IBM is tying its database content management technology more closely to records management and extended Web services functionality to help customers integrate multiple forms of data across diverse repositories.
Last week, the Armonk, N.Y., company unveiled its enhanced DB2 Content Management portfolio, which allows data types to be captured, searched and managed as part of simplified business processes. Due by months end, the software includes DB2 Content Manager 8.3, DB2 Document Manager 8.3 and DB2 CommonStore 8.3, IBM officials said.
DB2 Content Manager 8.3 can capture and manage XML documents via integration with IBMs native XML-mapping Project Cinnamon technology, which also provides automated indexing and search capabilities. Along with new records management integration and expanded language support, DB2 Document Manager 8.3 boosts security through new single-sign-on capabilities.
DB2 CommonStore 8.3, for its part, features single-instance archiving and lets users declare, classify or save records based on retention policies.
In addition, IBM last week introduced Corporate Information Asset Manager, aimed at helping life sciences and pharmaceutical companies target data that must be archived, retrieved or deleted, and Account Opening Solution, designed to help the banking industry bolster service for opening checking, savings and loan accounts.
Issues related to cost reduction, productivity losses and compliance are leading customers to pursue enriched content management to gain more insight from information already stored in relational databases or transaction-type data, said Janet Perna, general manager of data management solutions for the IBM Software Group.
“You cant dismiss content, nor can you dismiss the integration of information when you start thinking about the value proposition of helping companies manage all of their information assets,” said Perna. “Its not just about managing IBM information assets or Oracle [Corp.] assets; its about helping [customers] manage all of their information assets.”
Currently kicking the tires on DB2 Content Management, Joseph Aulino, vice president and CIO of Marist College, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said the new software will be used to integrate rich media and content, digitize old files and records, and streamline administrative data.
“[DB2 Content Management] is really going to allow us to start small and build toward digitizing static pages and then move to a full document management solution, where it would check documents and collaboration, workflow capabilities, and maybe even manage our Web site,” said Aulino.