Upgrading complex digital platforms is a process that is typically planned well in advance. One of the key challenges is choosing the right moment – migration should ideally take place when the new version of the system has reached production maturity and delivers capabilities that genuinely support business goals.
For Kentico users, 2026 represents exactly such a moment. The latest version, Xperience by Kentico (XbyK), has achieved sufficient stability and developed functionality that offers tangible advantages to organisations deciding to undertake an upgrade.
As we discussed in our previous article on migration to XbyK, the process can be approached either as a technical necessity or as a strategic step forward – one that enables the platform to better support the business by operating more reliably, becoming easier to develop, and being well prepared for future growth. Which of these paths becomes reality largely depends on the partner leading the process. A good partner does not reduce an upgrade to simply installing a new system version. Instead, they can demonstrate the concrete business value of the capabilities available in XbyK – such as AIRA, Kentico’s AI agent supporting content work and marketing automation activities – and help organisations incorporate them into their everyday processes.
In this article, we explain what truly distinguishes a strong Kentico upgrade partner in practice: what to look for when choosing one, and what kind of approach translates into long-term value for your platform.
Seeing the upgrade as potential – not just a scope of work
From the outside, an upgrade may appear to be a purely technical project. In reality, it affects areas such as:
- the platform’s architecture
- the way content is managed
- how well the system is prepared for development in the coming years
Organisations that approach migration consciously recognise this broader context. They see it as another step in the long-term evolution of a platform that plays an important role in the company’s communication and operations. This was the case for Nowy Styl, a leading furniture manufacturer whose digital development we have supported for several years:
“Based on our previous cooperation, we decided to entrust Infinity Group with the Kentico upgrade as the next stage of developing our digital presence. Our experience from earlier projects, as well as the way Infinity Group combines technical expertise with business objectives, gives us confidence in the next steps. We value their structured approach and focus on building stable foundations for the future.”
– Mariusz Sobociński, IT & Business Analyst Director, Nowy Styl
At moments like this, the partner’s role goes beyond technology alone. It is not simply about executing the migration, but about ensuring that the platform will continue to support the organisation in the years ahead – maintaining high security standards and ensuring the stability of the solution.
Verifiable competence
With the growing interest in migrations to Xperience by Kentico, the platform’s producer introduced the Kentico Upgrade Expert designation. This status is awarded to partners who have proven experience in delivering upgrades and possess the appropriate team competencies. For organisations planning migration, this is an important signal. The Kentico Upgrade Expert status is one of the most reliable indicators that a partner:
- understands Kentico solutions, including the new XbyK capabilities
- has practical experience with Kentico migrations
- works according to proven procedures aligned with the vendor’s standards
Importantly, the designation is granted for a limited period. To maintain it, partners must regularly confirm their expertise by delivering further projects and working with the latest Kentico versions. In other words, their experience reflects current, practical knowledge of the technology.
The same applies to Kentico Gold Partner status – maintaining it requires continuous activity: delivering implementations, developing client projects, training teams, and maintaining up-to-date certifications. Infinity Group holds both the Kentico Gold Partner and Kentico Upgrade Expert statuses. These distinctions confirm experience gained through real migration projects across multiple industries – from manufacturing and e-commerce to regulated sectors. This experience has a very practical dimension: it allows risks to be anticipated and decisions to be made based on real scenarios rather than assumptions.
Delivering predictability through experience
One of the biggest concerns for organisations planning an upgrade is uncertainty about how the process will affect day-to-day operations. Will there be downtime? Will the platform remain stable? Will the project stay under control? An experienced partner answers these questions not with promises, but with a clear plan. The upgrade then becomes not something that “simply happens”, but a project with a defined structure, stages, and objectives. This is particularly important for organisations with complex structures, such as Adamed Pharma, whose Kentico platform we implemented in 2020 and continue to develop today.
“Building on our existing partnership, we have also chosen to entrust Infinity Group with the Kentico upgrade. Their deep understanding of our platform and business needs gives us confidence that the next phase of development will be delivered smoothly, efficiently, and with a high level of predictability. Migrating to Xperience by Kentico will allow us to benefit from new functionalities, including AI-powered tools supporting content management and marketing automation.”
– Grzegorz Firczyk, Digital Marketing & eCommerce Director, Adamed
A good partner ensures process predictability not only through technical competence, but above all through practical experience that allows the entire upgrade to be properly planned – from analysis, through migration itself, to platform stabilisation.
Treating the upgrade as an investment in security
In some organisations, an upgrade is primarily about keeping the system version up to date. In others, it is part of a conscious approach to security management – particularly in sectors where stability and data protection are critical.
This was the case for our long-standing client, the Polish Bank Association (Związek Banków Polskich), representing one of the most demanding sectors of the economy:
“In the banking sector, cybersecurity has been one of the top priorities for years. That is why we continuously strive to secure our data assets, including our websites, by leveraging the most advanced tools available. Migrating our website to Xperience by Kentico was therefore an important step toward ensuring an even higher level of security.”
– Dr Przemysław Barbrich, Director of Communications and PR, Polish Bank Association
In this context, an upgrade is not merely a system modernisation – it becomes part of responsible platform management within the organisation’s broader infrastructure. The partner’s role is therefore not only to carry out the migration but to ensure that the process strengthens the system’s foundations without compromising security or operational continuity.
Supporting the platform beyond go-live
Migration is often seen as the final stage of a project: the platform runs on a new version, the objectives are met, and everyday work resumes. An experienced partner knows that go-live is a transition point rather than an endpoint.
The new platform has only just begun operating under real conditions – handling live user traffic, integrating with other systems, and supporting the daily work of editorial and marketing teams. This is the moment when initial insights emerge and when new needs and opportunities for further development become visible.
Whether the partner has been involved in earlier stages of the platform’s development or joins the project at the migration stage, their key role is to understand the existing architecture, the business context, and how the organisation actually uses the system. An experienced team can analyse even complex Kentico implementations, organise knowledge about the platform, and propose the optimal plan for both migration and future development. A partner who understands both the technology and the organisation’s goals can support further steps – developing new capabilities, optimising the platform’s performance, and adapting it to evolving needs. In this way, the upgrade becomes not a one-off project, but part of a consciously executed digital platform strategy.
Summary: You recognise a good partner by what happens next
It is difficult to call an upgrade successful if the platform may technically run on a new version but still creates real limitations. In such cases, the organisation may have missed an opportunity whose consequences could be felt for years. This is why choosing an upgrade partner is not a technological decision, but a business one. A good partner:
- understands the role of the digital platform within the organisation and connects business goals with technology
- helps identify the most valuable capabilities and demonstrate how they can be used
- knows how to leverage Xperience by Kentico features to support real processes
- has proven experience in real migration projects
- plans the process in detail and ensures security
- supports the client after go-live in the continued development of the platform
If you want your upgrade to be more than just a system change – and instead become a strategic opportunity – let’s connect.
