In many organizations, a CMS platform upgrade raises questions like: “Is this really necessary?” and “What value will it actually bring us?” A better approach, however, is to focus on how to do it well and leverage the upgrade for business advantage.
The end of support for Kentico Xperience 13 is a moment when technology decisions begin to directly impact security, operational continuity, and the potential for further digital growth. At the same time, upgrading to Xperience by Kentico offers an opportunity to streamline architecture and introduce new features, preparing your platform for the years ahead.
This article shows how to approach the transition from KX13 to XbyK in a way that avoids costly surprises and transforms the upgrade into real organizational value.
End of Support for Kentico Xperience 13: What It Means in Practice
Kentico Xperience 13 is no longer actively developed – only minor security fixes and minimal updates are being released this year. Official support ends in December 2026.
In practice, this means that your KX13 or older site will continue to operate, and licenses can still be renewed. However, lack of regular updates and limited technical support increase technological risk, particularly for organizations handling sensitive data. Furthermore, every subsequent change in an older system increases the complexity and cost of future migrations.
This is why more and more organizations treat the move to Xperience by Kentico not simply as a mandatory update, but as a strategic step toward a modern, scalable DXP platform. The upgrade ceases to be a technical necessity and becomes an opportunity to:
- Improve the quality of the site,
- Streamline content processes,
- Enhance marketing effectiveness,
- Increase the overall flexibility of the platform.
Upgrading to Xperience by Kentico is More Than Just an “Update”
Xperience by Kentico is not just the next version of KX13. It’s a new DXP platform, designed from the ground up using modern Microsoft .NET technologies and a hybrid-headless architecture. Organizations gain:
- Evergreen upgrades – monthly, safely designed updates,
- Flexible deployment options – Azure cloud, on-premise, or SaaS,
- Improved scalability and performance – ready for higher traffic and new communication channels,
- Modern marketing and content tools – personalization, automation, and integration with other systems,
- Support for further omnichannel growth – easy deployment of new digital channel functionalities.
An upgrade to XbyK is therefore essentially a replatforming project, offering a chance to improve quality, efficiency, and security.
Migration to XbyK: Practical Guidance
Naturally, every digital platform migration requires decisions and careful consideration. The process can be managed effectively by taking a prepared and informed approach and understanding the platform.
From a technical perspective, the most critical aspects to consider are:
Content Migration
Transferring data from KX13 to XbyK requires adaptation to the new data model. Kentico provides dedicated tools to support this process:
- Migration Toolkit, which accelerates content transfer,
- KenticoPilot, which supports code and integration migration using AI.
While these tools greatly simplify the work, experience shows that sometimes custom migration mechanisms need to be developed, and data storage methods reconsidered to maintain site consistency and integrity.
“In Xperience by Kentico, the way content is stored changes, and many field types and functionalities simply no longer exist. Sometimes a new content model needs to be designed, and custom migration mechanisms prepared. This is usually the most time-consuming part of the upgrade.” –Marcin Świderski, Software Developer
Features Without Direct Equivalents
Some KX13 elements – like K# macros, custom tables, or older modules – have no direct equivalent in XbyK. Each case requires a decision: whether to adopt the platform’s new mechanisms or recreate functionality in a custom form, and how to migrate associated data effectively.
Custom Solutions
The more complex the system, the more architectural decisions are required. XbyK offers a different approach to customization – simplifying maintenance but requiring intentional solution and process design.
“Every custom solution in KX13 needs careful consideration: should it be recreated in XbyK, or should we leverage the platform’s new mechanisms? Sometimes this affects content management, migration timelines, or even data models. This is where key architectural decisions are made.” –Marcin Świderski, Software Developer
How to Leverage the Upgrade Potential
As repeatedly emphasized, the key to an effective migration is understanding the process and proper preparation. Our experience shows that a predictable and efficient upgrade follows a few simple principles:
Plan and analyze
Review your existing site, custom solutions, and integrations to identify key technical and business decisions early. A thorough discovery phase allows you to realistically define scope, schedule, and budget.
Focus on content modeling
Organize structures and adapt the content model to the needs of marketing and editorial teams.
Stepwise migration and quality control
Work in test environments, use a separate repository, and perform regular regression tests to detect issues early and minimize go-live risk.
Additionally, consider working with a team experienced in Kentico migrations. This support goes beyond the technical process – helping with business needs analysis, system audit, and selecting optimal solutions for specific features or integrations.
Upgrade with Infinity Group: Step by Step
Every upgrade is an opportunity to organize the system, optimize processes, and prepare the platform for future growth. At Infinity Group, we take a strategic approach – combining technical expertise with understanding of client needs to ensure each migration step is safe and valuable. Our process includes:
- Planning and analysis – review the site, custom solutions, identify features without XbyK equivalents, define business and technical priorities.
- Content modeling and migration strategy – define data structures, plan physical architecture (Azure, on-premise, SaaS), prepare migration mechanisms, identify elements to optimize.
- Custom functionality migration – decide which features to recreate or adapt, optimize content management.
- Testing and verification – test environments, separate repository, regression testing, validate business processes, apply corrections before production.
- Go-live and hypercare – launch the site, stabilize the solution, train client teams, update documentation, develop new features, support SEO/GEO.
Key Takeaways
An effective upgrade from Kentico Xperience to Xperience by Kentico requires planning, analysis, and experience, but it can also become a strategic value for your organisation. A thoughtful approach allows you to:
- Streamline site architecture,
- Improve performance and scalability,
- Utilize new marketing and content tools,
- Ensure high levels of security and compliance.
In this context, the upgrade ceases to be just a technical obligation – it becomes an opportunity to consciously strengthen the platform and prepare it for ongoing digital growth.
Want to discuss the opportunities an upgrade can bring to your organisation? Fill out the form below, and together we’ll find the best solution.
