SWOT Assessment: Upland Software, FileBound v7

Transcription

1 SWOT Assessment: Upland Software, FileBound v7 Analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats Publication Date: 31 Jul 2014 Product code: IT Sue Clarke

2 Summary Catalyst Workflow is an important element of enterprise content management (ECM) solutions, ranging from simple review workflows to complex capture, data extraction, and routing processes. FileBound is a document and workflow solution that automates the flow of content. Its features include capture, electronic forms, analytics, and mobile access. It has been designed to allow business users to easily create workflows, and its simulation capabilities allow users to examine how processes will work and where potential bottlenecks lie. This cloud-native solution is available via a subscription model as well as on-premise, and meets the growing demand for hosted solutions, reducing complexity for customers. Key messages The FileBound repository has security at its core with support for encryption and granular permissions. It also includes standard features such as check-in/check-out, revision control, annotations, and full-text search. The proprietary workflow automates transactional processes and is configured via an easy-to-use graphical interface with drag-and-drop capabilities. Integrated capture allows data to be extracted from structured forms. Documents are run through an OCR (optical character recognition) process and templates are applied to them with the data displayed through the FileBound viewer, which can be used for exceptions review. Upland Software faces stiff competition from vendors in a number of technology areas including ECM and case management. Ovum view It is difficult to categorize FileBound. It clearly sits in the ECM space, but does not provide full ECM capabilities. It also has many of the elements of a case management solution, but again not all. Ovum believes that FileBound faces competition from both of these product types. However, it does have differentiators. The product has been designed with a cloud-native architecture. While customers have the option of deploying it on-premise, the product has been optimized for the cloud with delivery via a browser. It also includes forms creation, which not all ECM and case management products have. These features should make the product attractive to organizations that need strong workflow for the management of documents. FileBound should also appeal to business users who are able to configure workflow, e-forms, and analytics, using easy-to-use graphical tools, without any IT intervention Ovum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Page 2

3 Recommendations for enterprises Why consider FileBound? FileBound uses responsive design so that it can be used on a wide range of mobile devices as well as on more traditional desktops. This will appeal to organizations that have employees who need to access the system on-the-move. It also incorporates analytics, allowing managers to have an overview of how individual processes are progressing, where bottlenecks are occurring, and which tasks are in danger of overrunning. This is a valuable feature for any organization, but particularly those that have remote workers where management does not have such close control over their work practices. SWOT analysis Strengths Extensive workflow capabilities are provided The workflow Designer offers an easy-to-use graphical interface with drag-and-drop capabilities, allowing business users to create or modify workflows. Users are able to test out workflows using the built-in simulator. The tool also includes automated workflow execution and automated escalation processing. Analytics are built into the solution Intuitive dashboards and reporting are provided through FileBound analytics, allowing users insight into their data and business processes through a visual representation of how their system is being used and the expected performance of processes, compared with historical averages. Electronic forms can be created directly in the FileBound interface Users can create and integrate electronic forms into FileBound processes. A drag-and-drop form designer is provided, allowing business users to quickly create forms. The system comes with a number of pre-built forms, which can be customized. Forms can be used to drive workflow processes and can be openly accessible or secured using tokens. Data can be extracted from forms using the capture capability The capture technology allows users to recognize and extract data from structured forms from within the FileBound application. Server-side automation of the capture process is provided to enable lights-out processing. The data can be displayed via the FileBound viewer. An editable grid is provided Documents are listed in an editable grid, which allows users to change the information without having to open the document Ovum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Page 3

4 Weaknesses FileBound by Upland Software relies heavily on the reseller market The vast majority of sales are made through the reseller market. This can be a risky strategy if resellers decide they no longer wish to sell a particular vendor's products. Upland Software should consider increasing direct sales to make the mix of direct and reseller sales more balanced. FileBound is only available on Windows platforms FileBound only runs on Windows platforms, which may deter non-microsoft organizations that wish to use on-premise solutions but do not wish to deploy Windows products. However, this should not affect organizations wishing to deploy FileBound as a cloud solution. Opportunities Being available via the cloud should enable the product to gain market share Upland Software should be able to exploit the growing preference among organizations for cloud solutions, particularly in the mid-market. Cloud solutions eliminate the complexities of having to deploy and maintain a system on-premise when an organization does not have the necessary skills or budget required. The changing requirements of employees should provide an opportunity Fewer employees are working within the office environment, which can make it difficult to train the workforce to use a new system. FileBound has been designed to be easy-to-use with minimum training required, which should suit organizations with a large percentage of non-office-based workers. Responsive design makes the solution suitable for mobile use The ability to display content in the appropriate format for the device being used provides Upland Software with an opportunity to exploit the growing demand for mobile access to applications. FileBound Touch is an interface designed specifically for the mobile user. In addition, ios and Android apps are available. Threats Upland Software faces stiff competition A number of vendors play in the same market segment as Upland Software. These include the large ECM platform vendors that provide business process management (BPM), capture and scanning, and analytics products. There are also specialist case management vendors that provide similar functionality. Data sheet Key facts about the solution Table 1: Data sheet: Upland Software Product name FileBound Product classification Content management 2014 Ovum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Page 4

5 Version number 7 Release date May 2014 Industries covered All Geographies covered Primary geographical targets are North America and Europe Relevant company sizes Target is midsized companies Platforms supported Windows Server 2008 and 2012 Languages supported English Licensing options Perpetual and subscription Deployment options On-premise, on-premise (managed), and SaaS Routes to market Certified value-added resellers and direct URL Company headquarters Austin, Texas, US European headquarters London, UK North America headquarters Same as above Asia-Pacific headquarters n/a Source: Ovum Appendix Methodology Ovum SWOT Assessments are independent reviews carried out using Ovum's evaluation model for the relevant technology area, supported by conversations with vendors, users, and service providers of the solution concerned, and in-depth secondary research. Further reading ECM Platform Vendors versus Specialist Vendors, IT (December 2011) Author Sue Clarke, Senior Analyst, Information Management sue.clarke@ovum.com Ovum Consulting We hope that this analysis will help you make informed and imaginative business decisions. If you have further requirements, Ovum s consulting team may be able to help you. For more information about Ovum s consulting capabilities, please contact us directly at consulting@ovum.com. Copyright notice and disclaimer The contents of this product are protected by international copyright laws, database rights and other intellectual property rights. The owner of these rights is Informa Telecoms and Media Limited, our affiliates or other third party licensors. All product and company names and logos contained within or appearing on this product are the trademarks, service marks or trading names of their respective owners, including Informa Telecoms and Media Limited. This product may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of Informa Telecoms and Media Limited Ovum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Page 5

6 Whilst reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information and content of this product was correct as at the date of first publication, neither Informa Telecoms and Media Limited nor any person engaged or employed by Informa Telecoms and Media Limited accepts any liability for any errors, omissions or other inaccuracies. Readers should independently verify any facts and figures as no liability can be accepted in this regard readers assume full responsibility and risk accordingly for their use of such information and content. Any views and/or opinions expressed in this product by individual authors or contributors are their personal views and/or opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of Informa Telecoms and Media Limited Ovum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. Page 6

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