Enterprise Content Management

The need

"Order is the connection of many things according to a rule," is how Immanuel Kant expressed it once. The concept "Enterprise Content Management", ECM for short, is generally understood to mean technologies, tools, and methods for the collection, administration, storage, archival, and preparation of electronic content throughout the enterprise.

In other words, ECM provides the right target group at the right time with the relevant content they need, optimally supporting their current activities. In practice, ECM systems often include document management, Web content management, input and output management, collaboration, workflow, and business process management. Often, ECM portal solutions based on Web technologies result which, as employee, supplier, and/or customer portal comprehensively support the value creation chain of an enterprise.

The solution

The introduction of ECM is an important strategic topic for many of our customers. As a manufacturer-neutral consultation firm, we accompany you through the following steps:

Step 1: Analysis

Starting from the content relevant to ECM, all content to be modeled is collected in the context of a content screening. This is normally done in workshops with the different production departments who prepare the content.

The results of this analysis are a content model, structural model, functional requirements and workflows, the role and permission concept, and framework conditions for the presentation layout. This requirements catalog is the basis for the next step, the selection of an ECM system suitable for your needs.

Step 2: Technology decision

Based on the requirements catalog, we suggest a small selection of suitable ECM systems for you. This is done on a manufacturer-neutral basis and will moreover fit in with your (IT-relevant) infrastructural context, your business needs, and your preferences. From this selection, you make a preliminary decision on a system.

A prototype and load testing, along with an example model of a workflow, help you make the decision for your final system choice.

Step 3: Implementation

Once the decision in favor of a system is made, we support you with the implementation:

• Installation of the necessary infrastructure and ECM system
• Implementation of the role/user concept
• Implementation of the structural model
• Creation of a layout/design concept
• Construction of the content model / creation of templates
• Training of editors
• Incorporation, creation, and editing of content
• Integration with external content sources like databases, applications (e.g. via EAI technology) or external Web services

After a successful "beta test" follows

Step 4: Going live / maintenance and operation

During the production phase of the system, we can support you with our Application Maintenance Services for maintenance and operation.