As digital information has continued to increase over the last several years, many businesses find themselves seeking efficient and cost-effective ways to organize and manage this influx of information. With multiple digital management systems at your disposal, it can be confusing to decipher which system is ideal for your needs. After all, with enough technical acronyms to last us all a lifetime—CMS, DMS, ECM, SEO, and more—it can be challenging to not become completely overwhelmed by it all.
Here at eFileCabinet, we want to help alleviate some of this confusion if possible. If you’ve ever been curious about content management software in comparison with document management software, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be breaking down what CMS is, what ModX is, and more.
What Is CMS?
CMS, or content management software, can best be thought of as an “automated system with dynamic strategies, methods and tools that have the ability to deliver information and content to defined audiences.” Frequently used for the management of unstructured electronic files formats such as flash files, raw data, email, video, webpages, and graphics, CMS offers the ability to modify and publish content from one central interface.
Popular Content Management Software
When it comes to CMS, you’ll find a variety of systems to choose from. From open-source content management to propriety or closed-source content management, there are certainly no shortages in options.
Some of the most popular systems include the following:
- WordPress
- Drupal
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Joomla!
- Squarespace
- Sitecore CMS
- Percussion CMS
- ModX
More on ModX
ModX is some of the most popular content management software. Offering a seamless upgrading process and the ability to support a plethora of frameworks from jQuery to MooTools, ModX software is a popular choice. Operating as an open-source content management system and application framework, ModX offers a distinct number of features.
Advantages and Disadvantages of ModX
As expected, there are advantages as well as drawbacks to utilizing ModX. As with any content management software, the value of the application is dependent upon your needs. For coders, ModX open-source content management offers maximum control and customization. With the capacity to support popular libraries such as jQuery, MooTools, Prototype, and more, ModX offers coders a distinct advantage.
With the vast majority of content management software typically only offering jQuery, ModX offers coders more room for work. In addition, ModX also offers faster than average speed with an excellent page caching system. For those who are code savvy, ModX makes content modification simple and easy to manage.
However, those less than code savvy may struggle to understand ModX’s interface. With an emphasis on code over convenience, those who have very little coding experience are likely to be frustrated rather than grateful for the additional coding features. In comparison with other content management systems, ModX also lacks additional background features that other systems support, such as the ability to create expense reports, wikis, and database replications.
When comparing ModX to WordPress, preferences depend upon utilization. Those looking for a simple interface and theme-based web templates may prefer WordPress, while those looking for heavy coding opportunities and greater control over design may prefer to select ModX.
Ultimately, whether or not ModX is ideal depends not only on your coding knowledge but what your objectives are.
What Is the Difference Between CMS and DMS?
Now that you have a better understanding of what CMS is and some of the most common systems that are available, you may be curious what DMS (document management software) is.
To start with, let’s go ahead and define what it is. DMS is an application that enables the management of traditional document types such as Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, PowerPoints, etc. DMS is primarily concerned with the organization of data that is in specific file formats, unlike CMS, which manages structured and unstructured data.
Why Choose One Over the Other?
What system you choose is completely dependent upon your organization’s specific needs. For example, if you need to manage and track specific file types, DMS could be a superior option. However, if you have a plethora of raw data and video files to manage, CMS would be much more suited to your interests.
Both systems have crucial functions; the ideal choice will vary by use. However, keep in mind that these are complementary and not competing systems. CMS and DMS are both essential to an efficient and secure operation. Integration of these systems can improve workflow efficiency and management significantly.
ModX vs. eFileCabinet
As we mentioned, both CMS and DMS are important systems to have. While some make the mistake of assuming that these management software systems are at odds with each other, the reality could not be further from the truth. Although these systems share similarities such as the ability to track files through the span of their life cycles, the type of files that these system support do differ.
While ModX may be ideal for CMS, eFileCabinet is ideal when it comes to document management software. While ModX can support webpage management, eFileCabinet can support secure file management. In many ways, eFileCabinet’s DMS can best be thought of as a specialized type of content management, offering superior security and efficiency. Equipped with check-in/check-out processes along with document automation and stamps along with version control to track revisions, eFileCabinet’s DMS makes file management simple and secure.
Would you like to learn more about how DMS might affect your organization? If so, fill out this form to receive exclusive access to our 15-minute demo, where you’ll learn more about electronic document management and what it means for your organization.