Datapro Report

Suites Solve Enterprise Info Management Needs

Karen Shegda

One of the biggest challenges facing global organizations is managing document-based information -- often stored in disparate and incompatible systems. To eliminate these disparities, vendors have released application suites that integrate a variety of imaging and document management capabilities.

For example, FileNet (714-966 3400; http://www.filenet.com ) recently announced the Saros Discovery Suite, a client/server solution that integrates imaging, management, and work-flow capabilities. Slated for general availability in the second quarter, the suite consists of Saros Document Manager, FileNet Ensemble for e-mail-based work flow, and Watermark Client for document imaging. The suite is a key component in FileNet's Foundation for Enterprise Document Management strategy. The Saros Discovery Suite ($495 per seat for 100 users) represents the culmination of FileNet's efforts to meld its own products with those of Saros and Watermark, which it acquired in 1995 and 1996. However, FileNet is not alone in delivering such a solution. The Enterprise Document Management System, from Documentum (510-463-6800; http://www.documentum.com ), is a suite of client/server software products for enterprise-wide document management that includes built-in work-flow routing. Documentum EDMS accepts any type of object used in an organization (e.g., text, data, gr aphics, CAD renderings, engineering drawings, and multimedia files) and provides library services such as check-in and check-out, browsing, updating, searching, and viewing. It also provides version control, automatic format detection, annotation support, transformation and renditions, and query language for searching all objects.

Docs Open 3.5 Enterprise Suite, from PC Docs (617-273-3800; http://www.pcdocs.com ), incorporates the Docs Open document manager with Docs Imaging and Docs Routing. Docs Imaging captures single- or multiple-page images for viewing on the Docs Open desktop. It is integrated within Docs Open's document management functionality. Docs Routing provides services for routing documents and folders to others for review, approval, and collaboration and does not require an under lying e-mail system. Docs Open Enterprise Suite costs $499 per client; server pricing starts at $3995.

Lava, from Lava Systems (905-625-4000; http://www.lavasys.com ), combines document management, imaging, and work flow into one package. Lava supports NT, NetWare, and most versions of Unix. Supported SQL engines include Oracle, Sybase, and others. Client software runs under Windows 3.1, 95, or NT. The $15,000 server software price includes licenses for 10 seats. With Lava's compound document management engine, users scan paper documents into Lava and integrate various objects such as e-mail, CAD drawings, digital video, and other types of files, including MS Office 95 file formats. Lava features include revision control, check-in and check-out, precedents, and templates.

Integrated document management s uites represent a much-needed solution to the information management problems of global enterprises. One caveat: A major consideration for users and a primary differentiator among vendors will be the robustness of the individual components within the suite.

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Client Checks

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A: Watermark client checks in document to Saros Document manager.

B: From Saros Document Manager, a wizard guides you to the Ensemble Workflow module.

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Karen Shegda, senior analyst, Datapro Information Services Group. For more information on Datapro reports, call (609) 764-0100; fax (609) 764 -2814; or visit http://www.datapro.com .