Alfresco Records Management vs HP TRIM/Records Manager
Driven by stricter regulations and the need for greater levels of transparency, organisations are attempting to implement records management solutions that can help with compliance and information governance.
Compliance matters, audits and governance issues can arise at any time. Missing or incomplete records, or records which lack integrity, can have far reaching consequences.
Today, organisations understand the need to be compliant, and they turn to products such as HP TRIM/Records Manager, or Alfresco. But what we often get asked here at Parashift is, what is the difference between Alfresco’s Records Management module and HP TRIM/Records Manager?
In the records management space, TRIM is seen as Alfresco’s closest alternative. TRIM serves a lot of companies well and is loved by its main users, records managers. But where TRIM is lacking is where Alfresco picks up the slack.
Alfresco One with Records Management is different. Alfresco built their solution with the end user in mind. There’s no need to learn a complicated system, and you can continue to work the way you always have since Alfresco’s information governance solution guides you through the easy steps needed to file records.
Below I have identified three important differences between the two systems:
- Open Source
Alfresco’s main advantage is that it is open source. Being open source provides many benefits. For one, the ability to access its source code. This allows you to examine the source code, as well as add features to the software. Open source software (OSS) is cost effective and does not lock you into a proprietary system. What we find is that many people prefer using open source software for this control. - One System
Alfresco is much more than just a records management system. In fact, it is a whole enterprise content management system. Alfresco handles elements such as records, documents and digital assets, along with business process, collaboration and indexing and searching. The one solution to support all content with easy declaration removes end user complexity, leads to greater user adoption and removes any silos created with a multi system.
- Everyone is a Records Manager
The third notable difference is that TRIM/HP Records Manager is generally only ever used by records managers, making this another silo in your organisation. Alfresco has the view that everyone can contribute to records. This way, all employees can be empowered to declare documents as records with one simple click of a menu option. The record is then filed in the records manager’s file plan where it is managed through its disposition schedule – this process can even be automated without the records manager’s involvement.
There are many different options to consider when selecting a records management system. It’s all about choosing the one which best fits your organisation.
