What Is a Content Management System (explained)

Learn more about managing content digitally with a content management system (CMS) that suits your requirements
Written By
WorkPilot
September 28, 2022
Written By
WorkPilot

When customers visit your site, they engage with your content, including website pages, blog articles, case studies, webinars, etc. You may regard this information as marketing content. Your business similarly produces additional business content, including customer information and company knowledge.

Regardless of the content type, it must be captured, stored, distributed, updated, reviewed, or collaborated on. Performing tasks related to the management of digital content often requires the use of a CMS. Let’s find out how it works:  

Content management system explained  

A CMS is a system that you use to perform activities related to managing digital content, such as creating, editing, publishing, and keeping track of updates.

It can provide a simple way for non-tech users to create and modify content without specialized programming knowledge. For instance, a web content management system like WordPress allows users to publish online pages without knowing web programming languages such as HTML or CSS.

Now, a CMS consists of two parts:  

  • Content management application (CMA)

It's the graphical user interface that users interact with when adding, designing, and managing content.  

  • Content delivery application (CDA)

It’s the back-end application that executes various processes based on user actions in the CMA.  

Why Do You Need a CMS

You may need a content management system for content creation and management. The software can streamline the storage of content in one place for easier retrieval.

With features such as assigning roles, permissions, and responsibilities, a CMS can promote better content governance. CMSs also make collaborating possible by allowing multiple users to contribute to the creation of files.

Version control can allow users to view what has been edited or go back to previous versions. Retrieving and searching through a CMS to find information more quickly means more productive time for the employees. Similarly, it can make creating well-designed content faster through the use of templates.  

Types of Content Management Systems

When people think of a CMS, they automatically think of platforms such as WordPress or Joomla. It turns out, they are different types of CMSs, including:  

  • Enterprise Content Management (ECM):

Primarily designed for businesses, the ECM provides mechanisms for the creation, storage, and automation of business content. It can come with more stringent governance rules and security.

  • Web Content Management System (WCMS):

Businesses use WCMS to manage their web content, which may entail designing web pages or blogging.

  • Learning Content Management System (LCMS):

Geared for the training needs of organisations, the LCMS allows businesses to create courses without any coding knowledge. They can add gamification, maintain content libraries, and set up learning paths.  

  • Digital Asset Management System (DAM):

This system allows businesses to store and share all their digital assets from one central location. The digital assets may include images, videos, PDFs, audio, and other media.  

You should start by assessing your needs to determine the kind of CMS you need for your business. At a bare minimum, you may require an ECM, WCMS, and LCMS to manage your training resources.

WorkPilot provides many of the features your need in an ECM and LCMS, including:  

  • Searchable Wiki;
  • Reusable checklists;  
  • Tutorial builders;
  • Content manager;  
  • Self-guided onboarding workflows;  
  • Performance monitoring:
  • Task management.  

Check out its features today!  

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