Are SaaS (Software as a Service) options viable for ECM? I seem to hear that question with increasing frequency, and frankly, it's a difficult one to answer. There are plenty of vendor options out there - from pure plays like Spring CM, to hybrids like Xythos and Treno. But just because there are plenty of options doesn't means it's a particularly good idea. Though I can see the logic to BCS (Basic Content Services) being delivered through the SaaS model, full blown ECM deployments seem much more of a stretch. In the world of ECM we are typically looking at complex processes with integration into legacy systems -- it's hard to see the match up with SaaS.

However, most people just want BCS options -- and the vendors need some way to compete against Microsoft's SharePoint. Moreover, with the entry of Salesforce.com later in the year, and strong indications that EMC|Documentum will also deliver a dedicated SaaS option, then clearly SaaS ECM will become a more prominent option to consider. But it's an option I think buyers need to consider cautiously and examine the providers' true motives: is it a best means of delivering ECM more effectively or a simply means of survival in a turbulent market?