Why You Need Enterprise Content Management Software

Why you need enterprise content management software + 14 best tools

Managing documents from ideation to the publishing phase is a long and complex process. And that’s especially true if you’re working in an enterprise company.

In enterprises, everything gets more complex – teams get larger, there’s more dependency on different stakeholders, and the importance of accuracy becomes vital.

That’s why creating a place where all stakeholders can go to take a look at the documents, collaborate on them, leave their feedback, and approve a certain version of a file while maintaining file security can be extremely beneficial.

To make sure you’re well aware of what enterprise content management software entails, what are some of its most important benefits, and what tools are available at the moment, keep reading!

What is enterprise content management software?

Enterprise content management software are tools used by organizations to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to the organization’s processes and operations.

Enterprise content management tools are designed to help businesses streamline their content management, improve collaboration, ensure regulatory compliance, enforce AI content governance, and improve overall productivity.

Key features of an enterprise content management system

Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems are designed to manage, store, organize, and distribute an organization’s content and documents efficiently. They typically offer a wide range of features to support these objectives.

Here are some key features of most enterprise content management systems:

14 best enterprise content management software

Here’s a list of the 14 best enterprise content management software for various use cases.

1. Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a versatile enterprise content management platform that is an integral part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It serves as a centralized hub for organizations to manage documents, content, and collaborate effectively.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Best for teams already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem

Microsoft SharePoint is best for organizations that rely heavily on Microsoft products and need a versatile ECM solution that seamlessly integrates with their existing tools and infrastructure.

2. OpenText ECM Suite

OpenText ECM Suite is a comprehensive enterprise content management solution designed to help organizations manage content, documents, and records efficiently. This ECM system is highly customizable and suitable for organizations of various sizes and industries.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

OpenText doesn’t offer any pricing information about their ECM Suite. On their website, the company invites everyone to contact them regarding pricing and more details about a certain pricing plan.

Best for large enterprises in regulated industries

OpenText ECM Suite is best suited for large enterprises and regulated industries that require a robust ECM solution with strong compliance and security features.

3. Filestage

Filestage is a content review and approval platform designed for in-house marketing departments and creative teams. The tool streamlines the review and approval processes for digital content, making it easier for teams to collaborate and share feedback on various file types.

Filestage also allows you to verify each stakeholder’s approval to minimize the potential for any error and improve accountability of your reviewers.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Filestage offers a free plan, which includes one active project, five new files per month, and unlimited reviewers.

If you need more projects, files, and features, the Starter plan gives you unlimited active projects and files for $199/month – including due dates, compare version feature, and custom branding.

The Business plan includes more advanced features like AI reviewers, automations, and project templates for $329/month. Test out this plan in our free 30-day trial.

Best for marketing teams looking to streamline their feedback and approval process

Filestage is best for creative teams, marketing departments, and agencies that require a streamlined solution for content collaboration, review, and approval processes.

4. HubSpot Content Hub

HubSpot Content Hub offers an enterprise-specific package with numerous advanced functionalities: content approval workflows, adaptive testing, automated repurposing, and podcast management tools are just a few examples.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Best for large content marketing teams looking for a highly scalable solution

With the Content Hub and other products you have the option to bring your entire team into the HubSpot ecosystem, which makes it a good solution for scaling teams.

5. Alfresco

Alfresco is an open-source enterprise content services platform known for its flexibility and extensibility. It provides a range of features for document and records management, workflow automation, and collaboration, making it a versatile solution for various industries.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Alfresco offers a content management suite with three different pricing options:

Each option offers different storage and feature capabilities, but you’ll need to request a quote from the company to get specific prices for each option.

Best for companies looking for a highly customizable ECM solution

Alfresco is best for organizations that need a highly customizable enterprise content management solution and are comfortable with open-source software. It is particularly valuable for businesses with unique content management needs.

6. M-Files

M-Files is a dynamic enterprise content management solution designed to help organizations efficiently manage and organize their documents and information.

M-Files stands out for its unique approach to content management, emphasizing metadata-driven classification and intuitive searching for enhanced user experience. It offers a host of features to streamline content management processes.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

M-Files offers custom pricing plans available after requesting a quote from the company.

Best for enterprises with a metadata-driven approach to content management

M-Files is best suited for organizations seeking a user-friendly enterprise content management solution with a metadata-driven approach, making it ideal for companies focused on efficient content management and retrieval.

7. IBM FileNet

IBM FileNet is a robust enterprise content management solution that offers various features for document and content management, workflow automation, and records management.

As part of the IBM ecosystem, FileNet provides a comprehensive approach to content management for organizations of all sizes.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

There isn’t any available information online about the IBM FileNet pricing plans.

Best for organizations looking for a comprehensive ECM solution

IBM FileNet is best for organizations looking for a comprehensive ECM solution that can seamlessly integrate with other IBM products, making it suitable for businesses that need a holistic approach to content management. It’s a top-level tool for enhancing enterprise workflow automation.

8. Laserfiche

Laserfiche is a versatile enterprise content management solution designed to help organizations efficiently manage, store, and secure their documents and information.

It provides a comprehensive suite of features for content management, workflow automation, and records retention, making it a valuable asset for various industries.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Best for enterprises focused on file management

Laserfiche is best for organizations seeking a comprehensive ECM solution with a focus on file management, workflow automation, and compliance, making it a versatile choice for various industries.

9. Hyland OnBase

Hyland OnBase is a versatile enterprise content management solution known for its robust document and content management capabilities. It offers a range of features to help organizations efficiently manage documents, streamline processes, and improve collaboration.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

OnBase Premium Enterprise offers five tiers of pricing:

Best for organizations looking for a versatile content management system

Hyland OnBase is best for organizations seeking a comprehensive ECM solution with strong file management, workflow automation, and compliance features. It is a versatile choice for various industries looking to enhance their content management processes.

10. DocuWare

DocuWare is a popular file management and workflow automation solution designed to help organizations streamline their document-centric processes.

It offers a comprehensive range of features that make it easier for businesses to capture, manage, and organize documents, as well as automate their workflow processes.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

According to Trust Radius, DocuWare offers four different pricing models:

Best for document automation

DocuWare is best for organizations looking to streamline their document management processes and automate workflows, making it particularly valuable for businesses with document-intensive operations.

11. Nuxeo

Nuxeo is a powerful and extensible enterprise content management platform that focuses on managing and leveraging unstructured data. It provides organizations with a robust set of features for document management, content governance, and digital asset management.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

There’s no available information online about Nuxeo’s exact prices.

Best for businesses with diverse content needs

Nuxeo is best for organizations seeking an extensible and scalable ECM platform that can handle complex content management requirements, making it a valuable choice for businesses with diverse content needs.

12. DocStar ECM software

DocStar ECM Software is a document management and automation solution designed to help organizations improve document capture, storage, and retrieval processes. It offers a range of features to streamline document-centric operations and enhance overall efficiency.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

DocStar pricing isn’t publicly available and you could get a quote by contacting the company’s customer support.

Best for businesses with document-intensive operations

DocStar ECM Software is best for organizations looking to optimize their document management processes and automate workflows, making it a valuable asset for businesses with document-intensive operations.

13. Dokmee

Dokmee is a versatile document management and content management solution designed to help organizations efficiently capture, store, and manage their documents and information.

It provides a comprehensive suite of features to streamline document management and improve overall business efficiency.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Dokmee doesn’t list their pricing information publicly. If you’d like to get a pricing quote from the company, you should request it directly from their customer service.

Best for compliance and records management

Dokmee is valuable for businesses that need to adhere to regulatory compliance requirements, including records management and retention policies.

14. ELO Digital Office

ELO Digital Office is a prominent enterprise content management solution designed to empower organizations with efficient document management, process automation, and information governance.

ELO Digital Office provides a comprehensive set of tools to help organizations capture, store, manage, and access their documents, fostering streamlined operations and improved collaboration. It is known for its flexibility, scalability, and security, making it a trusted choice for businesses across various industries.

Key features

Pros

Cons

Pricing

As many other enterprise content management systems, ELO Digital doesn’t offer their pricing information online. The company requires contacting their sales to get a customized quote for your use case.

Best for specific workflow automation needs

ELO Digital is an ideal choice for organizations seeking a flexible and scalable ECM solution that can be customized to meet specific content management and workflow automation needs. It is particularly valuable for businesses in various industries looking to enhance their document and records management capabilities.

Eight benefits of implementing a dedicated enterprise content management software

Dedicated enterprise content management software helps your team manage a number of documents while staying in sync with everyone involved with the project. These tools also help you maintain compliance and allow your team to scale their document production.

Here are the eight most important benefits of implementing enterprise content services platforms:

  1. Improved document management
  2. Streamlined workflows
  3. Improved collaboration
  4. Security and compliance
  5. Reduced paper usage
  6. Version control
  7. Faster search and retrieval
  8. Scalability and integration

1. Improved document management

Enterprise content management systems allow your organization to centralize and organize documents in one platform. This helps everyone involved with the project easier to find, access, and manage critical business information.

At the end of the day, thanks to a document management system, your team will improve overall efficiency and productivity.

2. Streamlined workflows

Streamlining document production and approval can be a hell of a task. As most enterprise content management software include workflow automation capabilities, you can easily automate and optimize business processes and reduce manual tasks.

By streamlining your workflows, you’ll be able to get faster at decision-making, and decrease operational costs.

3. Improved collaboration

No content is ever created in vacuum. You need multiple team members, and probably other colleagues involved in the process.

With an enterprise content management solution, you can facilitate collaboration among team members by allowing multiple users to access, edit, and share documents in real time. This fosters better teamwork and knowledge sharing among all your employees and teams.

4. Security and compliance

One of the most important specifics of content management in an enterprise is the importance of security and compliance. It’s absolutely critical.

Enterprise content management systems provide robust security measures, including access controls and encryption, to protect sensitive data. This is especially important for industries with strict regulatory requirements like healthcare and finance.

5. Reduced paper usage

One eco-friendly benefit of the enterprise content management system is the amount of paper documents that don’t have to be printed out on a daily basis. Besides taking care of the environment, your company will also end up with some significant cost savings thanks to the switch.

6. Version control

Enterprise content management software often includes version control features, ensuring that users always access the most up-to-date document versions. This eliminates confusion and errors associated with working on outdated documents.

Plus, a well executed version control system allows you to compare multiple versions of the file side-by-side for a most convenient editing process.

7. Faster search and retrieval

Powerful search functionality and metadata tagging in Enterprise content management systems make it easy to quickly locate and retrieve documents. This helps you improve response times and customer service.

8. Scalability and integration

When it comes to content management in an enterprise, it’s important to have a system in place that allows scaling for increased usage and demand.

Luckily, enterprise content management solutions are typically scalable, allowing organizations to grow and adapt. They also integrate with other business applications, like CRM and ERP systems, to create a seamless information ecosystem.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, now you have a good understanding of what enterprise content management software is and which one would be best to implement in your organization.

To see first hand how Filestage can help you optimize your content review and approval processes, make sure to try it for free →

Nika Prpic
Content writer and marketer with a soft spot for SaaS, marketing strategy, and untangling messy review workflows. Writes about everything from approval tools to brand design at Filestage. Big fan of clarity, speed, and zero fluff.