Just Sharing

Improved Content Management and Communications Solutions Coming to Educause 2009

2009-11-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

An HMO’s radio advertisement captured my attention this morning, most likely because it didn’t appear to be about healthcare. Instead, this provider touted the benefits of their new electronic medical records and the advantage this change provided trees…and patients. While this may seem like a minor advance, I suspect that anyone who has struggled to complete medical forms

Business Continuity, Communications and Content Management

2009-10-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

The panic surrounding H1N1 outbreaks appears to have diminished somewhat, but threats related to widespread pandemics and other natural disasters persist. Government and institutional leaders remain challenged to prepare and respond to these kinds of issues as communities grow more diverse and mobile. Public notices and published emergency response plans may no longer be adequate to protect

BbWorld 2009, Learning & Content Management and Mass Communications

2009-07-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, that’s a lot to discuss, but it was enthusiastically during last week’s annual Blackboard World conference hosted on the shores of the Potomac in our nation’s capital. Perhaps even more important was the fact that many of the 1,600+ attendees we’re also seeking ways to better leverage the combination of content management, communications and teaching and learning technologies in ways they

Our Digital Lives (ECM), Cars and Changing Expectations

2009-06-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

Recently, I’ve been researching how students manage content and collaborate with instructors and their peers. The younger “digital natives” are already significantly exposed to web technologies and different devices they use to connect online. Even older students now complete more than half of their coursework online these days. Outside of the classroom online collaboration continues at similar

Introducing Enterprise Content Management (ECM) at School?

2009-05-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

When I was in school content management mostly consisted of storing my documents in a three-ring binder. If I could keep the papers for each of my classes organized between the color-coded page separators for a whole semester it seemed like a real victory. Archaic as that may appear today, when you think about it, learning those content organization skills was preparing me for work in the “modern

ECM & Email – The End of File Attachments?

2009-05-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I remember a marketing campaign we dreamed up years ago called “No More Attachments”. It was intended to encourage businesses to abandon attaching documents to email messages long before the concept was mainstream. Back then; most organizations weren’t familiar with social networks or storing much online, except for website pages. Reading a recent AIIM ECM survey reminded

Will iPhone, Kindle and Online Collaboration be the end of Printed Documents?

2009-05-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

What was the last document or file that you actually printed yourself? Was it something that you wanted to share with others, or did you simply prefer reading it on paper instead of on screen? Maybe it was something you needed to sign and submit, or perhaps you were just following a common work habit?I remember the last item I printed. It was an airline boarding pass I needed a few days ago. The

ECM in the Cloud - Data Still Under Your Control?

2009-05-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it; there are still some documents we just don’t want to leave anywhere but in a fire-proof safe or a deposit box at the bank. The challenge only increases for businesses or larger organizations. Unfortunately, the status of some banks has become questionable lately and frequent natural disasters are a tough reminder that physical media storage can still be risky.The advantages of

Swine Flu, Virtual Collaboration and Content Management

2009-04-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

No, this is not an attempt to capitalize upon what may be an epidemic, or worse. I woke up this morning suffering from dizziness and a cough that just wouldn’t seem to go away these last few days. I tried to revive myself with a few cups of coffee in front of my monitor, but seeing headlines about swine flu weren’t helping me feel better. Fortunately, I had planned to work

Earth Day and Content Management (ECM)

2009-04-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

For many of us who are at the office and won’t have the opportunity to plant a tree today, here’s an idea – why not save one instead? The net benefit to the environment is about the same and you may even discover ways to continue the process in the future, which could yield even greater earth-friendly benefits.So, what’s the catch, you’re probably wondering? Nothing sneaky. I promise. Just some

Workflow, Efficiency and Content Management (ECM)

2009-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

My cluttered desk challenges me. It holds information I need, but not always where I can find it. It delays decisions I should make, letting me push documents onto its far corners. My desk is my accomplice in inefficiency. In fact, it’s probably fair to say that anything that lands on my desk is guaranteed a slower passage to its destination.Why is this so? I think its because I work in two very

Cost-Saving ECM Advice from the Experts

2009-04-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

These days, you can practically find an “ECM Expert” on any corner. Heck, I even pretend to be one once in a while. However, I honestly believe that the real experts are those IT leaders who are putting content management technology to work in their own organizations. These are the managers and staff that have to live with the potential risks associated with new technology introductions. They’ve

Compliance, Collaboration and Web 2.0 Content Management (ECM)

2009-04-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

With all the talk about layoffs, budget cuts and spending freezes it’s no surprise that investments in enterprise technology have declined. After all, how can you think about enhancing business performance when you’re not sure who’s going to be around to run the operation? However, as we’ve discussed before, doing nothing with your infrastructure during a downturn may be a recipe for failure

ARRA Stimulus Funds and Your ECM Project?

2009-04-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

According to the US Department of Education, funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) should start becoming available in just a few days. That’s billions, as in almost 100 billion dollars worth of federal stimulus spending that’s expected to be distributed over the next two years to academic and research organizations across the country.What could this mean for you or

Xythos ECM Zimlet for Yahoo Zimbra Now Available!

2009-03-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

While it seems like we’ve been talking about this Zimlet for a long time, it’s right on schedule and ready for you to try out now. The new Xythos Zimlet is ideal for integrating advanced document management functionality with Zimbra Collaboration Suite using easy Web 2.0 functionality. If your organization is looking for a secure method to share documents among Zimbra users or maintain a

AIIM 2009 - Déjà vu for ECM, or Not?

2009-03-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

It’s March and while we’re not busy trying to figure out NCAA brackets here at Xythos, we’re reviewing our final plans for this year’s AIIM conference. It kind of seems just like last year and the year before that, but is it really? I’m not sure. Industry trade events appear somewhat less important amidst the economic chaos of 2009. Business travel and entertainment are almost taboo and TARP

ECM on My iPhone with Xythos!

2009-03-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Finally, there’s a native application for managing enterprise content on my iPhone. That’s right, I’ve begun using DAV-E to access and share the content I’ve stored in Xythos Enterprise Document Management suite (EDMS) and I’m finding it quite useful. Even as a first edition, DAV-E offers some powerful functionality that will encourage me to leave my laptop at home more often.Now, I know some of

Kindle on iPhone a Call for Content Management?

2009-03-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

The publishing industry used to look a lot like the broadcast television and music industries. A small group of publishing houses determined which author’s works would reach store shelves, just as record labels and broadcast networks decided what we would listen too or watch. While digital content distribution has begun to dramatically alter the business models for music and video, the model for

Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube, Xythos and Enterprise Content Management

2009-03-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

As a technology marketer I’m feeling virtually bombarded by offers to learn how to master Web 2.0 technologies and social networking tools in order to remain relevant amidst the economic chaos of 2009. If you read half these solicitations, it would appear that traditional advertising and communications strategies have achieved a state of irrelevance, lost in our new multi-channel, multi-media

Gmail Offline! Online Document Management to the Rescue?

2009-02-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday another Gmail outage was reported to last somewhere between two and half to four hours. That’s disappointing. I really like Gmail. It’s usually responsive, gives me all the storage I want and I can access it from any of my devices – when it’s available. I even use Google Gears to get offline access to Gmail - for when I’m disconnected, not Google.So was yesterday’s outage a problem? Not

Top 10 Ways to Save Money with Enterprise Content Management

2009-02-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

We’ve been compiling a list like this for a while and it seems like now is particularly good time to share some of the ideas and suggestions that we’ve received on the subject. Is this the best list or the one likely to address the needs of most readers? I don’t know. However, if just one or two of the items on it can help your organization become more efficient, responsive or secure then I’ll

Escape the Cold with ECM and Online Collaboration

2009-02-03T15:42:00.000-08:00

At Xythos we sometimes joke that the popularity of online document and content management applications is directly related to an organization’s geographic location. Those closest to northern latitudes have a natural incentive to seek alternatives to personal travel, at least during half the year we laugh. After all, doesn’t that help explain the longtime popularity of ECM vendors like Hummingbird

Google Follows Xythos and Zimbra Offline

2009-01-30T15:49:00.000-08:00

I know, it sounds sort of odd doesn’t it? However, headlines about Google going offline were all over the tech news sites this week. I think it’s interesting that the world’s largest provider of web services recognizes that a key barrier to increased service adoption is customer concern about online service availability. After all, isn’t the web supposed to be there for us 24x7x365?Obviously,

Simplifying Compliance with ECM and Metadata

2009-01-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

Let’s face it, not everyone remembers to put all their tools away when they finish a project. Even with good intentions, I’ll leave a paint brush in the garage sink or forget a trowel in the garden. Nothing tragic really. Others aren’t usually impacted and I’m generally not putting my family at risk. OK – you could argue about the rusty trowel, but the risks associated with disorganization or

Will ECM Really Matter in 2009?

2009-01-16T22:06:00.000-08:00

Spending the holidays away from the office doesn’t necessarily guarantee the rest and relaxation I hope for, but it almost always provides me with a better perspective when I return. Today, I’m reflecting upon that experience as I fly across the country for our annual business kick-off meeting. I can’t help but remember how many times my family and I found ourselves searching for content we