Gartner points to cheaper enterprise search

Companies could cut IT costs significantly by using search appliances

Companies could save over £100,000 on their enterprise search licence costs by substituting plans for a large-scale universal platform with more tactical alternatives, according to Gartner.

The analyst firm's latest report explains that businesses could cut IT costs significantly by considering the use of search appliances, an application service provider model, or using "conventional software, which is inexpensive".

Gartner distinguished analyst Whit Andrews said that major enterprise search projects can cost as much as $500,000 (£331,000) when costs such as licences, maintenance, services and internal resources are factored in.

However, companies must also consider whether the cost savings outweigh the potential reduction in functionality that these tactical alternatives can bring about.

"Companies looking at these types of cost-efficiency plans must handle them carefully to avoid a potentially disproportionate reduction in value," said Whitman.

"However, on balance, exchanging a high-end platform for a satisfactory substitute will be acceptable for most organisations where cutting IT costs is more urgent than a radical overhaul of services."

Ben Richmond, founder of ECM consultancy The Content Group, argued that firms need to consider carefully whether a point solution approach meets their enterprise search requirements.

"We constantly have to educate our clients that search is only half the battle," he added.

"If you don't have your house in order with good information classification and meta data management, it's like sending off a human to search through an unorganised filing cabinet."