To keep up with the streaming habits of today’s consumer, video product managers and operations leaders require versatile tools to manage, distribute, and monetize video content across a wide range of streaming platforms. Zype’s CMS (Content Management System) is built to empower many streaming use cases by streamlining workflows for virtually any type of video experience—from over-the-top (OTT) and video on demand (VOD) to live streaming and social media distribution.
While Zype’s CMS can be a one-stop-shop for all your video management, monetization, and distribution needs, not all Zype customers use Zype’s CMS in the same way. Some customers choose to use Zype’s CMS for their entire workflow, while others choose to use it for only a specific functionality in conjunction with an internal CMS (like metadata management, or transcoding), while others take advantage of Zype’s API-first design and have it automatically power their internal CMS workflows.
In this blog, we’ll explore the many ways Zype’s CMS supports diverse single and multi-CMS video workflows, helping video teams unlock efficiencies, enhance viewer engagement, and maximize revenue opportunities. Whether you’re managing a single-channel app or delivering content across a global, multi-platform network, Zype’s CMS provides the flexibility, scalability, and advanced features to help you succeed across a variety of use cases.
Why Use an External CMS Alongside an Existing One?
For many content-driven businesses, video is just one piece of a larger digital ecosystem, and managing it requires specific tools. While most companies have an established CMS to manage articles, images, and other content types, video often requires unique handling that standard CMSs struggle to manage efficiently at scale. This is where Zype’s CMS (Content Management System) shines as an ideal complementary platform in a multi-CMS workflow, rather than a replacement of an existing CMS.
Take, for example, a company that already has a CMS set up for customer-facing interactions and traditional content management. They may want to continue using this primary CMS for consistency and control. However, managing video content effectively—especially at scale—requires infrastructure that supports high-quality video delivery, sophisticated metadata management, transcoding, and more. Integrating an external CMS like Zype's in a multi-CMS workflow allows these companies to leverage a dedicated video workflow without disrupting their existing content management processes.
Unique Integration Capabilities of Zype's CMS
Zype’s CMS stands out for its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, thanks to flexible features like robust APIs, webhooks, and direct CDN delivery. This means content managers don’t need to overhaul their current CMS or build complex, resource-heavy infrastructure to manage video assets. Instead, they can establish a multi-CMS workflow by integrating Zype’s CMS to act as a backend system that efficiently handles video workflows, while the existing CMS remains the front-facing system.
For example, Zype’s integration with CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) is designed to allow immediate playback for video content once uploaded. This means companies with limited resources or without the necessary CDN infrastructure can still provide high-quality, on-demand video experiences without building complex solutions from scratch. Zype’s cloud-based transcoding capabilities also ensure that videos are available in multiple formats and optimized for various devices, simplifying the technical challenges that many CMSs are not equipped to handle. For companies needing more custom control, Zype’s CMS also provides an embeddable video player for direct-to-consumer delivery, which can be programmed to work with custom player code, allowing clients to generate embed codes on demand.
Workflows Enabled by Zype's CMS
Zype supports several workflows tailored to different customer needs, from smaller organizations just building their video presence to enterprises with sophisticated video infrastructure.
1. Direct Video Management via Zype’s Platform
For companies new to video content management, Zype can serve as a full-service platform, handling everything from video ingestion to delivery and user authentication. These customers use Zype as their primary CMS, leveraging its CRM features to manage consumer access, API integrations for building applications, and search-and-discovery tools to organize content. By using Zype’s CDN integration, these customers don’t need to manage external hosting, and they can easily embed content into their websites or applications.
2. Multi-CMS: Dual CMS Integration for Metadata and Search Control
Companies with an existing CMS often want to keep control of their metadata and search functionalities while outsourcing the more complex video management tasks to Zype. In this setup, Zype becomes a backend engine where content ingestion and transcoding occur, but the primary CMS holds the URLs that Zype generates for each video, making it easy for end-users to access the content directly. Zype’s CMS powers the video delivery while the primary CMS manages metadata and controls the search and discovery experience, allowing users to find and play content with seamless integration.
3. Multi-CMS: External CMS as the Primary Video Library with Zype as a Secondary Platform
Some organizations prefer using an external CMS as the “source of truth” for their video content but use Zype to extend their delivery capabilities. Here, the main CMS manages the ingestion, metadata, and storage, while Zype acts as a secondary platform that provides video discovery, playlist management, and the CDN integration required for distribution. A sports network, for example, might manage live video and metadata in a custom CMS but use Zype to handle viewer authentication and playback using our built-in CRM, making Zype a valuable extension to their existing setup without requiring a complete overhaul.
4. Multi-CMS: Zype’s Transcoding and CDN for Scalability
For organizations with large libraries or high volumes of new video content, such as media production companies, Zype is often used exclusively for transcoding and CDN delivery. Zype can ingest content, transcode it into multiple formats, and deliver it through a Google Cloud storage bucket or another custom storage solution that the client manages. This arrangement allows clients to handle large video workloads without the overhead of building, scaling, and managing a complex transcode infrastructure.
5. Multi-CMS: Using Zype for Enhanced Search and Discovery through APIs and Feeds
One of the key features that makes Zype an effective companion CMS is its built-in search-and-discovery tools. Zype supports dynamic feeds and playlists that can be queried by consumers, making it easy for end-users to find relevant content. For example, companies can build applications where a user enters keywords or filters to locate specific videos, which are then served directly from Zype’s APIs. This API-driven search functionality integrates seamlessly with client applications, giving users a tailored experience while reducing the load on the primary CMS.
In summary, Zype’s CMS is designed to integrate with existing infrastructures to manage video content in ways that general CMSs simply cannot match. With flexible features like API-driven integrations, customizable video delivery workflows, and reliable CDN and transcoding services, Zype offers a scalable, adaptable solution for businesses looking to elevate their video content management through single or multi-CMS enabled workflows. By allowing companies to maintain their established front-end systems while enhancing their backend capabilities, Zype’s CMS serves as a powerful engine driving video content experiences.