Imation ventures into ECM business

Imation Corporation will soon be seen competing with the likes of EMC, IBM
and HP in the enterprise content management (ECM) space with the launch of its
Information Management Solutions (IMS) initiative. This will be the first time
Imation will make public its entry into software development and implementation
activities in the ECM space.

"IMS is a brand new initiative that will help us position Imation as a
complete data storage and information management solutions company with
expertise in the hardware and software space," said Richard Goh Chyan Yeu,
Consultant, IMS Solutions, Imation.

Imation, which has been a prominent player in the hardware space of removable
data storage business, will now provide solutions to capture, manage, store and
deliver data through its IMS suite. "By branding a suite of solutions as
IMS we will offer digitization of data, workflow management solutions,
transaction processing solutions and business intelligence solutions," says
Ajit Karunakaran, Country Manager - India, Data Storage & Information
Management.

The company is presently training its existing channel partners in Singapore
to be able to provide IMS to its customers. The idea is to make this partners
who sell media and drives to sell solutions over a period of time. Imation has
already appointed Pune-based I-source as the first development and
implementation partners for IMS suite. "By year-end, we hope to appoint at
least 10 to 15 channel partners who will take up the IMS providing capabilities
into their folds. By next year the number should read 35 to 40 partners,"
added Ajit.

By branding a suite of solutions as IMS, the company also intends to push its
media and drives business along with the IMS solution. As a brand building
exercise, Imation will begin a series of technology road-shows starting in March
and covering eight cities.

NELSON JOHNY