cloud:
- Content Delivery & content Publishing; all the publication happens through the head together with the Experience Edge. Therefore there's no need for a CD any more.
- Forms database: Forms are no longer supported on the platform. Sitecore offers a new SaaS Forms in XM Cloud.
- Web database & Web index: only needed when having a CD.
- Sitecore Identity Server
- Device Detection
- IP Geolocation
In conclusion, Sitecore XM Cloud represents a new era in content management and digital experience delivery. By acknowledging its limitations and focusing on its strengths, organizations can leverage XM Cloud to unlock new possibilities and drive meaningful engagement with their audiences.
For more information, read the original documentation.
Until next time!