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Despite content management functionality improvements in the 2010 version of SharePoint, the latest AIIM survey shows that third-party add-ons and integrations are still very popular with users. Although only 34% of organizations are currently using add-on products for BPM (Business Process Management), workflow, classification, security, back-up and records archive, this figure is set to rise to over 75%, according to the stated intentions. Records management in particular is highlighted in the survey, with many organizations seeing the need to add or integrate a more robust repository in order to meet their compliance requirements. Albeit from a much smaller base, e-discovery, digital signature and case-management add-ons are set for strong growth.

Although collaboration, project management and portal applications are still the main drivers for SharePoint adoption, most users of the 2010 version are picking up on the new content management and information governance tools. However, many of the traditional ECM (Enterprise Content Management) applications, such as scanning and capture, forms processing, document workflow and RM (Records Management), have yet to be widely adopted. Based on the intentions for add-on applications, there would seem to be very strong plans to increase activity in these areas.

AIIM’s head of Market Intelligence, Doug Miles, comments, “Organizations are firstly upgrading to the 2010 version – in many cases putting right previous governance and structural problems – and then looking to expand the content management functions. Many are looking to integrate SharePoint with distributed capture front-end systems and new or existing repositories, to produce a more robust and capable ECM/RM infrastructure.”

Governance is still an issue with SharePoint users, with 45% citing lack of forward planning and the absence of usage policies as their biggest issues going forward. Over 60% have yet to bring SharePoint in line with their existing retention and long-term archive policies. For 10% of respondents, SharePoint is making things worse, not better. With the survey showing that considerable amounts of business-critical content are now being committed to SharePoint, this is a cause for concern, according to AIIM.

Based on nearly 600 responses, the AIIM research report is entitled “Using SharePoint for ECM” and is free to download from the AIIM website at http://www.aiim.org/Research/Industry-Watch/SharePoint-2011. It is underwritten by ASG, Autonomy, Bamboo Solutions, EMC, IBM, Kofax, OpenText and Perceptive Software.