IQ buys document management company

By Staff Writer for IQ Business Group

Johannesburg, 18 Jul 2001

The IQ Business Group has acquired document management and workflow company E2K for an undisclosed sum.

E2K, to be renamed Content IQ, is a master value-added reseller of high-end document management solution FileNET. Its clients include Standard Bank, Liberty Life and CGU.

Chris Sinclair, the CEO of IQ`s South African operation, says the acquisition complements IQ`s core focus -- the redesign, enhancement and implementation of optimal business processes.

"IQ`s track record and work within the changing and dynamic nature of clients` business has highlighted a need to integrate inflexible legacy systems and their data cost-effectively," Sinclair adds.

He says that while IQ is not product-centric in its application of technology, E2K`s relationship with FileNET and its market penetration gives the group the capability to manage some of the largest workflow projects available.

"E2K`s strong reputation among leading South African corporate companies is synergistic with IQ`s essentially blue chip client base."

Content IQ MD Louis Yssel says the company is also "exploring other solutions, including different business and pricing models, with the aim of bringing document management, imaging and workflow within the scope of medium and smaller enterprises".

While E2K is credited as having one of FileNET`s Top 10 most certified teams in the world, it will use IQ`s development expertise to provide customised elements within the FileNET interface.

"Workflow and document management have come of age. Technology has developed to the point where it can now add value to workflow, and make a substantial contribution to an organisation`s bottom line. Information workflow has also become key in providing appropriate corporate intelligence," Yssel says.

"This fact combined with recent legislation, which forces companies to keep certain documents in electronic format, bode well for strong growth in this market," he adds.

"Many corporate companies struggle to integrate legacy systems and data into their business processes," says Sinclair. "Document management, imaging and workflow systems help mobilise the inherent inflexibility of legacy data making it available to other areas of the organisation where process enhancements can be made."