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What features should a headless CMS have in 2026

Jono AlfordOriginal source ↗

Original video

About this video

Our video on what a headless CMS needs in 2026. We cover the editorial features we look for and the capabilities we check before recommending a platform.

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Edited transcript from the original Roboto page

Hey, how's it going? Hope you're having a great day. Let's talk a little bit about headless content management systems. If you didn't know, we're just about to move into 2026, and it's obligatory that we make these kind of lists to see how far off the mark we are when 2027 comes around. So, um, let's talk a little bit about the features that I would be paying attention to if you're looking for a headless content management system. Um, most important are usually kind of towards the top of the list and the less important are towards the bottom of the list because they should be table stakes anyway.

So starting with AI and your CMS. Now we don't want to just talk to this as like a chatbot that talks to your content management system. You are going to find that you need more than that. And I think teams that have marketers that are willing to use things like Cursor or, you know, like Claude or something along those lines, like these AI assistants that are able to use MCP, are going to absolutely crush things.

I'll give you a very quick example of something that we did in house and I could see how a marketer should be, and absolutely should spend time doing this. Um, but we had the launch of Next.js workflows. You may have seen it. It was about three months ago. They called them durable workflows. I don't think anybody knows what durable workflow is outside of developers. And then when you actually started using them, they probably created the most impressive tech, um, where you could literally say "go wait six months" and it would still work, um, which is just unheard of in the whole development environment, not without you know creating tons upon tons of infrastructure.

Anyway, when this came out, they put out a press release. And the coolest thing was the fact that we were able to use Cursor with an MCP to take that press release, take it as a brief, you know, set of notes and refactor one of our pages that existed inside of Sanity to create a page that now exists on our own website called SL Services. I think it's workflow slservices/workflows. Um, the whole of that page actually isn't written by us. Um, it was a first draft that actually worked through an AI. So, um, I'm obviously going to say this and probably end up getting deranked by Google, but it was something that you could do from the get-go. And obviously, we've done some tweaks to it. Don't dank me, Google. Um, and it now is like our own words, but the fact that we were able to smash a first draft in roughly two, three minutes using Sanity's MCP is incredible.

Now, Sanity's MCP, if you didn't know about this, has just been released, a brand new update to it. Um, there's a ton of different interesting stuff in there, but you should be getting all of this functionality inside of your headless content management system. Um, because you're going to find these small teams of these three marketers absolutely surpass what teams of, you know, ten, twenty, thirty marketers can do.

Um, and our next one is a good ass preview. So, this is something that everybody gets wrong when they build their websites. Um, if you don't have a preview and you don't have a working preview that's almost instantaneous, uh, you're doing something very, very wrong because I guarantee you a marketer is going to want to see what's been changed on the website. So, more relevant than ever is that there is this, this idea, this concept of a preview that just works with one without locking other people out.

So something that happens on some content management systems is, you know, person A and person B want to make a change to a website. You have to wait for person A to hit publish or hit save draft before person B can start making changes to the same document. You do not want that. You want a multiplayer environment, you know, like Google Docs, where multiple people can be working on the same doc at once. Um, it's been out on Google Docs for god knows how long. What, like ten years, I think or something stupid. Um, we should absolutely have that in our headless content management systems. Um, and again, this comes back to the good ass preview one. We want to see our changes live as fast as possible.

Now, as far as I'm aware, I think Sanity has a proprietary system. I forgot the name of it. Is it, it's got a weird name, but they have some proprietary system that makes your changes almost instantaneous. Um, I think it's called the Insanity Live Content API, but I forgot the name they specifically use for it. It works with blank spaces, but it's really, really powerful, really fast. Um, what's so impressive about it is you hit publish and even on a statically generated website, you're going to see those changes instantaneously and everybody that's on that page will also see those changes. Um, and it's instantaneous.

So, having all these things kind of work together, these top three are probably the most important I would say. Um, but having them all work together is a massive boon for the actual marketing team because there's less, you know, less tiny little paper cuts. You know, the whole idea of death by a thousand cuts, that especially applies to content management systems. Um, and the more we can make all of these things easy and actually be able to write this content faster, the better it gets.

And now with all these top ones, we're going to move into kind of like the enterprise area, which is the idea of a DAM. Uh, and a DAM is a digital asset management tool. I think they call it digital asset management platform. Um, the more we talk about kind of a media browser, and this is something that I will say Contentful is very, very good at, um, is having this kind of like multifaceted media browser where you can bring everything together into one singular, uh, storage space. Um, Sanity is also pretty good at this, but the videos leave a little bit to be desired. Um, because you need to have something like MUX, and depending on which company you're working with, uh, it's another onboarding of another vendor and it can be a real pain in the ass to do that. Um, but yes, the whole idea of a digital asset management tool is super important and something that I think is going to have more and more demand as these uh headless content management systems are becoming mature.

Um, and then scheduling that doesn't suck is another one that I personally really don't like. So I have had no end of problems with scheduling in my time. Um, especially with WordPress, especially with issues with PHP, all kinds of stuff back in the day. Um, but having a scheduling tool where you know and you feel confident you can hit schedule, um, and it just works in a day's time or two days time is huge.

Now the other part of this is not just the scheduling but the concept of scheduling multiple things into a release. Now Sanity has something called releases. It's fantastic. Um, it's a way of being able to set up a whole bunch. So, for example, if you know you're going to release five different services uh next Wednesday, um, then you can actually use this releases to create next Wednesday's release of new services and put all of these changes into a single release and immediately publish it all at the same time. It's really cool, really good functionality, and it gives you that ability to see the changes before they happen again. So, that that kind of pulls back into the good ass preview. You need a great preview to kind of action the rest of these items on the list.

Uh, publishing, unpublishing, and roll back. So, if we're talking about scheduling, we have to talk about these things. And not every system has a great roll back. Um, trust us, we've experienced it firsthand. Um, and the main thing that you want here is the ability to go step back through the history of changes. Um, it doesn't seem like an important thing until somebody accidentally um changed a good chunk or accidentally overrode, you know, two hundred um lines of of text. Uh, and that's the point at where you need that roll back. And Sanity has a great one. Uh, a lot of these different headless content management systems have a pretty good one, but it's something that you want to test before you get to that critical point.

And then finally, the last one, instant search. So this one is about more than the raw speed of the search. It's about finding that data. Um, so this kind of plays again, I know I sound like I'm just pitching for Sanity at this point. Um, but again, Sanity is a very, very good tool for having structured content. And all of this kind of AI indexing and all these, you know, answer engine optimization that people are looking for all comes from indexing things in a great way, having great data available to these tools. The same principle applies with search. Um, if you want to test this out, and again with Sanity, um, there is Sanity's embeddings index, which is like the AI search tool. Um, and we actually did a long time ago, we did a blog on, uh, I think building the first, as far as I'm aware, embeddings index search, uh, engine with Sanity. So, feel free to have a look at that.

Um, but all of these different things you want to make sure that you're looking for in your headless content management system in 2026. Um, and more importantly, when you are looking for these, make sure you're not getting absolutely rinsed for a price because all of these things are kind of like industry standard in every other aspect except headless content management systems. Uh, in our opinion, there are very, very few headless content management systems that feel like a truly mature product. Um, and it's because of that kind of that spanning of so many different facets of a website and trying to spin in all different tooling. Uh, you know, like personalization and digital experience platforms in general, which I am going to talk about more later. Um, but you know, they're trying to bite off more than they can chew. And it's very important that you have something that is very specifically purpose-built for you.

And again, this wouldn't be a video without a tacky little sales pitch at the end. If you are looking at getting a headless content management system uh implemented, make sure to get in touch with us. We aren't just going to bat for Sanity. We have a whole bunch of different tools, but we do like Sanity a hell of a lot. So, feel free to get in touch and we'll catch you later. Take care. Bye-bye.

Read timestamped source captions

0:04Hey, how's it going? Hope you're having

0:04Hey, how's it going? Hope you're having a great day. Let's talk a little bit

0:06a great day. Let's talk a little bit

0:06a great day. Let's talk a little bit about headless content management

0:08about headless content management

0:08about headless content management systems. If you didn't know, we're just

0:10systems. If you didn't know, we're just

0:10systems. If you didn't know, we're just about to move into 2026, and it's

0:13about to move into 2026, and it's

0:13about to move into 2026, and it's obligatory that we make these kind of

0:14obligatory that we make these kind of

0:14obligatory that we make these kind of lists to see how far off the mark we are

0:17lists to see how far off the mark we are

0:17lists to see how far off the mark we are when 2027 comes around. So, um, let's

0:20when 2027 comes around. So, um, let's

0:20when 2027 comes around. So, um, let's talk a little bit about the features

0:22talk a little bit about the features

0:22talk a little bit about the features that I would be paying attention to if

0:23that I would be paying attention to if

0:23that I would be paying attention to if you're looking for a headless content

0:25you're looking for a headless content

0:25you're looking for a headless content management system. um most important are

0:28management system. um most important are

0:28management system. um most important are usually kind of towards the top of the

0:30usually kind of towards the top of the

0:30usually kind of towards the top of the list and the less important are towards

0:32list and the less important are towards

0:32list and the less important are towards the bottom of the list because they

0:34the bottom of the list because they

0:34the bottom of the list because they should be table stakes anyway. So

0:36should be table stakes anyway. So

0:36should be table stakes anyway. So starting with AI and your CMS. Now we

0:39starting with AI and your CMS. Now we

0:39starting with AI and your CMS. Now we don't want to just talk to this as like

0:41don't want to just talk to this as like

0:41don't want to just talk to this as like a chatbot that talks to your content

0:43a chatbot that talks to your content

0:43a chatbot that talks to your content management system. You are going to find

0:45management system. You are going to find

0:45management system. You are going to find that you need more than that. And I

0:47that you need more than that. And I

0:48that you need more than that. And I think teams that have marketers that are

0:49think teams that have marketers that are

0:49think teams that have marketers that are willing to use things like cursor or you

0:52willing to use things like cursor or you

0:52willing to use things like cursor or you know like claude or something along

0:53know like claude or something along

0:53know like claude or something along those lines like these AI assistants

0:55those lines like these AI assistants

0:55those lines like these AI assistants that are able to use MCP are going to

0:58that are able to use MCP are going to

0:58that are able to use MCP are going to absolutely crush things. I'll give you a

1:00absolutely crush things. I'll give you a

1:00absolutely crush things. I'll give you a very quick example of something that we

1:02very quick example of something that we

1:02very quick example of something that we did in house and I could see how a

1:04did in house and I could see how a

1:04did in house and I could see how a marketer should be and absolutely should

1:06marketer should be and absolutely should

1:06marketer should be and absolutely should spend time doing this. Um, but we had

1:09spend time doing this. Um, but we had

1:09spend time doing this. Um, but we had the launch of Nex.js workflows. You may

1:11the launch of Nex.js workflows. You may

1:11the launch of Nex.js workflows. You may have seen it. It was about 3 months ago.

1:13have seen it. It was about 3 months ago.

1:13have seen it. It was about 3 months ago. They called them durable workflows. I

1:15They called them durable workflows. I

1:15They called them durable workflows. I don't think anybody knows what durable

1:17don't think anybody knows what durable

1:17don't think anybody knows what durable workflow is outside of developers. And

1:19workflow is outside of developers. And

1:19workflow is outside of developers. And then when you actually started using

1:20then when you actually started using

1:20then when you actually started using them, they probably created the most

1:22them, they probably created the most

1:22them, they probably created the most impressive tech um where you could

1:24impressive tech um where you could

1:24impressive tech um where you could literally say go wait 6 months and it

1:27literally say go wait 6 months and it

1:27literally say go wait 6 months and it would still work. um which is just

1:29would still work. um which is just

1:29would still work. um which is just unheard of in the whole development

1:31unheard of in the whole development

1:31unheard of in the whole development environment not without you know

1:33environment not without you know

1:33environment not without you know creating tons upon tons of

1:34creating tons upon tons of

1:34creating tons upon tons of infrastructure. Anyway, when this came

1:36infrastructure. Anyway, when this came

1:36infrastructure. Anyway, when this came out, they put out a press release. And

1:38out, they put out a press release. And

1:38out, they put out a press release. And the coolest thing was was the fact that

1:40the coolest thing was was the fact that

1:40the coolest thing was was the fact that we were able to use cursor with an MCP

1:43we were able to use cursor with an MCP

1:43we were able to use cursor with an MCP to take that press release, take it as a

1:46to take that press release, take it as a

1:46to take that press release, take it as a brief, you know, set of notes and

1:48brief, you know, set of notes and

1:48brief, you know, set of notes and refactor one of our pages that existed

1:50refactor one of our pages that existed

1:50refactor one of our pages that existed inside of Sanity to create a page that

1:52inside of Sanity to create a page that

1:52inside of Sanity to create a page that now exists on our own website called

1:54now exists on our own website called

1:54now exists on our own website called SLservices. I think it's workflow

1:56SLservices. I think it's workflow

1:56SLservices. I think it's workflow slervices/workflows.

1:58slervices/workflows.

1:58slervices/workflows. Um, the whole of that page actually

2:00Um, the whole of that page actually

2:00Um, the whole of that page actually isn't written by us. Um, it was a first

2:03isn't written by us. Um, it was a first

2:03isn't written by us. Um, it was a first draft that actually worked through an

2:05draft that actually worked through an

2:05draft that actually worked through an AI. So, um, I'm obviously going to say

2:07AI. So, um, I'm obviously going to say

2:07AI. So, um, I'm obviously going to say this and probably end up getting

2:08this and probably end up getting

2:08this and probably end up getting deranked by Google, but it was something

2:10deranked by Google, but it was something

2:10deranked by Google, but it was something that you could do from the get-go. And

2:12that you could do from the get-go. And

2:12that you could do from the get-go. And obviously, we've done some tweaks to it.

2:14obviously, we've done some tweaks to it.

2:14obviously, we've done some tweaks to it. Don't don't dank me, Google. Um, and it

2:17Don't don't dank me, Google. Um, and it

2:17Don't don't dank me, Google. Um, and it now is like our own words, but the fact

2:19now is like our own words, but the fact

2:19now is like our own words, but the fact that we were able to smash a first draft

2:21that we were able to smash a first draft

2:21that we were able to smash a first draft in roughly two, three minutes using

2:23in roughly two, three minutes using

2:23in roughly two, three minutes using Sanity's MCP is incredible. Now,

2:26Sanity's MCP is incredible. Now,

2:26Sanity's MCP is incredible. Now, Sanity's MCP, if you didn't know about

2:28Sanity's MCP, if you didn't know about

2:28Sanity's MCP, if you didn't know about this, has just been released, a brand

2:30this, has just been released, a brand

2:30this, has just been released, a brand new update to it. Um, there's a ton of

2:32new update to it. Um, there's a ton of

2:32new update to it. Um, there's a ton of different interesting stuff in there,

2:34different interesting stuff in there,

2:34different interesting stuff in there, but you should be getting all of this

2:35but you should be getting all of this

2:35but you should be getting all of this functionality inside of your headless

2:37functionality inside of your headless

2:37functionality inside of your headless content content management system. Um,

2:40content content management system. Um,

2:40content content management system. Um, because you're going to find these small

2:41because you're going to find these small

2:41because you're going to find these small teams of these three marketers

2:44teams of these three marketers

2:44teams of these three marketers absolutely surpass what teams of, you

2:46absolutely surpass what teams of, you

2:46absolutely surpass what teams of, you know, 10, 20, 30 marketers can do. Um,

2:49know, 10, 20, 30 marketers can do. Um,

2:49know, 10, 20, 30 marketers can do. Um, and our next one is a good ass preview.

2:52and our next one is a good ass preview.

2:52and our next one is a good ass preview. So, this is something that everybody

2:53So, this is something that everybody

2:54So, this is something that everybody gets wrong when they build their

2:55gets wrong when they build their

2:55gets wrong when they build their websites. Um, if you don't have a

2:57websites. Um, if you don't have a

2:57websites. Um, if you don't have a preview and you don't have a working

2:58preview and you don't have a working

2:58preview and you don't have a working preview that's almost instantaneous, uh,

3:01preview that's almost instantaneous, uh,

3:01preview that's almost instantaneous, uh, you're doing something very, very wrong

3:02you're doing something very, very wrong

3:02you're doing something very, very wrong because I guarantee you a marketer is

3:05because I guarantee you a marketer is

3:05because I guarantee you a marketer is going to want to see what's been changed

3:06going to want to see what's been changed

3:06going to want to see what's been changed on the website. So, more relevant than

3:09on the website. So, more relevant than

3:09on the website. So, more relevant than ever is that there is this this idea,

3:12ever is that there is this this idea,

3:12ever is that there is this this idea, this concept of a preview that just

3:15this concept of a preview that just

3:15this concept of a preview that just works with one without locking other

3:17works with one without locking other

3:17works with one without locking other people out. So something that happens on

3:18people out. So something that happens on

3:18people out. So something that happens on some content management systems is you

3:20some content management systems is you

3:20some content management systems is you know person A and person B want to make

3:22know person A and person B want to make

3:22know person A and person B want to make a change to a website. You have to wait

3:24a change to a website. You have to wait

3:24a change to a website. You have to wait for person A to hit publish or hit save

3:27for person A to hit publish or hit save

3:27for person A to hit publish or hit save draft before person B can start making

3:29draft before person B can start making

3:29draft before person B can start making changes to the same document. You do not

3:32changes to the same document. You do not

3:32changes to the same document. You do not want that. You want a multiplayer

3:34want that. You want a multiplayer

3:34want that. You want a multiplayer environment. You know like Google Docs

3:35environment. You know like Google Docs

3:35environment. You know like Google Docs where multiple people can be working on

3:37where multiple people can be working on

3:37where multiple people can be working on the same doc at once. Um it's been out

3:39the same doc at once. Um it's been out

3:39the same doc at once. Um it's been out on Google Docs for god knows how long.

3:41on Google Docs for god knows how long.

3:41on Google Docs for god knows how long. What like 10 years I think or something

3:42What like 10 years I think or something

3:42What like 10 years I think or something stupid. Um we should absolutely have

3:44stupid. Um we should absolutely have

3:44stupid. Um we should absolutely have that in our headless content management

3:46that in our headless content management

3:46that in our headless content management systems. Um, and again, this comes back

3:48systems. Um, and again, this comes back

3:48systems. Um, and again, this comes back to the goodass preview one. We want to

3:50to the goodass preview one. We want to

3:50to the goodass preview one. We want to see our changes live as fast as

3:52see our changes live as fast as

3:52see our changes live as fast as possible. Now, as far as I'm aware, I

3:54possible. Now, as far as I'm aware, I

3:54possible. Now, as far as I'm aware, I think Sanity has a proprietary system. I

3:57think Sanity has a proprietary system. I

3:57think Sanity has a proprietary system. I forgot the name of it. Is it It's got a

3:59forgot the name of it. Is it It's got a

3:59forgot the name of it. Is it It's got a weird name, but there they have some

4:01weird name, but there they have some

4:01weird name, but there they have some proprietary system that makes your

4:02proprietary system that makes your

4:02proprietary system that makes your changes almost instantaneous. Um, I

4:04changes almost instantaneous. Um, I

4:04changes almost instantaneous. Um, I think it's called the

4:07think it's called the

4:07think it's called the Insanity Live Content API, but I forgot

4:10Insanity Live Content API, but I forgot

4:10Insanity Live Content API, but I forgot the name they specifically use for it.

4:12the name they specifically use for it.

4:12the name they specifically use for it. It works with blank spaces, but it's

4:13It works with blank spaces, but it's

4:14It works with blank spaces, but it's really, really powerful, really fast.

4:15really, really powerful, really fast.

4:15really, really powerful, really fast. Um, what's so impressive about it is you

4:17Um, what's so impressive about it is you

4:17Um, what's so impressive about it is you hit publish and even on a statically

4:19hit publish and even on a statically

4:19hit publish and even on a statically generated website, you're going to see

4:21generated website, you're going to see

4:21generated website, you're going to see those changes instantaneously and

4:24those changes instantaneously and

4:24those changes instantaneously and everybody that's on that page will also

4:25everybody that's on that page will also

4:26everybody that's on that page will also see those changes. Um, and it's

4:27see those changes. Um, and it's

4:27see those changes. Um, and it's instantaneous. So, having all these

4:30instantaneous. So, having all these

4:30instantaneous. So, having all these things kind of work together, these top

4:32things kind of work together, these top

4:32things kind of work together, these top three are probably the most important I

4:35three are probably the most important I

4:35three are probably the most important I would say. Um, but having them all work

4:36would say. Um, but having them all work

4:36would say. Um, but having them all work together is a massive boon for the

4:38together is a massive boon for the

4:38together is a massive boon for the actual marketing team because there's

4:40actual marketing team because there's

4:40actual marketing team because there's less, you know, less tiny little paper

4:43less, you know, less tiny little paper

4:43less, you know, less tiny little paper cuts. you know, the whole idea of death

4:45cuts. you know, the whole idea of death

4:45cuts. you know, the whole idea of death by a thousand cuts, that especially

4:47by a thousand cuts, that especially

4:47by a thousand cuts, that especially applies to content management systems.

4:49applies to content management systems.

4:49applies to content management systems. Um, and the more we can make all of

4:51Um, and the more we can make all of

4:51Um, and the more we can make all of these things easy and actually be able

4:53these things easy and actually be able

4:53these things easy and actually be able to write this content faster, the better

4:55to write this content faster, the better

4:55to write this content faster, the better it gets. And now with all these top

4:58it gets. And now with all these top

4:58it gets. And now with all these top ones, we're going to move into kind of

5:00ones, we're going to move into kind of

5:00ones, we're going to move into kind of like the enterprise uh area, which is

5:02like the enterprise uh area, which is

5:02like the enterprise uh area, which is the idea of a DAM. Uh, and a DAM is a

5:05the idea of a DAM. Uh, and a DAM is a

5:05the idea of a DAM. Uh, and a DAM is a digital asset management tool. I think

5:07digital asset management tool. I think

5:07digital asset management tool. I think they call it digital asset management

5:08they call it digital asset management

5:08they call it digital asset management platform. um the more we talk about kind

5:11platform. um the more we talk about kind

5:12platform. um the more we talk about kind of a media browser and this is something

5:13of a media browser and this is something

5:13of a media browser and this is something that I will say Contentful is very very

5:15that I will say Contentful is very very

5:15that I will say Contentful is very very good at um is having this kind of like

5:19good at um is having this kind of like

5:19good at um is having this kind of like multifaceted

5:20multifaceted

5:20multifaceted media browser where you can bring

5:22media browser where you can bring

5:22media browser where you can bring everything together into one singular uh

5:25everything together into one singular uh

5:25everything together into one singular uh storage space. Um, Sanity is also pretty

5:28storage space. Um, Sanity is also pretty

5:28storage space. Um, Sanity is also pretty good at this, but the videos leave a

5:31good at this, but the videos leave a

5:31good at this, but the videos leave a little bit to be desired. Um, because

5:34little bit to be desired. Um, because

5:34little bit to be desired. Um, because you need to have something like MX and

5:36you need to have something like MX and

5:36you need to have something like MX and depending on which company you're

5:37depending on which company you're

5:37depending on which company you're working with, uh, it's another

5:39working with, uh, it's another

5:39working with, uh, it's another onboarding of another vendor and it can

5:41onboarding of another vendor and it can

5:41onboarding of another vendor and it can be a real pain in the ass to do that. Um

5:44be a real pain in the ass to do that. Um

5:44be a real pain in the ass to do that. Um but yes, the the whole idea of a digital

5:46but yes, the the whole idea of a digital

5:46but yes, the the whole idea of a digital asset management tool is super important

5:49asset management tool is super important

5:49asset management tool is super important and something that I think is going to

5:50and something that I think is going to

5:50and something that I think is going to have more and more demand as these uh

5:53have more and more demand as these uh

5:53have more and more demand as these uh headless content management systems are

5:55headless content management systems are

5:55headless content management systems are becoming mature. Um and then scheduling

5:59becoming mature. Um and then scheduling

5:59becoming mature. Um and then scheduling that doesn't suck is another one that I

6:01that doesn't suck is another one that I

6:01that doesn't suck is another one that I personally really don't like. So I have

6:04personally really don't like. So I have

6:04personally really don't like. So I have had no end of problems with scheduling

6:05had no end of problems with scheduling

6:05had no end of problems with scheduling in my time. Um especially with

6:07in my time. Um especially with

6:07in my time. Um especially with WordPress, especially with issues with

6:09WordPress, especially with issues with

6:09WordPress, especially with issues with PHP, all kinds of stuff back in the day.

6:12PHP, all kinds of stuff back in the day.

6:12PHP, all kinds of stuff back in the day. Um but having a scheduling tool where

6:13Um but having a scheduling tool where

6:14Um but having a scheduling tool where you know and you feel confident you can

6:15you know and you feel confident you can

6:15you know and you feel confident you can hit schedule um and it just works in a

6:18hit schedule um and it just works in a

6:18hit schedule um and it just works in a day's time or two days time is huge. Now

6:21day's time or two days time is huge. Now

6:21day's time or two days time is huge. Now the other part of this is not just the

6:23the other part of this is not just the

6:23the other part of this is not just the scheduling but the concept of scheduling

6:25scheduling but the concept of scheduling

6:25scheduling but the concept of scheduling multiple things into a release. Now

6:28multiple things into a release. Now

6:28multiple things into a release. Now Sanity has something called releases.

6:30Sanity has something called releases.

6:30Sanity has something called releases. It's fantastic. Um it's a way of being

6:32It's fantastic. Um it's a way of being

6:32It's fantastic. Um it's a way of being able to set up a whole bunch. So, for

6:34able to set up a whole bunch. So, for

6:34able to set up a whole bunch. So, for example, if you know you're going to

6:36example, if you know you're going to

6:36example, if you know you're going to release five different services uh next

6:39release five different services uh next

6:39release five different services uh next Wednesday, um then you can actually use

6:41Wednesday, um then you can actually use

6:41Wednesday, um then you can actually use this releases to create next Wednesday's

6:44this releases to create next Wednesday's

6:44this releases to create next Wednesday's release of new services and put all of

6:46release of new services and put all of

6:46release of new services and put all of these changes into a single release and

6:48these changes into a single release and

6:48these changes into a single release and immediately publish it all at the same

6:50immediately publish it all at the same

6:50immediately publish it all at the same time. It's really cool, really good

6:52time. It's really cool, really good

6:52time. It's really cool, really good functionality, and it gives you that

6:53functionality, and it gives you that

6:53functionality, and it gives you that ability to see the changes before they

6:56ability to see the changes before they

6:56ability to see the changes before they happen again. So, that that kind of

6:57happen again. So, that that kind of

6:57happen again. So, that that kind of pulls back into the goodass preview. you

7:00pulls back into the goodass preview. you

7:00pulls back into the goodass preview. you need a great preview to kind of action

7:03need a great preview to kind of action

7:03need a great preview to kind of action the rest of these items on the list.

7:06the rest of these items on the list.

7:06the rest of these items on the list. Uh publishing, unpublishing, and roll

7:08Uh publishing, unpublishing, and roll

7:08Uh publishing, unpublishing, and roll back. So, if we're talking about

7:11back. So, if we're talking about

7:11back. So, if we're talking about scheduling, we have to talk about these

7:12scheduling, we have to talk about these

7:12scheduling, we have to talk about these things. And not every system has a great

7:15things. And not every system has a great

7:15things. And not every system has a great roll back. Um trust us, we've

7:18roll back. Um trust us, we've

7:18roll back. Um trust us, we've experienced it firsthand. Um and the

7:20experienced it firsthand. Um and the

7:20experienced it firsthand. Um and the main thing that you want here is the

7:22main thing that you want here is the

7:22main thing that you want here is the ability to to go step back through the

7:25ability to to go step back through the

7:25ability to to go step back through the history of changes. um it doesn't seem

7:27history of changes. um it doesn't seem

7:27history of changes. um it doesn't seem like an important thing until somebody

7:28like an important thing until somebody

7:28like an important thing until somebody accidentally um changed a good chunk or

7:31accidentally um changed a good chunk or

7:31accidentally um changed a good chunk or accidentally overrided, you know, 200 um

7:35accidentally overrided, you know, 200 um

7:35accidentally overrided, you know, 200 um lines of of text. Uh and that's the

7:38lines of of text. Uh and that's the

7:38lines of of text. Uh and that's the point at where you need that roll back.

7:40point at where you need that roll back.

7:40point at where you need that roll back. And Sanity has a great one. Uh a lot of

7:42And Sanity has a great one. Uh a lot of

7:42And Sanity has a great one. Uh a lot of these different headless content

7:43these different headless content

7:43these different headless content management systems have a pretty good

7:45management systems have a pretty good

7:45management systems have a pretty good one, but it's something that you want to

7:48one, but it's something that you want to

7:48one, but it's something that you want to test before you get to that critical

7:50test before you get to that critical

7:50test before you get to that critical point. And then finally, the last one,

7:53point. And then finally, the last one,

7:53point. And then finally, the last one, instant search. So this is is not just

7:55instant search. So this is is not just

7:55instant search. So this is is not just the instance search. It's not just about

7:57the instance search. It's not just about

7:57the instance search. It's not just about the speed of the search, but it's about

7:58the speed of the search, but it's about

7:58the speed of the search, but it's about finding that data. Um, so this kind of

8:02finding that data. Um, so this kind of

8:02finding that data. Um, so this kind of plays again, I know I sound like I'm

8:03plays again, I know I sound like I'm

8:03plays again, I know I sound like I'm just pitching for sanity at this point.

8:05just pitching for sanity at this point.

8:05just pitching for sanity at this point. Um, but again, Sanity is a very, very

8:08Um, but again, Sanity is a very, very

8:08Um, but again, Sanity is a very, very good tool for having structured content.

8:10good tool for having structured content.

8:10good tool for having structured content. And all of this kind of AI indexing and

8:13And all of this kind of AI indexing and

8:13And all of this kind of AI indexing and all these, you know, answer engine

8:15all these, you know, answer engine

8:15all these, you know, answer engine optimization that people are looking for

8:17optimization that people are looking for

8:17optimization that people are looking for all comes from indexing things in a

8:20all comes from indexing things in a

8:20all comes from indexing things in a great way, having great data available

8:22great way, having great data available

8:22great way, having great data available to these tools. The same principle

8:24to these tools. The same principle

8:24to these tools. The same principle applies with search. Um, if you want to

8:26applies with search. Um, if you want to

8:26applies with search. Um, if you want to test this out and again with sanity, um,

8:29test this out and again with sanity, um,

8:29test this out and again with sanity, um, there is Sanity's embeddings index which

8:31there is Sanity's embeddings index which

8:31there is Sanity's embeddings index which is like the AI search tool. Um, and we

8:33is like the AI search tool. Um, and we

8:33is like the AI search tool. Um, and we actually did a long time ago, we did a

8:35actually did a long time ago, we did a

8:35actually did a long time ago, we did a blog on, uh, I think building the first,

8:37blog on, uh, I think building the first,

8:37blog on, uh, I think building the first, as far as I'm aware, embeddings index

8:40as far as I'm aware, embeddings index

8:40as far as I'm aware, embeddings index search, uh, engine with sanity. So, feel

8:43search, uh, engine with sanity. So, feel

8:43search, uh, engine with sanity. So, feel free to have a look at that up. Um, but

8:45free to have a look at that up. Um, but

8:45free to have a look at that up. Um, but all of these different things you want

8:46all of these different things you want

8:46all of these different things you want to make sure that you're looking for in

8:48to make sure that you're looking for in

8:48to make sure that you're looking for in your headless content management system

8:49your headless content management system

8:49your headless content management system in 2026. Um, and more importantly, when

8:53in 2026. Um, and more importantly, when

8:53in 2026. Um, and more importantly, when you are looking for these, make sure

8:55you are looking for these, make sure

8:55you are looking for these, make sure you're not getting absolutely rinsed for

8:56you're not getting absolutely rinsed for

8:56you're not getting absolutely rinsed for a price because all of these things are

8:59a price because all of these things are

8:59a price because all of these things are kind of like industry standard in every

9:02kind of like industry standard in every

9:02kind of like industry standard in every other aspect except headless content

9:04other aspect except headless content

9:04other aspect except headless content management systems. Uh, in our opinion,

9:06management systems. Uh, in our opinion,

9:06management systems. Uh, in our opinion, there are very very few headless content

9:08there are very very few headless content

9:08there are very very few headless content management systems that feel like a

9:10management systems that feel like a

9:10management systems that feel like a truly mature product. Um, and it's

9:12truly mature product. Um, and it's

9:12truly mature product. Um, and it's because of that kind of that spanning of

9:15because of that kind of that spanning of

9:15because of that kind of that spanning of so many different facets of a website

9:17so many different facets of a website

9:17so many different facets of a website and trying to spin in all different

9:19and trying to spin in all different

9:19and trying to spin in all different tooling. Uh, you know, like

9:20tooling. Uh, you know, like

9:20tooling. Uh, you know, like personalization and digital experience

9:22personalization and digital experience

9:22personalization and digital experience platforms in general, which I am going

9:24platforms in general, which I am going

9:24platforms in general, which I am going to talk about more later. Um, but you

9:28to talk about more later. Um, but you

9:28to talk about more later. Um, but you know, they're trying to bite off more

9:29know, they're trying to bite off more

9:29know, they're trying to bite off more than they can chew. And it's very

9:31than they can chew. And it's very

9:32than they can chew. And it's very important that you have something that

9:33important that you have something that

9:33important that you have something that is very specifically purpose-built for

9:35is very specifically purpose-built for

9:35is very specifically purpose-built for you. And again, this wouldn't be a video

9:38you. And again, this wouldn't be a video

9:38you. And again, this wouldn't be a video without a tacky little sales pitch at

9:40without a tacky little sales pitch at

9:40without a tacky little sales pitch at the end. If you are looking at getting a

9:42the end. If you are looking at getting a

9:42the end. If you are looking at getting a headless content management system uh

9:43headless content management system uh

9:44headless content management system uh implemented, make sure to get in touch

9:45implemented, make sure to get in touch

9:45implemented, make sure to get in touch with us. We aren't just going to bat for

9:47with us. We aren't just going to bat for

9:47with us. We aren't just going to bat for sanity. We have a whole bunch of

9:48sanity. We have a whole bunch of

9:48sanity. We have a whole bunch of different tools, but we do like sanity a

9:51different tools, but we do like sanity a

9:51different tools, but we do like sanity a hell of a lot. So, feel free to get in

9:53hell of a lot. So, feel free to get in

9:53hell of a lot. So, feel free to get in touch and we'll catch you later. Take

9:56touch and we'll catch you later. Take

9:56touch and we'll catch you later. Take care. Bye-bye.

Questions answered

Editorial answers from the original Roboto page.

What features should a headless CMS have in 2026?

In rough priority order: AI and MCP integration, a fast live preview with multiplayer editing, digital asset management, reliable scheduling with batch releases, publish/unpublish/rollback controls, and instant structured search. The first three are the ones that most CMSes still get wrong.

Read the original ↗
Why does AI integration matter in a headless CMS?

Because marketers using AI tools (Cursor, Claude, etc.) with MCP access to the CMS can produce content faster than large teams doing it manually. At Roboto Studio, a first draft of a full services page was written in two to three minutes by pointing Cursor at a press release and letting it push content directly into Sanity via MCP. Small teams with good tooling outpace large teams without it.

Read the original ↗
What should live preview look like in a headless CMS?

It should be near-instant and support multiple editors on the same document at the same time, no locking. Sanity's Live Content API pushes changes to a statically generated page in real time, so a marketer sees edits reflected immediately without a rebuild. Most CMSes still don't get this right, and it causes constant friction for content teams.

Read the original ↗
What is digital asset management in a headless CMS?

A single place to store and browse all media (images, documents, video). Contentful is notably strong here. Sanity covers images well but requires a separate video provider (like Mux) for video, which adds onboarding complexity. As headless CMS platforms mature, this is becoming a more common requirement.

Read the original ↗
What are Sanity releases?

A feature that lets you batch multiple content changes into a single scheduled publication. If you're launching five new service pages next Wednesday, you group them all into a release, set the time, and they go live together. It works alongside Sanity's preview so you can review the full set of changes before the release fires.

Read the original ↗
What is Sanity's embeddings index?

An AI-powered search feature that indexes your Sanity content semantically, not just by keyword. It underpins answer-engine-style queries on your content. Roboto Studio wrote one of the early blog posts on building a search engine with it, worth reading if structured AI search is on your roadmap.

Read the original ↗

Scope and context

  • Video authors are credited by the original Roboto page; individual transcript speakers remain unassigned.