AEM Consultancy
Specialist Adobe Experience Manager architecture built to last, not just to launch.
Architecture advisory for organisations planning, modernising, or governing AEM Sites, AEM as a Cloud Service, headless content delivery, and Universal Editor implementations. 37 years of enterprise experience. 40+ AEM reference architecture documents.
AEM is a powerful platform that is easy to get wrong
Adobe Experience Manager gives organisations significant content and delivery capability but the architecture decisions made early in an AEM programme create constraints that persist for years. The wrong delivery model, a poorly designed content model, an over-engineered component architecture, or a migration approach that does not account for Cloud Service constraints each of these is recoverable, but all of them are expensive to recover from.
AEM advisory is most valuable before the decisions are locked in. But it is also valuable mid-programme when something is not working, when the team is building themselves into a corner, or when a supplier is proposing an approach that will not survive the next AEM version.
Common AEM advisory situations
Choosing between headless, hybrid, and traditional AEM delivery
The decision between AEM Sites (traditional), headless via Content Services/GraphQL, hybrid with Universal Editor, and edge delivery has architectural, operational, and commercial implications that persist beyond the project. Getting independent advice before commitment avoids the most expensive re-architecture decisions.
Migrating to AEM as a Cloud Service
AEMaaCS imposes significant architectural constraints compared to on-premise and AMS deployments immutable infrastructure, different caching behaviour, content model restrictions, and OSGi configuration changes. Migration planning that ignores these produces delayed, over-budget programmes.
Reviewing an existing AEM implementation before it scales
Content models designed for 10 pages do not scale to 10,000. Component architectures built for one channel fail when a second channel is added. An architecture review before scaling surfaces constraints before they become blockers.
Independently validating what an AEM supplier is proposing
AEM implementation partners vary significantly in their depth of platform knowledge. An independent senior review of a supplier proposal identifies gaps in the approach, unrealistic timelines, or architecture decisions that will create long-term constraint before the contract is signed.
Designing a content model that supports multi-channel delivery
A content model designed around a specific channel or template breaks when the delivery context changes. Structured content design Content Fragments, content models, taxonomy, and reuse patterns built with headless consumption in mind from the start.
Establishing AEM architecture governance for ongoing development
Without architecture governance, AEM implementations accumulate component duplication, inconsistent patterns, undocumented customisations, and integration debt. Governance frameworks that prevent entropy rather than documenting it after the fact.
What AEM Consultancy covers
Headless and Hybrid Architecture
- Delivery model selection: headless, hybrid, Universal Editor, edge delivery with architecture implications of each
- Content Fragments and Content Services design for headless consumption
- GraphQL API design: schema, filtering, caching, and versioning patterns
- Universal Editor integration: editable content in headless and hybrid contexts
- SPA integration: React and Angular consumption of AEM content APIs
AEM as a Cloud Service
- AEMaaCS architecture constraints and how they differ from AMS and on-premise
- Migration assessment: what needs to change, in what order, and what the risks are
- OSGi configuration and custom code migration patterns
- Dispatcher and CDN configuration for AEMaaCS
- CI/CD pipeline design for Cloud Manager deployment
- RDE (Rapid Development Environment) patterns for accelerated development
Content Model Design
- Structured content model design: Content Fragment Models, metadata schemas, taxonomy
- Multi-channel content reuse patterns design once, deliver everywhere
- Content hierarchy: sites, language masters, live copies, and MSM configuration
- Editable template architecture: policies, structure, and initial content patterns
- DAM asset management strategy: naming, metadata, renditions, dynamic media
Component Architecture
- Core Components adoption and extension patterns
- Custom component design: Sling models, HTL templates, client libraries
- Component library governance: when to build, when to reuse, when to extend
- Style System implementation for author-controlled presentation variation
- Experience Fragments: when to use vs Content Fragments vs editable templates
Integration Architecture
- AEM integration patterns: REST, GraphQL, event-driven, and commerce integrations
- Adobe Experience Platform and CDP integration approaches
- Commerce integrations: CIF, product catalogue, cart and checkout patterns
- Translation integration: connector approach, workflow design, multi-language governance
- Personalisation: Target integration, experience variations, audience-based delivery
Performance and Governance
- Performance architecture: caching strategy, CDN configuration, dispatcher rules
- Core Web Vitals optimisation for AEM Sites delivery
- Security governance: access control, permission model, replication security
- Architecture governance framework: review processes, standards, component approval
- Technical debt assessment: undocumented customisations, deprecated patterns, upgrade blockers
40+ AEM reference architecture documents searchable and queryable
The Architect Advisor platform gives immediate access to a verified knowledge base of AEM architecture patterns, headless delivery models, migration approaches, component design, integration patterns, and governance frameworks. Every response is grounded in source documents no invented patterns, no unverified recommendations.
AEM architecture questions answered
Should we go headless, hybrid, or traditional AEM Sites?
It depends on your channel requirements, team capability, and existing technology stack. Traditional AEM Sites is right when the web is the primary channel, authors need rich page-level control, and there is no requirement for content consumption by other channels. Headless is right when content must be delivered across multiple channels (web, mobile, IoT, digital signage) and the frontend team has strong React or Angular capability. Hybrid with Universal Editor is right when you need headless flexibility but authors need in-context editing. The decision involves trade-offs in author experience, frontend complexity, and operational overhead that need to be evaluated for your specific context.
How long does an AEM architecture review take?
A focused architecture review covering delivery model, content model, component architecture, and integration patterns typically takes 2–3 weeks. The output is a written findings and recommendations document and an executive briefing. Ongoing advisory retainers are available for organisations that want continuous architecture governance through delivery.
We have an existing AEM implementation. Can you review what we have?
Yes review engagements are one of the most common starting points. The typical scope covers: delivery model assessment, content model review, component architecture patterns, integration approach, AEMaaCS compatibility (if relevant), and technical debt inventory. The output identifies what is working, what is creating risk, and what should change before the next major investment.
Do you implement as well as advise?
The engagement model is advisory architecture direction, review, and governance rather than hands-on development. For implementation work, the advisory output provides the architecture specification that in-house teams or implementation partners build from. This avoids the conflict of interest where the implementation partner both designs and builds the solution.
Which AEM versions do you cover?
AEM as a Cloud Service, AEM 6.5 (on-premise and AMS), and migration paths between them. The Architect Advisor knowledge base covers AEM headless delivery models in depth, including Content Services, Content Fragments, GraphQL APIs, and Universal Editor with reference architecture documents for each pattern.
Have an AEM architecture question or decision to make?
Start with the Architect Advisor knowledge base for immediate answers, or book a conversation for a structured architecture engagement.