Metafile Selling Monthly Subscriptions to Content Management System

July 15, 2008 Alex Woodie

Metafile, the Rochester, Minnesota, developer of content management and imaging software for OS/400 and other platforms, recently launched a new scaled-down version of its MetaViewer software that’s designed to appeal to smaller businesses. The new software, called the MetaViewer Startup Financial Automation Solution, also offers a fixed monthly subscription, thereby decreasing startup costs.

Many AS/400 shops over the years have adopted Metafile’s MetaViewer software to speed the process of pulling up old files and reduce the paper chase. The Windows-based software automatically captures spool file output from OS/400 systems, indexes its contents, and then stores it in an archive, which can be searched from any Web browser. When a customer service representative or other worker needs to pull up a certain file, they type in a key word or other known aspect of the document in question, and–presto–the document is retrieved from the archive and displayed on the screen.

This spring, Metafile started selling a new version of the MetaViewer that the company says is easier to set up. MetaViewer Startup Financial Automation Solution is based on the same software as the standard MetaViewer product, but does require the commitment of time, money, and hardware.

According to Metafile, MetaViewer Startup can be set up in less than 90 minutes. The only requirement is a single on-site blade server. After that, ongoing administration is done remotely by Metafile, which minimizes the strain on the IT department, the company says.

“Billion-dollar companies utilize the standard MetaViewer solution,” says Nick Sprau, Metafile’s vice president of marketing. “This product introduces similar benefits to smaller firms or departments who can start small and expand to our full suite of services as the need arises. This is all available with no upfront costs or need for ongoing IT resources.”

In other news, Metafile has formed a partnership with Tax Back International to assist MetaViewer users with compliance with Value Added Tax (VAT) laws. “MetaViewer, Metafile’s specialty, is providing robust workflow automation and content management solutions for our clients,” says Metafile CEO Allan Sprau. “Compliance with VAT laws, while vital, has until now not been an area where we had focused our primary efforts.”