4 ECM Predictions for 2012
After working in the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) industry for eleven-years, I sometimes feel like we’re doing a lot of the same old thing. The reality, however, is that Business Process Automation and Electronic Document Management Solutions are still being newly implemented by major companies each year, and they continue to evolve and deliver more and more value with each passing iteration… plus, like the old NBC Summer Tagline said, “If you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you.”
Here are Four trends and changes I expect to see in the ECM Industry in 2012:
1) ECM Goes Mobile For Real – Along with virtually every other enterprise application, ECM Solutions have been trending towards the App-centric model for the past 2-3 years, but I think that 2012 has great potential as leading vendors like Kofax, Hyland Software, HP Autonomy, and more make their push towards delivering ECM to User Devices. This means that I expect to see new, innovative mobile capture solutions from Kofax, expanded Workflow Integrations from Vendors like Hyland Software.
2) The “Cloud” will be LESS important – At some point over the past Five Years, the “cloud” started to take on a life of its own. Today, with some of the shine wearing off, the Cloud is evolving into just one more deployment strategy for software, whether it’s Enterprise, Consumer, or anything in-between. Whether a solution is deployed In-House, or Hosted, the value lies in functionality, not in form-factor.
3) The “App Store” will force everyone to raise their game – Solutions Integrators, Software Developers, and IT Professionals will be faced with an ever-more sophisticated User Community who will expect their technology to “just work”. Notice, if you will, that there are very few user manuals for applications available through any of the App Store’s and Markets. This should be and is a cue for all technology professionals. If a solution is not intuitive, then perhaps it is not really a solution.
4) Consolidation will continue, but perhaps differently than before – Consolidation through Merger and Acquisition will likely be different in 2012 because there are simply fewer competitors in the ECM Industry today. Traditional software vendors and so-called “Cloud” software vendors have spent the past few years competing for customers. With the realization that there is no right answer to the Saas vs. In-House debate; the industry is ripe for consolidation of similar solutions to address customer demands.
You have heard my thoughts for the ECM industry in 2012. What do you envision for developments occurring in the electronic content management arena? Please comment below.