Hyland Software has "strong management, a clear strategy, happy customers and a vertical-market focus." That, according to the IT research and advisory company Gartner, is part of the reason Hyland Software is on its list of leaders in the enterprise content management (ECM) industry. Gartner's Magic Quadrant 2010 puts Hyland Software in good company, as it shares the title "leader" with the likes of Microsoft, Oracle and IBM. The annual Magic Quadrant is used by the IT industry to evaluate ECM vendor options.

The review from Gartner also pointed to Hyland's sales growth and success selling a version of the company's OnBase software that runs over the Internet. OnBase features document, business process and records management services.

A.J. Hyland, president and CEO of the Westlake-based company, says that Hyland's success relies on staying true to its own mission. "Since the beginning, Hyland strategically decided not to pursue two of Gartner's requirements to be a leader: team collaboration and WCM (web content management)," Hyland wrote on his company blog. "Instead, it stayed focused on this: integrated document imaging, management and workflow capabilities that meet the needs of targeted vertical industries."

This appears to have been a successful strategy. The company has had a banner year adding to its market share through acquisitions. New to the Hyland Software family in 2010 are eWebHealth, which specializes in Software as a Service (Saas); Hershey Systems, which focuses on the higher education market; and Computer Systems Company, a business and clinical healthcare software entity.

SOURCE: Hyland Software
WRITER: Diane DiPiero