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CASE STUDY:  AEM Transformation for Akamai That Cut Launch Times by 85%

How Akamai Cut AEM Launch Time from 3 Weeks to 2 Days

In just four months, Akamai turned a chaotic Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) implementation into a streamlined powerhouse. The company slashed its website launch timeline from 3 weeks to 2 days, replaced dozens of redundant components with just 25 flexible ones, and saved 50% on development costs in the process.

The Challenge

Akamai's global web presence was feeling the strain of enterprise-scale complexity with inconsistent components and slow launch times.

The Transformation

Four months later, Akamai had a streamlined AEM system with 85% faster launch times and 50% cost savings.
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Key Results Achieved

85%
Reduction in launch time
25
Reusable components (down from 100+)
50%
Cost savings in development
*Results for Akamai - AEM Implementation Transformation

This transformation dramatically improved design fidelity, reduced QA rework, and empowered content authors, proving that even the largest web teams can move at startup speed with the right approach.

The Challenge: Growing Pains of a Content Empire

Akamai’s global web presence was feeling the strain of enterprise-scale complexity. What started as a bold rebranding effort had bogged down into a slow, chaotic slog. Pages were stitched together with inconsistent, outdated components. The internal AEM team was talented but overloaded; the backlog only grew, releases were delayed, and QA kept catching page design issues late in the game. Everyone agreed on the vision, but no one had the bandwidth to execute it.

Akamai’s global web presence was feeling the strain of enterprise-scale complexity. What started as a bold rebranding effort had bogged down into a slow, chaotic slog. Pages were stitched together with inconsistent, outdated components.

4-month overhaul

How Akamai Cut AEM Launch Time from 3 Weeks to 2 Days

In four months, Akamai transformed a chaotic AEM implementation into a streamlined powerhouse—improving design fidelity, reducing QA rework, and empowering content authors.

3 wks → 2 days
Launch Timeline
25
Reusable Components
50%
Development Cost Savings

Startup speed at enterprise scale.

The internal AEM team was talented but overloaded; the backlog only grew, releases were delayed, and QA kept catching page design issues late in the game. Everyone agreed on the vision, but no one had the bandwidth to execute it.

The pain points were all too familiar for large organizations running AEM at scale:

  • Inconsistent UIs: Multiple versions of “standard” components (images, text, heroes) led to unpredictable layouts and bloated templates.
  • Redundant Code: A sprawling, duplicated codebase made updates a nightmare and slowed down the site.
  • Poor Author Experience: Confusing dialog interfaces meant content authors often misused components or ignored powerful features.
  • Design Misalignment: Pages frequently failed to match the Figma design files, causing endless QA revisions.
  • Lack of Visibility: Weekly stand-ups reported progress but rarely showed it – no demos, screenshots, or status updates. Stakeholders couldn’t see momentum.

Meanwhile, launch deadlines loomed. Stakeholders were anxious to see results, yet authors were stuck rebuilding the same sections on different pages repeatedly, fighting the system instead of innovating.

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The Turning Point: A New Approach to Rule the Kingdom

They didn’t need more meetings or marginal tweaks – they required momentum. Enter Rule Your Kingdom. Our goal wasn’t just to deliver quick fixes or new components. It was to restore clarity, confidence, and control to Akamai’s web team. We knew Akamai didn’t need “just another vendor” – they needed a strategic partner who could set standards, move fast, and build a system that empowered everyone from content authors to developers to QA. So we stepped in not as a typical dev shop, but as dedicated stewards of a scalable content empire.

Turning Point

A Modern Strategy for Unrivaled Success

Rule Your Kingdom stepped in as a strategic partner to set standards, move fast, and empower everyone from content authors to developers to QA.

  1. Audit
    Month 1 • Weeks 1–4
  2. Blueprint
    Month 2 • Weeks 5–8
  3. Build
    Month 3 • Weeks 9–12
  4. Rollout
    Month 4 • Weeks 13–16

4-month sprint from audit to rollout.

Completed end-to-end in four months—speed with standards.

Together with Akamai’s stakeholders, we aligned on a clear set of objectives from day one:

Cut time-to-market in half

Accelerating site updates and campaign launches.

Establish unified standards

Enforcing consistent UI design and WCAG accessibility across all components.

Empower the authors

Enabling non-developers to build pages faster with fewer bottlenecks.
Author Experience

Give non-developers the ability to easily and quickly build pages with intuitive dialogs, smart defaults, and built-in guidance

1

Clear Organization

Logical tabs and sections guide authors through configuration

2

One-Click Actions

Simple buttons with smart defaults reduce complexity

3

Smart Validation

Optional fields marked, errors prevented before saving

4

Contextual Help

Inline tooltips provide guidance without leaving the dialog

5

Quick Publishing

Clear actions enable confident, rapid content updates

The Impact on Content Velocity

90%

Fewer support tickets

5min

Average page update time

3x

More content published

Eliminate QA churn

Achieving pixel-perfect fidelity to design comps to end the endless review cycles.
Visual QA

Adhere to Figma comps with pixel-perfect accuracy. Overlay designs on live AEM pages, fix nits instantly, and end endless review cycles.

Animated overlay of Figma design aligning to live AEM page
Pixel-Perfect Match
  • Faster approvals
  • Fewer QA loops
  • Design fidelity guaranteed

Build for scale

Ensuring the AEM platform was ready for global growth, with localization, personalization, and analytics built in.
With this vision set, the real work began to transform Akamai’s AEM implementation. We mapped out a plan to attack the chaos at its root.

The Transformation: From Audit to Reusable Architecture

To turn things around, our team executed a comprehensive overhaul of Akamai’s AEM environment. Here’s how we did it:
The Transformation: From Audit to Reusable Architecture

From Chaos to a 25-Component System

We overhauled Akamai's AEM: audited everything, set a unified blueprint, built WCAG-AA components integrated with analytics/personalization, and rolled them out with a weekly, highly visible cadence.

Before: Component Sprawl

100+ duplicate pieces
Accordion (v1) /libs/core/wcm/components/accordion/v1/accordion
Accordion /apps/menarimimaster/components/accordion
Accordion /apps/laboratorio-guidotti/components/accordion
Accordion /apps/mhos/components/accordion
Accordion /apps/relife/components/accordion
Accordion /apps/fondazione/components/accordion
Accordion (AMP v1) /libs/core/wcm/extensions/amp/components/accordion/v1

7 accordion variants alone! Plus duplicate heroes, buttons, cards—inconsistent across teams.

After: Reusable Architecture

25 reusable components

Lean, consistent, localization-ready library that authors love.

  1. Audit
    Design & code audit Author interviews Issue catalog
  2. Blueprint
    Unified design system Tokens, grid & spacing Experience Fragments Localization-ready
  3. Build
    WCAG 2.1 AA Semantic HTML + ARIA Analytics standardized Target-ready
  4. Rollout
    Weekly releases Visual QA (Pixalay) Demos & docs Sign-offs

Standards set once. Speed unlocked everywhere.

  • Deep Audit & Discovery: We started with a complete design and code audit. This meant reviewing every existing component, template, and style, and interviewing content authors to pinpoint workflow pain points. We discovered dozens of duplicate components, inconsistent spacing values, and missing global design tokens – a tangled map of inconsistencies. But by cataloguing these issues, we turned chaos into a clear improvement plan.
  • Unified Design System: Next, we engineered a shared component library to serve as a single source of truth. We built 25 fully reusable AEM components aligned to a common design system. This included a shared grid and spacing scale, standardized font and color usage, and smart author dialogs with preset defaults for consistency. We introduced Experience Fragments for reusable content (hero banners, cards, CTAs, etc.) and made templates localization-ready with language toggles and region-specific logic out of the box. In short, we replaced a forest of one-off components with a lean set of flexible building blocks.
The Transformation: From Audit to Reusable Architecture

Component Sprawl Heat-Map — Before vs. After

We turned a tangled AEM ecosystem into a reusable architecture. The BEFORE panel shows the chaotic sprawl; the AFTER panel shows the lean system of 25 flexible modules aligned to a shared design system.

Before: Component Sprawl

100+ duplicate pieces

7 accordion variants, duplicate heroes, buttons, cards—inconsistent across teams.

After: Reusable Architecture

25 reusable components

Unified library, Experience Fragments, localization-ready templates.

  • Audit & Discovery — full design/code audit; author interviews; issue catalog.
  • Unified Design System — 25 components, shared grid/spacing, tokens, XFs.
  • Accessibility & Integration — WCAG 2.1 AA, analytics & Target-ready.
  • Agile Delivery — weekly releases, visual QA (Pixalay), screen-demo updates.
  • Accessibility & Integration: Every new component was built to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards – not as an afterthought, but as a requirement. Semantic HTML5, keyboard navigation support, proper ARIA roles, high-contrast design – we baked in inclusivity from the start. We also ensured Akamai’s AEM frontend played nicely with the rest of their martech stack: analytics tracking was standardized (every component feeding clean data to Adobe Analytics), and personalization was enabled from day one (components structured for Adobe Target A/B tests and dynamic content). This AEM revamp wasn’t just visually consistent, but data- and future-ready.
  • Agile, Transparent Delivery: We moved fast – but never recklessly. Adopting a weekly release cadence, we iteratively developed, tested, and deployed components in dev, staging, and production environments with stakeholder sign-offs at each stage. Communication was constant: we shared screen-recorded demos and screenshots weekly so Akamai’s team could see progress and give feedback in real time. To eliminate surprises, we employed visual QA tools (like Pixalay) to overlay Figma designs on live AEM pages, catching any pixel misalignments instantly. Our author dialogs weren’t just functional; we provided visual documentation and diagrams for each, showing content authors exactly how to use and configure every component option. By making development highly visible and collaborative, we rebuilt confidence across all stakeholders.

The Blueprint: How You Can Do It Too

Akamai’s story isn’t magic – it’s method. It’s a model that any enterprise-focused agency or web team can follow to tame their AEM implementation.

The Blueprint

A repeatable model any enterprise AEM team can adopt to tame complexity and move fast—with standards.

UI Components

Reusable, WCAG-AA, token-driven

Templates & Experience Fragments

Localization-ready, grid & spacing aligned

Analytics & Target Integration

Clean Adobe Analytics events; Target A/B & personalization

This blueprint powered Akamai's turnaround—apply it to streamline any complex AEM rollout.

Start with an upfront AEM audit

Identify redundant components and inconsistent styles early; this can save weeks of rework down the line.

Make accessibility a non-negotiable

An accessibility-first design approach will future-proof the platform and widen your audience reach.

Leverage visual QA tools

Use a tool like Pixalay (or similar) to overlay design mockups on live pages, catching issues before they ever hit QA staging.

Build smart author interfaces

Craft intuitive dialog options for components. The whole team moves faster when non-developers can easily unlock a component’s full power.

Standardize your design tokens

Consistent grids, spacing, and typography tokens ensure pixel-perfect execution across pages.

These best practices formed the backbone of Akamai’s turnaround. By applying the same principles, you can streamline any complex AEM project – whether it’s for your own enterprise site or a client’s.

  1. WCAG 2.1 AA
  2. Adobe Analytics Clean event data
  3. Adobe Target A/B & personalization
  4. Localization Regions & languages

The Results: A Fully Armed Content Team

The results of this SEO campaign have been nothing short of game-changing for Coral Crater Adventure Park. As of July 31, 2025, Google Search Console metrics show that Coral Crater’s website now ranks at or near the top for an enormous array of relevant searches:

Unprecedented speed

Time to launch new pages dropped from ~3 weeks to just 2 days.

Fewer, smarter components

different non-branded keywords for which Coral Crater’s site ranks on Google’s first page (within the top 10 results).

Fewer bugs and reworks

Post-launch bug reports related to design or functionality dropped by over 70%, as standardized components worked correctly out of the gate.

Lower costs

By avoiding endless custom builds and delays, Akamai achieved a 50% reduction in development costs compared to relying on internal resources alone.

Faster content updates

Empowered authors can now create or update pages in minutes instead of days, without waiting on developers – a huge boost to marketing agility.

Ready for global scale

The new AEM templates are localization-ready, making managing international rollouts and regional content variations much easier.

“We loved working with Seth and his teammates. They were moving at lightning speed compared to what we expected it would take to accomplish this redesign.”

– Feedback from Akamai’s web team

Better yet, these improvements weren’t a one-off project – they gave Akamai a foundation for the future. The company now has a flexible AEM ecosystem primed for advanced capabilities like headless content delivery, automated visual regression testing, and sophisticated personalization campaigns. Their content authors are more confident, the design team is less frustrated, developers are unblocked, and leadership can finally see real progress in every status meeting. The digital kingdom is under control.

Ready to achieve similar outcomes for your enterprise clients? We don’t just deliver code – we help you rule your digital kingdom. Connect with Us for a firsthand look at the component library and tactics that drove Akamai’s success. Let’s Begin the Conversation about making your agency’s next AEM project a conversion-worthy success story.

The Results

A Fully Armed Content Team

Immediate, dramatic impact across speed, quality, cost, and author agility.

Before
≈3 weeks
Time to Launch
After
2 days
Time to Launch
Before
100+
Components
After
25
Reusable Components
Before
High
QA Rework & Bugs
After
−70%
Bug Reports
Before
High
Development Costs
After
−50%
Development Costs
  • Authors update in minutes
  • Localization-ready templates

Below is a menu of visual elements you can weave into the landing‑page layout to amplify the narrative, reinforce key proof‑points, and keep busy agency executives scrolling. Each item notes what it shows, where to place it, and why it matters to conversion.

Visual Content Strategy

Eleven strategic visual elements to transform your AEM case study into a compelling narrative

1

Impact "Stat-Stack" Hero

Visual

Large background image of Akamai's homepage blurred in grayscale, overlaid with three bold, color-blocked metrics: "3 wks → 2 days", "25 reusable components", "50% cost savings"

Where/How to Use

Very top, beneath headline

Story Purpose & Tips

Delivers an immediate "wow" and orients readers to the results they'll learn about. Use short CSS slide-in animation so each stat appears sequentially as the page loads.

2

Timeline / Progress Bar

Visual

Four labeled milestones ("Audit → Blueprint → Build → Rollout") with dates spanning the 4-month project window.

Where/How to Use

After "Turning Point" section

Story Purpose & Tips

Visually compresses the project journey and proves speed. Add subtle checkmark icons to show completion.

3

Component Sprawl Heat-Map (Before vs. After)

Visual

Side-by-side diagrams: Before—a messy cluster of 100+ boxes; After—25 neatly grouped modules.

Where/How to Use

In "Transformation" section

Story Purpose & Tips

Makes the 25-component achievement instantly tangible. Keep colors consistent with Rule Your Kingdom palette for brand reinforcement.

4

Author Dialog Screenshot + Callouts

Visual

Static image (or 10-sec GIF) of the redesigned AEM dialog with numbered hotspots and short labels.

Where/How to Use

Paired with the "Empower Authors" paragraph

Story Purpose & Tips

Lets agency leaders see how non-developers can configure pages—translating a technical win into business value. Blur any proprietary text; highlight ease-of-use.

5

Pixalay Overlay Animation

Visual

GIF showing Figma design sliding over the live AEM page and lining up pixel-perfectly.

Where/How to Use

Within "Eliminate QA Churn" subsection

Story Purpose & Tips

Demonstrates the visual-QA breakthrough and underscores design fidelity. Keeps the page dynamic without heavy video.

6

Accessibility & Analytics Badge Row

Visual

WCAG 2.1 AA badge, Adobe Analytics, Adobe Target, and Localization icons.

Where/How to Use

Narrow band under "Accessibility & Integration"

Story Purpose & Tips

Signals enterprise-grade rigor at a glance and reassures risk-averse buyers. Keep iconography simple and monochrome to avoid visual clutter.

7

Stack Diagram of the AEM Ecosystem

Visual

A three-layer schematic: UI Components → Templates & Experience Fragments → Analytics/Target Integration.

Where/How to Use

Start of "Blueprint: How You Can Do It Too"

Story Purpose & Tips

Gives readers a mental model they can adopt—while implying that Rule Your Kingdom already has it fully mapped out.

8

Before/After KPI Cards

Visual

Four cards flipping on hover: front shows the old metric, back shows the new (e.g., "3 wks" flips to "2 days").

Where/How to Use

Just before the CTA band

Story Purpose & Tips

Interactive micro-moment that reinforces outcomes right when you ask for a meeting. Use the same CTA button color for card accents to tie the section together.

9

Client Testimonial Pull-Quote

Visual

Photo or silhouette of the Akamai stakeholder, overlaid quote in a speech-bubble frame.

Where/How to Use

Directly below KPI cards

Story Purpose & Tips

Humanizes the story and adds social proof. If a headshot can't be published, use a stylized "testimonial" badge with initials.

10

Component Library Carousel

Visual

Swipeable row of thumbnail screenshots (Header, Hero Banner, Card, Tab, etc.).

Where/How to Use

After the testimonial

Story Purpose & Tips

Acts like a mini product demo and invites exploration. Each thumbnail can open a lightbox with a larger image and 1-sentence caption.

11

Animated CTA Buttons

Visual

Primary: "Connect with Us" (gentle pulse on hover) Secondary (text-link style): "Begin the Conversation →"

Where/How to Use

Sticky footer & midpoint

Story Purpose & Tips

Movement draws the eye without feeling pushy. Ensure motion is subtle to respect accessibility guidelines (reduced-motion media query).

Design & Accessibility Notes

  • Alt text & captions for every graphic to satisfy WCAG 2.1 AA.
  • Color contrast: follow your design tokens; verify ≥4.5:1 ratio.
  • File formats: Use SVG for diagrams, WebP for photos/screens, MP4 (H.264) for video.
  • Mobile first: ensure carousels swipe; collapse side‑by‑side images into stacked layouts.
  • Performance: compress assets, lazy‑load below‑the‑fold visuals, and defer GIFs until in‑view.

These elements will extend the copy’s emotional arc—moving the reader from problem (chaos) to solution (clarity) to invitation (your CTAs)—while providing the concrete, visual evidence enterprise‑grade prospects need before they’ll reach out.

Your Online Success is Waiting

In the end, the Akamai case study proves that with the right strategy and execution, you can “rule your kingdom.”All it takes is a brilliant game plan, consistent effort, and the right expertise.

Ready to see what that could mean for your business? Let’s find out…together.

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