Open Text reveals 2010 roadmap

Enterprise content management firm Open Text has detailed its product roadmap for next year, revealing new web content management, digital asset management and social media solutions.

Open Text used its customer event in the US to discuss how the company's purchase of Vignette will help it deliver new services and features to customers.

The recession has meant that companies have to get the most out of their web businesses, which Open Text said is the "critical channel" through which to engage customers.

The company explained that it will refresh most of its solutions with this in mind, adding tools and processes that can help to streamline and improve business.

"The expectations for the web have evolved. A successful Enterprise 2.0 strategy must consider social media, mobile devices and brand consistency, all while managing massive amounts of content in a range of formats," said Scott Bowen, senior vice president at Open Text.

"Medium and large enterprises must learn to do this effectively and securely, while meeting compliance and privacy requirements. We are helping customers bridge the divide, combining new technology to extend their enterprise content management [ECM] solutions in new and more powerful ways.

"The plans we are unveiling this week demonstrate a comprehensive set of new capabilities, all integrated as part of the Open Text ECM Suite."

The new Vignette Content Management 8.0 solution will be released this quarter, the firm said, offering a number of additions such as an improved user interface and enhanced publishing tools. The upcoming version 8.1, due in the second quarter of next year, will formally become part of the Open Text ECM Suite.

Open Text's Portal Manager 9.0 for SAP NetWeaver Portal will also be updated, as will its Web Solutions package for web site deployment and management.

Also in 2010 the firm will launch a new user interface tool called Media Management 7.0, which is designed to improve rich media management, and Vignette Community Applications 8.0, which is aimed at improving customer interactions.

Open Text said that 2012 will see the release of a new Web Business app that combines Vignette content management tools with its own web solutions. This will create a platform and application framework with enhanced content modelling and "templating", richer in-context editing for non-technical users and faster web site deployment, according to the firm.

This will be updated next year with the introduction of Open Text Social Media 1.1, which will feature deeper integration with the ECM Suite, a new wiki editor and a micro-blogging/instant messaging feature.

"In this digital world, content comprises the heart of business innovation, efficiency and profit. Our solutions help organisations drive value from content through the delivery of personal and relevant experiences that support revenue generation and efficiency throughout the enterprise," said Bowen.

"These proven and vital presentation services deliver substantial return on investment for literally hundreds of critical business applications."