July 28, 2021

A Business Process Automation Review: MFiles vs OpenText?

Is your Boston-area organization leveraging business process automation software to streamline processes and expand your team's productivity? If not, you could be consuming precious time and financial pluses.

With the technological capabilities of business process automation, you can program samely, standards-based tasks, therefore making your business workflows more competent, sparing man-hours, and guaranteeing your staff can concentrate on activities that develop the organization.

Now, we're examining two of the most widely used enterprise content management (ECM) applications accessible today for business process automation: M-Files and OpenText. We’re happy to review both, next to each other and give insight to how we utilize these tools at Wave.

But first, let's get going with a primer on what business process automation is and how it works.

What is business process automation?

Business process automation (BPA), also known as business process management (BPM), is the utilization of automated technology to establish routine, rules-based responsibilities such as sending archives, data entry, onboarding a new worker, routing fees, or processing accounts payable transactions.

Modern automation platforms utilize revolutionary tech like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotic process automation (RPA) to perform these repetitive tasks on a human's behalf.

By streamlining tasks that would normally use up relevant man-hours, your priceless human resources can turn their attention to other areas of the business where they can be more generative.

Automation also decreases the probability of man-made error, inaccuracy, and process blockers - they all take away from an organization's ultimate result.

How do I know which tasks I can automate?

Not every business process is right for business process automation. The appropriate task is the one that’s done routinely and can be construed by user-generated standards and actions.

What to be on the lookout for in a process that can be mechanized:

  • Does it demand that it be systematically done similarly throughout the organization?

  • Is it a conventional, sustainable process?

  • Is it critical that the task be free from error?

  • Does the process require a high volume of duties?

  • Does it require multiple people to do?

  • Is it delay-sensitive?

  • Is it needed that there’s an audit report for this process?

M-Files vs OpenText Comparison



M-Files

OpenText Documentum

Pricing

By quote

By quote


Prices vary between Documentum and AX

Deployment

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based

Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based

Support

Email/Help Desk

Forum

Knowledge Base

Phone

Chat

Email

Phone

Chat

Training

In-person

Online

Webinars

Documentation

Videos

In-person

Online

Documentation

Features

Access Controls

Android/iOS Mobile app

Archiving & Retention

Audit Trail

Collaboration Tools

Compliance Tracking

Content Management

Customizable Templates

Digital Asset Management

Document Management

Drag & Drop

Electronic Signature

Encryption

File Conversion

File Recovery

Full-Text Search

Governance

Offline Access

OCR

Search/Filter

Real-time Sync

Version Control

Workflow Management

Access Controls

Administration

Advanced File Versions

Analytics

Business application

Capture

Collaboration

Content Security

Content management

Delivery models

File Sharing

Governance

API

Metadata Search

Microsoft Office 365 Integration

Records Management

SAP Payment Automation

Security, 2FA, SSO

Workflow Automation



M-Files Pros and Cons

M-Files is a robust ECM tool that offers both on-premise, cloud solutions, or a hybrid version contingent on your organization necessities. It offers automation functionality to simplify your business tasks and workflows in addition to intelligent information management.

At Wave, we often use M-Files as a one-way information collector for a client's distinct tools and data. In this manner, we can assist our clientele facing rapid growth, the capacity to connect all of their procedures and information, and acquire greater promptness during digital formation.

M-Files is an excellent, extensible application for customers who have no existing hulking ECM like OpenText Documentum already installed in their business.

However, with MFiles it's essential to note that building automation compels the purchase of an extra addition called a 'vault'. M-Files available vaults are Document Management, Contract Management, Back Office, HR, Project Management, GDPR, and QMS.

Pricing is determined on a case-by-case rationale depending on the features your business needs.

OpenText Pros and Cons

OpenText is an Enterprise Information Management (EIM) software that allows organizations to take greater advantage of enterprise details, industrialize156] tedious tasks, create a more extensible business model, and reduce risks correlated to information governance and intellectual property.

It can be rolled out on-premises in a data hub or with the cloud.

At Wave, we typically see OpenText tools used in either of the following ways: with Documentum as a deeply embedded ECM or with Application Extender (AX) which acts as a scaled-down, construct-as-you-go alternative to Documentum.

Documentum is fully equipped and eager to clear up any business difficulty you possess. The disadvantage of Documentum is that the user interface is a tad complicated, it requires serious upkeep, and upgrades, along with the application itself, are pricey.

For organizations that have previously made an investment in Documentum and aren’t inclined to rip out the application and start all over again, Wave can assist with tool upgrades and optimizations to ensure that organizations can get the full benefit of their ECM ecosystem.

With Application Extender, the user experience and user interface (UI/UX) are rather different from Documentum which several clients like.

It's a great alternative for enterprises who don't want to put money on Documentum, and it can be reinforced to solve any organizational difficulty.

The downside to AX is that it is not fully equipped when acquired like Documentum, as an alternative, connectors and add-ons will be necessary to be inbuilt to generate better functionality and form automated processes.

Similar to M-Files, the cost of Documentum and Application Extender are fixed on a case-by-case foundation depending on the features your organization calls for.

Let Wave Help You Deploy and Streamline Your BPA Software

If your organization is new to business process automation, or you've already begun streamlining workflows but want to greatly improve your platforms to achieve more, Wave can assist you.

Wave assists businesses just like yours every day to apply automation cloud, SaaS or on-premise solutions, content management systems (CMS), and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools.

We serve our clients to simplify their processes throughout the entire lifecycle, program tedious, repetitive processes, and integrate the overall tech stack to remove siloes and establish long-term upgradeability for theirbusiness.

Already putting to use a legacy tool, and have no desire to start all over again? Not a problem!

Wave can be closely associated with your enterprise and enhance your current business applications through add-ons, unifications, and connectors so you can get more from your current tech stack without needing to start again with a new service company.

We're comfortable working with ECM applications like M-Files, OpenText and Microsoft Sharepoint, or every other content services platform you're currently implementing.

If you have any inquiries about how Wave can help support digital transformation and business process automation in your Boston business, contact us today.