OpenText adopts Oracle ECM

Enterprise content management (ECM) vendor OpenText has agreed a deal with Oracle to use the database giant’s new Content Database infrastructure software.

The Oracle software can manage unstructured data, such as Word documents, PDF files and graphics files. OpenText plans to offer its document and email management solutions, as well as content-enabled industry applications, such as accounts payable and loan origination systems, on Oracle Content Database.

The combined OpenText and Oracle will enable corporate users to access and manage content from Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft and JD Edwards applications.

OpenText will now concentrate on providing high-level content management functionality while allowing Oracle to provide the low-level infrastructure.

The introduction of regulatory requirements such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the US and Basel II European regulations means that many large organisations are looking at more effective ways of managing their unstructured data. The entry of Oracle, potentially presents a threat to traditional content management vendors such as EMC Documentum and Interwoven.

Content management vendors traditionally use their own database formats, but with this deal OpenText is breaking ranks to offer its applications on the Oracle 10g database as an option. OpenText’s decision to partner with Oracle suggests that it wants to ally itself with a vendor that might otherwise be a significant competitor.

Oracle’s entry into content management follows its attack on specialist enterprise search players Autonomy and FAST earlier this year. Its dominance as a database provider clearly gives it an edge in both the content management and search arenas.

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