So what is ECM?
Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is the strategies, methods and tools used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to organizational processes. ECM covers the management of information within the entire scope of an enterprise whether that information is in the form of a paper document, an electronic file, a database print stream, or even an email.
Ok, so what does this actually mean and how will it make my life easier? ECM will simplify your workday in the following ways:
– Less paper to file and organise. At last the paperless office!
– Keeping track of all you documents. Documents will be in one central place, not on pc’s of four different people.
– Better compliancy
– Accessible from anywhere – whether you’re on holiday in Margate or sitting in a boardroom in Cape Town.
– No more confusion when it comes to too many versions of critical documents. Gone are the days of last minute confusion before a meeting to find the latest version of your document.
– Easy to retrieve. No more heaps of paper to sort through or disorganised folders on your pc.
– Safety of documents not on site in case of fire.
The concept of ECM isn’t an entirely new one on campus. At the moment SharePoint Team sites are used to a lesser extent as a tool. However to make full use of the advantages of ECM, a whole new generation of SharePoint will be implemented shortly.
This implementation is the first step of a bigger project which will, at a later stage, also include Business Intelligence. On a more practical level this platform will also be used to host the websites on campus.
Through the whole process IT will be communicating the development of the project to campus and there will be ample opportunity for all those currently involved in team sites to attend training days. For other interested parties information sessions will be held to give a broader overview of the project.
So, wat is ECM?
Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is die strategieë,-metodes en gereedskap wat gebruik word om data vas te vang, te bestuur, te stoor, te bewaar, en die inhoud en dokumente met betrekking tot organisatoriese prosesse te bied. ECM het die bestuur van inligting binne die volle omvang van ‘n onderneming of dat die inligting is in die vorm van ‘n papierdokument, ‘n elektroniese leêr, ‘n databasis print stroom, of selfs ‘n e-pos.
Goed, so wat beteken dit eintlik en hoe sal dit my lewe makliker maak? ECM sal vir jou ‘n werksdag vereenvoudig op die volgende maniere:
– Minder papier om te liasseer en organiseer. Uiteindelik `n papierlose kantoor!
– Makliker tred hou met al jou dokumente. Dokumente sal op een sentrale plek wees, nie op vier verskillende mense se pc’s nie.
– Meer aanpasbaarheid.
– Toeganklik vanaf enige plek – of jy met vakansie is in Margate of in `n konferensie sit in Kaapstad.
– Geen verwarring meer wanneer dit kom by te veel weergawes van kritiese dokumente nie. Laaste minuut verwarring voor ‘n vergadering om die nuutste weergawe van die dokument te vind is iets van die verlede.
– Maklik om op te spoor. Jy hoef nie meer deur hope papier te sorteer deur ongeorganiseerde leêrs op jou rekenaar nie.
– Dokumente is veilig gestoor en nie op die perseel in geval van `n brand nie.
Die konsep van die ECM is nie heeltemal nuut op kampus nie. Op die oomblik word SharePoint Team site reeds tot `n mindere mate as `n hulpmiddel gebruik. Om egter ten volle gebruik te maak van die voordele wat ECM kan bied, sal ‘n hele nuwe generasie van SharePoint binnekort geïmplementeer word.
Die implementering hiervan is die eerste stap van ‘n groter projek, wat op ‘n later stadium ook Business Intelligence sal insluit. Op ‘n meer praktiese vlak sal hierdie platform sal ook gebruik word vir alle US-webwerwe.
Deur die hele proses sal IT die vordering van die projek met kampus kommunikeer en sal daar genoegsame geleentheid wees vir almal wat tans betrokke is met die Team sites om opleidingsdae by te woon. Vir ander belangstellendes sal inligtingsessies gehou word om ‘n breër oorsig van die projek te gee.
