Konstantin Istomin: Directum is a system with the Extra prefix

Konstantin Istomin: Originally our company was a partner of PC Docs. But practice of work showed that the product offered by us then, first, does not meet requirements of the Russian companies, and secondly, costs clients too expensive. Therefore we developed and in 2002 provided at seminars a new subsystem of the End-to-end Automated System Business Lux – Electronic document management.

The subsystem was used together with other subsystems of KAS "Business Lux". "Electronic document management" was implemented at several clients; our company also began to use a subsystem. Then we felt relevance, need for development.

Before bringing Electronic document management to the market as an independent product, assessment of market capacity and competitor analysis were made. In Russia many systems were provided, but they were directed to office-work automation in pure form, but not to increase in efficiency of interaction in all enterprise. Development of an ECM system (in the correct understanding of the term) seemed us the perspective direction. At the beginning of 2003 Directum electronic document management system was already an independent product.

TAdviser: As far as I understand, further development of a system is performed here, in Russia, by own development team. In what advantages of such approach? When the next updating of the platform and what basic changes it in itself bears is expected?

Konstantin Istomin: In our country rather strong school of programming, in particular Izhevsk. And it creates great professional base. We develop the platform, the basic version of a system. The platform with a system are regularly improved: versions appear with regularity of 9-12 months. In December, 2012 there was version 4.9. Closer the new version will be submitted to the end of 2013, we will tell about all innovations on the next "Open days of Directum".

TAdviser: The typical customer of Directum today – what it? With what vertical industries do you most often work historically? What can the Directum system be useful to small business or it is after all not your format?

Konstantin Istomin: We are guided by the medium-sized and large companies, including – geographically distributed holdings. We work not so much with the industries how many with the companies which already meet difficulties of the organization of interaction which want to increase efficiency of internal processes. Such clients are focused on innovation, are ready to invest in development of IT. Broad presence us in all industries proves it. We have large projects in an oil and gas sector, automate processes in banks, the large industrial companies. In recent years also public sector was connected to development of IT.

TAdviser: We paid attention that Directum has many projects in a public sector. Tell in more detail about this activity. Whether you take part in implementation of GP "Information Society"? It would be interesting to learn about the deposit Directum in this area.

Konstantin Istomin: We began productive cooperation with authorities even with implementation of the federal program "Electronic Russia (2002-2010)". But at that time the majority of the tasks solved by us were connected with creation of an electronic document management system, support of legislative activity, work with citizens' appeals, Internet and receptions. At the same time already then the first projects on implementation of the departmental systems based on the same Directum platform began to appear.

After acceptance of GP "Information Society (2011-2020)" the sphere of our cooperation with authorities significantly extended. Now we work in three main directions: creation of electronic document management systems, creation of the systems of execution of regulations of providing public and municipal services, creation of a system of ensuring interdepartmental interaction.

TAdviser: In relation to the real sector: what advantages does Directum have before the competing systems of other vendors?

Konstantin Istomin: Our main advantage – Directum develops, being always guided by relevant customer needs. Already from here all other benefits which the business which selected Directum has follow.

The rich functionality of the Directum system closes the tasks necessary for ensuring effective interaction within electronic document management. A system supports simultaneous operation of 10,000 users and allows to process up to 18,000,000 documents.

Different options of the distributed work create a common information space for territorially remote divisions of the company, allow to automate business processes in holdings. A system is convenient for users with different levels of training and styles of work. The different modes of work are available to users: through the desktop-client, the Internet or from mobile devices. We offer the ready business solutions which are beyond traditional tasks of office-work. We fulfill technology of implementation of these business solutions which allows to reduce project terms, to minimize risks.

TAdviser: What technology trends are "hottest" in the world market of an EDMS/ECM? As far as they are relevant in relation to the Russian reality? Whether you are going to stake on any of them in development of a system?

Konstantin Istomin: Each new significant trend, each perspective technology are investigated by us in the most attentive way. It is difficult to select some national specifics as modern Russia in respect of business does not differ radically from the rest of the world. We select not just "hot" trends and technologies, and those which are capable to help us and our customers with achievement of goals. In our products and approaches these trends can integrate, be transformed, be interpreted is a result of our experience and our vision. So, for example, today on the basis of the most, in our opinion, "hot trends" we build the new development strategy Extra ECM.

TAdviser: You presented this new paradigm of development of the system last year, and this year on DOCFLOW announced strategy development, saying that today Extra ECM can be provided "in full". Tell, please, in what this new paradigm consists and why right now need to review the concept of further evolution of a system ripened?

Konstantin Istomin: Evolution of a system should happen always, there is no specific moment when need something becomes ripe to change. We adhere to the principle that it is necessary to be creators of the new products demanded by customers, but not to follow the general scenarios of development.

Since 2007 our company presents concepts of development of a system at the market. The strategy of Extra ECM fully reflects our aspiration to be ahead, remaining relevant in proposed solutions. Practices of all last strategy are united in Extra ECM, and the name of a new paradigm says that Directum allows to be beyond traditional understanding of work in an ECM system.

Extra ECM develops in four main directions: exchange of legally significant documents (Extra Corporation), a variety of interfaces of access to an ECM system (Extra Access), ready-made solutions for business (Extra Business Task), socialization and gamification in EDMS (Extra User).

TAdviser: Working on the concept whether you relied on some concepts and methodologies already widely known abroad? Usually new technologies come to us exactly from there. Or Extra ECM is your absolutely unique approach which has no similarity in the market?

Konstantin Istomin: Directum development in general is within the idea of the systems of the class ECM accepted in the international community. But both the well-known scheme RoadMap AIIM, and approach of Gartner do not limit functionality which can (or already even an ECM system should) to close. We aim to develop a system in full, doing it business focused and user-friendly. We do not peddle old stuff if to speak about each separate "counter" which we want to place in a system. But in a complex the strategy of Extra ECM is something new not only on Russian, but also in the western market.

TAdviser: It would be desirable to consider in more detail basic elements of the concept – Extra User, Extra Business Task, Extra Access, Extra Corporation on the practical level. Let's begin consistently with the first two – Extra User and Extra Business Task. If to take Directum of a sample, say, 2009 and 2013 what exchanged in a key way in a system from the point of view of users and the solution of business challenges?

Konstantin Istomin: We began to look towards users, one may say, approximately since 2010. Then in a system masters of actions, the including step-by-step instructions in the form of clear hints began to appear. In 2010 adjusted integration of Directum with Skype for Business (before Microsoft Lync) for simplification of interactions between employees.

In 2009 we were already guided by understanding that an ECM system should be ground under specific objectives of business. Then we developed the strategy of the solutions focused on business challenges which enters the enlarged strategy of Extra ECM regarding Extra Business Task. In 2009-2010 we released and began to sell 8 business solutions among which we were: Contract management, Management of meetings and meetings, Approval of invoices for payment, Financial archive and others. Today we and our partners offer already 20 business solutions, worked technology of implementation, brought business consulting to new level.

TAdviser: Whether correctly I understand that Extra Access has something in common with the concept of Directum Everywhere? Do you have examples of projects where Directum Everywhere is already implemented? Tell, please, about them in more detail?

Konstantin Istomin: Extra Access assumes that users of a system can work with corporate content when it is convenient to them, using for this purpose home computers, notebooks, tablets or other mobile devices. We permanently expand the list of devices from which it would be convenient to work in Directum. So, there are new versions of the rukovoditelsky application for iPad and also Directum Solo for tablets on Surface.

Different options of access to a system allow to adapt to specifics of devices, link quality of communication. Also a part of Extra Access of our strategy is realized in the integration mechanisms ensuring functioning in a system from other applications, such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft Outlook. Clients are interested in new opportunities for work. In particular, applications for tablets are demanded by officials whose jobs are automated within our large project in the Government of the Udmurt Republic.

TAdviser: At last, Extra Corporation assumes emphasis on intercorporate interaction. What does it mean in practice? May you show on a specific example how this approach allows to optimize such interaction?

Konstantin Istomin: Extra Corporation is closely connected with exchange of legally significant documents today. From a practical side exchange of invoices, acts and other accounting documents in electronic form means reliability augmentation and significant acceleration of intercorporate interaction. Besides, use of services of electronic exchange allows the companies to save in comparison with sending physical originals and copies of documents by mail or other physical methods.

TAdviser: What changes in the Directum platform already happened under the influence of the new concept and what – are only expected in the future?

Konstantin Istomin: We prepare the new version of Directum 5.0 for an exit. In an interview there is no wish to expatiate on new products as in the fall of all interested our traditional action "Open days of Directum" waits. Here our experts will provide a lot of new, will be to look at what.

TAdviser: Tell, please, about one-two interesting projects implemented by you based on Directum for the last year?

Konstantin Istomin: We have many interesting projects. Let's select the Government of the Udmurt Republic. Within the project settings of processes of providing 28 services in the System of Execution of Regulations (SER) are implemented, an opportunity to obtain information on the applicant in electronic form from basic suppliers of data is adjusted (FTS, the Social Insurance Fund, RPF, FMS and so on). Web service for the organization of interaction with the regional portal of public services of the UR Regional Portal of Public Services (RPPS) and the SIEI UR is implemented.

Out of a public sector, it is possible to note the project in TsV "PROCEEDED". Here Directum was implemented in 2009, and in 2010-2012 more than 20 business solutions were brought into operation. Today over 30 standard routes are created, more than 2000 users in divisions of head office and branches are automated. At the same time more than 400 people can work, using a local system in which all computers of the company, the terminal client (four virtual servers), the Web client and also applications for the smartphone are united. All large projects as it is possible to be convinced, realize the strategy of Extra ECM in a varying degree.

TAdviser: Your partner network in regions is how developed? Whether high-quality support is available to regional customers?

Konstantin Istomin: Permanent development of power of a partner network – a strategic task of Directum company. Important not only quantity, but also quality of partners. We aim not just at increase in number of partners, and we try to cover as much as possible regions. Today in many industrial large cities the Directum company has partners who are capable not only to sell a product, but also in details to analyze business processes of the customer.

Actually all our partners have sufficient competence for ensuring high-quality support of customers (maintenance of a system, development, completion of basic functionality and so on). Technical I will support – correction of defects and failure handling of a system – the Directum company renders directly, besides, answers to many questions are already given on the website of our professional community Directum Club.