Organizations Without ECM Strategies Risk Information Overload and Non-Compliance in the Age of Remote Work, Says Info-Tech Research Group

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Apr 18, 2023, 13:47 ET

The firm's research focuses on the need for effective enterprise content management strategies to navigate a complex information landscape in this digital era.

TORONTO, April 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - With the rise of remote work, businesses need an effective content management strategy to manage the increasingly complex information environment. Content is essential for internal workflows and external touchpoints, but many organizations lack an enterprise content management (ECM) capability to manage the quality, findability, delivery, and risk of their content across organizational processes. Therefore, to thrive in today's digital world, it is becoming increasingly apparent that organizations must develop an ECM strategy, either on its own or as part of broader information management strategies. To help businesses organize their documents and files to enhance content discoverability, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has published its research Develop an Enterprise Content Management Strategy and Roadmap.

Info-Tech Research Group’s framework for developing an effective ECM strategy from the firm's "Develop an Enterprise Content Management Strategy and Roadmap" blueprint. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

"As remote work becomes more common, digital formats such as videoconference recordings and online chats have become a key part of the information deposit," says Andrea Malick, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "However, keeping records of chats, emails, and other digital communication is subject to various regulations related to record retention, audit, and e-discovery. In addition, these critical records are no longer limited to a centralized, controlled environment. To navigate this complex information landscape, businesses must understand it thoroughly and take effective measures to manage it."

Info-Tech's research explains that organizations face many obstacles when developing an effective ECM strategy. One major challenge is the exponential growth of organizational content, which can quickly become overwhelming to manage. Additionally, the digital revolution is accelerating market disruption and forcing organizations to transform or risk being left behind. Unfortunately, many businesses struggle to define a roadmap for developing ECM strategies and capabilities since there is currently no established body of knowledge in this area.

To maximize the effectiveness of the ECM initiatives, Info-Tech recommends three key steps. First, identify the root causes behind the ECM improvement opportunities and create a future-state vision for the ECM capability. Second, collaborate with stakeholders to develop an ECM roadmap. Finally, invest in change management to ensure a successful ECM implementation by consulting with and informing users and stakeholders early and often.

The firm's new blueprint defines an organization's ECM capability as six interrelated concepts working together to enable superior content access and delivery for an organization. Info-Tech recommends organizations use the following framework for an effective ECM strategy:

Information architecture to enable content findability within ECM operations.
Information governance to ensure content management quality assurance, security, and risk management.
Process management to allow content to move through processes and workflows.
System architecture to support the automation of content management.
Change management to introduce new ECM capabilities to users.
Capability governance to sustain and provide continuous improvement to the entire ECM operation.

Info-Tech explains in the blueprint that ECM is a vast and complex concept, so it's essential for IT leaders to be practical and not take on more than what can be handled. Therefore, it is vital to consider the organization's maturity level in ECM, the objectives, the available resources to develop a realistic plan for what it can accomplish in the current iteration, and what will have to wait for future releases.

To learn more, download the complete Develop an Enterprise Content Management Strategy and Roadmap blueprint.

For more information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and industry analysts through the Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group