The Project

Anchora was engaged by Spark NZ to lead the modernisation of their digital experience platform, migrating from legacy on-premise Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) to AEM as a Cloud Service. The initiative spanned Spark’s core digital properties including their React-based SPA, knowledge base sites, brand sites, 150+ Adaptive Forms, and a network of API integrations, all requiring a carefully phased approach to manage complexity and minimise risk to live operations.

The Ask

• Reduced Operational Overhead: Move away from costly, self-managed on-premise infrastructure to Adobe-managed cloud services.
• Improved Reliability & Performance: Deliver a scalable, high-performance platform across Spark’s core digital properties.
• Simplified Release Management: Replace manual deployment cycles with automated CI/CD pipelines via Adobe Cloud Manager.
• Cloud-Native Enablement: Unlock Adobe’s modern innovation roadmap, including Assets, Adaptive Forms, Dynamic Media, and advanced integrations.
• Modern Front-End Architecture: Enable React-based front-end frameworks and headless, microservices-ready integration patterns.

Scope

• Spark SPA Migration: Migrated Spark’s React-based single page application into AEMaaCS, including full revalidation of integrations and front-end components.
• Knowledge Base Sites (Atamai & Tautoko): Migrated with complete content integrity and integration continuity across both knowledge base properties.
• Skinny & Skinny Jump: Additional brand sites brought into the new cloud architecture with consistent governance and deployment standards.
• Legacy Site Assessment: Conducted a deep technical assessment of legacy sites, classified and right-sized as non-migratable, providing Spark with a clear, evidence-based blueprint for future content rationalisation.
• Forms Migration: Migrated ~150 Adaptive Forms into AEM 6.5, retaining dynamic schemas, validation logic, and backend integrations.
• OAuth Implementation: Built a scalable new token service layer, replacing basic authentication across SPA and Knowledge Base API calls.
• Modern Engineering Foundations: Stood up fully automated Cloud Manager CI/CD pipelines, Dev + RDE environments with branching discipline, federated identity via Adobe Admin Console, and cloud-enabled content sync using Content Sets.
• Knowledge Transition: Delivered full documentation and knowledge transfer into Spark’s internal systems to ensure long-term platform ownership.

Outcome

• 40–60% Reduction in Platform Maintenance: Adobe-managed infrastructure removed the burden of self-hosted operations, freeing Spark’s internal teams for strategic work.
• ~30% Faster Deployment Cycles: Cloud Manager CI/CD pipelines replaced manual processes, accelerating time-to-market for digital changes.
• Zero Downtime Upgrades: Cloud-native architecture enabled seamless updates without service interruption.
• Improved Security Posture: Continuous compliance and automated patching replaced manual security management.
• Unified Governance: Adobe Admin Console with federated access delivered consistent role-based control across Spark’s digital estate.
• Future-Proof Platform: Spark now has a scalable digital foundation ready for React-driven experience layers, headless and microservices integration, and Adaptive Forms expansion across broader business workflows.