Enterprise Content Management And Information Presentation

Content is useless unless it’s used for managing the business. Managers must get relevant information presented in ways that bring out its significance. Only then can they make informed business decisions, instead of decisions based on a "hunch".

This article explores the information-presentation, or delivery, component of Enterprise Content Management.

Captured content must be transformed into meaningful information in a proper format and layout that make it easy to comprehend. The information must then be published to get it to the intended person or group, or at least made accessible for them.

Transformation and publication are thus the key elements of information delivery. We look at these in the following sections.

Transformation

A number of technologies or protocols have come into the market for information formatting and presentation.

XML is a description language that provides a way to define information. XML describes input-document metadata and interfaces, including its own structure, and presents output as specified.

PDF files provide a platform-independent presentation of information that can be printed and/or distributed easily.

XPS is an XML specification that provides for a presentation similar to PDFs and has been developed by Microsoft.

Other elements associated with transformation include:

Compression: Larger images and documents can be compressed to reduce file sizes for easier and safer transfers.

Viewers: Viewers enable information in different formats to be displayed in a uniform format.

Personalization: Personalization enables users to select the functions and information that they need.

Security Considerations

In the case of information distribution, the key considerations are ensuring authenticity of the sender and the document, and preventing unauthorized use of the published content.

Electronic signatures using keys and certificates help ensure that documents sent electronically are complete and unchanged (during transmission), and that the sender is indeed the person or organization he or she or it claims to be.

Unauthorized use of published content is sought to be prevented through such technologies as Digital Rights Management (DRM) (essentially access restriction) and Watermarking.

Information Delivery

Users of information generated from the content created all over the enterprise typically need it to be delivered in a way that is most convenient in different contexts. For example, when they are in their office, they can access it most easily using their network connection. Out in the field, it is easier to get information using their PDAs or mobile devices. Information is delivered in several ways, including:

• Internet, intranet, and extranet
• E-mails and faxes
• Data transfer using EDI or XML
• Mobile phones, PDAs and other mobile devices
• Transportable media like CDs and DVDs
• Paper

The above list contains a few examples. Other ways of delivering information already exist and new ways are being developed.

Conclusion

The ultimate objective of Enterprise Content Management is to make meaningful decision-support information available to business managers, in a format that is most convenient in their current context. ECM can deliver its information through technologies using IP protocols, such as Internet, intranet, or extranet, mobile devices like PDAs or mobile phones, and so on.

Content needs to be transformed in ways appropriate to the systems in use, and the context in which it will be used.

Contact Management Systems

Contact management is a modern way of managing your contacts. However, it’s not just an electronic address book that lists out your contacts such as phone numbers and addresses and appointments for the day. All this personal information can be integrated with e-mails and saved at one place so that you don’t have to waste time searching. You can store history of the interactions with contacts and keep track of all activities related to them. All this information can be kept absolutely confidential by using a password.

Contact management system can be of two types – a separate software product installed in the personal computer or a web-based application that can be accessed anywhere, anytime. The traditional method of installing software can serve the purpose if the nature of your work is stationary and is done from one primary computer. If you are logged on to the Internet most of the time and work at and away from office a web-based solution will offer you the flexibility you need.

Installing software is a one-time expenditure whereas web-based services may charge monthly subscription fees in addition to the initial lump sum payment. You’ll find this investment negligible compared to its advantages and the results you reap through an effective contact management system. Creating a systematic database of your contacts and updating the information regularly are the prerequisites for the success of the system. It is useful for both domestic users and business enterprises. Birthday and anniversary reminders come automatically and save you lot of embarrassment. On the professional front sales, marketing and customer care personnel are the major users of the system.

Marketing persons can send bulk personalized but professional messages like e-mails and news letters to the customers in the contacts list about new products and services and special offers. The communication can be sent with a link to company’s website and order form that can enable an immediate sale. The results can be amazing to unbelievable. This is the best way of cutting down the costs involved in direct marketing and there’s absolutely no need to hire a new sales team to reach more customers.

Customer care departments can maintain the history of all communication with customers for a systematic follow up. Since it is used extensively by businesses to interact with customers some call it customer relationship management system. Managers also use it to keep track of the employee information and to reach them. In one word, with an effective contact management system you can bid good-bye to the traditional paper-based system which is highly fallible.

CMMS, reporting and analysis easily

Maintaining physical ledgers for all your maintenance activities is a tedious task. Nowadays there are freely available Maintenance Management Software that can be used for your maintenance management tasks. There is also software that you can buy for a nominal cost and you get your return on investment very sooner than you expect. It is easy to maintain your assets, work order, plans and schedules, and inventory with the help of maintenance management software (CMMS).
You can easily keep track of your assets and perform different maintenance management tasks using this software. You can try the free versions available with many service providers and then decide on buying the full version that gives you more advanced features.

Although maintenance software is available in the default language as English, it is also available in other languages like Chinese, Spanish, Malay and other languages. If you do the maintenance work manually by using physical ledgers, it is not an easy task to do the reporting and the analysis part of your job.

With computerized maintenance management software ( CMMS ) you can easily do the reporting and the analysis. There are software manufacturers who provide you with simple and easy to use modules for your individual requirements. Modules for maintaining assets, work order, history of transactions, managing maintenance policies, different offices and locations from within the single module, invoicing, readings of different equipment, and permits for doing the maintenance work are available separately. These modules are integrated in full fledged maintenance management software. The most vital module for maintenance management software is the reporting module. The reporting module is important to monitor the progress of the maintenance work and also to help you improve your work.

What ever be the number of equipments you have in your factory or office, it is better to have maintenance management software to track the maintenance work of those equipments. Since this software makes the maintenance management easy you are free to use the time saved, on other tasks in hand. Software companies also can have such maintenance software to keep track of their software, associated licenses, and the number of installs. Web based computerized maintenance management software is also available with different types of services from many companies. You can avail these services if your factory or office are located in different locations within your country or in different countries.

With web based CMMS all you need is a browser and an internet connection to use this software. The details of transactions and records, in a web based Cmms Software, are maintained in a centralized server and the users will be using this data through the browser. There is no need for custom built client software for most of web based maintenance management software. Organizations that have multiple offices and factory locations can benefit from a web based maintenance management software. For different types of maintenance management software that is available in the market you can check out websites like http://www.cmmssystems.com

Digital Signage Software – Dynamic Advertising Tool

In today's hypercompetitive market each retailer needs to grow revenue and market share along with customer satisfaction. Retailers are using new technologies like digital signage to retain customers. Retailers not only provide additional value by facilitating their customers but also generate additional revenues by running branded advertisements. Static pop-up is a thing of the past.

Digital signage is being placed in-store, showcasing product information, new arrivals, offers, clearance sales and information about availability of products along with their location. Huge video display screens grab comparatively more attention than other sources, influence customers and are a means of additional revenue and customer satisfaction.

Communication is the key to any organization's success. However, in today's fast moving market it becomes a bit cumbersome and tedious for a corporate to inform each and every employee with key information at one go. One reason may be that all the employees do not have email ids like in floor shops, back offices or branch offices spread geographically.

The organization can update its employees based in any country, in any location with the latest internal news; can welcome the new joinees, keep the entire employee force abreast with the latest HR policies, transfers of employees, etc. The organization can even broadcast live internal and sporting events simultaneously. Using Digital Signage software these updates and events can also be displayed on LCD or plasma screens. Digital signage also helps in assisting visitors in accessing a facility's way finder, utilities area and other important information.

The same can also be used to display the company profile and areas of expertise. Third party feeds like news, weather, stock market updates, financial news, etc., are added advantages for staff and visitors alike.

Why is digital signage important in the transportation sector? Digital signage allows you to put live or real time data on to screens (LCD/ Plasma) fixed at the departure or arrival areas of airports, railway and bus terminals. Passengers can be updated with the current schedules in an interesting manner, rather than the boring numeric being currently used.
This can be used to display useful information that a passenger would like to know - trip delays, news, sports coverage, stock market updates, currency rates, safety information, world clock and weather. All this can be displayed simultaneously. Interactive kiosks or touch screens make it easy for travelers to purchase tickets, check-in and locate where to board planes, trains, and buses and tourism info centers.

Digital signage can delight customers by displaying their menu, along with their ingredients and calorie counts, price and the waiting time outside their premises. This could encourage the customer to have pre-decided his/her order once she looks at the menu thereby leading to the higher TRT (turn around time) leading to more revenue. Inside the restaurant besides the menu, entertaining videos, news, stocks etc can be displayed for customers.

Digital signage is ideal for retail banking because it lets you deliver personalized information to individuals critical to the success of retail banking. It can be used to display messages from the bank's board of directors or head appreciating and thanking customers for their loyalty. Display screens fixed at waiting areas informs the customer about the current offers and services for different categories and testimonials along with tickers, live news feeds and stock data making his wait more entertaining. Further the head office can communicate with other branches simultaneously at a pre-defined time for all internal communication.

Digital signage can play a significant role in making your guests stay memorable, for e.g. Screen at the reception desk, can be used to display different time zones of different countries dynamically which means a clock showing IST(Indian Standard Time) can have a background of The Taj Mahal and after predefined time it can show London time with Big Ben or video of London or a hotel logo as the background, this can also be added with weather conditions in multiple numbers, here imagination has no full stop.

Likewise in the lobby area a screen can be used to display facilities and amenities available with-in the hotel like today's function, today's top menu etc. to facilitate customers and guests. This can also help your guests find their way to rooms, what's in for menu, type and time of restaurants, bar, rest room and other amenities etc. at touch of their finger tip along-with the city's tourist's places, entertainment venues and prominent market in interactive kiosk mode.

Digimaker .NET-BASED Web Content Management System (CMS)

Digimaker is a leading .NET based Content Management Platform in the Nordic region. Digimaker Content Management NetServer is a 100% .NET-based, C#-written, web-based Content Management platform meant for editors, authors, developers and .NET solution houses for building user-friendly websites, creating rules-driven editorial processes for aligning online publishing efforts with business objectives and building customized solutions.

Offered throughout Scandinavia by a selection of Microsoft Certified Partners we are proud to announce a growth rate of approximately 50 licenses per month. Currently, for the first phase of our launch sequence for the USA, UK and Middle East market, we are looking to engage with a selection of highly qualified Microsoft Certified Partners, for representing us in the market more aggressively.

Some of our leading clients include the following: Ftadviser UK, Daimler Chrysler Worldwide, Jeep, Dodge, Cheroke, Fuji Films, Ventelo, Bravida, Norske Skog, Monter, History Today, etc
Digimaker Software Developer’s Kit

Register and download your copy from Digimaker
The Developer Kit includes:

• Developer copy of Digimaker – The .NET Content Management Platform
• SiteBuilder – Digimaker SDK with full Visual Studio 2003 integration
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• One free license – deploy your first project without further costs

Digimaker at a glance:

• The .NET Content Management Platform for the future - used by enterprises like Mercedes Benz, National Oil well and The Financial Times.
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• Growth rate of 50 licenses per month and rising.

Download your free copy now!

Enterprise Resource Planning And Enterprise Content Management

The word Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP conveys a sense of planning the use of enterprise-wide resources to achieve enterprise objectives in the best possible manner. However, ERP has come to mean something much less ambitious. It simply means integrating two or more separate applications.

The integration is done by the use of a common database and multiple software and hardware components. Thus an ERP system can include Manufacturing, Financials, Sales & Distribution, and HR functionalities in separate modules.

Integration of a number of systems results in:

• Creation of a unified database that results in greater reporting capabilities,


• Elimination of external interfaces between different applications that were needed earlier to exchange information between them, and


• Standardization and lower maintenance costs as a single system replaces the earlier multiple systems.

Typical modules in modern ERP systems:

ERP System Modules

Manufacturing: This module facilitates manufacturing and related operations such as plant engineering, production scheduling, materials requirements lists, workflow and process management, quality control and cost control.

Supply Chain Management: Inventory control and purchasing functions, including supply chain planning, and supplier performance monitoring, are the major functions facilitated by this module.

Customer Relationship Management: Sales and Distribution, Commissions and Customer Support are covered by this module.

Financials: This module covers the traditional accounting and cash flow management functions, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow control, and general ledger.

Other typical modules include Human Resources (including payroll), Project Management and Data Warehouse. ERP systems also provide direct interfaces for external entities like customers and suppliers, and internally for employees.

The separation of modules in this manner has resulted in some large organizations selecting different modules from different ERP vendors. Some functionality might be better with one vendor's module while other vendors’ modules better manage other functionalities. This would, however, involve building interfaces between modules from different vendors, which might have to be done by in-house staff. It follows that the staff should have the required skill level.

Implementing ERP in Organizations

Implementing ERP typically involves significant changes in working practices. Necessary skills might also not be available in-house. Either the ERP vendor or a third-party consultant usually helps implement ERP in an organization.

The ERP implementation needs to be aligned with the organization's business processes, which usually need to be re-engineered.

New user interfaces and even some processing might have to be coded where the ERP system does not meet certain work practices in the organization. The ERP system should ideally accommodate such customization.

Implementation will also involve training to the organization's personnel to work with the ERP system, and continuing support to keep the system running with minimal additional costs.

Why ERP?

In the absence of ERP, the different applications in use might not be able to exchange information. Such information exchange can become very critical for efficient operations and competitiveness. Organizations that have implemented ERP properly will be able to operate in a lean manner, leading to lower costs and customer prices, giving them an advantage in the marketplace.

ERP and Enterprise Content Management Systems

Enterprise Content Management systems seek to create a knowledgebase consisting of both structured and unstructured content generated all over the enterprise. Enterprise Resource Planning systems facilitate this goal by combining applications and using a common database.

Using E-Learning in ERP Systems Implementation

In today's world, information technologies are actively used in many spheres of life, including learning. In particular, e-learning courses are becoming more and more popular. Computer-based training saves you time, money, and effort when implementing such intricate software solutions as MS Dynamics AX or NAV. This way of studying can be useful not only for individuals, but also for large corporations.

In this article we will explain the advantages of online training during the implementation of complicated software products in general and Microsoft Dynamics products in particular. So, why should you use e-learning, and what benefits can it bring to your organization?

• Theory and practice. Online courses allow students to gain theoretical knowledge and ground it in practice on the spot.
• Knowledge assessment. Assess your knowledge by answering online test questions.
• Interactivity. Software emulations enable the students to work with the program interface without installation.
• Flexibility. Learn any time you wish within the 3-month access period.
• Reasonable prices. Distance education for Microsoft Dynamics products costs less than offline classes.

Implement ERP Systems with E-Learning

These days, ERP systems develop so fast that it's hard to ensure that employees are properly trained on them. Traditional trainings are not sufficient, and that's why a new technology needs to be introduced.

Trainings:
http://www.speedteach.com/dynamics-nav-training.aspx
http://www.speedteach.com/dynamics-ax-training.aspx

When implementing Microsoft Dynamics products, namely ERP systems, most companies hire experienced professionals to do this job, which involves additional expenses. Instead of this you can use e-learning to train the specialists who are already employed in your company. When correctly integrated with ERP processes, a comprehensive e-learning solution makes it possible to increase knowledge and improve skills for both internal and external users of the system.

However, in no circumstances should you put the offline courses aside. E-learning solutions cannot completely substitute conventional classroom training, so you can effectively combine online and offline education for your specialists. For example, the theory can be taught traditionally, while the practical tasks can be done by the means of online trainings. Moreover, if someone of your employees need to conduct trainings on MS Dynamics software, he or she can effectively use e-learning courses to prepare beforehand.
Source: http://www.speedteach.com/

Crime Fighting Computer Systems and Databases

As crime globalizes, so does crime fighting. Mobsters, serial killers, and terrorists cross state lines and borders effortlessly, making use of the latest advances in mass media, public transportation, telecommunications, and computer networks. The police - there are 16,000 law enforcement agencies in the Unites States alone - is never very far behind.

Quotes from the official Web pages of some of these databases:

National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC)

Its mission is to combine investigative and operational support functions, research, and training in order to provide assistance, without charge, to federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies investigating unusual or repetitive violent crimes. The NCAVC also provides support through expertise and consultation in non-violent matters such as national security, corruption, and white-collar crime investigations.

It comprises the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resources Center (CASMIRC), and Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP).

VICAP is a nationwide data information center designed to collect, collate, and analyze crimes of violence - specifically murder. It collates and analyzes the significant characteristics of all murders, and other violent offenses.

Homicide Investigation Tracking System (HITS)

A program within the Washington state's Attorney General's Office that tracks and investigates homicides and rapes.

Violent Crime Linkage System (ViCLAS)

Canada-wide computer system that assists specially trained investigators to identify serial crimes and criminals by focusing on the linkages that exist among crimes by the same offender. This system was developed by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in the early 1990s.

UTAP, stands for The Utah Criminal Tracking and Analysis Project

Gathers experts from forensic science, crime scene analysis, psychiatry and other fields to screen unsolved cases for local law enforcement agencies.

International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) - Interpol's DNA Gateway

Provides for the transfer of profile data between two or more countries and for the comparison of profiles that conform to Interpol standards in a centralized database. Investigators can access the database via their Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) using Interpol's secure global police communications system, I-24/7.

Interpol's I-24/7

Global communication system to connect its member countries and provide them with user-friendly access to police information. Using this system, Interpol National Central Bureaus (NCBs) can search and cross-check data in a matter of seconds, with direct and immediate access to databases containing critical information (ASF Nominal database of international criminals, electronic notices, stolen motor vehicles, stolen/lost/counterfeit travel and ID documents, stolen works of art, payment cards, fingerprints and photographs, a terrorism watch list, a DNA database, disaster victim identification, international weapons tracking and trafficking in human beings-related information, etc).

Interpol Fingerprints

Provides information on the development and implementation of fingerprinting systems for the general public and international law enforcement entities.

Europol (European Union's criminal intelligence agency) Computer System (TECS)

Member States can directly input data into the information system in compliance with their national procedures, and Europol can directly input data supplied by non EU Member States and third bodies. Also provides analyses and indexing services.