Modern content platforms for the public sector – How a headless CMS like Strapi opens new possibilities

A headless CMS tailored to the public sector offers a future-proof alternative. Decoupling backend from frontend, enables greater flexibility in development, easier integration into existing system landscapes, and a consistent user experience across multiple digital touchpoints.

Strapi is one of the leading open-source solutions in this space, known for its modular architecture, high customizability, and active developer community.

At Ergosign, we use Strapi in projects where editorial workflows and UX are equally important—particularly where content must be secure, accessible, and performant. These benefits are especially apparent in the public sector: Strapi not only enables technical efficiency but also allows content to be tailored for different audiences and platforms—from barrier-free websites to specialized portals.

The following two use cases show how we partnered with public organizations to build solutions that set new standards in both design and technology—using Strapi as the foundation. Especially in UX-centric projects, Strapi proves how a headless CMS can seamlessly connect editorial processes and user experience.

In collaboration with the City of Haßfurt, we tackled a common challenge faced by public sector organizations: delivering consistent, up-to-date, and accessible content across multiple platforms—specifically, the city's municipal website and a network of digital information kiosks installed throughout the area.

Using Strapi as a headless CMS, we established a centralized system to manage both channels. Content is created once and tailored to the unique requirements of each platform. For example, the website features a full three-level navigation structure and advanced full-text search, while the kiosks are designed for quick access with a simplified single-level menu and predefined topic categories.

To enhance functionality and user experience, we integrated two specialized services directly into Strapi:

• Thumbor automatically processes images—resizing, cropping, and converting them into modern formats like WEBP, thus ensuring optimal performance across all devices.

• Typesense, an AI-powered vector search engine, delivers highly relevant results even for semantically complex queries.

Strapi also proved highly effective for editorial workflows:

• The “Draft + Publish” workflow enables editors to preview and test content before publishing.

• The multilingual setup allows for customized layouts per language, which is crucial for serving a diverse community.

• A granular permission system ensures that staff only access content relevant to their role.

Editorial efficiency is further improved through reusable content components: for instance, contact data is centrally managed and automatically updated wherever it appears—whether in the site footer, contact search, or individual pages. Thanks to a modular content architecture, new pages and content sections can be added easily—even after the initial project launch.

The City of Haßfurt chose Strapi based on its requirement for a powerful, open-source CMS that integrates well with existing infrastructure while offering a flexible, user-friendly editorial experience. Compared to proprietary headless CMS platforms, Strapi stood out for its openness, extensibility, and active developer community—delivering all key features without compromising usability or future scalability.

A particularly dynamic use of Strapi can be found in the FichtelApp—a regional service app designed for the Fichtelgebirge in Bavaria. The app is for both residents and visitors, offering location-based information, events, services, and guidance.

Together with the project team, we implemented Strapi not only as a traditional CMS but as the core administrative platform for an entire digital ecosystem. The goal: make relevant content and services available seamlessly across platforms, including the app (iOS & Android) and a physical information kiosk.

Strapi enabled editorial teams to bring together diverse data sources—like tourism databases—within a single, intuitive interface. Content could be enhanced and prepared for publication without system breaks or switching between tools.

Strapi also became the functional backend for core features:

• Push notifications are created directly in the CMS and sent to app users in a targeted, timely way, without third-party systems.

• User management is fully integrated, allowing staff to create, block, or delete user profiles with fine-grained access control.

The project is built on a "Single Source of Truth" principle: all content is managed in one place and distributed to both the mobile app and the on-site kiosk. This ensures consistency, reduces editorial effort, and enables fast updates across channels.

At the heart of the app experience lies the "Discovery Page"—a dynamic landing screen that can be fully customized via modular content blocks. Editors can easily swap out hero images, update text, or add tags with just a few clicks. This level of autonomy keeps the app fresh, engaging, and constantly evolving—without requiring developer input.

These two projects clearly demonstrate how a modern headless CMS like Strapi can meet the specific demands of the public sector:

• Centralized content governance with channel-specific output

• Editorial autonomy without technical complexity

• Modular, scalable architecture for long-term flexibility

• Integration of external services such as image processing and intelligent search

As an open-source platform, Strapi offers the transparency and flexibility that many public institutions require. For Ergosign, it’s more than just a CMS—it’s a foundation for building human-centered, scalable digital services where content, design, and functionality work hand in hand.

With Strapi, we build digital platforms that aren’t just efficient to run—but built around people.