Component content management system

A component content management system (CCMS) is a content management system that manages content at a granular level (component) rather than at the document level. Each component represents a single topic, concept or asset (e.g., image, table, product description). Components can be as large as a chapter or as small as a definition or even a word. Components in multiple content assemblies (content types) can be viewed as components or as traditional documents.

Each component is only stored one time in the content management system, providing a single, trusted source of content. These components are then reused (rather than copied and pasted) within a document or across multiple documents. This ensures that content is consistent across the entire documentation set.^[1]

Each component has its own lifecycle (owner, version, approval, use) and can be tracked individually or as part of an assembly. Component content management (CCM) is typically used for multi-channel customer-facing content (marketing, usage, learning, support). CCM can be a separate system or be a functionality of another content management system type (e.g., enterprise content management or web content management).

Benefits of managing contents at components level:

1. Greater consistency and accuracy.
2. Reduced maintenance costs.
3. Reduced delivery costs.
4. Reduced translation costs.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ "Crash Course for Content Management: What is content management?". Vasont Systems.
2. ^ Ann Rockley and Steve Manning. "Component content management: Overlooked by analysts; required by technical publications departments". The Rockley Group Inc.