There are different types of CMS for different types of content. The nature of the content or ‘digital record’ e.g. video, text, graphics, blog etc dictates the type of CMS which means that there are numerous options to choose from.

These are categorised as follows:

  • Web CMS
  • Enterprise CMS
  • Mobile CMS
  • Component CMS

Due to the vast array and variety of content out there it follows that there is a type of CMS to deal with it. Whatever the nature of the content it can be managed via a series of workflows; and these can be accessed by a variety of users.

There are types of CMS which are designed for a specific purpose, for example web content management systems and then there are systems which cater to the needs of an organisation.

Then there are also systems which cater to the needs of the mobile technology industry and those which manage content at the micro level, e.g. a graphic image rather than as a series of documents.

WCMS

A web content management system (WCMS) enables a user to create or amend a web page without the need for the requisite technical skills.

This system is based upon a series of templates which form the structure of a website and are used for content creation. The content author/editor inserts content into these templates which are then published onto the site.

This is applied to internet websites, intranets and extranets.

Find out more about Web CMS in this guide.

ECMS

These systems or ‘enterprise content management systems’ (ECMS) handle the content, assets, records and other information which defines the structure and hierarchy of an organisation.

This is a formal system which employs a range of processes, tools and strategies to do so. It includes scanning, tracking, indexing and collaboration with the aim of streamlining the management of company information.

Find out more about Enterprise CMS in this guide.

MCMS

The rapid growth in the mobile technology industry has led to an increasing demand for systems which can manage content for smartphones, PDA’s, mobile phones and other handheld devices.

Mobile content management systems (MCMS) were originally designed for the business to customer (B2C) market but have expanded to include business to business (B2B) and business to employee (B2E).

Find out more about Mobile CMS in this guide.

CCMS

Component content management systems (CCMS) are a specialist type of system which manages content at a deeper or ‘granular’ level. 

This refers to a single piece of content such as a paragraph of text, a photograph or a graphic rather than a complete document, which is stored within this system. It is reused within a document or a series of documents which ensures a consistent approach.

Each individual piece of content has its own workflow and is tracked either as a single entity or as part of a larger system.

Find out more about Component CMS in this guide.

There are numerous options available when it comes to CMS which all appear to do the same thing but with a few subtle differences. This is why it is important to know about the type of content you are dealing with and the manner in which it needs to be managed.