Sitecore 9.2 support ends – what next?​

Every version of a software product has its lifecycle, which unavoidably ends when the support is discontinued. The new version replaces the old one when it is ready to be released. Businesses need to update their software products to the latest versions to stay in line with technological advancements and provide seamless digital experiences to their customers.

Sitecore is one of the fastest-growing platforms for developing content management systems (CMS). It provides personalized digital experiences for customers. Sitecore is ending its support for Sitecore 9.2 on December 31, 2022. Hence, companies with existing Sitecore solutions must upgrade Sitecore 9.2 to 10.2 soon.

An updated version of a software product allows your development team to address deficiencies, improve functionality and add new features, as well as push solutions to a higher level. On the contrary, you risk numerous business disadvantages if you decide to hold on to upgrading and stick with an older version.

Here are some drawbacks that you might face if you hold on to the upgrade:

Time-consuming — You will have to devote more time to fixing issues in the absence of standard technical support.

Heavy expenses — Extra charges will be levied if you take help from the tech support team.

Lag in the competition — You will not be able to use the advanced features added in the new version without upgrading the software and lag behind your competitors.

Integration troubles — Using outdated software may lead to problems when you integrate it with a third-party system.

Poor customer experience — Without updating the software, your website will have poor functionality which will degrade the customer experience.

Diminished customer loyalty — You may have to face a decline in the number of clients because of low customer satisfaction.

Lesser returns — Due to all the above factors, your company will likely face a decline in revenue.

As a result, your business will have to face a variety of issues if you decide not to upgrade to the latest version of the software.

Upgradation Process

The end of Sitecore 9

Every Sitecore product has a lifecycle end date, after which the provider does not provide service packs and updates. The support process for each version of a product includes the following three phases:

• Mainstream support phase – It lasts for three years from the initial release.
• Extended support phase – It lasts for six years from the initial release.
• Sustaining support phase – It lasts for eight years from the initial release.

Hence, mainstream support for Sitecore 9.2 and 9.3 will end on December 31, 2022.

Why must you keep your Sitecore up to date

As stated above, it is a good practice to keep your software updated for several reasons. Let’s go through a few of them in brief:

Help your teams perform better

When you keep your Sitecore version up to date, you get the support that Sitecore offers for its latest versions. Apart from this, you provide a great working experience to your content editors and marketing teams. This also helps your workforce to keep their skills updated.

Support is ending for the Sitecore 9.2 version

One of the primary reasons to upgrade to the latest version of Sitecore is that its mainstream support for version 9.2 will end on 31st December 2022. This will result in no further developer support for organizations that are still using Sitecore 9.2.

There are tools and techniques that help streamline your upgrade

There are important changes between versions 9.2 and 10.2. A software upgrade is not a very easy process. There are some methods and procedures to follow while upgrading for the smooth functioning of your solutions.

The benefits of upgrading to Sitecore 10.2

There are several benefits of upgrading to Sitecore 10.2, some of them are:

• Retaining the technical support of Sitecore
• Providing your developers with enhanced tools and new tech proficiencies
• Enabling your marketing team with more competent tools to improve conversions
• Providing remarkable omnichannel experiences to customers using the advanced features of Sitecore 10.2
• Email marketing enhancements
• Sitecore Experience Accelerator (SXA)
• Sitecore analytics enhancements

To know about the advanced features and functionalities added in Sitecore 10.2 in detail, please read our blog – Explore what’s new in Sitecore Experience Platform 10.2

It’s not the end, it’s the beginning!

For Sitecore 9.2, it is the end, but it is opening a whole new world of opportunities with Sitecore 10.2. So, considering the advantages that you will get with the new version and the fact that Sitecore is ending support for Sitecore 9.2, you must plan your upgrade in time.

With Sitecore 10.2, you can address all the challenges related to modern marketing requirements. Developers and marketers can speed up processes and attain better results using its innovative tools. The platform offers new features that benefits both business owners and consumers.

If you’re still using Sitecore 9.2 and wish to upgrade to the latest version, get in touch with our experienced Sitecore developers. Ensure to upgrade your software before Sitecore ends its support for the older version.