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Alan Pelz-Sharpe

Changes to Autonomy iManage WorkSite

22-Dec-2010

Tags: Document Management (ECM), Marketplace at Large, Selecting Technology, iManage WorkSite, Legal

The longtime document and records management product iManage WorkSite has had a turbulent history: launched in the dot-com boom years, it quickly found an enthusiastic customer base in the Legal sector. Acquired by Interwoven in 2003 it carried on much as before with relatively little interference from the web-centric management at Interwoven.

But things change, and when Interwoven was itself acquired by UK-based Autonomy in early 2009 the world of WorkSite was due for a major shake up. For example:

• The Microsoft-centric WorkSite product is now tied to a Java-centric workflow system called Autonomy Process Manager (formerly Cardiff LiquidOffice)
• WorkSite itself has been "IDOL-ized" - i.e., had its search guts removed and replaced with Autonomy technology
• There are big changes afoot regarding the Records Management elements of WorkSite

iManage WorkSite is the closest thing Autonomy has to an ECM Suite offering within in its broad portfolio of products (over 40 at present), but its certainly not the only Autonomy product of interest for document and records management. Navigating that product set remains a challenge, particularly when general compliance requirements need to be met.

Customers face still more difficulty penetrating the marketing-speak at Autonomy around "meaning based computing" -- an interesting concept for sure, but not one that immediately makes sense or seems relevant to many buyers.

In just a year, a lot has happened to WorkSite as we detail in our updated product evaluation of iManage WorkSite, just released this week. Anyone interested in buying or upgrading WorkSite would be well advised to check it out.