Content Management System (CMS) is a term for a tightly integrated
suite of online software components designed to manage and
deploy content. This content can take the form of store products,
web pages, press releases, articles, audio/video media, newsletters,
intranet emails, etc..
By using a CMS rather than a loose set of unrelated applications,
the benefits of an integrated communication solution are realized.
Data can be freely exchanged between each component and measures,
such as user and group level security, do not have to be redundantly
implemented for each individual piece of software, but rather
once, for the CMS as a whole.
For most businesses, web based content publishing content
on the Web has evolved beyond presenting countless static
html pages. Attracting new visitors, as well as keeping existing
ones requires the presentation of fresh and dynamic content.
By automating menial tasks and otherwise distributing workload,
Content Management Systems allow employees and managers to
organize content from creation through deployment. Text and
images can be uploaded through simple tools, automatically
including them into the workflow process. Uploaded items are
stored in the appropriate catalog and associated with specific
articles or store product as needed.
The end result is a Content Management System that lets employees
publish articles in less time than ever before. By providing
user friendly management of assets, the content item moves
rapidly through production and is published to the site either
on demand or at a scheduled time.
An efficient content management system is able to provide:
User and group collaboration
Multi-user and group level security must be implemented to
allow task delegation and accounting.
Flexible content management
New content types can be defined at the user level. Management
and editing of content data is simplified through common interface
practice and object sharing.
Logic independent presentation
Separation of storage, logic and presentation allows for rapid
deployment of content. Interface templates are created independently
of content allowing for sitewide standardization of design
practices. By providing generic or unformatted storage of
content, data can automatically be converted into formats
suitable for Web publishing such as HTML or PDF or WAP.
Indexing, search and retrieval of live and archived
content
Content type is searchable through one common interface. Each
content type is searchable through one common interface. Documents
can be parsed for keywords, headings, graphics, and other
elements;
Web-based publishing
Documents and other forms of information can be managed and
edited by authorized users. Page templates, automatic publishing
and indexing and other tools help inexperienced content editors
to produce higher-quality output.
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