Johannesburg, 04 Oct 2012
Deltalink Consulting, the local distributor of M-Files, today announced the immediate availability of the latter's M-Files 9.0, the flexible cloud, on-premise and hybrid enterprise content management (ECM) solution.
This new version of the award-winning M-Files ECM solution builds on its unique metadata-driven architecture to deliver major enhancements, such as automated replication of documents and other content between repositories located on-premise and in the cloud, integrated file sharing and collaboration with Microsoft SkyDrive, improved search results, archiving files in PDF/A-1b format for efficient long-term preservation of electronic documents, participation in workflows and direct editing of metadata from mobile devices, and many more improvements.
"With M-Files 9.0, we've continued to expand our lead in using metadata to deliver ECM capabilities that simply aren't possible with folder-based approaches, which is the approach used in nearly every other ECM system on the market," said Greg Milliken, president of M-Files. "Our metadata-driven architecture is comprehensive, spanning all aspects of our product, including browsing and navigation, access permissions, workflow, and now replication. When coupled with our ability to deliver an identical experience on-premise or in the cloud, metadata-driven replication opens up a variety of common and advanced new use cases, from basic cloud-based backup and disaster recovery, to advanced support for geographically distributed enterprises requiring multiple document repositories. And more remarkable is the fact that we have not compromised ease of use; M-Files provides these rich capabilities 'out of the box' without requiring programming or extensive consulting services, ensuring a fast implementation and a rapid ROI."
M-Files 9.0 and metadata: The foundation for next-generation ECM
M-Files is at the forefront of the ECM metadata movement, and M-Files 9.0 is built from the ground up with metadata in mind. M-Files was designed around the concept that it is far easier and more accurate to classify something by describing what it is rather than where it is stored. This solves a fundamental problem that cannot be addressed with a traditional folder-based approach: enabling documents and other information to be found in more than one location with no duplication of data. A proposal or a contract can be found with other contracts and proposals, or with the customer and/or project it is related to, by date, and so on. Documents and information become discoverable and accessible based on the context and the need, and it is completely dynamic.
Document management in M-Files is based purely on metadata, and as a result, classifying files with metadata in M-Files does not require additional effort from users. This is a vastly different approach compared to other ECM and document management products that add metadata as an additional layer on top of a traditional folder-based hierarchy.
Access control is also a vital component of information management, and M-Files 9.0 incorporates a metadata-driven security architecture (patent-pending) for controlling content permissions. This unique architecture provides a revolutionary way for M-Files customers to manage access to confidential content by simply tagging it. For instance, adding or removing someone from a project team can automatically make all project-related documents accessible or not accessible by that individual.
M-Files 9.0 also supports archiving all documents and other content based on dynamic metadata filters. This simplifies implementing and complying with records retention and disposal policies. M-Files customers can easily implement archiving processes that automatically convert files to PDF/A-1b format and then move them to another repository in the cloud or on-premise.
According to Gartner's October 2011 Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Content Management, in a regulated environment: "Companies look to ECM solutions to provide a full life cycle approach to managing information - from creation to destruction. ECM tools provide this level of support for many enterprises, beginning with integration with the Microsoft Office Suite for management of new and collaboratively authored content, to the use of inherited predefined metadata to automate the eventual records categorisation. Companies use these tools to demonstrate best efforts at organising and managing their information in a proactive manner to meet legal needs."
Support for multiple document vault deployments in the cloud, on-premise or hybrid
M-Files 9.0 adds rich support for customer deployments with multiple document repositories, also known as vaults. With the enhanced interaction and co-operation between multiple document repositories, M-Files 9.0 empowers businesses with the flexibility to organise documents and other content along geographic or functional boundaries for maximum responsiveness and efficiency.
Seamless co-operation between on-premise and cloud repositories enable new use cases in M-Files 9.0, such as replicating select project documentation to the cloud for publishing and collaboration with subcontractors and other external users, or for replication of data between two or more sites, such as a corporate entity and its subsidiaries, or a business with distributed sales offices or retail outlets.
Easy collaboration and 'co-authoring' of files via Microsoft SkyDrive
M-Files 9.0 also supports file sharing and collaboration with Microsoft SkyDrive, eliminating the need to share files via large e-mail attachments. It's now possible to use the popular - and free - service to enable others to access, review and even simultaneously edit files using the new "co-authoring" features of SkyDrive. M-Files customers can now use SkyDrive to share and collaborate on content with others, such as customers, partners and contractors, without ever granting them access to the organisation's own systems or network. Files shared via SkyDrive are accessible through essentially any device, including PCs, smartphones, tablets and Macs. M-Files 9.0 also supports co-authoring of files in SharePoint 2010.
M-Files applications and UI configuration capabilities
M-Files 9.0 features a new user interface (UI) extensibility framework that enables partners and customers to build unique custom applications that incorporate best-in-class document, information and business process management based on M-Files. M-Files partners and customers can build new industry- or process-specific applications that include robust metadata-driven enterprise content management functionality, including version control, indexing and fast search, secure access permissions, workflow and business process automation, reporting, analytics and business intelligence, paper document capture and optical character recognition (OCR), backup and disaster recovery, records management and archiving, and regulatory compliance support.
Additional new features and capabilities in M-Files 9.0
* Fully-compatible with Windows 8, Microsoft's newest edition of its operating system for PCs, Office 2013 (also referred to as Office 15), the latest version of Microsoft's industry-leading suite of office productivity software programs for the Windows operating system, and Windows Server 2012.
* Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013.
* Support for all SQL Server editions of 2005, 2008 (R2) and 2012, including Express.
* M-Files OCR now provides 1D and 2D bar code support.
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