Content Management Matters ™

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a provider of Internet data storage and delivery services, is expanding options for developers and enterprises looking to host their databases on the AWS cloud computing platform.

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a scalable web service solution offered by AWS, is now the first authorized cloud computing platform to run supported Oracle databases.

Alero Technology, a provider of Enterprise Information Management (EIM) software products, launched Alero 2008 R1 ECM system with Oracle 10g and 11g support, enhanced compliance, electronic signature management, process simulator and a new .NET library.

CMS Watch has a pretty interesting content management vendor map (see link below), laid out in the format of a subway map, which makes for intriguing viewing. The diagram is overtly enterprise-oriented, and links vendors according to their scope of operations across various content management arenas like Enterprise CMS, email archiving, DAM, XML management, etc.

It's interesting to note that there are five main 'Hubs' -- extending the subway metaphor -- of vendors who can provide pretty much everything. Microsoft, IBM, OpenText, EMC and Oracle.

IBM has released new extensions to it's ECM platform designed to support eDiscovery and help its clients manage compliance better.

The new eDiscovery software integrates with IBM's auto-classification and records management technology as well as it's BPM capabilities.

Now here's an interesting note that crossed our path today. According to CMS Watch, Oracle is hosting all their blogs including the Oracle ECM Fusion blog on the Movable Type platform.

CMS Watch points out clearly that Oracle sells its own blogging capabilities through several of it's products including Stellent, Oracle and it's latest acquisition BEA AquaLogic. So what exactly is going on?

In their Enterprise Social Software Report 2008, CMS Watch did caution about Oracle's "lack of decent blogging functionality", so maybe this is Oracle's way of acknowledging they have work to do in this area.

It does make you pause and wonder if a company like Oracle with a hugely successful ECM suite really has their stuff together. May be all these acquisitions are causing more problems then they bargained for -- and the Web 2.0 technology is suffering as a result. Or maybe they just like Movable Type better.

Curious to know what you think of this turn of events. Does it make you think twice about Oracle?

Oracle is stepping up their game through the acquisition of two new software companies that will enhance their enterprise content management offering in very specific industries. Some say it may finally put them in front of the pack of big boys like IBM and EMC. But how will this new offering stack up against rival Interwoven?

Archiving has become a huge deal for organizations large and small as rules and regulations dictate how easily information needs to be available for compliance and legal purposes. So it's no surprise that enterprise content management vendors are incorporating these requirements into their solution offerings.

Oracle, being no exception, has developed the Oracle Online Archive that uses their database as a storage repository for all types of content, including email, files, etc. Seems like they have been down this road before though. Does a "single solution for all content types" work in the real world?

The EMC World 2008 event just wrapped up in wholesome Las Vegas and the content management industry eyes were ogling both the table top dancers and the (not so?) seductive CM story EMC was peddling.

Newmerix, a provider of comprehensive Application Lifecycle Management solutions, has introduced new versions of Automate!Control and Automate!Change, part of their Automate! suite designed to reduce high costs and effort required to maintain packaged applications like SAP, PeopleSoft and Oracle E-Business Suite.

These programs now offer workflow, document management, improved data reporting and enhanced security for PeopleSoft and Oracle E-Business Suite customers. They also integrate with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, letting customers benefit from increased collaboration, information sharing and productivity.

Oracle has taken it's Universal Content Management solution to a new level by announcing two new components: Universal Online Archive and Email Archive Service. Both of these components are just the latest in the long line of integrated products to support the growing needs of content management.

IBM is not the only ECM vendor looking to leverage social networking capabilities in their applications. Looks like Oracle is getting into the game as well. In this case, it's a mix of CRM and social networking in an On Demand solution.

Sounds a little like salesforce.com's new Spring 08 release to me.

Oracle Universal Content Management clients must feel a warm rush of excitement hearing that Clay Tablet, an integrator of content management technologies and translation systems/providers will support connectivity to the Oracle CMS.

Like the other big software players, Oracle likes to hold something back for conferences like AIIM so that it has something to talk about -- other than event catering and the weather -- when it bumps into it's professional contemporaries in the bar. Oracle doesn't "do" small-talk very well. And probably doesn't even go to the bar, come to that, preferring to spend the time training for triathlons or something.

So while it may be a lousy drinking buddy, Oracle makes for a good enterprise software partner, and the updates unveiled at this year's AIIM make its Enterprise CMS package a yet more attractive proposition.

Are you an Oracle Content Management fan? Then here's the event of the year for you. It's Oracle's Collaborate 08 conference and it's happening April 13–17, 2008 at the Denver Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

Seems Oracle is on a buying spree these days. It announced the purchase of document capture solution provider, Captivation right on the heels of it's acquisition of BEA Systems for $8.5 billion. Put these two things together and it's obvious Oracle is a mission to be numero uno in the industry.