Factors that drive the need for Distributed Content Management

Three factors such as explosion of unstructured data, the need to manage content in a better way, and the internetworking and collaboration within and between the enterprises drive the need for distributed content management solutions. Distributed content management systems address the need to access content wherever it resides, produce content and maintain greater control over the produced content, and collaborate efficiently by sharing data real-time within a distributed network of stakeholders. In addition, the Distributed content management systems create virtual content repositories which eliminates the need for structured storage. Data structure is irrelevant with the Distributed content management systems, as the information is accessed at its source, in its native format, which expands the reach and participation of stakeholders.

Organizations can deploy the Distributed content management solutions to share real-time information across geographically dispersed knowledge workers. The Distributed content management solutions form the backbone of any platform that requires real-time, efficient information sharing, as it provides a virtual content repository without distracting from the strengths of other process-dependent systems. Distributed content management solutions complement enterprise portal solutions, which are less affected by wider e-business processes. Long term Distributed content management solutions can be designed to complement supply chain management, customer relationship management, and e-commerce solutions.

Data explosion is one of the key factor that drives the need for Distributed content management solutions. As much of the information is unstructured, both individuals and enterprises find it difficult to filter, manage, and share information. Structured data is stored in data warehouses, data marts, and application databases. As unstructured data cannot be readily stored in a relational database, users face difficulty in accessing the data. One solution for this problem will be avoiding the use of a central repository of information, which avoids the need to structure the data in order to store it. The Distributed content management solutions are not affected by the existence of structured and unstructured data, as the virtual content repository can tap into any data in its native format wherever it resides.

Web content management solutions efficiently manage the delivery of content for websites. As the web content management solutions rely on a centralized repository for the storage and management of content, difficulties are faced in accessing the content updating the content dynamically. A decentralized or virtual content repository of Distributed content management solutions can be used by the web content management solutions to access and update the content easily. Distributed content management solutions alleviate the need for replication of centralized content repositories across the global enterprise, by providing a global virtual content repository to the global web content management solutions. Both Distributed content management solutions and global web content management solutions need to work together to ensure that the processes and controls necessary to localize language, culture, currency, and business logic are maintained.

The Distributed content management solutions support collaboration in the sharing and creation of information required to achieve and sustain recombinant business models and communities. As the Distributed content management solutions provide an efficient and effective way for employees and external stakeholders to collaboratively share information both structured and unstructured, the solutions help enhance the success of enterprise portals.

Some of the characteristics of the Distributed content management systems include searching of distributed sources, preservation of secure access based on the rights from the original location, administration of the network from a single point of access, delivery of real-time content to the network that is not replicated, and authentication of users. Additional characteristics include personalization of the display of content based on a user's profile, creation of dynamic tables of contents, and consistent presentation of content regardless of its native format.

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