Importance Of A Good Enterprise Content Management System

By Loris F. Anders


When it comes to managing human resources, employees and documentation, doing so can often be a challenge. While this is the case, a good enterprise content management system or ECM can often be beneficial. For, employers can often search, capture and network a number of documents in the archival or workflow process at one time. In most cases, these systems are used to protect the internal data of a company including all types of company, employee and personal data and information.

As these systems have evolved over the years, there are a number of new aspects which were not available in older electronic data management systems. For example, each time data is checked in or out of the database by an employee, new information is generated. In most cases, the new information is generated automatically with reports as to how and why the data was manipulated by the employee. Whereas, the system can also provide information on corporate tax data, networking, routing, pathways and create new filters upon request.

Some other ways in which ECM is used include providing intranet access to employees for use in data sharing. While akin to documentation management systems of the past, most companies have now converted those systems to ECM based operations. Whereas, digital asset management can also be a form of ECM in relation to stored content which use digital technology.

Enterprise content management has been developed from original electronic document management systems. In the past, these systems were rather limited to four areas. These areas being environmental resources management, document storage, imaging and workflow. As a result, there have been a number of enhancements to newer ECM systems.

Typical databases use small scale workflow and documentation systems, often in a single department. Whereas, the newer systems are often used on a company wide basis. In addition, these early versions were designed to save money and time by improving access to information through the reduction of paper, paper storage and the loss of documentation.

Electronic data management was not available until the late 1980s and early 1990s, after that time the systems began to grow more in popularity and use. Whereas, past systems were only capable of providing access to data which had previously been on paper, microfilm or microfiche. As the systems became even more popular, companies began using the systems on an ongoing basis due to the production control possibilities, identification processes and enhanced security measures.

Once there was more interest in EDMS and more companies became more productive, it became evident that different versions of the system were compatible. For, almost all businesses have some type of customer service department where workflow, imaging, environmental regulations and documentation are combined. The newest EDMS has now alleviated the need for acquiring information from multiple sources by allowing the information to be provided by a single request.




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