Records Management For The Masses: Scalable ECM Solutions For Smaller Organizations

By Allen Gavlak, Account Manager, Optical Image Technology

A transition to electronic processes can have tremendous benefits to the environment and to your bottom line. No matter what your line of work, you are probably well aware that an enterprise content management (ECM) system can provide your business with significant improvements in efficiency, records management, and security.

It used to be that ECM was cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses. Organizations with less than 100 people often were unable to make the up-front investment that would enable them to take advantage of the ROI that enterprise content management has to offer. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Organizations of all sizes—even those with fewer than fifteen people—are now able to implement high-performance ECM software and realize considerable payback during the first year of implementation. Scalable ECM software can be used initially in one department, and has the flexibility to grow for implementation throughout an entire enterprise. The technology has never been more accessible.

Electronic storage and retrieval might be an improvement over paper process, but it does not necessarily simplify your records management efforts. Automated workflow is the tool that will transform your business. It will enable you to electronically route documents to the right person at the right time for processing. As a result, you will be able to process significantly more work without increasing your workforce. Prepare for your transition early so that you can make the most of your implementation. Organizations often find that an investment in a business process analysis prior to an ECM implementation pays great dividends, allowing them to identify and overcome existing processing weaknesses.