Quark released the newest XML study from the Gilbane Group called “Smart Content in the Enterprise: How Next Generation XML Applications Deliver New Value to Multiple Stakeholders.” The study, by Geoffrey Bock, Dale Waldt, and Mary Laplante, investigates the current and emerging landscape of XML applications and offers insights on best practices for moving XML use from the department level to broad adoption across an enterprise.

According to the Gilbane Group, “smart content” is a natural evolution of XML structured content that delivers rich, value-added functionality. Smart content is granular for flexible use, rich in descriptive information, useful across multiple applications, and meaningful for collaborative interaction. Among other significant points, the study concludes that organisations must consider delivery as a starting point for determining their strategy for creating smart content. The study also finds that businesses need to adopt tools that allow users to enrich content throughout the content lifecycle, not just at the point of creation.

“Gilbane is home to XML experts who have done a great job of identifying the compelling reasons for XML adoption across the enterprise,” said PG Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Quark. “As the report shows, businesses must begin by defining the impact they want to have on their customers. Once defined, the next step is to identify how non-technical knowledge workers can best create the smart content that’s needed to meet the organisation’s objectives.”

“In our research, we see that when companies invest in making their content smart, the value of the content begins to speak for and prove itself,” said Geoffrey Bock, Senior Analyst, Collaboration for the Gilbane Group. “The key to creating smart content is to consider how content may be used for multiple purposes and design a data model, together with the creation and enrichment processes, to meet these goals. This opens the door to thinking about XML content in new and innovative ways, spurring adoption throughout the enterprise.”

The complete study is being made available by Quark here: http://publish.quark.com/content/GilbaneReport_SmartContent

Autodata Ltd., Europe’s leading publisher and supplier of technical information for automotive professionals, has successfully switched to Quark® XML Author for Microsoft® Word to produce information for independent workshops through printed and electronic media.

Autodata Ltd., like many other technical information providers, was facing the challenge of moving from paper manuals to a more fast-pasted production cycle imposed by technology developments in the industry and now supplies regular monthly updates of their electronic products, which at present make up 90% of their sales. Mark Trepte, Autodata's Production Director, explains: “Vehicles now have a reduced ‘model life’. This means more models more often, which we have to research and supply information for. This presents us with the challenge of progressively reducing time to market.”

Autodata wanted a solution where authors did not have to get involved in the technicalities of mark-up languages and could deliver content in fast and accurate way. A thorough review of the market led Autodata to choose Quark XML Author for Microsoft Word.

“Our technical authors were already compiling information using Microsoft Word and therefore were familiar with its layout and functions. We did not want our authors to invest their time inserting the correct mark-up codes, but to focus on content. Equally we did not want to move them from the familiarity of Microsoft Word to the alien environment of an XML editor” comments Gabriele Ostermaier, Business Assurance Manager at Autodata.

“We took the view that Quark XML Author was the most user-friendly and suitable option. The authors are not confronted with code input and can focus on what they do best – writing. And this means a competitive edge for our business,” concludes Ostermaier.

Quark XML Author turns Microsoft Word into an XML authoring tool, helping to remove an important barrier to mainstream adoption of XML and dynamic publishing solutions. “We are pleased to see Autodata take advantage of the great benefits of intelligent content. Quark XML Author is an implement-and-go solution that requires very little training so companies like Autodata can save time and money and get their technical writers up to speed quickly. For businesses looking into producing information in a more cost-effective way, with reduced time to market, increased consistency and accuracy Quark XML Author is the answer” commented Matthew Wallis, Senior Vice President of Sales at Quark.

“Our relationship with Microsoft continues to allow us to bring superior XML authoring solutions to organisations across a range of industries so they can improve and automate their publishing processes," concluded Matthew Wallis.

Quark is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner and member of the Office 14 Developer Advisory Council. Quark supports industry–specific schemas for life sciences, the intelligence community, manufacturing, and technical documentation that can be deployed out–of–the box for a quick start.

A in-depth case study detailing Autodata’s journey to XML and dynamic publishing can be found at http://dynamicpublishing.quark.com/en/customers/. To download a pdf of the story please click here

Quark announced the availability of an in-depth case study detailing IBM Microelectronics’ innovative information strategy built on DITA. Using Quark XML Author integrated with IBM FileNet Content Manager, IBM Microelectronics leverages DITA to streamline the process of authoring and managing the content of the semiconductor design manuals that drive its business. The content of the manuals can now be dynamically published among customers and partners, which has increased productivity and will save the company millions of dollars in the coming years. Watch video and read case study.