Launching the first Optimizely SaaS platform in EMEA
Exec Summary
CFM International, one of the world’s leading aircraft engine suppliers, needed a digital presence matching its engineering precision. Candyspace were tasked with defining, architecting and implementing the replacement of their legacy infrastructure. We proposed a pioneering solution: the first commercial deployment of Optimizely SaaS in EMEA.
By building a headless architecture on Vercel, we delivered transformative performance gains for over 250,000 global visitors. The new platform is 86% faster, reducing visual load times from 7 seconds to just 1.0 second, while delivering an 80% improvement in interactivity. Crucially, our integration of Visual Builder liberated marketing teams from developer dependency, significantly accelerating speed-to-market.
BUSINESS NEED
Replace a restrictive legacy infrastructure with a secure, scalable platform that liberates marketing teams from developer dependency
CUSTOMER DEMAND
A frictionless, professional user experience, requiring near-instant access to critical information to eliminate the frustration of slow load times and unresponsive interfaces
Here are the results
86%
faster visual load speeds
83%
faster immediate response
80%
improvement in interactivity
The business context
CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, is one of the global leaders in aviation, having delivered more than 50,000 engines to airlines globally. They operate in a sector where precision and reliability are paramount. However, their digital estate relied on legacy infrastructure that was becoming an inhibitor to growth – slow to update, heavy on maintenance, and lacking the flexibility required for modern digital communications.
To maintain its industry leadership, CFM needed to signal a shift towards agile, digitally fluent operations. The goal was to replace the legacy infrastructure with a modern, scalable, high-performance CMS that would not only improve site speed for their 250,000 annual visitors but also fundamentally change how their internal teams managed content.
Candyspace's remit and objectives
Candyspace was appointed to provide full strategic and technical leadership for this high-profile digital transformation. Our remit spanned the entire project lifecycle, from architecture and UX product strategy through to technical implementation.
Our primary objective was to decouple back-end content management from front-end delivery by implementing a Headless CMS architecture. Crucially, this project represented a significant milestone: the first commercial implementation of Optimizely CMS (SaaS) in the EMEA region. We were tasked with leveraging this cutting-edge technology to give developers front-end freedom while simultaneously empowering marketing teams to move faster without technical bottlenecks.
Optimizely CMS was built with marketers in mind – giving them the freedom to move fast with tools like Visual Builder and AI-assisted workflows, while still delivering the scale enterprises need. It's exciting to see CFM and Candyspace lead the way in Europe with a site that shows what modern digital experiences should look like
Team structure and deliverables
Candyspace was appointed to provide full strategic and technical leadership, spanning the entire project lifecycle from architecture and UX strategy to technical implementation. Our primary objective was to decouple back-end content from front-end delivery by architecting a Headless CMS solution that matched the engineering precision of CFM’s physical products.
Crucially, this project marked the first commercial deployment of Optimizely SaaS in EMEA. We leveraged this technology to grant developers front-end freedom while simultaneously empowering marketing teams to publish independently. This approach effectively removed technical bottlenecks, allowing the business to move faster through autonomous content management.
Innovation and impact
Candyspace delivered a faster, smarter digital estate by launching the first Optimizely SaaS platform in EMEA, turning a maintenance burden into a competitive advantage. The headless architecture drove transformative performance gains:
86% faster visual load speeds: Speed Index dropped from >7s to 1.0s, ensuring near-instant access for global investors and customers.
83% faster immediate response: First Contentful Paint dropped from 4.0s to 0.7s, providing immediate visual confirmation.
80% improvement in interactivity: Code optimisation ensured a highly responsive, frictionless browsing experience.
Beyond speed, the Visual Builder implementation democratised content management. Marketing teams can now build and publish independently, removing the developer bottleneck and accelerating corporate communications. This project establishes a scalable foundation supporting CFM’s position at the forefront of global aviation.
