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Document management specialist M-Files announced the availability of M-Files 2015, which includes the ability to create graphical workflows to increase business process efficiency.
The graphical workflow editor in the updated edition enables the creation and display of workflow processes as graphical diagrams, providing the ability to visualize and manage complex workflows.
In addition, for businesses with regulatory or quality mandates, diagrams can be exported to support compliance requirements.
M-Files is based on a unique approach that organizes information by what it is, rather than a traditional folder-based approach that depends on where it’s stored.
In M-Files, location becomes irrelevant, as an information asset is not in this folder or that one, but classified by its metadata and relationships, which establish context and relevance for the information asset.
For instance, a proposal is important because it is related to the customer, and while this approach is designed to deliver better results related to how information is organized, managed and processed, a major driver in the company’s development strategy related to ease of use is that it offers a simpler and more intuitive approach for the user.
“Document management and information management is becoming more complicated for businesses because of the ever-increasing amount of content that is created and then often managed in disconnected systems and information silos,” Greg Milliken, vice president of marketing, told eWEEK. “Businesses rely on fast access to current information to make smarter and faster decisions to drive growth and profitability and to gain competitive advantage. However, many organizations are drowning in a sea of information that grows bigger and bigger each day.”
The platform also features improved replication capabilities that provide enhanced support for business continuity and hybrid cloud deployments.
The replication capabilities in this release enable companies with either cloud or on-premises M-Files deployments to leverage free cloud storage, powered by Microsoft Azure, to store and manage select files to the cloud to ensure content is secured, protected and available.
Additional new features and capabilities in M-Files 2015 include more powerful mobile app information management capabilities.
The mobile apps allow remote workers to create, edit, share and process information on the go, and M-Files mobile app capabilities include the ability to create new objects, such as documents, customers and accounts, edit files, share files with others and access documents in offline mode.
M-Files mobile apps can be downloaded for free for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone devices.
“The use of mobile devices in the enterprise for accessing, sharing and processing documents and other information is becoming increasingly pervasive,” Milliken said. “More and more companies are becoming comfortable with allowing their staff to use mobile devices for document management and process management-related activities.”
From providing secure mobile access to even the most sensitive and mission-critical information, to streamlining workflows and automating compliance procedures, businesses in a wide range of industries are increasingly leveraging and depending on mobile technology to make their staffs more productive while maintaining control over confidential information and ensuring compliance, Milliken said.