--- title: Unlock the Mystery of Enterprise Content Management Systems description: If you are new to the concept of enterprise content management (ECM) and enterprise content management solutions, you may find it confusing at first. And for good reason. Learn about what enterprise content management is all about. image: https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/iStock-913649020.jpg --- - [Customer Support](https://www.totalprosource.com/support) - [Join Our Team](https://www.totalprosource.com/careers) [![logo-m](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/logo-m.svg)](https://www.totalprosource.com/) - [Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions) - [IT Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions) - [Managed IT Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/managed-it-services) - [Cybersecurity](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/cybersecurity) - [Business Continuity](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/business-continuity) - [Hosted Voice](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/hosted-voice) - [Cloud Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/cloud-solutions) - [Managed Content Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services) - [Digital Transformation](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/digital-transformation) - [Business Process Optimization](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/business-process-optimization) - [Accounts Payable Automation](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/ap-automation) - [Document Management for SMBs](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/document-management-smbs) - [Print Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions) - [Managed Print Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/managed-print-services) - [Copiers & Printers](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/copiers-printers) - [Production Print](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/production-print) - [Industries](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries) - [Education](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/education) - [Healthcare](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/healthcare) - [Government](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/government) - [Manufacturing & Distribution](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/manufacturing-distribution) - [Banking & Financial Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/banking-financial-services) - [Legal](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/legal) - [Non-Profit & Religious](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/non-profit-religious) - [Small & Medium-Sized Businesses](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/small-medium-sized-businesses) - [Professional Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/professional-services) - [Resources](https://www.totalprosource.com/resources) - [Who We Are](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are) - [About](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/about) - [TotalPro Experience](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/totalpro-experience) - [History](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/history) - [Awards](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/awards) - [Community Involvement](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/community-involvement) - [Locations](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/locations) - [Contact](https://www.totalprosource.com/contact-us) Speak With a Solutions ExpertContact Menu**Close** ### Sales or General Inquiries Our business is built on helping you leveraging technology for strategic advantage. Contact our team to learn how our powerful, scalable, affordable technology solutions can transform how you do business. Contact a Solutions Expert ### Customer Support Our solutions are backed by dedicated support teams who are committed to your success. Whether you need IT support, software support, or hardware service, we've got you covered so you can get back to business. [Contact Support](https://www.totalprosource.com/support) [1.888.698.0763](tel:18886980763) ![](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/close.svg) ### Contact a Solutions Expert # Unlock the Mystery of Enterprise Content Management Systems By: [Ric Strasser](https://blog.totalprosource.com/author/ric-strasser) December 14, 2018 By Ric Strasser I Director of Document Automation, Prosource ![iStock-913649020](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-913649020.jpg?width=2119&name=iStock-913649020.jpg) #### What is Enterprise Content Management (ECM)? If you are new to the concept of enterprise content management (ECM) and enterprise content management solutions, you may find it confusing at first. And for good reason. The enormous number of terms associated with [ECM](https://www.onbase.com/en/learn-ecm)- [document management](https://www.onbase.com/en/learn-ecm/common-ecm-terms/document-management),[BPM](https://www.onbase.com/en/learn-ecm/common-ecm-terms/business-process-management),[case management](https://www.onbase.com/en/product/case-management), [imaging](https://www.onbase.com/en/learn-ecm/common-ecm-terms/document-imaging), [records management](https://www.onbase.com/en/learn-ecm/common-ecm-terms/records-management), [full text indexing](https://www.onbase.com/en/product/onbase/capture/paper/reduce-or-eliminate-manual-indexing) - can leave you bewildered.“What are these things? What do they mean? Do I need them all? Where do I even get started?” If you are asking these questions, you are not alone. So let's start with some basics. And those basics are the three types of ECM: web content management, collaborative content management and transactional content management. Figuring out where your company’s ECM needs fit is possibly the biggest step to identifying both the right solution and the right vendor. For the record, OnBase, Hyland Software's ECM software solution, is a leader in transactional content management. #### Transactional Content Management Transactional content management, one of the various types of enterprise content management, is a system of record for managing process-related documents. #### Collaborative Content Management Collaborative content management – sometimes called collaborative document management – is a system designed to process and assist the simultaneous creation of content by multiple authors across a network-based infrastructure. #### Web Content Management Web content management allows consistent control of website look and feel while giving several content producers the ability to dynamically create and publish content. [Automation](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/automation), [Document Management](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/document-management), [ECM](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/ecm), [Enterprise Content Management](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/enterprise-content-management), [Managed Content Services](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/managed-content-services) ## Read On ### [5 Benefits of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Have you ever wondered how much time you could save by managing your business documents...](https://blog.totalprosource.com/5-benefits-of-digitizing-documents-with-enterprise-content-management-ecm) ### [Increase the Speed and Accuracy of Your Accounting Department’s Month-End Close Utilizing ECM Speed and accuracy continue to be a challenge in the month-end close process. The monthly...](https://blog.totalprosource.com/increase-the-speed-and-accuracy-of-your-accounting-departments-month-end-close-utilizing-ecm) ### [Enterprise Content Management Increases Efficiency & Effectiveness Relying on paper-based processes and workflows can cost your organization a lot of wasted time and...](https://blog.totalprosource.com/enterprise-content-management-increases-efficiency-effectiveness) [![footer logo](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/logo-t.svg "footer logo")](https://www.totalprosource.com/) [1.888.698.0763](tel:1.888.698.0763) [Support](https://www.totalprosource.com/support) [Careers](https://www.totalprosource.com/careers) [Locations](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/locations) [Blog](https://blog.totalprosource.com/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.totalprosource.com/privacy-policy) [![facebook](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/sm-f-m.png)](https://www.facebook.com/totalprosource) [![linkedin](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/sm-i-m.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/prosource_2/) [![twitter](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/sm-t-m.png)](https://twitter.com/totalprosource)