User:Shibili

The Need for Content Management by Shibili Fasul

Enterprise content management (ECM) has over the years evolved into a mature segment that leverages IT tools to create, store, search, route, archive and dispose business and information content.

Knowledge management, business process management, records management, web content management and digital asset management are some of the major building blocks of ECM suite. These blocks need to be arranged based on the business requirement and their value add in the organizational roadmap.

In addition to several quantitative benefits,common qualitative benefits include improved information sharing,enhanced productivity,improved accountability and transparency,improved service design and delivery and enhanced information security.

It is always advisable to start any enterprise wide ECM inititave with a consulting engagement.The consulting engagement shall provide a common ECM framework for the enterprise covering prioritization, content process optimization, technology audit and organizational readiness.This along with the roadmap will be the starting point for actual implementation.

Typical time frame of an ECM implementation could be any were between 3 months to 2 years. This depends on the size of the organization and the features/functionality and customization required.Most of the ECM implementation shall typically recover their implementation cost within a period of 18 - 24 months.

Critical success factors for ECM initiative include top management support, buy in from key users, proper training, ease of use of the system as well as a cultural shift in the organization.

About the author

Shibili Fasul is presently working as ECM consultant in a leading IT services company.He has over 7 years of experience in ECM field and regularly advices clients on their ECM initiatives.