EDM software comparison: Novaxel vs Alfresco
An EDM comparison is essential when it comes to choosing your EDM software. Electronic Document Management is essential for streamlining information workflows within a company. What software solutions are available and what are their specific features? Here's an EDM software comparison between Novaxel and Alfesco!
The benefits you can expect from your EDM software
Paperless management
The EDM stems from the dematerialisation of media, a strong trend that concerns all economic players. It involves digitising the entire life cycle of documents, from creation to deletion, so that they can be classified, filtered, modified and indexed electronically.
More collaboration
EDM solutions offer shared access to a range of elements associated with the business. In real time. In practical terms, this means that several people can open and edit the same document at the same time: a considerable advantage for collaborative working.
A secure system
EDM doesn't stop there, it goes even further. By setting permissions, you can manage user rights to ensure that certain data remains confidential or is protected.
Operational simplicity
A validation workflow is also possible: employees can send each other items to be approved. This action is carried out within the tool itself, saving considerable time and energy on a day-to-day basis.
A cross-functional tool
Connected to your business solutions, the EDM software can be synchronised with them. So tasks can be automated. For example, every time the HR department issues a payslip, the accounting department will retrieve the information and implement it on its side.
Which document management solution should I choose?
Although document management can be done locally, the cloud is still the most appropriate solution. There are many publishers of EDM solutions in SaaS (Software as a Service) mode, and their users are loyal - with a renewal rate of 90% in 2015. Ready to compare EDM software? Here we compare two major players.
| Strong points | Novaxel | Alfresco |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simple and intuitive | Customizable |
| 2 | Accessible internally and externally | Integrates seamlessly with Microsoft tools |
| 3 | Wall of activity and exchanges | Compliance with the legal framework (archiving, etc.) |
Novaxel: for an intuitive EDM
Simple to implement
Novaxel is the EDM solution published by French publisher Visiativ. Renamed Moovapps, it is the leader in intuitive EDM. Easy to use, it is simple to implement within your company. And it's easy to learn. It allows you to digitise, classify, share and archive your content. Its classification makes it easy to use the search function, which is highly efficient: it takes an average of 2 seconds to find a document on Novaxel.
Extended accessibility
The solution also incorporates social communication: any user, inside or outside the organisation, can interact with the solution's ecosystem as long as they are given access and permission. For example, a partner or supplier can access the interface to submit or view information about themselves.
A space for exchange
The Novaxel solution encourages exchanges via an activity wall through which users can receive notifications. Each business application has its own structured space in the tool, making it easier for everyone to carry out their tasks.
Alfresco: for more advanced functionalities
Deployment and integration
Alfresco is a more complete EDM solution. And it costs more. In SaaS mode, it remains customisable because it's open source. You can customise it or have it customised by an external integrator or an in-house resource. Beware, however: as its configuration involves the use of xml files, it retains a degree of complexity that should not be underestimated beforehand.
Compatibility
Alfresco integrates with all of your company's IS (Information System), and particularly well with Microsoft's software suites: SharePoint and Office. Its functional scope is wide, and the solution combines speed and robustness. More than an EDM, Alfresco embodies a 2.0 platform.
A structuring framework
The solution provides a solid foundation and up-to-date guarantees, particularly in terms of legal archiving. In the same way, for your business processes, the EDM acts as a guardrail bordering your procedures and maintaining quality. Setting up standard forms or protocols harmonises internal practices for greater operational efficiency.
How do you choose your EDM solution?
The first thing to do is to identify your needs. These specifications will enable you to identify the right solution for you. Issues such as the reversibility of information, or the backup of previous versions, if these are important to you, can be criteria in support of your decision. The list of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) too, since this will determine the possibilities for interfaced connections with the rest of your IS. Compatibility with your company's hardware, and in particular with scanners and your operating system, will also need to be considered.
EDM software offers significant potential for productivity gains. Properly chosen, they can improve the way your business operates. However, their implementation is still a change management process, with all the underlying issues at stake. Involving your teams from the outset, listing your needs, and ensuring that the tool you choose is future-proof and relevant will all be key factors in its deployment.
Article translated from French