Learning Path: Optimizely Foundation
Who this path is for
Section titled “Who this path is for”You are new to Optimizely, or you have experience with one product and want to understand the full platform. By the end of this path, you will know what each major product does, how the products connect, and which specialization track to pursue next.
How to use this path
Section titled “How to use this path”Work through the steps in order. Each step introduces one product area with enough depth to understand its purpose and how it fits into the broader platform. You do not need to master each area — the goal is awareness and orientation.
Estimated total time: 3-4 hours (spread across multiple sessions is fine).
This is the Foundation tier. Completing this path prepares you for the Foundation certification and is a prerequisite for all Core certification tracks. Visit the Certification Hub to learn more about the certification program.
Step 1: Understand the Optimizely One platform
Section titled “Step 1: Understand the Optimizely One platform”📖 Read — Optimizely One Overview
You will learn:
- The seven product areas that make up Optimizely One
- How Opti ID connects all products through a shared identity layer
- The data flows between products (CMS to Graph, ODP to Experimentation, etc.)
- The product decision framework — which products to adopt for which needs
Time: 20 minutes
Step 2: Explore content management
Section titled “Step 2: Explore content management”📖 Read — What is Optimizely CMS?
You will learn:
- What problems CMS solves for content teams and developers
- The difference between CMS SaaS (cloud-native, Visual Builder) and CMS PaaS (.NET, self-managed)
- How content modeling works: pages, blocks, media, and content areas
- How CMS connects to Graph for headless delivery and to Opal for AI assistance
Time: 20 minutes
Step 3: Understand experimentation
Section titled “Step 3: Understand experimentation”📖 Read — Experimentation in Optimizely
You will learn:
- Why experimentation matters and what A/B testing proves
- Web Experimentation (client-side, visual editor) vs Feature Experimentation (server-side, SDKs)
- How Optimizely’s Stats Engine provides reliable results
- Experiment lifecycle: hypothesis, design, traffic allocation, analysis
Time: 20 minutes
Step 4: Learn about the data platform
Section titled “Step 4: Learn about the data platform”📖 Read — Optimizely Data Platform
You will learn:
- How ODP unifies customer profiles from multiple channels
- Real-time segments and how they drive personalization
- Event tracking architecture: browser events, server events, and imports
- How ODP connects to CMS personalization and Experimentation targeting
Time: 20 minutes
Step 5: Discover commerce capabilities
Section titled “Step 5: Discover commerce capabilities”📖 Read — Commerce in Optimizely
You will learn:
- Configured Commerce (B2B) vs Customized Commerce (B2C/.NET)
- Product catalog, pricing, and order management concepts
- How commerce integrates with CMS for content-driven shopping experiences
- Recommendations engine and product discovery
Time: 20 minutes
Step 6: Explore content marketing (CMP)
Section titled “Step 6: Explore content marketing (CMP)”📖 Read — Content Marketing Platform
You will learn:
- How CMP orchestrates content planning, creation, and distribution
- Campaign management and editorial calendars
- How CMP connects to CMS for publish-ready content delivery
- Asset management and brand governance
Time: 15 minutes
Step 7: Meet Opal — the AI layer
Section titled “Step 7: Meet Opal — the AI layer”📖 Read — Opal AI Assistant
You will learn:
- What Opal is and how it integrates across Optimizely products
- AI-assisted content creation, optimization suggestions, and analytics summaries
- Why Opti ID is required for Opal access
- Current capabilities and the Opal roadmap
Time: 15 minutes
Step 8: Understand Opti ID and platform identity
Section titled “Step 8: Understand Opti ID and platform identity”📖 Read — Opti ID and the Optimizely One Ecosystem
You will learn:
- How Opti ID provides single sign-on across all Optimizely products
- Organization and role management
- Enterprise SSO integration options (SAML 2.0, OIDC)
- Why Opti ID is the foundation for cross-product features like Opal and shared analytics
Time: 15 minutes
Step 9: Learn content delivery with Graph
Section titled “Step 9: Learn content delivery with Graph”📖 Read — Content Delivery with Optimizely Graph
You will learn:
- How Graph provides a unified GraphQL API for content from CMS, CMP, and Commerce
- The difference between traditional rendering and headless delivery
- Authentication modes, caching, and performance architecture
- When to use Graph vs the Content Delivery API
Time: 20 minutes
Step 10: Choose your specialization
Section titled “Step 10: Choose your specialization”🎯 Decide — Review the certification tracks and choose your path
You now have a broad understanding of the Optimizely One platform. The next step is to choose a specialization and pursue a Core certification.
Available Core certification tracks:
| Track | Best for | Next learning path |
|---|---|---|
| CMS SaaS | Developers and authors working with Visual Builder | CMS SaaS Cert Prep |
| CMS PaaS Developer | .NET developers building on CMS PaaS | CMS Developer Cert Prep |
| CMS Author | Content authors and editors | CMS Author Cert Prep |
| Web Experimentation | Marketers and optimizers running client-side tests | Experimentation Cert Prep |
| Feature Experimentation | Developers managing feature flags and server-side tests | Experimentation Cert Prep |
| Configured Commerce | Commerce developers and administrators | Configured Commerce Cert Prep |
| ODP | Data platform specialists | ODP Cert Prep |
Time: 15 minutes
What to do next
Section titled “What to do next”After completing this Foundation path, you are ready to:
- Take the Foundation certification exam — Visit Optimizely Academy to validate your platform knowledge
- Start a Core certification track — Choose from the table above and begin your specialization
- Explore deeper — Follow product-specific learning paths like CMS Developer Fundamentals or Experimentation Practitioner