TOWER Software Wins Northern Territory Whole of Government Enterprise Content Management Contract
Northern Territory expected to be the first Australian state or territory to deploy a single ECM platform across all government agencies
Canberra, Australia – November 21, 2006 – TOWER Software, the leading Australian developer of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions and the leading ECM provider to government worldwide, today announced that it had signed a whole of government contract for the supply of ECM solutions – worth a seven figure sum – with the Northern Territory Government.
Under the contract the Northern Territory is expected to become the first Australian state or territory to deploy a single ECM platform across all government agencies. The agreement will see the number of public servants with access to TOWER Software’s TRIM Context ECM software expand from between 3000-4000 currently to all NT Government employees who use computers.
The contract covers the purchase of a perpetual license to TRIM Context for all Northern Territory Government agencies and employees and includes five years software maintenance with an optional extension for three years.
“We expect numbers of ECM users to increase considerably over the next few years,” said Greg Coleman, Director of the Northern Territory Archives Service with the Department of Corporate and Information Services, which manages licensing for records management and ECM solutions for the NT Government. “Ultimately, everyone who has a desktop will be able to access TRIM.”
TRIM Context is already used by all major Northern Territory Government agencies for records management. Its installation on all desktop computers will allow agencies to deploy a full range of ECM solutions, including Electronic Document Management, supporting efficient delivery of government services.
“Expanding our deployment of TOWER Software‘s solution gives us a consistent content management platform supporting good government with an emphasis on offering services electronically,” said Coleman. One of the priorities under the new agreement, he said, will be upgrading the Territory’s agencies to TRIM Context 6 with ice Web client support.
Impetus to deploy ECM solutions received a boost with the implementation of the Northern Territory’s Information Act 2002 and the development of records management standards by the Northern Territory Archives Service. Taking effect in July 2003, the Act impacts how public sector organisations collect, use and store government and personal information. Under the Act, for the first time in Australia, the issues of freedom of information (FOI), privacy and records and archives management were brought together.
“The government has a strong centralised IT focus and is aware of the benefits of eGovernment,” said Coleman.
A number of TOWER Software’s implementation partners – Alphawest, Gen-i, iCognition, Kaz, KnowledgePartners, MicroHelp and CSM Group – are also included in the agreement for the provision of training, change management and additional support which may be required by Northern Territory Government agencies.
“The new whole of government ECM contract is a win for both TOWER Software and the Northern Territory Government,” said Martin Harwood, CEO for TOWER Software. “By leveraging its existing investment in TRIM Context, the territory has cost-effectively purchased a single ECM solution for all government employees supporting all its content management needs.”
