The optimization of business processes has long been a priority for CxO’s. As a result, many organizations have invested in applications to automate processes, with much emphasis on solutions such as Enterprise Resource planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Human Resource Management (HRM).

As regards processes, these are very well supported by the solutions; the implementation of these applications is also an opportunity to examine how the processes themselves can be optimized.

As regards information, these solutions contain only one part of business critical information. As it happens, the applications, do not contain the "unstructured content" such as planning documents, incoming invoices, correspondence, contracts, etc. which are so important when taking decisions within processes. The unstructured content is not part of the above solutions; rather, it belongs to the area of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems.

There are great advantages to be gained by incorporating ECM in your business processes. This can be achieved with SAP Extended ECM by Opentext. In practice, an implementation will result in making all information available to the users within one application, which not only speeds up but also improve decision-making. More precisely, the advantages are as follows:

1. Documents directly available within SAP processes. Advantages: ability to find documents rapidly and easily, also from SAP.

2. SAP information made available in "Non-SAP" applications. Advantages: fast access to SAP information from ECM for "Non-SAP" users.

3. A central work environment where both SAP and Non-SAP users are able to work together in the context of a process. Advantages: more efficient cooperation in a central environment.

4. Automatic classification of documents from the process context. Advantages: less work in filling in data and documents are retrieved faster.

5. Certified Records Management. Extended ECM is a useful instrument in legal and regulatory compliance.

6. Storage optimization. Advantages: Lower costs because the SAP and ECM data that is used less frequently is kept on cheaper media.

Delaware Consulting has built up a very broad experience in Extended ECM applications and can support you throughout the implementation process.