Kas Thomas at CMS Watch recently published a "We get it checklist for Vendors ." Great initiave by CMS Watch and of course EPiServer took the opportunity to answer to the challenge. The rules for answering are listed below and EPiServer has provided answers where we comply with these rules:
- A CMS vendor is challenged to honestly answer all items on the "Reality checklist for vendors" suggested by CMSWatch's Kas Thomas
- If possible the vendor has supply screenshots, links or other means to make it easy to verify the answers.
- The answers also need to be supplied in a short form of one to three stars (denoting "no", "sort-of", "yes").
- Answering all questions on his blog allows the vendor tag some other WCMS vendors.
- A tagged vendor should provide a link back to the blog that tagged him.
EPiServer Answers to "WE GET IT" checklist for Vendors
The following scoring system has been used.
1. Our software comes with an installer program. (Yes - 3)
The EPiServer Installation and Deployment System was introduced as part of EPiServer CMS 5 R2.
» Detailed documentation for the installer is avialable on EPiServer World.
2. Installing or uninstalling our software does not require a reboot of your machine. (Yes - 3)
Installing or uninstalling an EPiServer product is simply a Web site in Internet Information Server which doesn't require a server reboot.
3. You can choose your locale and language at install time, and never have to see English again after that. (Yes - 3)
During the installation you set a default language for the web site, this setting can be overridden by individual users.
4. Eval versions of the latest edition(s) of our software are always available for download from the company website. (Yes - 3)
We have eval versions for our products on EPiServer World, which all registered users can download. Registration is free for everyone.
» Access the download center
5. Our WCM software comes with a fully templated "sample web site" and sample workflows, which work out-of-the-box. (Yes - 3)
When EPiServer is installed there is an option to install production templates which will install EPiServer with a fully functional Web site. There is also the Demo Web site which is an additional download which can be used for inspiration and software demonstration. All source code for this is completely open and can be used as a starting point for new web sites.
» The template package can be viewed on the demo Web site for EPiServer CMS.
6. We ship a tutorial. (Yes - 3)
EPiServer CMS 5 R2 is contains a tutorial called Getting Started. The aim of Getting Started is to provide a starting point for developing an EPiServer CMS Web site.
The information presented in the tutorial is intended for developers who are looking for an introduction to help them get started developing solutions with EPiServer CMS 5. Here we attempt to outline the basics and the important concepts developers need to be aware of when developing with EPiServer CMS 5 R2. An Introduction to EPiServer CMS section is included, where the developer can find short introductory articles to EPiServer CMS 5 R2.
In the How to section, we include some simple code examples which are intended to give a basic understanding of the major concepts when beginning to develop with EPiServer CMS 5.
We also provide some more advanced information when developing EPiServer CMS 5 Web sites.
» Access Getting Started on EPiServer World
7. You can raise a support issue via a button, link, or menu command in our administrative interface. (No - 1)
This is not currently a feature in the EPiServer product suite, we have however exposed our support system in the forums at EPiServer World.
EPiServer provides support to certified developers employed at, or affiliated to, EPiServer partner organizations, which there are currently more than 300 of world wide.
EPiServer also provides support through self-servcie through Documentation, FAQs and our Developer Forum.
» Information on support and our support processes can be found on EPiServer World.
8. All help files and documentation for the product are laid down as part of the install. (Yes - 3)
The help files and selected parts of the documentation is part of the install. The rest of the needed documentation is available on the Web. Our SDK can be accessed online or downloaded from EPiServer World. There is also information on EPiServer Labs and and abundance of blogs created by developers and users all over the world.
9. We run our entire company website using the latest version of our own WCM products. (Yes - 3)
Yes, EPiServer.com, EPiServer World and our partner center all run on the latest version of our platform.
10. Our salespeople understand how our products work. (Yes - 3)
All Sales Reps at EPiServer are heavily involved in the product planning and development and have a very deep experience in product demonstration of our entire product suite. We also have a very skilled pre-sale team of former developers who has a deep understanding of solution architecture and software engineering.
11. Our software does what we say it does. (Yes - 3)
EPiServer is a highly open and transparent company and we are completely open with what is in our product and since everything is downloadable and documented it it would be obvious very quick if the product didn't do what we said it did.
12. We don't charge extra for our SDK. (Yes - 3)
The SDK is online and doesn't even require a login.
13. Our licensing model is simple enough for a 5-year-old to understand. (Sort of - 2)
Our license model is based per website and we have a easy-to-understand pricelist. We have chosen the 2-star rating because it can sometimes be hard to define what is a site. However, our 300 partners worldwide work with the model on a daily basis and when they or the customer have questions, we help them with the definition.
14. We have one price sheet for all customers. (Yes - 3)
Yes!
15. Our top executives are on Skype, Twitter, or some similar channel, and: Feel free to contact them directly at any time. (Yes - 3)
The EPiServer Management team are all listed on our Web site and can be contacted directly. Part of our company culture is to be as open and communicative as possible and EPiServer executives and Board of Directors uses Skype and Twitter actively. Maria Wasing, VP of Marketing and Rikard Ljungman, VP of Products, are active Twitter users. Some also have a personal blogs. Facebook and LinkedIn are other social media channels that members of the executive team are active on.
Summary:
42 out of 45.
