HP Exstream 7.0 Targets Streamlined Customer Communications Across the Enterprise

HP (Palo Alto, Calif.) introduced the latest version of its HP Exstream enterprise software, a single solution for streamlined design through delivery of customer communications across the enterprise, regardless of complexity, variability or output channel " including high-volume, on-demand and interactive document applications. HP Exstream 7.0 includes more than 250 enhancements and emerges from a development cycle that included testing and deployment by more than 50 HP Exstream customers worldwide. The new release is in production at several customer sites.

Enhancements such as the ability to automate sections and paragraphs and the inclusion of bar codes can be used for complex interactive document applications, including fully personalized transactional documents and contracts, agreements, policies, letters and business forms.

Rich content can now be retrieved by the HP Exstream LiveEditor directly from enterprise content management (ECM) and business process management (BPM) systems, Web applications, and SharePoint, and then sent back to these sources for updates after editing. Other capabilities include security features such as confidential masking of information, role-based editing and expiration certificates, as well as many new user productivity tools, including custom dictionaries in multiple languages and extended workflow and repository capabilities. This release also includes new connectors for delivery of on-demand communications through email and cell phone (SMS) channels, as well as other enhancements for .NET and J2EE deployments.

According to the vendor, HP Exstream 7.0 includes enhancements that allow enterprises to further improve overall productivity and reduce total cost of ownership, including: new conversion utilities for migrating from legacy document composition systems such as DocuMerge, DocuMaker and Top Down; extended support for QuarkXpress and RTF designs; improved output compare tools for testing; ability to embed bar codes into automated tables; Wizard-based charting and new chart types; and Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) output improvements for color support, outline fonts and DBCS.

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio