Nobody gets goosebumps when the topic of document management comes up. It may not be the most thrilling subject, but efficiently creating, distributing, and managing critical business documents has a huge impact on your business. Done well, document management will enable you to work efficiently and make informed decisions.
However, even though 93% of U.S. companies conduct at least some business online, 40% of businesses still use paper-based filing processes.
To provide faster, more efficient information workflows, a growing number of organizations are evaluating their document management processes in both hard copy and digital formats. A digital document management system is an automated software that helps your teams organize, secure, store, and manage their business documents. When managed effectively, many find that an all-digital document management system benefits their employees and their bottom line. Let's find out how:
It's no secret that your organization handles a considerable number of documents on a routine basis. Even with the steep rise in digital business operations over the last two decades, the average office employee uses 10,000 sheets of paper per year.
Often, the information your enterprise handles needs to be stored for future reference. In a paper-based operation, that means filing cabinets spread out across offices or lumped together in a crowded storage room. These cabinets (or the messy bottom drawer of your desk) quickly get overrun with stacks of paper, which means your organizational system goes out the window as things — quite literally — pile up.
Filing systems aren't just a hassle to use; they also lead to significant business costs over time due to:
With a document management system, you don't have to take up an area for your data. Storing documents digital frees up space in your office and gives employees a unified storage system to parse through when they're looking for a critical piece of documentation.
While a paper-based filing system's literal lock-and-key security gives many business owners peace of mind, these tools aren't without several risks. First off, most filing systems don't offer state-of-the-art tools. Big box cabinet manufacturers likely install the same lock-and-key system on multiple products. The constant hassle of asking, "Who has the key to this filing cabinet?" often leads frustrated employees to leave keys out and available to all.
On the other hand, a digital document management system provides a virtually impenetrable safe house for your organization's private information. Because cyber threats are an unavoidable reality, digital document management systems include a range of robust, built-in security features so you can rest assured that your data files are protected from bad actors. Most solutions also allow you to restrict access as necessary and maintain a record of who has viewed or modified a document at any time.
An additional benefit to employing a document or enterprise content management system is that your data will be backed up, thereby protecting it against disaster. This means that you will become more organized and improve security all at once.
Sometimes, just tracking down a single document costs employees large chunks of working time. A simple typo or misfile can turn into a wild goose chase that leaves your staff frustrated and often still lacking the information they need to do their jobs.
Rather than requiring users to thumb through files or scan alphabetized dividers, a digital document management system can search for multiple keywords simultaneously, discovering your results much more quickly. Digital storage also helps with version control and ensures everyone is working from a single source of truth.
Efficient document management systems save your employees hours of working time and make it easier for them to do their jobs effectively. A study by Laserfiche estimates that a digital document management system can save your teams up to 6,000 hours per year, equating to 2.4 full-time staff positions.
Well-optimized document workflows and a reliable document management system can help you determine a better way to support your key business objectives and keep your employees' daily operations running smoothly.
However, effective digital document management requires more than a single software tool. A holistic evaluation of your people, processes, and technology can help you create your ideal document workflows and streamline operations across your organization.
Are you interested in learning more?
Contact UBEO to learn how our Business Technology Assessment can unlock new business value and optimize your internal workflows.