Does Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Work in China?

In today’s global digital economy, China represents a significant market opportunity for enterprises. However, deploying Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) sites in China presents unique challenges. This comprehensive guide examines these challenges and offers insights into optimizing AEM performance for the Chinese market.

Understanding AEM Performance in China

Adobe Experience Manager, a leading Digital Experience Platform, faces several obstacles when deployed in China. Let’s explore the key issues and their impact on enterprise websites.

The Great Firewall: More Than Just Content Blocking

China’s internet infrastructure, particularly the Great Firewall, significantly affects foreign-hosted websites. For AEM sites, this translates to:

1. Increased latency
2. Unpredictable content delivery
3. Potential blocking of essential services

These factors can severely impact user experience and, consequently, business performance in the Chinese market.

Case Studies: AEM Sites in China

To illustrate these challenges, we’ve analyzed several global brands using AEM in China. Let’s look at some representative examples:

Illy: A Blend of Coffee and Digital Challenges

The renowned Italian coffee brand faces significant performance issues in China:

• Slow loading times across the country
• Difficulty displaying images
• Potential compliance issues due to lack of ICP license

Here’s a video demonstration of Illy’s website performance in China:

Siemens: Engineering Excellence Meets Digital Hurdles

Even a global industrial giant like Siemens encounters challenges:

• Inconsistent access across different regions in China
• Image loading issues
• Lack of necessary licensing for full compliance

Video demonstration of Siemens’ website in China:

Wyndham Hotels: Hospitality Hindered by Digital Barriers

The hotel chain’s digital presence in China is compromised:

• Severely limited accessibility
• Potential loss of bookings due to poor performance
• Compliance concerns affecting market presence

Video of Wyndham Hotels’ website performance in China:

Key Challenges for AEM in China

1. Performance Issues: Slow load times and inconsistent access across China.
2. Content Delivery: Difficulty in serving images and dynamic content efficiently.
3. Compliance: Lack of proper licensing (ICP) for legal operation in China.
4. Integration: Challenges in integrating with local Chinese services and platforms.

Technical Deep Dive: Why AEM Struggles in China

Understanding the technical reasons behind AEM’s challenges in China can help in formulating effective solutions:

CDN Limitations

While AEM often relies on global Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), these may not be optimized for China’s unique internet topology:

• Many global CDNs have limited presence within China.
• Cross-border data transfer bottlenecks can negate CDN benefits.

Third-Party Dependencies

AEM sites often integrate various third-party services and libraries:

• Analytics tools, marketing tags, and social media integrations may be blocked or slowed.
• Font libraries and JavaScript CDNs commonly used in AEM deployments may be inaccessible.

Cloud Service Challenges

For organizations using AEM as a Cloud Service:

• Adobe’s cloud infrastructure may not have a presence in mainland China.
• Data residency requirements can conflict with cloud-based architectures.

The 21YunBox Solution: Optimizing AEM for China

At 21YunBox, we specialize in addressing these challenges, enabling enterprises to fully leverage AEM’s capabilities in the Chinese market.

Our Approach:

1. China-Optimized Infrastructure: Utilizing in-country servers and optimized routing to dramatically improve performance.
2. Compliance Support: Assisting with ICP licensing and ongoing regulatory compliance.
3. Content Acceleration: Implementing advanced caching and delivery techniques tailored for the Chinese internet landscape.
4. Local Integration: Facilitating seamless integration with Chinese platforms and services.

Case Study: Global Brand Success with 21YunBox

A leading multinational corporation faced significant challenges with their AEM site in China, including slow load times and compliance issues. After implementing 21YunBox solutions:

• Page load times decreased by 70%
• User engagement increased by 45%
• Full compliance achieved, including ICP licensing

Conclusion: Empowering Your AEM Strategy in China

While Adobe Experience Manager faces unique challenges in China, with the right approach and technology partner, these obstacles can be overcome. 21YunBox offers tailored solutions that not only address performance and compliance issues but also enable enterprises to fully capitalize on the vast opportunities in the Chinese market.

Ready to optimize your AEM site for China? Book a free consultation with our experts to get a personalized assessment and strategy.