Our take on the Optimizely Partner Kickoff 2026 in Stockholm: CMS 13 and AI take center stage

Optimizely held its first Partner Kickoff of the year in Stockholm. The takeaway is that they've shifted into a higher gear. 

Their Opal AI initiative is described as a "nimble startup inside a large company" built for a market that demands speed. 

But what does this mean for our customers and us? And how can we prepare?

Opal is not a chatbot. It’s an operating system! 

Many people think of AI as a simple tool for generating text or images. Optimizely has a bigger vision. Opal is at the center of the Optimizely One ecosystem, connecting content creation with content optimization. 

Context is key 

Opal's strength is its ability to understand context. If you're working with products, it knows your questions are about products. You don't need to explain, it already understands. 

Agents that get things done 

Opal doesn't just answer questions; it performs tasks. By connecting to systems like Salesforce or image libraries, it can: 

• Get leads 
• Find images 
• Update inventory 
• Pull data directly into the CMS 

This saves editors a lot of time. 

The real change is organizational 

Technology is only half the story. The biggest shift is in how teams work. 

When AI handles repetitive tasks, roles and responsibilities change. 

From production to strategy 

With tasks like integrations and data processing taking only seconds, teams can focus on creative and strategic work. This requires rethinking old workflows. 

New processes are needed 

Using AI brings up important questions: 

• How do we maintain our brand's tone of voice? 
• Who has the final say on content? 
• What rules do we need to have in place? 

Without a plan, AI can create confusion instead of making things easier. 

Finding the right balance 

The key is to connect new technology with everyday work. This is where Niteco comes in. We help clients make these decisions and use the technology correctly. 

The companies that succeed don't just add AI as a feature, they rethink how they work. 

CMS 13: stability and performance 

Another big topic is CMS 13, which will be released in the spring of 2026. 

This is a major update. Built on .NET 10, it's a complete technical reset for the platform. 

Why it matters  

• Security  
• Performance 
• Long-term sustainability  

Most importantly, you need CMS 13 and an Opti ID to use Opal's AI features. If you want AI, you need to upgrade. 

Niteco is ready 

We have already: 

• Tested early versions of CMS 13 
• Expanded our Upgrade Accelerator 
• Automated our upgrade processes 

We can move customers to the new version 50% faster than traditional methods. This shows we are proactive and prepared. 

Read more about upgrading to Optimizely CMS 13 with our Upgrade Accelerator.  

Content Graph replaces older technology 

Optimizely is also changing how data is retrieved and displayed. They are moving from older search and navigation systems to their Graph technology. 

All content from the CMS, image libraries, and business systems will flow into a central "Graph." 

This allows for faster and more flexible data retrieval, which supports: 

• Headless architectures 
• Omnichannel delivery 
• Faster performance 
• AI-driven personalization 

This is a fundamental architectural change. 

The road ahead: Niteco’s checklist 

Niteco has a clear plan for clients: 

• Automated upgrade analysis: scan your code to estimate the project's scope, set a fixed price, and create a reliable timeline. No guesswork. 
• Secure login with OptiID: set up a unified login. This unlocks AI features and ensures security. It's the gateway to Opal. 
• Modernize search: move you from old search systems to the new Graph technology for better performance and a more flexible user experience. 
• Clean up content structure: improve your content's architecture to make it easier for editors to build pages and see results quickly. 
• Plan AI agent integrations: connect the AI to your other systems, like digital asset management, analytics, and e-commerce platforms. This is where you'll see the biggest efficiency gains. 

Final thoughts 

AI is becoming a core part of the Optimizely platform. The companies that will succeed are the ones that approach this change with a clear strategy that balances technology, processes and people.

If you would like to explore how these developments impact your Optimizely roadmap or learn more about how we support upgrades, AI enablement, and platform modernization, check out our Optimizely capabilities now! 

Plan Your Optimizely Roadmap