Hello,
I completely understand where the client is at in its development and know that it's still only in Beta. Your focus on the basics in making it a solid foundation for future revisions of the sync client is much appreciated, applauded, and in all honesty needed/refreshing. It's frustrating when developers try to put too much functionality into a first implimentation where it prevents the technology from being useful/functional at it's birth. That ends up doing no one any good. (As much of a Microsoft shop as we are, Microsoft directly comes to mind here
)
However, my question is one from the perspective of a decision maker and potential future adopter. I am heavily considering the use of Alfresco as our CMS foundation for our company. I love the product and what it has to offer. I, like many other IT decision makers are in an unfortunate position of trying to decide on a technology based on integrations and offers from other numerous competitors. One of the toughest out there right now are Dropbox like technologies that have an incredible product offering for what they are. What they are not are Alfresco/Sharepoint/and the like (potential portal and truly collaborative solutions as apposed to just content delivery). So I am stuck with trying to find a CMS solution that can compete against desktop sync functionality like Dropbox where users get version control, real-time desktop sync client notifications (not just through email), more robust control over available synced files, etc …… all via the desktop install of the client.
Again, understanding where the client is at in it's development, I am not expecting this functionality right out of the box once it's released by any measure. I would however expect something like this to solidly compete against solutions like Dropbox, Box, and Sharefile in the future (hopefully near). Are there any plans for updates such as these (version control, real-time desktop sync client notifications (not just through email), more robust control over available synced files, etc ……) in the Alfresco Desktop Sync client?
One would argue that IT ultimately controls what technologies are used in any given environment, however the reality is with the invention of consumer solutions like Dropbox and cloud computing, IT's control becomes very limited in highly demanding/user-centric environments. When you don't have a competing and equivalent/better solution to offer, users win in environments like these making questions like mine all the more important for decision makers.
I appreciate the work Alfresco is doing. You have an incredible product that we hope to be useing in the near future!
Tigh Holmstrom
Director, IT
QRI
I completely understand where the client is at in its development and know that it's still only in Beta. Your focus on the basics in making it a solid foundation for future revisions of the sync client is much appreciated, applauded, and in all honesty needed/refreshing. It's frustrating when developers try to put too much functionality into a first implimentation where it prevents the technology from being useful/functional at it's birth. That ends up doing no one any good. (As much of a Microsoft shop as we are, Microsoft directly comes to mind here
)However, my question is one from the perspective of a decision maker and potential future adopter. I am heavily considering the use of Alfresco as our CMS foundation for our company. I love the product and what it has to offer. I, like many other IT decision makers are in an unfortunate position of trying to decide on a technology based on integrations and offers from other numerous competitors. One of the toughest out there right now are Dropbox like technologies that have an incredible product offering for what they are. What they are not are Alfresco/Sharepoint/and the like (potential portal and truly collaborative solutions as apposed to just content delivery). So I am stuck with trying to find a CMS solution that can compete against desktop sync functionality like Dropbox where users get version control, real-time desktop sync client notifications (not just through email), more robust control over available synced files, etc …… all via the desktop install of the client.
Again, understanding where the client is at in it's development, I am not expecting this functionality right out of the box once it's released by any measure. I would however expect something like this to solidly compete against solutions like Dropbox, Box, and Sharefile in the future (hopefully near). Are there any plans for updates such as these (version control, real-time desktop sync client notifications (not just through email), more robust control over available synced files, etc ……) in the Alfresco Desktop Sync client?
One would argue that IT ultimately controls what technologies are used in any given environment, however the reality is with the invention of consumer solutions like Dropbox and cloud computing, IT's control becomes very limited in highly demanding/user-centric environments. When you don't have a competing and equivalent/better solution to offer, users win in environments like these making questions like mine all the more important for decision makers.
I appreciate the work Alfresco is doing. You have an incredible product that we hope to be useing in the near future!
Tigh Holmstrom
Director, IT
QRI
Hi Nicolas,
You are about 98% correct. If you right-click a file in your local Dropbox folder and view the options within the Dropbox right-click menu, you can select "View previous versions". From there it takes you to the version control page for that selected file. So, it's essentially a simple link in the menu, but useful regardless. From the user perspective, it's easy to use and very simple functionality which our users love.
It would be incredible if you could eventually view versions of a file within the Alfresco Sync client itself. That would put Alfresco yet another step ahead to help us compete against these consumer solutions like Dropbox. But even if it was a right-click -> view previous versions which then opened the web page of the file within the Alfresco system, it would be competitive functionality. What I hear from our users on a constant basis when researching solutions against Dropbox is "as long as it has the instant update alert on my desktop like Dropbox when files sync, instant syncing the second a file is updated on the servers, and viewable versions, you would have an easily adaptable solution". Of course, easier said than done hah, but it's a legitimate perspective nontheless.
Again, I can't expect instant solutions while the application is still even in beta, but I am curious as to what the development path is for the Desktop Sync client to see if it can compete on a decent level. If Alfresco can furnish a solution like Dropbox (similar functionality/features … not necessarily the same, Alfresco would definitely benefit to differentiate to an extent) for internal use that ties into Alfresco, that would be a game changer in my humble opinion.
You are about 98% correct.
If you right-click a file in your local Dropbox folder and view the options within the Dropbox right-click menu, you can select "View previous versions". From there it takes you to the version control page for that selected file. So, it's essentially a simple link in the menu, but useful regardless. From the user perspective, it's easy to use and very simple functionality which our users love.It would be incredible if you could eventually view versions of a file within the Alfresco Sync client itself. That would put Alfresco yet another step ahead to help us compete against these consumer solutions like Dropbox. But even if it was a right-click -> view previous versions which then opened the web page of the file within the Alfresco system, it would be competitive functionality. What I hear from our users on a constant basis when researching solutions against Dropbox is "as long as it has the instant update alert on my desktop like Dropbox when files sync, instant syncing the second a file is updated on the servers, and viewable versions, you would have an easily adaptable solution". Of course, easier said than done hah, but it's a legitimate perspective nontheless.
Again, I can't expect instant solutions while the application is still even in beta, but I am curious as to what the development path is for the Desktop Sync client to see if it can compete on a decent level. If Alfresco can furnish a solution like Dropbox (similar functionality/features … not necessarily the same, Alfresco would definitely benefit to differentiate to an extent) for internal use that ties into Alfresco, that would be a game changer in my humble opinion.
Hi Jan,
Thank you for joining the conversation! You are absolutely correct. I am definitely not doubting this one bit. Alfresco is an incredible product and one which we are very interested in investing our time and resources in. The devil is indeed in the details which is why Dropbox is NOT seen as an Enterprise level solution.
The issue here is finding ways to convince or even "sell" the product to an end-user whom is not, nor will be, interested in the details. They see what works for them and that's about as far as an end user will invest their time. If it's not easy to use and doesn't offer intuitive functionality (similar to Dropbox) from a user perspective for a global workforce, it will not be adopted if your user base has any freedoms in your IT environment. The most efficient/best way to compete is always to offer a solution that works on an equal or better level.
I'll use this example: Project Manager requests Dropbox be used for their whole team of about 35 users. IT responds by presenting multiple solutions that don't fully stack up in the way of user functionality compared to something like Dropbox. Said solution is implimented but over time IT finds that the solution is not used often, only adopted by some, or even worse, they continue to use/seek Dropbox because it's easy to use with required functionality and IT couldn't furnish a literally comparable solution as it generally doesn't exist yet. Again, this would typically happen in an environment with a more relaxed control on the user computing environment. If the environment is locked down, well, that's a bit easier to work with.
My interest is really to find out what is in store or planned for the Alfresco Desktop Sync functionality. Does Alfresco have a keen interest in competing on the levels I am mentioning? I hope to gain visibility on the real issue I feel alot of IT heads are truly dealing with and to try and push for continued and if possible, further, R&D. I unfortunately have yet to find a true competitor in the way of an enterprise private Dropbox replacement. I see an incredible amount of potential in the Desktop Sync Client. Features, such as what Dropbox has, are a lot to ask for, I know. It's always easier said than done. However, I think the user base has a legitimate argument. The reason why these consumer solutions are highly adopted is because there is a weakness in the Enterprise sector for these types of solutions. Alfresco is very close to offering something comparible which is why I am asking these types of questions.
Thank you for joining the conversation! You are absolutely correct. I am definitely not doubting this one bit. Alfresco is an incredible product and one which we are very interested in investing our time and resources in. The devil is indeed in the details which is why Dropbox is NOT seen as an Enterprise level solution.
The issue here is finding ways to convince or even "sell" the product to an end-user whom is not, nor will be, interested in the details. They see what works for them and that's about as far as an end user will invest their time. If it's not easy to use and doesn't offer intuitive functionality (similar to Dropbox) from a user perspective for a global workforce, it will not be adopted if your user base has any freedoms in your IT environment. The most efficient/best way to compete is always to offer a solution that works on an equal or better level.
I'll use this example: Project Manager requests Dropbox be used for their whole team of about 35 users. IT responds by presenting multiple solutions that don't fully stack up in the way of user functionality compared to something like Dropbox. Said solution is implimented but over time IT finds that the solution is not used often, only adopted by some, or even worse, they continue to use/seek Dropbox because it's easy to use with required functionality and IT couldn't furnish a literally comparable solution as it generally doesn't exist yet. Again, this would typically happen in an environment with a more relaxed control on the user computing environment. If the environment is locked down, well, that's a bit easier to work with.
My interest is really to find out what is in store or planned for the Alfresco Desktop Sync functionality. Does Alfresco have a keen interest in competing on the levels I am mentioning? I hope to gain visibility on the real issue I feel alot of IT heads are truly dealing with and to try and push for continued and if possible, further, R&D. I unfortunately have yet to find a true competitor in the way of an enterprise private Dropbox replacement. I see an incredible amount of potential in the Desktop Sync Client. Features, such as what Dropbox has, are a lot to ask for, I know. It's always easier said than done. However, I think the user base has a legitimate argument. The reason why these consumer solutions are highly adopted is because there is a weakness in the Enterprise sector for these types of solutions. Alfresco is very close to offering something comparible which is why I am asking these types of questions.
Hi Paul,
I appreciate the reply! It's great to know you guys are reading these forums, seriously!
I totally get where you're comming from and it makes perfect sense that you are taking the route that you are. Your insight is good news and I look forward to seeing the technology in use!
Thanks to all who replied and for helping in encouraging the discussion.
Tigh
I appreciate the reply! It's great to know you guys are reading these forums, seriously!
I totally get where you're comming from and it makes perfect sense that you are taking the route that you are. Your insight is good news and I look forward to seeing the technology in use!
Thanks to all who replied and for helping in encouraging the discussion.
Tigh
