Enterprise Content Management

Synonyms

Document management; ECM; Office automation; Records management

Definition

Enterprise content refers to the collections of records and documents that are used in support of business processes. Much of this data is unstructured or semi-structured text created by word processors and other productivity software as part of an enterprises’ standard operating procedure. Enterprise content management applies database principles to collect, organize, index, and preserve such data, and ECM systems provide facilities for search, browsing, update, workflow management, web content management, collaboration support, version control, access control, record retention and destruction, legal compliance, and quality control.

Office automation typically refers to the components that create individual documents and manage the workflow. Records management refers to the components that protect and preserve the data and ensure that it is eventually archived or destroyed according to the enterprises’...