As a business manager, IT director, or DNN content editor, you might find yourself in conversations with others who question the continued use of DNN. In this article we'll express discussion points and excellent reasons to stay on platform and avoid costly decisions based on assumptions.

We've experienced website planning meetings where, when a new marketing director, ad team, or other departments of website content ownership want to make a fresh new start, they first assume that they need to change their website away from using DNN as the CMS platform.

There can be many points of reasoning which seem to assume that if the older website needs replacing, the CMS must need replacing too. While we can agree that an older website can use the attention of upgrades and redesign and new feature additions, it rarely means that the platform needs to change away from DNN.

It’s not uncommon for people to assume that because DNN has been around for many years, it’s outdated or that it’s simply time for a change. But ask yourself this: do you change operating systems away from Windows every few years? The answer is likely no, and for good reasons. Stability, familiarity, and the cumulative investment in your current system are all crucial factors that should not be dismissed lightly.

Before jumping into discussions about migrating away from DNN, consider the following points carefully. They might just convince you—and those questioning DNN’s relevance—that staying with DNN is not only viable but the smart choice.

1. Preserving Your Investment in DNN

• Existing Infrastructure: Highlight the investment already made in the DNN environment, architecture, and customization. Explain that moving away from DNN means starting over and potentially losing the benefits of years of refinement.

• Cost of Migration: Emphasize that migration isn’t just a switch; it’s a costly overhaul. Mention the financial and time investments required for a successful migration.

2. Hidden Costs of Training on a New System

• Learning Curve: Discuss the hidden costs associated with training employees on a new platform. Transitioning to a new system requires time for learning, which can lead to productivity dips.

• Existing Expertise: Point out that your team’s existing knowledge of DNN is a valuable asset. Relearning another system diminishes this expertise and can lead to errors during the transition period.

3. Age Doesn't Equate to Obsolescence

• Continuous Evolution: Argue that the age of a platform like DNN is a testament to its reliability and robustness. DNN has evolved significantly over the years, continuously adapting to modern needs.

• Regular Updates: Mention that DNN is not stagnant; it receives regular updates and improvements. The platform remains modern and relevant with new releases every few months.

• Proven Stability: Highlight that a long-standing platform like DNN has had years to perfect its architecture, usability, and scalability. The stability of DNN is a significant advantage, especially for businesses that demand consistent and reliable performance.

4. Pride in Proven Longevity

• Historical Success: Celebrate the fact that DNN has been a trusted platform for over 20 years. This longevity is proof that DNN nailed key requirements early on, making it a dependable choice for businesses.

• Community and Support: Stress the strong, active DNN community and the support available for the platform. A community that has grown over two decades is a powerful resource for ongoing success.

5. The Future of DNN

• Innovation and Roadmap: Discuss the continuous innovation within the DNN ecosystem, including the regular release of future updates and new features which come from updates and additions to the DNN instance.

• Strategic Vision: Outline DNN’s strategic vision, showing that it’s not just a legacy system but a platform with a clear path forward in the evolving digital landscape.

Conclusion

At Moore Creative, we stand by our choice of DotNetNuke as our primary Application Development Platform.

We encourage you in discussions over DNN as a platform and as a solution for your website, to reinforce that the decision to stay with DNN is about more than just avoiding the costs of migration; it’s about recognizing the value of a platform that has stood the test of time. We encourage businesses to consider the hidden costs and risks of migration, and to appreciate the ongoing value that DNN delivers.