In the modern business, there is no longer a need for documentation to be taking up space, whether this be physical or electronic in nature. As more and more enterprises are making the switch to digital solutions, storage has become one of the biggest necessities in recent years. This is where enterprise content management (ECM) systems are stepping into the fray, to ensure that everything is recorded, accessible and can be managed at a level that suits the user. When data is improperly stored, or kept in a less-than-functional environment, issues can quickly arise and costs can even begin to add up. To help you make the right decisions when regarding the best software, features and applications, we’ve compiled this ECM guide just for you.
What is content management?
When asking what content management is, it can be worthwhile to first understand what content is. In terms of business, content can refer to any paper or digital documentation, whether this is found in email chains, spreadsheets, the data provided in presentations and much more. As workforces are more connected across the globe than ever before, this data needs to be collected, stored and accessed with ease to ensure that everything functions as it should.
What is a content management system?
Once upon a time, ECM was limited to the backend of the working business, where it was utilised as a centralised content management solution that did little else. As working environments have become more technology-driven, this solution has been relied upon more and more, but it is beginning to evolve into new territories. The great news is that it has the ability to scale into a whole new business sector, as the intrinsic collaborative nature of ECM ensures that information is stored and shared in the most useful way. Newer systems can now increase workplace productivity, automate processes and encourage collaboration across teams.
What are the benefits of using an ECM system?
- Reduced storage costs
- Increased productivity
- Better customer satisfaction
- Reduced operating costs
- Business continuity
- Secure save and store features
- Accurate reporting
What are the drawbacks?
ECM has so many positive applications in the workforce that it is difficult to determine the drawbacks. The only ones that are apparent relate to software providers more so than the software itself – and what this means is that some apps will be less functional than others and will have their own cons.
What to look for when choosing your ECM?
Whether you want to update your current ECM system or start from scratch, it can be important to determine whether it aligns with business objectives, how easy it is to use for employees of all skill levels, how well it can be both integrated with existing systems and scaled up in the future and much more.
The benefits to Hylands CMS
When it comes to enterprise content management software, Hylands CMS brings ultimate functionality alongside cloud readiness, top-level security, automated file digitization and so much more; all backed up with expert advice and support should businesses need assistance with implementation and beyond.
