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Ten questions concerning web content management systems
In the market for web content management systems (WCMS) the user is spoilt for choice. In order to find first of all a pre-selection of suitable systems, the following ten questions concerning WCMS are to help.
- Can our content model be depicted with the WCMS?
First of all consider which kind of contents you want to generate and maintain with which resources. Especially think about how the working and release process has to be carried out in this. You should fix this in a general content model, which describes this in detail and also includes the necessary links between the contents. The WCMS has to be able to portray this model and does not have to force you to comply with the functions of the system.
- Which prerequisites are required for the IT-infrastructure?
Your company surely already uses different IT-technologies like databases, ERP-systems or even E-commerce solutions. Think about if and how these have to communicate with the WCMS in order to fulfil your requirements.
- How can the WCMS be scaled?
Do not solve short-term problems but select the strategic approach. Consider what you want to achieve on a long-term basis and examine if the WCMS can fulfil the future requirements with regard to the load behaviour and functionalities.
- Can we depict our workflow with the WCMS?
Employees have to be motivated to work with new technology. This also applies to a WCMS. Therefore the new system should be able to depict existing workflows and only bring about marginal modifications.
- Do we have to or can we administrate multi-lingual contents?
Perhaps you currently plan a German website only. This is mostly a big project. If multi-lingual contents have to be administrated in the future, the WCMS should be able to do this now.
- Which import and export possibilities are offered?
If you have an existing website, this has to be transferred efficiently to the new WCMS. With the corresponding import and export interfaces you rely on future safety.
- With which clients can you access the WCMS?
The internet browser is the standard tool to work in a WCMS. Some WCMS, however, require Java, PlugIns or the installations of applications. The higher the requirements on the clients the more difficult is the software maintenance.
- Which deployment variants does the WCMS offer?
WCMS can depict dynamic or static websites. Depending on your content model you know if your website is updated hourly, daily or less frequently. In case of short updating intervals dynamic systems are the better choice, which additionally reduce the load through caching. Static publication of contents is appropriate in case of long upgrading intervals.
- Which costs do incur through the WCMS?
Your budget will already limit the selection. However, do not only think of the licence costs and how these are composed of, but also consider if additional consulting is required for the start of operation. As a rule, these costs exceed the licence costs of the system.
- Can we cooperate with the supplier on a long-term basis?
The decision for WCMS should be made on a long-term basis. For this reason, especially check in this market segment if you still can reckon with updates and further developments of the supplier in some years.
03/2004, Oliver Zschau
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