Category: Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation
What’s Wrong With Today’s Definitions of “The Cloud”

What’s Wrong With Today’s Definitions of “The Cloud”

The Cloud. The iCloud. Cloud Computing. Cloud Power. Global Cloud. Local Cloud. Elastic Clouds. Public Cloud. Community Cloud. Hybrid Cloud. The Intercloud. Things can be “In the cloud” and according to Microsoft, you can go “To the cloud.” Yup, just when we thought the word “cloud” was overused, it became even more overused. It might feel embarrassing, but I think it’s about time somebody asked: What exactly is “The Cloud”? When encouraging me to ask questions, my dad used to say “it’s better to look stupid for a minute than remain stupid for the rest of your life.” This is usually excellent advice. However, I have found that asking “what is The Cloud?” doesn’t usually result in enlightenment. This is best illustrated by the first thing you find on this topic in Wikipedia:
Digital Transformation
How to Create an RFP for Enterprise Content Management Software – RFP Questions Included

How to Create an RFP for Enterprise Content Management Software – RFP Questions Included

If you’ve ever been involved in making any kind of enterprise software purchase, you know that no step of the process is easy. But, some parts of the process aren’t as well-defined as others, leaving you to guess the best approach to success. Take the later stages of product selection, especially when it comes to enterprise content management (ECM) software. Corporate websites become a blur, and every salesperson talks about how you need a comprehensive strategy for whatever type of software it is you’re looking for. My suggestion to prospects is that instead of trying to guess what your short-listed vendors offer, invest time into creating an RFP with very specific questions designed to differentiate one vendor from another. But, oftentimes the challenge isn’t deciding to do an RFP – it’s positioning the questions in the right way to get at these differentiators that’s the problem.
Digital Transformation
A Tale of Two Content Management Conferences: AIIM/info360 and Gartner PCC

A Tale of Two Content Management Conferences: AIIM/info360 and Gartner PCC

In the past two weeks, I attended AIIM/info360 in the nation's capital, immediately followed by a west coast enterprise tech party at the Gartner Portals, Content and Collaboration (PCC) Summit in Los Angeles. Both events cover a broad range of topics and technologies under the ECM software market umbrella. However, the two conferences have historically offered very different perspectives - each focused on opposing ends of the ECM technology spectrum.
Digital Transformation
Gartner PCC, Day 1: Work-Life Integration 2.0 – The Empowered User

Gartner PCC, Day 1: Work-Life Integration 2.0 – The Empowered User

Our work and consumer worlds are colliding. But I'm not talking about how our experiences as consumers are making us want the same devices at work as we have at home (which is still very true!). At the keynote session of Gartner Portals, Content and Collaboration (PCC), Gartner Fellow Tom Austin shared a new way to think about this work-life integration conundrum that even Dilbert is experiencing in this cartoon. Just like Dilbert, we all have lives outside of work. But, our roles as consumers (life) and employees (work) the lines are being blurred more and more. That blurring is apparent when we, the business people, are also the consumers who are demanding these changes in business. What changes are we asking for?
Digital Transformation
Live From info360 Is ECM Morphing Into the Platypus of Enterprise Software

Live From info360: Is ECM Morphing Into the Platypus of Enterprise Software?

If the session content being presented at the AIIM/info360 conference over the past two days is any indication, it appears that strong environmental factors (AKA, the market) are driving ECM vendors into a period of significant evolution and adaptation. Now you may be thinking: “Ok Burnsy, I get the idea that ECM vendors and their products need to evolve. But, c'mon dude, where are you going with the Platypus analogy? What does an egg-laying, venomous, duck billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal have to do with ECM software?” The answer to that lies in the usage scenarios ECM solutions are increasingly expected to address.
Digital Transformation
AIIM and Info360-Systems of Record vs. Systems of Engagement

AIIM and info360: Systems of Record vs. Systems of Engagement?

I'm spending the next day and a half in Washington, D.C. attending the info360 conference (formerly known as the AIIM Conference & Exhibition). This has always been the showcase event for all the vendors and technologies that fall under the enterprise content management (ECM) market umbrella. At its core, however, the big focus has been on ECM offerings that support transaction processing and formal record keeping (i.e. systems of record).