
The DXP market and its giants:
When it comes to choosing a digital experience platform (DXP) for your organization, it’s essential to make an informed decision as it is directly co-related to your audience as well as stakeholders and it is also an investment that helps you gain a competitive edge in the market.
Talking about Enterprise DXP platforms, two leading options in the market are Liferay DXP and HCL Digital Experience (DX). HCL DX or WebSphere Portal is a renowned name in the market with technology giants like IBM and HCL (WebSphere was introduced by IBM in 2001 and later acquired by HCL). On the other end, Liferay has been recognized as the market leader in Gartner’s magic quadrant and they have won this title many times over the years. (Source).
The power of Word Of Mouth:
When it comes to making a decision, we humans trust our peers, experts, and first-hand users above any platform, AI, or other such tools.
For instance, some statistics suggest that 90% of people trust a brand that is recommended by users (even by strangers). 88% of customers become loyal to a brand and show their trust when a friend or family member has recommended it. Lastly, when we talk about popular ways to recommend a business, word-of-mouth comes first, followed by Facebook, Google, and Twitter. (Source)
Thus, to help you decide which one suits your needs, we’ll delve into the key factors that enterprises consider while selecting a DXP platform and point out the differences between these two platforms, with a particular focus on user feedback.
Ease of Use
Liferay DXP:
Liferay DXP is often praised for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for non-technical users. Users appreciate the drag-and-drop functionality, which simplifies content management and customization.
The platform’s intuitive dashboard receives positive feedback for its ease of navigation.
HCL Digital Experience:
Some users find HCL DX to have a steeper learning curve, especially for those without prior experience in similar platforms.
While powerful, HCL DX may require more technical expertise to fully harness its capabilities.
The interface has received mixed reviews, with some users suggesting it could be more intuitive.
User Feedback:
Liferay is a solid portal, implemented in Java. The source is right there, so I can figure out how things work when I need to develop my own contributions.
Michael B.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
Features and Flexibility
Liferay DXP:
Liferay DXP offers a wide range of out-of-the-box features, including robust content management, social collaboration, and personalization tools.
Users appreciate the flexibility of Liferay’s modular architecture, allowing for custom development and integration with other systems.
The platform’s open-source nature encourages a thriving community of developers and readily available plugins.
HCL Digital Experience:
HCL DX is recognized for its enterprise-grade capabilities, making it suitable for large organizations with complex requirements.
Users praise its extensive set of tools for creating personalized, data-driven experiences.
Some find that the platform’s comprehensive feature set can be overwhelming for smaller businesses or projects with more straightforward needs.
Jean-Luc Taillandier
- Negative: Very complex architecture for on-premise deployments (too many servers to installed)
- Positive: Easy customization
- Negative: Architecture limited to cloud solutions
- WCM is an old product and needs an update
- Blog, and community are not integrated in Digital Manager for discussion
- Templates are not available to integrate basic services (FileNet, more complex BPM , e-commerce)
Responsable Technique IT
Scalability and Performance
Liferay DXP:
Users report that Liferay DXP performs well in smaller to mid-sized implementations.
The platform is seen as highly scalable, with many organizations successfully using it for larger projects.
Performance and speed are generally considered satisfactory, but it may require optimization for extremely high traffic websites.
HCL Digital Experience:
HCL DX is designed with scalability in mind and is well-suited for large, high-traffic websites.
Some users mention that HCL DX’s performance can be outstanding when properly configured and optimized.
However, there are reports of occasional performance challenges that may require expert tuning.
IBM products always moves forward to adapt to new requirements and technologies. I have used versions 6, 6.1, 7 and 8 of IBM WCM, and I know IBM is ready to revamp the tool based on emerging needs, and still provide the capabilities to migrate your old system to the newer versions.
Arwa Nababteh
IBM WCM Developer/ team Leader
Support and Community
Liferay DXP:
Liferay’s community and support are often commended for their responsiveness and helpfulness.
Users appreciate the wealth of documentation and online resources available for problem-solving.
Commercial support options are available for those who require additional assistance.
HCL Digital Experience:
HCL DX also offers robust support options, including 24/7 customer support for critical issues.
Some users have noted positive experiences with HCL’s professional services, especially for complex deployments. But, it has also been observed and shared by users that finding skilled resources can be challenging for HCL. The platform has an active user community, but it may not be as extensive as Liferay’s.
HCL DX does really well at managing and maintaining the site. It allows the business to basically maintain the site while IT spent time developing new and enhanced functions. The main issue I currently have with HCL DX is not directly with the product but it does play a role. It is difficult finding skilled resources to support HCL DX in my experience.
Verified User
Anonymous
It depends on your Business, Budget and Requirements:
Both Liferay DXP and HCL Digital Experience have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them should depend on your organization’s specific needs and resources. Liferay DXP is often favored for its user-friendliness and strong community, making it an excellent choice for smaller to mid-sized projects.
On the other hand, HCL DX is a robust solution suitable for large enterprises with complex requirements. User feedback highlights these distinctions and can help you make an informed decision based on your unique circumstances.
Looking for effective Liferay consulting? AIMDek is a Silver Liferay partner and can provide end-to-end consulting, implementation, and development services. Get on a call with our Liferay domain consultants and gain a personalized Liferay DXP with optimum ROI.