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# Decide Which MadCap Software Solution Is Right for You
The world of content creation and distribution is vast with different organizations having different needs and requirements. For some organizations, a solution that is nimble and quick to deploy fits their immediate needs, while in other cases a solution that is more structured and scalable is necessary.
Unlike any other vendor, MadCap Software provides a best-fit approach based on your needs, wants, desires, timeline, budget, and goals. With professional services and support from both organizations working hand-in-hand, you have peace of mind knowing that you have a partner for now and well into the future, regardless of how much your content and team grows and your needs change.
The below comparison of the basic functionality between MadCap IXIA CCMS (DITA + CCMS) and MadCap Central’s Content Experience Management platform can help you decide which solution is best for you. Both products are award-winning solutions addressing authoring and publishing needs for thousands of organizations worldwide.
MadCap IXIA CCMS or MadCap Central Comparison
|  | IXIA CCMS – Structure and Compliance | Central – Speed and Flexibility |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Overview | * 100% DITA compliant – strictly enforced structured approach to authoring * Highly scalable for any amount of content and authors * Strictly enforced structure enables maximum interoperability with other systems * Robust taxonomy and semantics support * Highly configurable complex release and lifecycle management * Support for complex and very large documentation sets- ideal for large authoring teams * Compliance - Full Traceability and audit tracking capabilities | * Authoring flexibility – less- structured authoring and content creation (still topic based); with built-in easy to use XHTML Editor * Easy implementation with drag-and-drop import of legacy content * Integrated cascading stylesheet (CSS) editor for full customizability and control over formatting of published content * Multi-channel publishing capabilities out of the box * Robust single-source authoring maximum content re-use by small or large teams |
| Content Storage/Hosting | CCMS database – delivered with CCMS | Git repository |
| Cloud-based Architecture | Dedicated server/single tenant | Multi-tenant |
| Content Management | Full CCMS capabilities | Content management limited to MadCap Flare projects and resources |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | A unified API that fully supports database and document management functions; APIs include COM, JAVA, and .NET | API access limited to the XML Editor in the desktop application (Flare) |
| Content Import and Conversion | Professional services available to assist with large-scale content conversion to Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) | Easily and automatically import common file formats |
| Topic Based Authoring | 100% DITA compliant – strictly enforced structured approach to authoring  Web based – contribution, review and approval features; in addition to advanced web authoring | Highly flexible (less structured approach to authoring), advanced topic-based authoring  Lightweight contribution and review in the cloud; advanced authoring on-premise (desktop) via Flare |
| Multi-channel Publishing | Generate PDF, and responsive HTML5 using integrated DITA Opensource Toolkit.  Separate hosting server setup required for published content | Native build automation and publishing to multiple file types, including PDF and HTML5, or directly to source control providers, Salesforce**®**, Zendesk**®**, or ServiceNow**®**.  All hosting, publishing, build scheduling managed within MadCap Central. |
| Content Reuse | Robust content reuse across any disparate projects, files and content types contained within the CCMS | Content reuse across all topics and resources within a project |
| Auditing/Compliance | Full traceability - enforced auditing and compliance through the CCMS | Limited audit and compliance enforcement (managed through permissions and roles) |
| Workflow/Project Management | Configurable workflows to meet the needs of various organizations | Manage user functionality through roles and permissions |
| Styling and Separation of Content | Complete separation of content and formatting. Styling and formatting of content needs to be performed outside of IXIA CCMS | Advanced formatting capabilities using built-in CSS Editor, page layout editor and web-skin editor. Separation of content and styling is highly recommended but not strictly enforced |
## Current Customer Adoption
## Why MadCap IXIA CCMS (DITA + CCMS) Might Be Right for You
The combination of DITA in conjunction with a CCMS provides a powerful and flexible framework for creating, managing, and publishing technical documentation, offering benefits in terms of efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. It can be a good choice for companies or organizations that need to create and manage complex documentation sets, especially if they need to collaborate across the enterprise and publish it in multiple formats and/or languages.
Some of the key benefits:
1. **Structured authoring**: DITA allows for enforcement of a structured approach to documentation, which can help improve consistency and reduce errors. DITA offers a highly flexible content model that can be tailored to specific documentation needs. This allows authors to create highly structured and organized content while still having the flexibility to adapt to changes or metadata requirements.
2. **Modular content/reusability**: Breaks down content into smaller modules, which can be combined to create larger documents. This means that content can be created once and then reused in various contexts, improving quality, saving time, reducing costs, and increasing consistency. It also makes it easier to manage and update documentation, as changes can be made to individual modules rather than entire documents.
3. **Streamlined content creation and management**: Provides features for authoring, reviewing, and publishing content. This helps reduce errors, improve quality, and speed up time to market.
4. **Version control and collaboration**: Provides version control capabilities that allow multiple authors to annotate on the same document simultaneously. This can help improve collaboration, reduce conflicts, and ensure that the most up-to-date content is being used.
5. **Dynamic Release Management**: CCMS capabilities supports various release management use cases such as
   1. Management of multiple versions of the same product (ex typical software company) or product with multiple variants (ex. manufacturing industry – forklift that is delivered slightly differently to each customer
   2. Continuous delivery in a single branch (ex. SaaS software product)
   3. Extensive content reuse across the enterprise (ex. large number of product lines that need to easily share content).
6. **Multi-channel publishing**: Automates the publishing process by automatically converting DITA content into different output formats, such as PDF, HTML, etc. This flexibility allows organizations to reach their audiences in the format that is most suitable for them.
7. **Improved localization**: The IXIA CCMS manages the entire localization process making it easier and more cost effective to provide content for users across the world. It can easily be used in conjunction with a number of Translation Management Systems.
8. **Configurable workflows**: Provides features for workflow automation, enabling organizations to set up workflows for review and approval processes. This ensures that content goes through a consistent and standardized review process before being published.
9. **Consistency and accuracy**: Includes features to enforce consistency and accuracy in documentation, such as templates, auditing, workflow management, and the ability to create reusable content. This helps ensure that documentation is of high quality and consistent across all content.
---
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## Why MadCap Central might Be Right for You
Just like the MadCap IXIA CCMS, MadCap Central's Content Experience Management platform supports component-based authoring that makes content reuse quite easy, yet powerful. However, the MadCap Central platform is much less structured than CCMS. Essentially, Central can provide a powerful and efficient framework for creating and managing technical documentation, offering benefits in terms of efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness, with an easier implementation and lower price point than that of a CCMS.
1. **Less-structured content**: More adaptable to different contexts and can be used in various ways. It allows for more creativity and freedom in how the content is presented and can be easily repurposed. It can also be created more quickly than structured content, as it does not require as much planning and organization. This can be particularly beneficial for time-sensitive topics or for creating content on the fly.
2. **Streamlined content creation**: Provides a user-friendly authoring environment that allows authors to create, manage, and publish technical content quickly and easily.
3. **Easily import legacy content**: Provides several options to import legacy content into a complete system for authoring and managing content. Formats that can be imported include Microsoft**®** Word documents, Microsoft**®** Excel workbooks, HTML files and file sets, Markdown files, Confluence**®** content, FrameMaker**®** content, DITA document sets, and Author-it**®** content.
4. **Multi-channel publishing**: Documentation can be published in various formats, such as HTML, PDF, EPUB, and others. This flexibility enables organizations to reach their audiences in the format that is most suitable for them.
5. **Collaboration and version control**: Provides a cloud-based platform for collaboration and version control. This source control capability is extremely easy to implement, enabling multiple authors to work on the same project simultaneously. This makes it easier to manage changes and ensure that the most up-to-date content is being used.
6. **Project management**: Roles and permissions allow for functional separation between various members of an organization, ensuring that the appropriate functionality and workflows are accessible to the right people.
7. **Analytics and reports**: Provide detailed information about your content and output, as well as insights into how content is being used, what topics are most popular, and areas that may need improvement. This can help authors make data-driven decisions about how to improve content and prioritize topics.
8. **Localization**: By creating content using topic-based authoring and leveraging content reuse, it reduces the need to re-translate content that is reused or translate content that is not relevant or applicable to a particular market or language. This means that only the necessary content needs to be translated, reducing translation costs and time.
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