by Andrei Kolmogorov, Vizrt Migration Expert
In modern newsrooms, being first matters – which means every second in time matters. Whether it’s breaking news, real-time graphics, or seamless integration with your production environment, your tools need to be fast, reliable, and secure.
If you’re still relying on legacy templated graphics technology, you are missing out on clear advantages: stronger security, faster workflows, and a platform that evolves with your newsroom needs.
This article explains why migrating from Viz Pilot News to Viz Pilot Edge is essential – not only to protect your operations today but to give your team the tools they need to thrive tomorrow. I’ll also cover the key steps for ensuring a seamless transition and the vital importance of keeping your software up to date once you’ve made the leap.
What you gain with Viz Pilot Edge
Technology evolves rapidly, and systems that were cutting-edge years ago often struggle to keep pace with modern demands. It’s like trying to stream a movie on a dial-up modem – it just cannot keep up.
Viz Pilot Edge delivers faster performance, smoother integrations, and an overall more reliable experience. Plus, it’s more secure. This translates into fewer disruptions and greater peace of mind for your team.
Security by design
Viz Pilot Edge is built on modern HTML and web technologies. With Single Sign-On (SSO) and frequent updates, your newsroom stays protected and compliant. Plus, server-side installations are simpler, which means fewer headaches for your IT teams.
Seamless integrations
Modern architecture easily connects with new tools, APIs, and third-party services, enabling future workflow enhancement. Viz Pilot Edge works with all major NRCS, integrates with Vizrt’s studio automation, and connects to the latest production and automation tools. Compatibility ensures your team can move faster without workarounds, ensuring your workflows are always ready for heavy duty news reporting.
Speed and reliability
With load times up to 4x faster (Viz Pilot Edge 3 onwards), your team can move at the speed of breaking news. A more stable product built on modern tech also cuts down on disruptions, keeping focus where it belongs – on the news story.
Futureproofing with advanced capabilities
From real-time updates to advanced 3D graphics, and more flexible scripting with HTML, Viz Pilot Edge gives you not only advanced creative options but also more room to innovate in template creation. And because the underlying technology is current and widely supported, onboarding new developers and training designers is easier.
Ongoing support and regular updates
Continuous product updates enhances functionality, keeps your newsroom aligned with mid- and long-term goals, and ensures that your technology investment stays protected. Built on modern standards, Viz Pilot Edge is designed to adapt with the industry – futureproofing in other words.
Stay current with the latest versions
Even after switching over to Viz Pilot Edge, staying current on product updates is key to maintaining optimal performance.
Updates deliver critical improvements that protect against security threats and fix bugs to ensure smooth operations, plus capitalize on the latest innovations.
The hidden costs of legacy tech
While the benefits of upgrading are clear, the risks of staying on outdated systems often remain invisible until they cause real problems or put your operations at risk. Outdated technologies such as ActiveX and VBScript (which are being phased out by Microsoft due to security vulnerabilities), can expose your workflows to a range of avoidable risks that could undermine efficiency and cost your team valuable time and resources.
When Vizrt launched Viz Pilot Edge 3 in 2023, it wasn’t just an upgrade. Our R&D team rebuilt the system from the ground up using modern web architecture to ensure speed, scalability and adaptability.
It wasn’t just a facelift. It was a leap forward designed to evolve with modern newsroom needs.
More importantly, Viz Pilot Edge keeps getting better with new tools and functionalities.
And because Viz Pilot Edge is centrally managed on the server side, upgrades are faster and easier than ever – no more time-consuming workstation-by-workstation installs. Updating regularly is key to maintaining optimal performance.
Migrating to Viz Pilot Edge isn’t just about staying relevant. It’s also about unlocking your team’s potential and ensuring your operations run at peak levels. With a smooth migration strategy and the unmatched capabilities of Viz Pilot Edge, futureproof your newsroom operations with minimal disruption and maximum reward.
5 tips for a smooth move to Viz Pilot Edge
Plan ahead
Vizrt can help you develop a comprehensive migration strategy that identifies your team’s specific needs, sets realistic timelines, and outlines contingency plans in case of unexpected issues.
Phased rollout
Sandboxing and a phased approach allow you to test and refine processes before full implementation, minimizing downtime in the process.
Run systems in parallel
For added security, maintain your Viz Pilot News system during the initial deployment stages of Viz Pilot Edge. This lets you safely iron out any issues without risking total workflow disruption. (Did you know that your basic Viz Pilot News templates can be easily moved over to Viz Pilot Edge?)
Team education
Provide clear communication and training for your team to familiarize themselves with the new system. Viz University courses are a natural first step in learning to use Viz Pilot Edge, and Template Builder for creating templates.
Leverage our support
Vizrt and its migration partners provide technical assistance, training resources, and guidance throughout the process, in lockstep with your timeline.
Take the first step
We’re ready to help you make the switch. Watch these video resources designed to guide you step-by-step through the migration. And, get in touch with Vizrt’s Migration Team to work out a plan for a seamless and successful transition.
Why Migrate Now?
Risks of Staying on Legacy Systems
- Compatibility Issues
Older tools struggle to support modern hardware and software, forcing inefficient workarounds. - Feature Gap
You miss out on advanced capabilities that improve speed, creativity, and output quality. - Performance Decline
Slower load times, crashes, and bottlenecks become more frequent. - Security Weaknesses
Missing patches increase vulnerability and risk to data integrity. - Downtime Risks
Aging systems tend to fail more often, and support may no longer be responsive or available.
Benefits of Viz Pilot Edge
Security by design
Stronger security and centralized management.
Future-Proof Operations
Designed for scalability and support of next-gen production standards, with regular updates.
Performance & Reliability
Fast load times, stable integrations, and minimal disruptions.
Next-Level Features
Secure, real-time updates, and template creation tools.
Continuous Support
Regular updates ensure that you have the tools you need for your evolving newsroom, and timely support.
