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DIA EDM Conference Survey Results
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1. What are the most serious issues that you face
with your information? (check all that apply)
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Response Percent |
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Re-creating / re-formatting the same information
for multiple outputs |
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56.4% |
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Re-editing and re-formatting content to comply with
e-sub tools |
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41.8% |
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Ensuring use of current and consistent product
information |
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18.2% |
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Inefficient document creation, review and approval
processes |
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41.8% |
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High translation costs |
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12.7% |
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Inability to reuse content among multiple deliverables |
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30.9% |
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Creating and managing inter- and intra-document links |
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34.5% |
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Other (please specify) |
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21.8% |
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It wasn't a big surprise that most people (56%) indicated that Re-creating / re-formatting the same information for multiple outputs was their biggest issue. This issue has been a significant reason why people look at Single Source Publishing (from one source of content, automatically publish or generate your documentation to print, help, web, presentation, XML, or any other output format without having to modify or make different versions of your content) as a solution. Most organizations look to utilization of XML technology to implement single source publishing.
Other reasons to consider an XML implementation include:
Separation of Content from Format
Traditional documents combine words and pictures with format and layout. In XML, content and format are separated and stored independently so they can be combined in different ways to produce different types of documents in different output formats.
Translation into Other Languages
Reduce the time and cost of translation into other languages by translating re-used content once and have it automatically reflected wherever it is used.
Reduce Cost
XML improves efficiency of creation, maintenance, and management of documentation content. Time taken to produce a page through traditional authoring tools can be halved with XML.
Reduce Time-Market
Reduction in production times are achieved through more efficient use of resources, re-use of content, controlling standards, eliminating duplication, and effectively managing creation, localization, and publishing processes.
Competitive Advantage
Lower overall costs and increased customer satisfaction through consistent, accurate documentation of all types, resulting in fewer calls to customer support. These advantages are achieved through providing the right information, at the right time, in the right format.
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2.
In evaluating potential improvements to how you handle information,
please rate the importance of these issues: (check one per row) |
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Very Important |
Somewhat Important |
Not Important |
| Ease of maintaining information |
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90% |
10% |
0% |
| Using Microsoft™ applications |
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32% |
60% |
8% |
| Review and approval process |
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69% |
29% |
2% |
| Reusing content across applications |
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65% |
33% |
2% |
| Distributing information to many outputs |
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47% |
47% |
6% |
| Solving the issues sooner vs. later |
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78% |
20% |
2% |
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Most people considered Ease of maintaining information as a very important criteria. And with the current XML tools, trained users find these tools easier to work with than legacy data tools. In fact, XML is well suited to address the other issues that conference attendees felt were most important:
Review and Approval process (divided into three main points :)
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Collaboration and Teamwork
Being able to have many people simultaneously collaborating on a document. Involve more people in the documentation process, such as subject matter experts, application developers, translators, and trainers, without the fear of losing changes, damaging, or destroying your documents.
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Controlled Authoring
Set and enforce your writing and branding standards to ensure the consistency and quality of your documents.
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Security and Workflow
Control who in the organization can create, see, and use content at any stage of the content life-cycle, through drafts, reviews, translation, release, and archiving.
Reusing content across applications
The ability to re-use content across documents without copying, so that you can write it once and maintain it in a single place regardless of how many times it is used. Use content created for one purpose equally well in other contexts and for other purposes.
Distributing information to many outputs
This is another way of saying "Single Source Publishing"
Perhaps most surprising was the response that the issue needed to be solve 'sooner' rather than 'later'. This would indicate some frustration with the current approach and an eagerness to evaluate other options.
If you would like to learn more about how XML technology can solve many of the documentation issues prevalent in the life sciences industry, you can download a White Paper from our partner RWD Technology titled Holistic Management of Product Information Across the Product Lifecycle.
You can also contact Data Conversion Laboratory by phone (718)307-5767 or e-mail (info@dclab.com) and we will try and answer your questions and point you in the right direction.
If you are evaluating or implementing a XML system, we would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about migration of your legacy content. We have worked with life sciences organizations on many different types of project including Labeling, Standard Response Letters, Clinical Study Reports, and Research Papers.
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Best Practices Santa Fe, NM, September 15-17, 2008. More…
XyUser Phoenix, AZ, September 22-24, 2008. More…
9th Annual Vasont Users' Group Meeting, Hershey, PA, October 6-8, 2008. More…
DITA/TECHCOMM 2008, Raleigh, NC, November 3-6 2008. More…
ATA e-Business Europe. Details TBA.
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Doc Train Life Sciences Indianapolis, IN, June 23-25, 2008. More…
X-Pubs London, England, June 22-24, 2008. More…
Mark Logic User San Francisco, CA, June 10-12, 2008. More…
PTC User Long Beach, CA, June 2-4, 2008. More…
Ultramain User Conference 2008, Albuquerque, NM, May 11-15, 2008. More…
Documentation and Training West 2008 Vancouver, BC, May 6-9, 2008. More…
CMS/DITA Santa Clara, CA, April 7-9, 2008. More…
DIA Med Comm Orlando, FL, March 10-11, 2008. More…
DIA EDM Philadelphia, PA, February 5-7, 2008. More…
Gilbane Boston Conference Boston, MA, November 29, 2007. More…
The LavaCon Conference on Advanced Technical Communication and Project Management New Orleans, LA, October 27-30, 2007. More…
2007 ATA e-Business Forum Miami, Florida, Oct 17-19, 2007. More…
DITA 2007™-East, Raleigh, North Carolina, October 4-6, 2007. More…
2007 XyUser Group Fall Conference, Boston, MA, Sept 23-26, 2007. More…
Mark Logic 2007 User Conference, San Francisco, CA, May 15-17, 2007. More…
Content Management Strategies/DITA North America
Conference 2007, Boston, MA, March 26-28, 2007. More…
DIA 18th Annual Workshop,
San Diego, CA. March 4-7, 2007. More…
DIA 2007 EDM & CDM Conference, Philadelphia, PA, Feb 6 - 8, 2007. More…
DITA 2007 – West, San Jose, CA, February 5-7, 2007. More…
Framemaker 2006 Chautauqua, Austin, TX, Nov 8-10, 2006. More…
PTC/User World Event 2006, Grapevine, TX, June 4-6. More…
19th Annual DIA Conference Philadelphia, PA, February 7-9. More…
XyUser's Conference, San Diego, California, September 11-14. DCL's Don Bridges delivered a presentation on "Content Reuse" More…
Structured Product Labeling, Washington, DC, August 23-24. More…
Tri-XML 2005, Raleigh, NC , July 28. DCL's Don Bridges delivered a presentation on "Content Reuse" More…
Pharmaceutical Labeling and Product Identification, Whippany, NJ, June 16-17. DCL's Don Bridges delivered a presentation on "Structured Product Labeling (SPL) and the Implications of Implementing an XML Solution." More…
More…
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