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ECM TrendWatch, by Alan Pelz-Sharpe
Alan Pelz-Sharpe is a principal and analyst at CMS Watch, covering enterprise content management technologies and practices. An 18-year veteran of the document technology industry, we was formerly a strategist at Wipro and VP North America for analyst firm Ovum. See More by Alan Pelz-Sharpe Microsoft, Big ECM and Big Pharma
This year's big Drug Information Association (DIA) conference in Atlanta concluded with something of a shock for enterprise content management (ECM) vendors. Microsoft SharePoint will now compete directly with established Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences-focused vendors EMC|Documentum and Open Text. Pharma was supposed to be sacred ground for the big ECM vendors -- one area of turf where few thought Microsoft would tread. In fact, Microsoft comes to this party via two key partners: NextDocs (and their consulting partners at CSC) and First Consulting Group - both delivering applications for regulatory submissions built on SharePoint. It is of particular note that FCG was (and remains) a long term EMC|Documentum partner and brings a vast amount of industry expertise to the equation. So we are not looking at a couple of fresh-faced upstarts, but rather experienced veterans entering the market with a new, low-cost alternative. In some regards this should not come as all that much of a surprise, particularly to those of us who consulted to the Life Sciences sector. Many enterprises in this sector are dedicated Documentum or Open Text customers, but few of them truly use the functionality to its full effect, and many have spent huge sums of money on licenses that remain unused. The sector has offered a longtime cash cow for ECM vendors, and I've seen first hand the low-priority assigned by vendors in return (such customers were considered "locked in," and managed via a few key contacts and the use of corporate hospitality)...a situation ripe for change. For buyers in this sector, it gives a great opportunity to reassess your ECM investments. Examine what you really use, what you want, and what you have, then look at the marketplace afresh to see what measures up. If nothing else, the more credible Microsoft entrance into the market gives you considerable leverage over existing relationships -- an opportunity you should use to your advantage. Alan Pelz-Sharpe is a principal analyst at CMS Watch. Write him at aps@cmswatch.com  E-MAIL | SLASHDOT | DIGG This is a public forum. CMP Technology and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. CMP Technology makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers. Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of CMP Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in CMP Technology's Terms of Service. Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.
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