What a ride! Held on 6 March, virtual conference WP:25 was packed with insight, energy, and plenty of forward-thinking discussions about the future of WordPress. From AI to enterprise adoption, from Full Site Editing (FSE) to the evolving role of open-source, we dug deep into what’s next for the world’s leading CMS. Let’s dive into some of the biggest takeaways from the event.
WordPress in 2030: Open source leading the way
I kicked off the event by setting the stage for the discussions ahead—talking about the power of open source and why WordPress continues to be the best choice for enterprises looking for flexibility, control, and longevity in their digital platforms.
“I think we sometimes take it for granted that WordPress may be around in 2030. It’s not a given that many CMSs will be around then. Some or many will fade into oblivion by that time, just close up shop, or introduce breaking changes, end of life, the businesses are acquired, or whatever it may be.
For me, if I really round up WordPress and nine other CMSs and I play hunger games, I’m pretty sure which one I know is gonna come out winning.”
HM CGO Noel Tock’s keynote, WordPress in 2030, looked ahead at what’s coming. His take? WordPress isn’t just sticking around—it’s thriving. Through economic swings, tech upheavals, and shifting trends, WordPress has consistently proven itself as the best no-code enterprise solution out there. And by 2030, it’s only going to get stronger.
Full Site Editing: A game-changer for enterprise teams
Tammie Lister’s WP:25 session, The Power of FSE, took us through the incredible transformation Full Site Editing is bringing to WordPress. Tammie made it clear: FSE isn’t just another feature—it’s a fundamental shift in how teams build and manage content.
“The future is exciting, and Full Site Editing has come a long way. There are undeniable challenges, but the advantages do outweigh them. Each project does need planning, and it needs even more planning than ever. We need to use the incredible skills we have.”
For enterprises, FSE means faster workflows, a more systematic approach to design, and greater control for marketing teams—without constantly relying on developers. That translates to reduced time-to-market and more agility in content creation. Tammie also reminded us that adopting FSE is best done step by step, ensuring teams get comfortable with the new tools before going all in.
Enterprise WordPress in action: Success stories to inspire
The Human Made Enterprise Showcase brought real-world proof of how leading organisations are using WordPress to power high-impact digital experiences. Some highlights:
- Harvard Gazette: Joeleen Kennedy explored how we worked with Harvard’s editorial team to build a more immersive, flexible storytelling experience powered by FSE. The result? Content creators can focus on what they do best—telling stories—without barriers or design constraints.
- RecipeTin Eats: Stuart Shields demo’d a masterclass in personalisation, showcasing how RecipeTin Eats leveraged Altis Accelerate to dynamically serve content tailored to audiences across different regions. Whether you’re in Australia, the US, or the UK, the experience feels local, relevant, and engaging—all while running on a single, scalable WordPress site.
- AGBI: Sam Miller showed how we helped AGBI’s team leverage WordPress for large-scale publishing. With a focus on editorial workflow efficiency, AI-driven enhancements, and enterprise-grade performance, AGBI is demonstrating just how powerful WordPress can be for modern media companies.
The State of Enterprise WordPress: What’s next?
One of the most energising discussions of the event was the panel on The State of Enterprise WordPress, featuring Link Media CPO Drew Broomhall, Yoast’s Alain Schlesser, and Equalize Digital’s Steve Jones.
“What I’d like to see from the ecosystem is just more continued standards. Standardisation, accessibility, security, and compliance is often left to individual agencies and site owners to figure out. If we build WordPress core, hosting environments, or hosting providers and plugin developers build compliance first software, I think it’s going to be so much easier for enterprise companies to have a smoother path to adoption.”
Here’s what stood out:
- Enterprises are increasingly adopting the WordPress site editor and collaborative editing tools, making it easier than ever for teams to work together.
- Accessibility is now a core focus, driven by both legal requirements and the need for truly inclusive digital experiences.
- Performance and security are more critical than ever, and WordPress continues to evolve to meet enterprise demands.
One stat that stuck with me: 75% of organisations rate WordPress’ ROI as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’—proof that it’s delivering serious business value at scale.
Looking ahead: WordPress in 2025 and beyond
In the WP:25 closing session, Mary Hubbard, Executive Director of WordPress, talked to Noel about what’s next for the world’s favourite CMS in the coming year.
AI was front and centre, with WordPress continuing to integrate AI-driven content creation while staying true to its open-source roots. Another big focus? Improving product marketing so WordPress is positioned to compete even more effectively with proprietary CMS platforms.
Final thoughts: WordPress is just getting started
WP:25 proved once again that WordPress isn’t just keeping up—it’s leading. Whether it’s AI, FSE, performance, or enterprise-scale innovation, WordPress is evolving faster than ever, and the best is yet to come.
“AI is reshaping the way we interact with content, and WordPress is embracing AI in every way, any way that can enhance it, without replacing the human creativity aspect. So I think this right now, we’re at a pivotal point, not just for what it means for open source, but actually what it means for the project itself.”
At Human Made, we’re all in on this journey. We’re here to help enterprises harness the power of WordPress—whether that means smarter workflows, faster content management, or leveraging AI for the future of digital publishing. And we can’t wait for what’s next.