Box updates metadata services for APIs, syncing with Sharepoint
Box is upgrading its metadata services for defining and storing valuable data stored on its cloud platform with a trio of new features.
At the heart (or at least start) of the metadata platform is a new admin console where IT professionals can create, distribute and manage metadata templates across organizations.
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Secondly, developers can now add and edit metadata features on software content through metadata template and advanced search APIs.
Finally, Box is giving metadata templates some more wiggle room, allowing corporate customers to import and export metadata templates from third-party systems for syncing data. The Los Altos, Calif.-based company highlighted the Microsoft Sharepoint and EMC Documentum content management systems as two potential sources.
The cloud storage company first introduced metadata services to its platform in fall 2013 as one of the initial features that could be tailored for industry-specific purposes.
For example, Chris Yeh, senior vice president of product and platform at Box, suggested at the BoxWorks 2013 summit that an x-ray image could be tagged to a file, making searchable by patient name and ID, diagnosis and primary care physician.
Box followed up in spring 2014 with a new model for handling metadata, weaving Box search into third-party apps as well as mobile SDK integrations for iOS and Android.
By September 2014, Box unveiled Workflow, stemming from its acquisition of dLoop the previous November in order to boost its security and data analytics offerings. The merger fostered new automation and metadata features designed to run business processes on top of the Box platform. These processes include invoice processing, digital asset management, contract management and approvals, and other operating procedures.
With BoxWorks 2015 just around the corner at the end of September 2015, it is likely corporate customers will hear more about more metadata services soon.
For now, the newly announced metadata templates are available now via request with the roll out to being the default option in September for Box's Business Plus, Enterprise and Elite customers.