EMC Captures Captiva

EMC has snapped up input management specialist Captiva Software for $275 million in an effort to bolster its Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) efforts. (See EMC to Acquire Captiva .)

Input management software uses scanning and other techniques to convert paper-based data to digital formats and is being touted as a key weapon in users attempts to digitize mountains of corporate data. EMC is planning to add Captiva’s technology to the content management software it acquired when it bought Documentum in 2003, which forms the heart of its ILM strategy. (See EMC Cops Documentum.)

ILM has become the battle cry in EMC's marketing plan. Since the term encompasses the entire lifecycle of all types of content, including documents, graphics, and Webpages, it sets up a wide umbrella to peddle its storage wares. That fits well with EMC's effort to expand its software presence to offset the commoditization of storage hardware. (See EMC Swings Into Software Big Leagues.) Earlier this week, the vendor credited ILM for its solid quarterly results. (See EMC Earnings Credit ILM Uptick.)

According to Daniel Renouard of analyst firm Robert W. Baird, EMC will use the San Diego, California-based Captiva's software as the “front end” of its content management line. Additionally, EMC will use the Captiva scanning and data organizating software to digitize content that to be usedfor use with the Documentum product line, he thinks.

Initial signs suggest that integrating the two product lines should be relatively straightforward. “Captiva is a long-standing partner of Documentum and its competitors,” writes Renouard in a note this morning. Rivals include the likes of IBM and FileNet.