IBM ECM Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.0 out of 5

16 reviews
94% willing to recommend

1,302 followers

What is IBM ECM?

IBM Content Foundation on Cloud

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IBM ECM is the #14 ranked solution in top Enterprise Content Management solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM ECM an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. IBM ECM is most commonly compared to SharePoint: IBM ECM vs SharePoint. IBM ECM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 75% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 36% of all views.

Helped 832,138 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Omar_Ismail

ECM, Archives and Digital Preservation Consultant at DataServe

Moving to the cloud with IBM ECM is not allowed. In Saudi Arabia, the cloud infrastructure is still non-operational, potentially for the next two to three months. Static clouds are prevalent among foundational enterprises such as IBM and Oracle. IBM offers its cloud insights, maintaining its cloud ecosystem. IBM's efforts to enhance the user experience within its ECM platform are lacking compared to competitors like OpenText. Progress in implementing new technologies and features seems sluggish. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

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it_user632709

Solution Architect at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees

The IBM Content Navigator product (IBM's new UI and Collaboration) is much stable with fewer bugs but this should not be a surprise as IBM has been shipping poorly QAd/Tested products for many years expecting their customers to provide feedback and improve unlike their competitors and its not even funny.Better QA and product release cycles would be appreciated. IBM really needs to provide a single ECM management dashboard or platform to manage the ECM components as currently its an sys-administration nightmare especially with one ICN UI platform strategy for all ECM products. Product licensing can be more easy on customers as there is not a single size that fits all and business area requirements and IT landscapes change every 2 -3 years due to M&A and adoption of new technologies like hybrid cloud.We abandoned our Case manager solution as it was so complex and cost-prohibitive for us .

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it_user543270

Senior Systems Engineer at a local government with 1,001-5,000 employees

We would like to see some more basic reporting built into the core, such as content engine and so on. I know there's some stuff around reporting based on Case Analyzer, which used to be Process Analyzer; stuff with workflow. I would like to see more content reporting baked into the product. Also, this might be coming, but it seems like five years ago, somebody did a session at a conference on security proxies. I saw the same session again at a recent conference. Somebody else found out how to do it; it's really kind of an obscure workaround. I would like to see IBM bake that into the content platform engine. It would allow dynamic security updates of millions of objects with a click of a button rather than actually hitting each individual object.

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IBM ECM mindshare

As of February 2025, the mindshare of IBM ECM in the Enterprise Content Management category stands at 1.9%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Content Management

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Enterprise Content Management	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM ECM vs SharePoint	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM ECM vs OpenText Documentum	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM ECM vs OpenText Extended ECM	Feb 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
SharePoint	3.9	17.7%	78%	154 interviews Add to research
OpenText Documentum	3.9	12.4%	83%	31 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM ECM's most valuable attributes include document governance and secure access, robust integration with existing systems, flexibility for expansion, and advanced case management that automates processes. Its scalability handles large volumes, while Content Manager offers multiple database compatibility. Datacap streamlines document capture with granularity and customization. Content Navigator enhances usability. IBM ECM integrates with popular platforms for seamless business workflows, providing high availability and standardizing content ingestion, ultimately reducing error rates and improving training efficiency.

"The tool is a very stable solution with high availability and no information leakage. It has built-in API integration on-site. You can integrate with other components and applications like SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, etc."
"The content management is all about you as you can make the same content for minimal purpose solutions applications."
"The vertical scalability, as we can use it across some of our applications."

Room for Improvement

IBM ECM requires modernization, particularly by reducing Java dependency for features like applets. Datacap needs improved integration and usability, with streamlined application creation and customization. Users seek enhanced reporting and easier administration with comprehensive documentation. Content Navigator should offer out-of-the-box usability without extensive customization. Simplification of maintenance, patching, and efficient support for cloud integration is desired. Better integration across applications and overall user interface improvements could also enhance satisfaction.

"The development platform is not local. For example, you need 100 days in IBM, whereas other platforms, like ServiceNow, need only 20 days."
"I would like to see seamless application integration."
"I would recommend not going with ECM 8 and going with FileNet instead. It seems like that is the future of the lower-volume repository. It seems like they are moving away from ECM 8.5 so I think we're going to have some challenges coming up, getting off of that technology."

Pricing

IBM ECM users find the product's pricing to be reasonable when requirements are clearly captured. Upfront licensing and maintenance costs are important considerations over the initial three-year period. Some users describe the product as expensive, with a perpetual license, suggesting careful evaluation with local IBM partners is beneficial. Capturing top requirements initially can ease potential adjustments in later years, helping enterprises manage financial planning effectively.

"Reach out to local IBM partners."

Service and Support

IBM ECM users generally express satisfaction with technical support, highlighting quick responses, helpful engineers, and effective integration with sales engineers. However, some encounter delays, repeated information requests, and inconsistent support quality. Users in Saudi Arabia report particularly good support. A significant concern is the discontinuation of services previously promised by IBM, causing frustration due to wasted investments. The need for experienced partners in implementations and better recognition for outstanding engineers is emphasized.

Deployment

Initial setup experiences with IBM ECM vary. Some found it complex due to extensive requirements and multiple servers. IBM's adaptability allowed handling complex processes. For others, setup was straightforward, especially for Datacap and Content Navigator. There were challenges with manual installs and integrating components. Complexity arose from architectural decisions, resource needs, and performance tuning. The setup process included handling diverse environments and migrating from legacy systems. Familiarity with J2EE facilitated smoother installations.

Scalability

IBM ECM is highly adaptable, supporting global operations across numerous countries. Organizations enhance its scalability effortlessly, with more servers introduced without disruption. The system handles growth seamlessly, accommodating increased users and documentation, particularly beneficial with cloud-based deployment. FileNet articles support its scalability, and Datacap impresses with real-time server additions. The platform suits small to large enterprises, efficiently managing concurrent user demands, making it ideal for expanding businesses after mergers or significant customer growth.

Stability

Users report that IBM ECM stability is consistently strong, with some describing it as rock solid. Instances of downtime are rare, impressively managed by IBM support. Modernization efforts have added complexity, yet stable performance is common once operational. Users have integrated it for many years without significant issues, despite challenges with custom applications and legacy components. Frequent upgrades were previously needed for optimal performance, but recent reports indicate high reliability and satisfaction with stability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM ECM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

36%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

11%

Real Estate/Law Firm

Insurance Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Educational Organization

Media Company

Manufacturing Company

Consumer Goods Company

Retailer

Agriculture

Transportation Company

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Hospitality Company

International Affairs Institute

Legal Firm

Local Government

Logistics Company

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Compare IBM ECM with alternative products

Learn more about IBM ECM

IBM Content Foundation on Cloud allows organizations to deliver extensive enterprise content management capabilities to their users very quickly. IBM Content Foundation is powered by the FileNet content and process platform and IBM Content Navigator user experience. This cloud offering can be leveraged for a variety of use cases including collaborative document management, imaging solutions, social content management, archiving, and more. It also offers a platform for developing Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions in the cloud.

IBM Case Manager on Cloud

IBM Case Manager on Cloud is a solution platform that engages people with business content, provides contextual insight through real-time analytics, and enhances teamwork through collaboration tools and flexible workflow. Enables Business and IT to work together to create solutions across the enterprise that enables an organization to make smarter decisions for better business outcomes, while balancing the need for security and compliance in a world of heightened risk.