For a number of years now, thanks to M-Files, more and more organisations have been encountering a totally new take on information management. It now appears that M-Files' approach matches the vision of Gartner on the future of ECM. In the annual 'Magic Quadrant for ECM', M-Files is the only one awarded the title 'Visionary'. What change is the enterprise content management industry facing?

New definition ECM

Gartner underlines in its 'Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Content Management (ECM)' that new technologies and changing business needs for digital content are going to change the ECM market. The focus is shifting from a strategic need to 'a more dynamic and flexible approach to content management, taking into account continuously changing conditions'. These changes in the ECM market are going to bring more dynamism, growth and innovation. M-Files is already responding to this with its approach and technology.

What instead of where

M-Files' innovative technology focuses on increasing the relevance of information. A key focus here is the context in which the user is looking for information. Take as an example an employee looking for information related to a specific customer. The context in which an employee from the accounting team is looking for invoices from this customer is very different from the legal department, which wants to see, for example, whether the contract with this customer is up for renewal.

This approach focuses on relevance and context by focusing on 'what' the information is and what it is related to. This method is targeted and precise, regardless of which department the employee is working in. Whether it is a contract, proposal or invoice, the search focus in this case is on the specific customer. This makes the path to information intuitive, resulting in finding information faster. With more certainty that the employee gets to the right document.

Crossing barriers

Within companies, it is difficult to assess how and where people store documents and information. For example, the legal department has a different folder structure than the sales team. Let alone how this may differ between companies or even between different business sectors. M-Files overcomes this problem by structuring information based on what it is. This makes it less relevant 'where' information or a document is stored. Which folder, which library, which website or even in which system information resides no longer matters. Not search, but find.

The new thinking in information management

This is a totally new way of organising, processing, storing, making available, but also securing information. And this way fits perfectly with Gartner's vision of the future. It should be about quickly finding information to a given task. These tasks can vary enormously within an organisation and also change over time. Tasks are becoming more personal and dynamic. A fundamental shift is taking place. A static, hierarchical and folder-based approach, which creates information silos and barriers, is becoming the 'old thinking'. This is exactly what M-Files is breaking through, and this has not gone unnoticed by Gartner analysts.

The M-Files approach is embraced not only by analysts, but also by the market. The use of M-Files is growing exponentially. Change is the only constant factor in the recently awakened Enterprise Content Management industry. Companies that embrace these changes and thus continue to continuously evolve benefit from higher productivity and greater security. Organisations that anticipate this development now are ready to grow. Now and in the future.

Read the full Magic Quadrant for ECM from Gartner.