According to AIIM, ECM is “the strategies, methods and tools used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to key organizational processes.” The relationship among the functions of this definition is illustrated in the “ECM Roadmap” depicted below.

Getting content from its source into the ECM system. This involves both manual/semi-manual (which can be labor intensive) and automated methods.

Management roles and organization, changing and deleting records, reporting and monitoring, backup and recovery, ECM component considerations (document management, electronic records management, workflow and business processes, collaboration, Web technology and digital asset management).

Storing content using appropriate storage repositories, technologies, retention and disposal policies, security and audit trails, and business level choices (e.g., ASP or in house solutions).

Digital content is much more susceptible to media obsolescence and degradation, format obsolescence, changes in standards, formats and metadata, than older physical forms of content. This requires policies and procedures to insure that retained digital content is always accessible and intelligible to end users.

Transformation technologies such as Computer Output to Laser Disk (COLD), Enterprise Report Management (ERM), personalization, XML, Formats, Compression, Syndication. Available distribution channels such as paper, internet/intranet/extranet(s), Portals, E-mail and attachments, automated fax, mobile phone (web enabled or SMS texting), PDAs, instant messaging, Web Casting and content streaming, and Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication (RSS).