We live in an era of constant disruption, especially in the world of technology. In other words, as soon as something new comes along, something newer immediately comes along to take its place. When the standard is set, something else resets it soon after.
When we think we’ve achieved what we want, something else comes along to show us things we didn’t even know we needed. This cycle has always been at work, but never before has progress moved at such a fast pace. It’s come to the point where we often don’t know where to draw the line between progressive and superfluous.
Data management, document management, and business process automation have undergone a particularly exponential upward swing. With advancements moving at the pace they do now, we can more accurately predict the trajectory of electronic content management (ECM).
If you’re wondering why we’re using that term instead of “document management”, per usual, it’s because is actually what DMS has become. And before DMS, the handling of data and information was something else. Here’s a glimpse into the past, present, and future of DMS/ECM, and what your organization should be prepared for as a result.
Current ECM workflows have an emphasis on document-related processes. Up until now, all information technology has been mission-critical.
So what about the new technologies that make us even more connected than we already are? If your company is keeping up in today’s tech-forward landscape, chances are you’re aware of Mobile, Analytics, Cloud, and Collaborative (MACC) technologies. If you’re not aware, all you need to do is observe the daily operations of any forward-thinking company.
They’re probably doing a lot more on their phones than making calls and checking emails. They probably have applications to track results and reassess their strategy accordingly. They probably have web service applications to conduct meetings and coordinate at any time and actively collaborate on their workflows in real time. And they probably have a place to retain, manage, and automate the countless pieces of content they deal with on a day-to-day basis.
The Internet is making information a constant stream. This will no doubt affect your current workflow and business processes. Within the next five years, thanks to MACC tech advancements, new trends will emerge:
To keep up with and survive these new trends, you must embrace them. There will soon be no more room for static business automation processes. Once clear lines of structure will become blurred with time. If you want to manage and leverage information assets more effectively, you have to integrate MACC technology into your DMS/ECM processes.
The best way to learn will always be looking at the organizations that successfully implement it now. There’s a reason we keep DocuVantage’s interface as customizable as it is – because we know that with the change in technology means a change in needs, as well. None of these changes will happen overnight, and there’s nothing you need to be afraid of. But it’s almost always worthwhile to catch the insights of an expert who’s learned where to draw the line between progressive and superfluous.