BPM..ECM..What's the Difference?

This question is asked repeatedly. Basically, content within an ECM environment is governed or managed by the associated metadata attached to it. (Metadata being data about the data.) In a BPM environment, content is managed or governed by process rules making this a very different approach.

This is not to say they are not complimentary as BPM and ECM are very complimentary to each other even though there may be some overlap in technology. I see BPM as the glue bringing them closer together, binding them in ways that unify disparate systems and strengthen the overall infrastructure to meet the growing demand placed on information management.

Watch for more enhancements by the ECM community to provide additional process management capabilities and from the BPM community to deliver increased levels of content management to their offerings. We may see this not only in new product offerings but also in partnerships that will evolve as the result of consumer demand.

Bob Larrivee, AIIM