UCM (Universal Content Management) is a documentation manager and one of the applications of the Oracle SOA Suite, it runs on a server (content server) that in turn is part of the domain of a Fusion Middelware installation.
By installing the Desktop Integration Suite tool it integrates with Windows Explorer, which is quite friendly for the end user, allowing you to upload documents to the server simply by dragging them from the desktop to Windows Explorer. It also integrates with Microsoft Office applications, adding an additional menu to the menu bar, allowing the ability to save documents directly from tools such as Word.
Version control management, shared document control (locking when in use) security control and hierarchy are guaranteed.
On the other hand, it offers the possibility of integrating with Siebel CRM. However, there are several considerations to take into account when evaluating such integration. What happens from the UCM side is that fields will be added to save the Id of the Siebel entity that is associated with the document, but the databases and the execution of both applications are totally independent so the feeling is that the integration only goes a little beyond embedding UCM within a Siebel subapplet, This will imply additional challenges when managing security and data access since they are independent. Another key functionality that does not offer such integration is the possibility of consulting Siebel data from UCM, that is, if you are editing a document within UCM, it would be desirable to be able to associate this document with a Siebel entity (for example: Customers) so from a field (Customers) you should be able to raise a Pick Applet from which you can select a client to associate it with the document.
A good tool for document management, but weak integration with Siebel CRM. We will see what Oracle gives us through all the fabric that is creating around its Fusion Middelware.
