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Griddo

Griddo: Reengineering the Digital Backbone of Universities

Daniel Serrano, CEO

Built on nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Griddo is a digital experience platform designed specifically for institutions struggling to manage increasingly fragmented online ecosystems. The idea emerged from challenges the company repeatedly encountered while working with universities such as IE University, where different faculties and departments operated across separate WordPress instances, disconnected websites and siloed content systems that became harder to manage as the institution expanded.

“It became very difficult to keep everything aligned,” says Isabella S. Otero, Growth Analyst at Griddo. “Each faculty had its own workflows and its own way of managing content.”

For many universities, the issue goes beyond website management. Admissions, academics, research, communications and marketing teams often operate independently across large digital environments, yet many institutions still rely on CMS platforms originally built for blogs or conventional corporate websites.

Griddo was created to address that gap. Built specifically for higher education, the platform combines content management, governance and integrations into a centralized system that allows universities to maintain institutional consistency while giving departments controlled flexibility.

From Fragmentation to Unified Control

Griddo is built on MACH architecture, combining microservices, API-first infrastructure, cloud-native deployment and headless principles. Unlike traditional CMS platforms that rely heavily on plugin ecosystems, Griddo separates the frontend experience from the backend administration layer, helping universities avoid many of the maintenance and security challenges that typically come with large WordPress environments.

By combining structured design systems with intuitive workflows, we empower university teams to create, manage and scale digital experiences independently without compromising governance consistency or speed.

Its API-first approach also allows institutions to connect CRM platforms, analytics tools, LMS environments and marketing systems into one integrated ecosystem instead of managing disconnected technologies across departments. By unifying these systems within a centralized framework, Griddo helps reduce the operational friction that often exists across complex university ecosystems.

For universities, the operational impact has been significant. At IE University, engineering time dedicated to platform maintenance dropped from 40 per cent to 5 per cent after migrating to Griddo. Marketing and communications teams also gained the ability to launch campaigns independently, reducing reliance on IT departments and cutting publishing timelines from months to days.

A Single Source of Truth

One of Griddo’s biggest strengths is the way it structures and manages institutional content. Instead of duplicating information across dozens of websites, the platform operates as a centralized content layer where updates made once are reflected automatically across the wider ecosystem.

In universities, that solves a surprisingly common problem. Faculty members often appear across multiple programme pages, department websites, research centres and academic initiatives. Previously, updating a single profile meant manually tracking down every version spread across separate sites.

Teams described the process as “looking for a needle in a haystack.”

With Griddo, updates happen at the data level and are reflected instantly across connected pages, helping institutions maintain consistency without the manual workload or governance risks created by fragmented systems.

Governance without Losing Flexibility

Managing governance across a university is rarely simple. Hundreds of contributors may be publishing content simultaneously across faculties, departments and research centres, often with different priorities and workflows.

Griddo approaches this challenge through embedded design systems and role-based permissions that allow departments to operate independently while remaining aligned with institutional standards. Its executive visibility layer, Griddo App, gives leadership teams real-time oversight into workflows, activity and reputational risks across the broader digital environment.

At Universidad Pontificia Comillas, the platform replaced a fragmented setup where more than 200 editors managed over 16,000 pages across disconnected systems. Following implementation, the university streamlined its digital estate to approximately 4,000 optimized pages while improving governance and usability.

User journeys that previously required five clicks were reduced to one. Programme pages that once took one to two months and required IT involvement can now be created and published by marketing teams within a single day.

“Griddo is allowing us to publish at a rate I couldn't imagine,” says Pablo Landaluce, Communications Manager at CUNEF Universidad. “Compared to our previous WordPress setup, we are publishing programmes 10 times faster.”

Designing Around the People Using the Platform

While many CMS platforms prioritize backend functionality, Griddo places significant focus on the author experience. In universities, content is often managed by admissions, communications and marketing teams without deep technical expertise, which can create heavy dependence on IT departments.

Griddo was designed to reduce operational dependence on IT teams by giving non-technical contributors intuitive workflows within a structured governance environment.

“By combining structured design systems with intuitive workflows, we empower university teams to create, manage and scale digital experiences independently without compromising governance, consistency or speed,” Otero says.

The company also places strong emphasis on scalability. As universities expand into new programmes, campuses and international markets, digital infrastructure often struggles to evolve at the same pace. Griddo was designed to grow alongside institutions without forcing teams to rebuild systems every few years.

AI and Personalization Built for Higher Education

One of Griddo’s capabilities is GPX, its personalization engine built specifically for higher education institutions. The system uses behavioural data to help universities deliver more relevant digital experiences across large institutional environments.

For example, a parent researching tuition costs may see a completely different experience from a researcher exploring doctoral programmes, even if both arrive through the same page.

GPX also includes semantic search through Griddo Generative Search and enriches CRM systems with behavioural engagement data rather than simply collecting contact information.

The platform also uses AI to support SEO metadata generation, multilingual translation, image tagging and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), helping universities improve visibility across both traditional search engines and emerging AI-driven discovery platforms such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.

For universities competing globally for students, researchers and partnerships, that visibility is becoming increasingly important.

By combining higher education-focused architecture, centralized governance and operational flexibility, Griddo helps universities manage increasingly complex digital ecosystems without losing consistency, scalability or speed. More than a publishing platform, it is designed to solve the structural operational challenges traditional CMS systems were never built to handle.

That ability to solve the structural challenges of higher education is why Griddo has been recognized as the Top Digital Experience Platform in Europe 2026.

State of Industry

Elevating User Engagement: The Impact of Digital Experience Platforms Across Europe

Customer expectations across Europe are evolving rapidly, driving organisations to rethink how digital interactions are designed and delivered. Digital experience platforms reflect this transformation, enabling businesses to unify content, data, and customer journeys into a single, cohesive ecosystem. Organisations are leveraging these platforms to create unified and personalised experiences across websites, apps, and other digital channels, enhancing customer engagement, loyalty, and overall operational performance.

Alongside enhanced customer experiences, digital experience platforms are contributing to more sustainable and streamlined operations. Centralised content management reduces duplication and resource usage, while cloud-based infrastructures support energy-efficient digital delivery. Challenges such as integration complexity, data privacy concerns, and evolving user expectations remain crucial. In response, organisations are adopting modular architectures, advanced security protocols, and continuous optimisation strategies to ensure flexibility and trust. As adoption expands across Europe, digital experience platforms are becoming essential in shaping responsive, scalable, and future-ready digital ecosystems.

Evolving Market Landscape of Digital Experience Platforms

The market landscape for digital experience platforms in Europe is becoming increasingly competitive as organisations prioritise differentiated digital engagement strategies. Enterprises are moving beyond basic digital presence, investing in platforms that can support complex and multi-channel interactions at scale. This shift is encouraging vendors to expand capabilities and offer more flexible solutions that cater to diverse industry requirements, from retail and finance to healthcare and public services.

Market growth is also being influenced by the need for greater adaptability in a rapidly changing digital environment. Organisations are seeking platforms that can evolve alongside shifting consumer behaviours and emerging technologies, leading to a stronger emphasis on composable and scalable solutions. This has resulted in a rise of platforms that allow businesses to select and integrate specific functionalities, creating tailored ecosystems that align closely with their operational goals.

Current Market Trends and Technological Advancements

A strong shift toward hyper-personalisation is defining current trends in digital experience platforms across Europe, where businesses are focusing on delivering highly tailored interactions based on individual user preferences and behaviours. Advanced data processing capabilities are enabling platforms to refine content delivery in real time, allowing organisations to create more relevant and engaging digital journeys that evolve with user expectations.

"The future of digital experience platforms in Europe is set to unfold through deeper integration with emerging digital ecosystems, where customer engagement is closely connected with broader business functions."

The shift toward headless frameworks and API-led architectures is gaining momentum. These approaches allow greater flexibility in how digital content is created and distributed, supporting seamless integration across various front-end interfaces. This architectural shift is helping organisations respond faster to market changes while maintaining consistency across diverse digital environments.

The rise of immersive and interactive technologies is also influencing platform innovation. Integration of augmented reality, interactive media, and dynamic content formats is enhancing how users engage with digital channels. This is particularly relevant in sectors such as retail and entertainment, where experience-driven engagement is becoming a critical differentiator.

Data privacy and user trust are shaping technological advancements as well. With stricter regulatory frameworks across Europe, platforms are incorporating privacy-first designs, consent management tools, and secure data handling practices. These developments are ensuring that user engagement strategies remain aligned with evolving compliance requirements while maintaining transparency.

Another important development is the increased use of automation in content workflows and experience delivery. Intelligent systems are enabling faster content updates, streamlined publishing processes, and more efficient campaign management. This is helping organisations maintain agility while managing large-scale digital operations with greater precision.

Future Prospects and Opportunities

The future of digital experience platforms in Europe is set to unfold through deeper integration with emerging digital ecosystems, where customer engagement is closely connected with broader business functions. Organisations are expected to move toward more unified digital strategies, where platforms play a central role in aligning marketing, commerce, and service operations. This convergence is opening new opportunities for delivering seamless and connected user journeys across multiple touchpoints.

Growth opportunities are also emerging from the expansion of digital-first economies across Europe. Increasing online interactions, rising demand for digital services, and the continued evolution of consumer behaviour are encouraging businesses to invest in platforms that can support long-term scalability. This environment is creating space for innovation in areas such as digital commerce, online services, and remote engagement, where consistent and high-quality experiences remain essential.

Sustainability and responsible digital practices are also shaping future opportunities. Sustainability is becoming a priority, with efforts focused on lowering the environmental impact of digital activities through smarter use of resources and improved infrastructure. This shift is encouraging organisations to adopt solutions that balance performance with environmental responsibility, supporting broader sustainability goals across Europe.

As these developments continue to gain momentum, digital experience platforms are positioned to play a more strategic role in shaping the next phase of digital transformation. Continuous investment in innovation, talent, and ecosystem development is expected to drive long-term growth, ensuring that organisations across Europe remain adaptable, competitive, and prepared for evolving digital demands.

Leadership Perspective

the American College of Greece

The Human Touch in Digital Education

Susan Stetson-Tiligadas, Instructional Designer

Through this article, Susan discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI in online education, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and preserving the human element of instruction.

Given the importance of a systematic approach like backward design in creating effective online instruction, what are some of the key challenges faculty often encounter with online teaching?

While online learning has been around for a while, many students still find themselves navigating unfamiliar terrain. A significant challenge lies in educating instructors, whether upper administration or subject matter experts, on the systematic process of creating effective online programs. This process should begin with a backward design approach, especially in contexts demanding accountability, like higher education. Although time-consuming for subject matter experts, this approach yields well-aligned learning outcomes, assessments, activities and content, benefiting learners with an effective instructional experience.

Learners tend to evaluate instructors favorably, reflecting positively on the institution or instructor offering the online training. Taking shortcuts leads to a lose-lose-lose situation. Learners suffer from misaligned, scattered content, potentially providing negative feedback about the instructor. The institution or client also receives unfavorable reviews. Embracing the systematic backward design process is crucial for creating effective online instruction that satisfies both the learner and the instructor.

For instructors new to online teaching, what are the top tools or platforms that you would recommend them to enhance the learner experience?

The online learning landscape is vast, with numerous platforms like Google Classroom, Moodle, Blackboard and Canvas vying for attention. Choosing the right platform is highly context-dependent, as various factors like learner access, built-in tools, and structural affordances for learning design come into play.

For those new to online instruction, evaluating two or three platforms and selecting the one that best meets learners’ needs is crucial. This decision should be guided by the platform’s flexibility to accommodate diverse learning experiences within a single project. While many viable options exist, proclaiming a one-size-fits-all solution would be an oversimplification. The key lies in carefully assessing the unique requirements of each learning initiative and aligning the platform choice accordingly.

How do you think the instructors should design their course materials to keep the students engaged and motivated?

Keeping students engaged and positively challenged lies at the heart of effective online instruction–a formidable task. In asynchronous courses, the key is a backward design approach, accurately structuring modules with content delivery, frequent formative assessments for self-evaluation and ample opportunities for applied learning. Personalized application activities, allowing learners to contextualize concepts within their own experiences, can foster deeper engagement in addition to strategies such as case studies.

"Thoughtfully chunking content, incorporating frequent formative evaluations and providing varied application opportunities are the recipe for keeping online learners invested and positively challenged, optimizing their learning experience."

For synchronous online sessions, avoiding excessive lecturing is crucial. Extended monologues compromise engagement, so lectures should be capped at 20 minutes, interspersed with discussions, group work, or breakout activities. This cyclic approach, bite-sized content chunks, formative checks and applied practice solve the challenge and improve engagement across modalities.

Thoughtfully chunking content, incorporating frequent formative evaluations and providing varied application opportunities are the recipe for keeping online learners invested and positively challenged, optimizing their learning experience.

What future trends or technologies do you see evolving in the upcoming years?

The advent of generative AI is both exciting and concerning for online instructors. Its potential to lessen workloads by generating tailored instructions, rubrics and even feedback is undeniable. However, an overreliance on AI risks disconnecting instructors from their learners’ unique needs and challenges. While AI can produce detailed feedback efficiently, outsourcing this critical role compromises the ‘guide on the side’ model. Instructors may lose touch with learners’ difficulties if AI handles feedback, undermining their ability to provide targeted support. Using AI for feedback also raises data privacy concerns if learners’ work is shared without consent.

AI’s capacity for adaptive learning and personalized content creation is promising. By understanding learner preferences, AI could tailor resources with ease. Striking the right balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and preserving the human element of online instruction will be crucial moving forward.

Generative AI presents both possibilities and challenges. Harnessing its power while safeguarding the instructor-learner connection will define the future of online education. A judicious approach that augments rather than replaces the human role is key.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other senior leaders in the industry?

While the potential of generative AI in online education is unquestionable, I would advise senior leaders to keep their core focus on quality instruction and the human element of learning. Technology should augment and enhance the teaching and learning experience, not replace the critical role of the instructor.