In 1978, Frederick Wilfrid Lancaster predicted that society would one day be entirely paperless. In those days, he had to rely on document archiving systems that were decidedly clumsy, and even he was convinced there was a better way to handle paper documents. In today's day and age, the choice for your document archiving system is torn between digital and paper.

For years, businesses have been told that a paperless office is truly the way of the future. However, during day to day business operations you likely still use paper documents as a way to keep information moving and within your line of sight. This forces one to think, will paper documents ever truly be a thing of the past? Or, are we destined to keep paper documents floating around the office regardless of the technology that comes our way?

Electronic records management has come a long way since the advent of the computer. While being able to store and access documents on a computer was a huge advancement for document management, recent years have seen an incredible explosion in technologies that directly impact how document management works. Today’s document management systems are highly efficient and powerful, resulting in increased productivity, less wasted time and great cost savings for businesses in nearly any industry.

With so many paper records tucked away in filing cabinets and storage boxes that have been untouched for years, a bulk scanning project is no small undertaking. There are so many steps required to turn your stack of documents into an easy-to-access digital database, from prep work to scanning, organizing and more.  

When you think about microfilm or microfiche, you may not think of a modern method of keeping and storing information. But, more companies and industries that you likely consider still have information stored on microfiche to this day. Problematically as this material ages it begins to decay and ruin the images and information within it, which is why so many industries are now considering microfiche scanning as a method to save documentation.

Organization can be difficult, especially when working with computers that have a search function for every level of file and folder. This can make digital documents and document scanning sound worrisome, as without a good organization process you may worry that documents will be lost or corrupted within your computer network. If you’re worried that digital documentation will make organization even more difficult for you, consider these options.

The end of the fiscal year can be an overwhelming time for your business, no matter what industry your company is in. From small businesses to enterprise corporations, the fiscal year end means seemingly endless filing, reporting, planning and ensuring that every piece of important documentation from the past year is taken care of. When your office or offices run off of paper documents and invoices, it can be very difficult to get important work done on time, as documents are passed between hands and departments.

There are a lot of document management systems on the market and not all are created equal. Whether you are looking to implement a new system from scratch or wondering what other options are available, you need to know which features are too important to live without. When managing a team of tens or even hundreds of employees, the right system that will allow your team to work effectively and without problems becomes even more important.

You may be set on implementing document scanning services for your business, and know that the benefits of a digital system are vast. But, are finances getting in the way? Depending on the quantity and quality of your paper documents, a scanning solution may be an upfront cost you’re not comfortable with. To help with these fees. IBM Global Financing is making up to 4 billion dollars available to companies just like yours.

If you work in an office, you have some kind of record management. Even if it is simply filing cabinets, you’ve got a process in place to make sure that you find crucial documents when you need them. But not all record management systems are created equal. Many paper-based systems and inefficient shared drives cause delays in processes and create a lack of visibility in your overall system.