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Feb 03, 2012 What about an ECM Super Bowl ad?

Sure Super Bowl ad cost $3.5 million for 30 seconds. And yes we like to see what certain regulars will do creatively each year. But wouldn't be nice to see something different, like a clever ad for ECM? by Brett Chalmers

Jan 30, 2012 Document output management can turn customer contact from bland to grand

Keeping in contact with customers is crucial for any organization but in some industries it requires more than an email or the occasional form letter. Consider the logistics of printing for delivery a quarter million pages of documents a month, or having to quickly alter and disperse 600,000 individualized policies because of a regulatory change. A combination of enterprise content management and document output management technologies makes this possible. by Phil White

Jan 27, 2012 Embracing electronic signatures - myths, benefits and tips

The legal foundation for using electronic signatures was laid more than a decade ago. Organizations who use electronic signatures in their processes find it makes them more efficient and provides better service to clients. by Deanna Ferrante

Jan 24, 2012 Don't Put Your Software in a Box

From tracking plagiarism to tracking deliveries, there are more ways to use your software investments than you might think. by Emily Perkins

Jan 16, 2012 Growing in popularity, BYOD brings its own headaches

IDC says mobile computing is in its ascendancy. But a smartphone full of sensitive data left in a taxi is a haunting thought, so some organizations are laying down some rules of the road. by Eric Palmer

Jan 05, 2012 Is workflow destined to replace email?

A Financial Times article suggests that email may diminish in place of other technologies like workflow, the efficiency of which is well known to those working in enterprise content management. Some companies are even promoting face-to-face conversations. by Brett Chalmers

Dec 15, 2011 Memo to the federal bureaucracy: Invest in RIM

The U.S. federal government has got to be one of the most prolific generators of records and information in the world. Yet it is only now getting its head around electronic records management, even though where it has, agencies have saved tremendous amounts of tax dollars, achieved higher security of records and been able to provide better services to citizens. The President is pushing the executive branch to get cracking. by Brett Chalmers

Dec 13, 2011 Printing management can save federal agencies $1 billion, ECM technology that eliminates paper can transform them

The White House is looking for ways to cut federal spending and some agencies are responding by using enterprise content management to eliminate wasteful paper processes and improve efficiencies when they must print. The moves are not only saving the government substantial money, it is making departments and agencies more efficient and making government records more secure. by Eric Palmer

Nov 23, 2011 Innovative utility uses ECM to filter paper waste out of processes

The executive director of Oceans County Utilities Authority had just about given up on electronic document management because its first system was clunky and required expensive consulting fees to make alterations. But a replacement enterprise content management system has been so slick it has made the utility more efficient, energized users, and restored his faith. by Phil White

Nov 16, 2011 With I-9s, companies feel caught between a rock and a flamethrower

Companies are being hit with significant fines for not having filled out I-9 forms properly, even when the employees involved are legal to work. Experts suggest than an I-9 specific software system, paired with enterprise content management, is the way to keep from getting burned. by Eric Palmer

Oct 28, 2011 With one exception, ECM war will benefit vendors

Oracle's aggressive campaign against Documentum will have the effect of elevating the importance of ECM to the world. by Brett Chalmers

Oct 14, 2011 QR, QR, everywhere a QR

While quick response, or QR, codes have been around for two decades in manufacturing and distribution, they have found a new place in marketing. Digital research company comScore says nearly 14.5 million QR codes were scanned by smartphones in June as people look for quick ways to access information. by Brett Chalmers

Oct 13, 2011 Watch this video on the challenges of managing social media content

Social media has some organizations, and particularly records managers, on edge. But in a video Q&A, CTO Darren Knipip says social media can help organizations "tap into the human network" to improve customer satisfaction. He says enterprise content management will help them do that as well as help them govern the information. by Eric Palmer

Sep 16, 2011 Scribd website serves up billions of documents with ease

Using HTML 5, Scribd offers its 75 million monthly readers “tens of millions” of published documents which are easily accessed on any browser and any device. by Brett Chalmers

Sep 14, 2011 ECM's role in achieving one patient, one record

While some electronic medical record systems capture an impressive amount of data, healthcare providers realize significant amounts of critical data remain stranded outside the reach of the EMR. Healthcare organizations are learning a quality enterprise content management system can integrate that unstructured data into the EMR so they can achieve their goal of one patient, one record. by Meghan DeMarse

Sep 01, 2011 Study: State's historical documents being treated poorly

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash may have to be enough to preserve the memorial of outlaw John Wesley Hardin. Unless some method, like document management, is put in place, many of Texas' rich historical documents may eventually end up blowing in the wind. by Brett Chalmers

Aug 31, 2011 Preparing for recovery before facing disaster

Recent tornadoes and floods throughout the U.S. are a reminder that without a disaster recovery plan essential company data, particularly paper documents, will be lost. Cedar Fall Utilities was able to restart its business the day after a flood filled its buildings, in part, because it had a document management system protecting key financial and customer records. by Phil White

Aug 18, 2011 A records and information management guide to social media

The nature of the federal government means it has had to get ahead of how to manage information created through social media. Some of its research and documentation provides a good start for organizations needing to define records, create policies and consider how to manage risk. Here are nine sources to help you get your social media management plans in order. by Chris Hohman

Aug 18, 2011 Paper company has audacity to promote paper

While we often talk about the benefits of going paperless using enterprise content management, paper has its place in the world and certainly its adherents. by Brett Chalmers

Aug 11, 2011 Do you have employees you would like to clone? Mentoring can do that

Lots of people wish they had a mentor. Some organizations create programs to provide them one. by Sascha Ohler

Aug 08, 2011 Survey reveals SharePoint needs a little help from its friends

An AIIM survey on SharePoint again shows that organizations want, and need, an ECM system to tie into. by Brett Chalmers

Aug 04, 2011 SharePoint is for collaboration, ECM is for everything else

Is Microsoft SharePoint a true ECM solution? SharePoint is a powerful tool for collaboration and project management but lacks the structure and controls for sophisticated content management. Organizations that need to do high-volume work quickly, need a full feature ECM system that can easily integrate with SharePoint. by Margaret Horan

Aug 02, 2011 South Africa university improves student service while meeting governance needs

The University of Johannesburg in South Africa, using ECM, became a corporate governance success story. Here are seven steps that can help any organization map out an information governance plan. by Chris Hohman

Jul 29, 2011 Companies find that calculating ROI on ECM not that difficult

Making a case for a new technology investment or expansion is more difficult in the current economy but a strong return on investment can help. Some organizations that have been through it explain how they figured ROI for an ECM purchase and easily convinced their management with the results. by Eric Palmer

Jul 22, 2011 Swiss miss with political "movement" that picks paper over PPT

Yes, there are many silly PowerPoint presentations in the world but the Swiss movement to replace PowerPoint with flip charts misses the advantage of content management in the process. by Brett Chalmers

Jul 16, 2011 Seven steps to effective corporate information governance

Many organizations feel daunted by the idea of creating a corporate information governance plan. But with these steps as a guide and the right enterprise content management system, it is very achievable. by Chris Hohman

Jul 07, 2011 Pilots using iPads to prevent paper sickness

Going paperless in airliner cockpits will provide many benefits for pilots and airlines but will it lead to the ultimate perk for passengers? by Brett Chalmers

Jun 23, 2011 Paper or plastic? Canadian's place their money on plastic

In the constant battle between paper and plastic, money tips further toward plastic. by Brett Chalmers

Jun 10, 2011 ECM can ease the pain of AP processing

Using enterprise content management, publisher Lebhar-Friedman can receive invoices from anywhere in the world, quickly and securely send them to reviewers around the country and track them along the way. Using e-forms, staff knows immediately of any issues that might slow the process. by David Johnson

Jun 09, 2011 Infotainment site fully loaded ECM

Can an infotainment website like thesmokinggun.com be considered ECM. It doesn't take much imagination to see the parallels. by Brett Chalmers

Jun 02, 2011 Using document management, Wales county government provides room to grow

What began as a storage limitation problem for Monmouthshire County Council became an opportunity to create new efficiencies in payroll and HR. by Emily Perkins

May 18, 2011 Little bits of history repeating

Covering up the document trail in political affairs is proving to be more difficult in the age of electronic document management. by Brett Chalmers

May 18, 2011 DIY ECM expansion

It is not for everyone, but a do-it-yourself enterprise expansion of software can mean a greater return on investment. Those who have done it, say you must select the right product in the first place if you are to succeed. by Jennifer Overstreet

May 12, 2011 A docket in my pocket

Predictions that the world would be able to achieve a paperless state have so far been no more accurate than the prediction that synthesizers would make guitars obsolete in the world of rock music. So will a smartphone being developed in Canada that looks and feels like a sheet of flexible plastic become the tipping point? by Brett Chalmers

May 05, 2011 There are dangers to heed when HR recruits with social media

There can be a treasure trove of information about candidates on social networking sites. Maybe too much. Using social media in recruiting is not without its pitfalls. by Deanna Ferrante

May 05, 2011 Two curses and an archived document

An archived and instantly accessible document may tie together the curses of the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. by Brett Chalmers

Apr 21, 2011 Content stars in latest Facebook drama

The owner of a wood pellet company has e-mails purportedly from Mark Zuckerberg that he claims in a lawsuit proves he is half owner of Facebook. by Brett Chalmers

Apr 18, 2011 Using ECM for dynamic case management when flexibility is paramount

‘Dynamic case management’ is a buzz term among analysts and business journalists, but what does it really mean and how can ECM help your organization achieve it? by Mike Wessel

Apr 14, 2011 IRS paperless movement paying dividends

The IRS has been successful in getting most taxpayers to e-file, almost eliminating what 20 years ago was an entirely paper process. They continue to see an improved return on investment, having cut the cost of processing electronically filed returns in half in 2010 from 2009. by Brett Chalmers

Apr 07, 2011 Is paper fiscally irresponsible?

In an on-line poll, the public has twice voted in favor of cutting the federal budget by reducing the amount of paper the federal government generates. by Brett Chalmers

Mar 29, 2011 Enterprise computing's 64-bit era arrives

Regardless of the speed or number of processors they run on, heavily utilized 32-bit applications running under 32-bit operating systems face inherent performance barriers. 64-bit processing can sweep those away. by Tom Seibold

Mar 24, 2011 Patent fights that are not quite as interesting as March Madness

Smack talk in patent fights is not up to the level of sports talk radio but it still can provide some entertainment, and insight into the world of technology. by Brett Chalmers

Mar 22, 2011 An early adopter zeros in on meaningful use

A small rural Missouri health system is Stage 7 HIMSS certified and expects to soon complete the first phase of meaningful use. Using enterprise content management to fill the gaps, it has had an EMR and been paperless for years. Its innovative CIO Denni McColm turned to exchanging information with patients through Google Health to achieve interoperability because no other area providers were that far along. by Eric Palmer

Mar 15, 2011 With cemeteries, an eternity of record keeping

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries was using manual processes to search paper records dating back more than 180 years, some of them handwritten. It needed a way to more efficiently manage the information, keep the records secure and reduce the chance of human error. ECM provided that solution. by Eric Palmer

Mar 07, 2011 How long do I really need to retain payroll records?

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 has interjected some uncertainty into records management. It needn't. Investigation shows that the rules of retention we are accustomed to still apply. by Kevin Joerling

Mar 01, 2011 Softening the burden of paperwork for special education teachers

A school district in Alaska turns to enterprise content management (ECM) to streamline the administrative process and help special educators get more time back in the classroom. by Emily Perkins

Feb 24, 2011 Golf scorecards are no paper tiger

When technology like HD telecasts and radar can track every step and stroke of professional golfers, how is the venerated paper scorecard to remain relevant? Maybe by tying it to technology like MFPs and ECM. by Brett Chalmers

Feb 22, 2011 Intelligence report calls for organizations to protect data in face of corporate espionage

Your competitors want your secrets to success. Some countries are willing to jump-start their industries with stolen information and every once in a while an employee is prepared to leak confidential information. Companies and governments can be shocked or they can be protected. by Kevin Albrecht

Feb 17, 2011 Can secrets be kept anymore?

When the super-secret recipe for Coca-cola is uncovered in a 30-year-old archived newspaper article, and goes viral and global a couple of days later, you have to wonder if any proprietary information can be protected? Of course it can, but ECM and a data vault may be more useful than a bank vault. by Brett Chalmers

Feb 07, 2011 Using ECM in a hospital so that everyone can focus on patients

Clinicians need to return to the bedside. The pharmacist desires legible orders and easy medication order entry. The list goes on and enterprise content management is an easy to master tool that will pay for itself time and again as it is scaled up across a healthcare facility to help workers focus on the work that drew them to healthcare. by Daria Byrne

Feb 03, 2011 E-Books Are Taking Over

Some people see the day when paper books become too expensive to produce and we move from owning books to simply leasing them. At that point, paper books may exist only in libraries. by Brett Chalmers

Jan 31, 2011 Betting on agile software development to keep up with shifting needs of users

By cutting software development into short sprints, continuously testing and keeping product managers and users involved, software development can meet users' expectations, even when they change. by Eric Palmer

Jan 24, 2011 Information Governance: Who is watching over your information?

For organizations, and records managers, it is no longer enough to think just about business records. With the explosion in information, and litigation, they need to think in terms of information governance. by Chris Hohman

Jan 12, 2011 Documents get starring role in movie promo

For content management techie fans, a movie trailer can't get much better than a site with scanned documents with redacted content that is password protected. Call it ECM sci-fi, or monsters on the RIM of the moon, or something like that. by Brett Chalmers

Jan 06, 2011 Colleges should think about ECM before thinking about BCS

The NCAA Division I regulatory manual has 406 pages of regulations that colleges and universities must live by. So it is no wonder that schools in the NCAA doghouse are deciding to invest in compliance personnel and technologies like ECM. by Brett Chalmers

Jan 03, 2011 Boosting child support collections with ECM

Workers in the Johnson County, KS., District Court Trustee Office felt they were not able to give their child support clients the full benefit of their experience because they had to spend so much time hunting down paperwork. by Ken Berlack

Dec 23, 2010 Leonardo should have invented ECM

Given Leonardo da Vinci's interest in process, encryption and images, one can imagine he would have loved enterprise content management. by Brett Chalmers

Nov 10, 2010 Technology helps those who help themselves

Companies are investing in enterprise content management (ECM) to manage their records and information. But some have yet to put in place a thorough records and information plan. They need to. As one expert warns, automating a bad information environment will result in "a bad automated information environment." by Eric Palmer

Oct 27, 2010 Three HR trends you cannot ignore

HR departments face more I-9 audits, hard choices in software and all the while must keep records secure but accessible. There are ways to cope. by Deanna Ferrante

Oct 26, 2010 Company with offices throughout the Netherlands solves dueling HR demands

An ECM system can provide a virtual safe deposit box for Capgemini Netherlands B.V. employee HR information. Records and benefit information is secured in a central location but available 24/7 by 6,400 employees in seven offices throughout the country. by Phil White

Sep 24, 2010 Some software companies offer full training menu, even home delivery

Enterprise content management (ECM) software can make organizations more efficient, saving them time and money, but to get the most from that investment organizations need to make sure their users are well trained. That means finding an ECM provider that not only offers practical training but that has different delivery methods from in-class to online and will tailor the training to meet an organization's unique needs. by Jennifer Overstreet

Sep 17, 2010 Creating corporate DNA through ECM

The challenge facing all content managers is a continuum of needs and risks with security and lock down at one end and innovation and collaboration at the other. by Carl Frappaolo

Sep 10, 2010 Will technology make records managers obsolete?

While technology can help organizations harness and manage the profusion of information they are generating, it is trained records management professionals who can make sure they are using that technology to its full potential. by Chris Hohman

Sep 07, 2010 Developer networks: Serve more customers with a little help from your friends

Developer networks represent a growth market within the software industry because organizations on both sides of the table benefit while software buyers can reap big rewards. by Sascha Ohler

Sep 01, 2010 Yes, you can trash those paper records

There are two often asked questions when it comes to digital images and the legal system. by Eric Palmer

Aug 26, 2010 Reports and data analytics are the "show me the money" tools

Business reports and data analytics help you measure the ROI from your systems by showing how much more efficient they have become. by Eric Palmer

Aug 19, 2010 Healthcare accreditation readiness at a moment's notice

An unannounced visit from The Joint Commission means a healthcare provider must be able to produce key documentation upon request. With an enterprise content management system integrated with its EMR, a provider can quickly access everything from staff credentials to equipment maintenance reports. by Daria Byrne

Aug 04, 2010 Seven steps to creating an auditing compliance plan

Compliance audits can be complex and often daunting. With a plan in place and the technology to manage documents efficiently, they don't have to be overwhelming. Here are some best practices that can make audits manageable. by Stephanie Eaton

Aug 04, 2010 Facing compliance audits with confidence

Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) spending is expected to hit $29.8 billion this year, a big part of which goes for compliance audits. Having a well conceived compliance plan and the right technology, employees can quickly meet auditors' requests and be confident all appropriate documents can be easily provided. by Stephanie Eaton

Jul 28, 2010 Survey: Strategy Not Driving SharePoint “Surge”

A survey by AIIM shows organizations are using SharePoint with a plan for organizing the data, promising chaos down the road. by Brett Chalmers

Jul 09, 2010 Behind the scenes at IHE Connectathon

Achieving certification that a software product will integrate seamlessly with other healthcare systems can be a grueling process involving hours of work, analytical problem solving, and facing down software challenges and natural disasters. by James Hanke

Jun 24, 2010 ECM mergers and acquisitions are remaking the industry

The acquisition of Perceptive Software by Lexmark has people discussing the impact from recent M&A activity on clients and the industry. by Paul Carman

Jun 02, 2010 Making your ECM software as easy to use as your iPhone

Enterprise software might have all the features you need and more. But users want it to be easy to use and take a lot less effort than doing things the old-fashioned way. by Jennifer Overstreet

May 27, 2010 Five things to know for a large-scale ECM deployment

There are special considerations when your enterprise content management solution needs to be able to scale up to hundreds, even thousands of users, and millions of documents. by Tony Clark

May 12, 2010 Running fast and hard on a large-scale ECM

When your enterprise content management system must process 5 million documents a month, and up to 200,000 a day, it needs to be built on a scale most organizations can't imagine. Pharmacy services provider Omnicare has a multi-threaded C++ server architecture and eight quad core processors, giving instant refresh times even with 1,600 concurrent users. by Phil White

Apr 20, 2010 Technology that keeps nurses bedside

Nurses want to focus on patient care, not tracking down essential records that aren't in the EMR. Healthcare providers using enterprise content management can give nurses access to what they need, when they need it. by Daria Byrne

Apr 12, 2010 Keeping deep knowledge from being lost

With the rapid retirement of baby boomers, American business is dealing with an unprecedented knowledge drain. Some companies are using the exodus as motivation to incorporate their expertise into computer processes and make it available throughout their organizations. by Sascha Ohler

Apr 01, 2010 SaaS use grows as security concerns are overcome

Records managers naturally are concerned about data that resides outside their own firewalls. Experts say that if buyers do their due diligence, cloud computing and SaaS can provide financial benefits and peace of mind. by Eric Palmer

Mar 26, 2010 Questions raised about electronic voting but some technology is helping election boards serve voters

With the 2010 midterm, election boards worry whether their processes will stand up to election night pressures. Not Virginia. by Phil White

Mar 25, 2010 Campuses save trees while serving students more efficiently

Some institutions that have moved toward paperless administrative departments can point to dramatically increased efficiencies, with savings in time and money. But the same software that improved their operations has significantly lightened their environmental impact. by Phil White

Mar 19, 2010 DoD certification has its place but that place is limited

Selecting records management software because it is DoD 5015.2 compliant, or rejecting a product because it isn't, can lead you astray. It can result in buying more functionality than you need, more complexity than you want and leave users frustrated. by Kevin Joerling

Mar 01, 2010 ECM moves to a new phase in higher education

As colleges and universities grapple with growing volumes of student information and shrinking budgets, they learn that document imaging and management are no longer enough to stay ahead of the curve. by Dan Dillon

Feb 26, 2010 School uses ECM to track athletic compliance

To meet rules of NCAA and other oversight groups, athletic departments must track everything from recruiting visits to an athlete's progress toward a degree. While these aren't the kinds of records that fans care about, they are essential to compliance. by Phil White

Feb 12, 2010 New CMIS standard helps companies tie together ECM systems

A new technology standard is expected to help companies more easily tie together their enterprise content management systems, whether legacy, current or future. by Brett Chalmers

Feb 12, 2010 Mobile devices and enterprise computing

The tipping point may have been reached for moving some enterprise computing features to mobile devices, but the form factor will keep them focused. A video interview. by Darren Knipp

Feb 10, 2010 Some stimulus funds remain for higher ed

Colleges and universities hoping to get an IT project back on track, might find there is still stimulus money to help. by Ken Berlack

Jan 22, 2010 The advancement gift that keeps on giving

With relationships that can span decades, keeping track of college donors and their gifts takes special skills. Schools using specialized software are finding they can manage this information effectively, even when their own staffs change, and so maximize their time, effort and resources. by Phil White

Jan 15, 2010 This software can even keep a file room floor from caving in

Enterprise content management software can save organizations money, make them more efficient and enhance their business processes. It also can keep the floors from caving in. by Jennifer Overstreet

Jan 08, 2010 Using software to change a culture

The construction industry is slow to adopt new technology, but leaders at JE Dunn Construction Company decided an enterprise content management system would be key to consolidating the cultures of six independent operating companies into "One Dunn." by Eric Palmer

Jan 04, 2010 Setting world standards

As a U.S. delegate to the ISO, I have seen how ISO standards help both private and public sector organizations guide business practices that raise customer and constituent confidence. by Kevin Joerling

Dec 18, 2009 Putting the local back in local banking

As banking groups large and small look for ways to recapture public trust, some are finding they can use high tech to achieve high touch. by Sascha Ohler

Dec 11, 2009 Colleges find software that rules

A new breed of logic-based software is remaking the rules for processing college transcripts at a time when colleges and universities are seeing enrollment jumps and budget cuts. It saves time and money while increasing the service schools provide their students. by Phil White

Dec 01, 2009 Global companies move documents across continents in seconds

London calling: Global companies are finding the right software can help them navigate the different laws and rules in the countries in which they operate when they centralize back-office operations in just one. by Phil White

Nov 01, 2009 So you want to be the boss

The way you get into the position of "calling the shots" has nothing to do with ownership and everything to do with distributing your authority to others. by Tim Helton

Nov 01, 2009 .NET purity is not net gain

The beauty of the .NET Framework in enterprise content management is that it works in any language a user wants, across a spectrum of software and devices. by Brett Chalmers

Nov 01, 2009 Creating a lifeline to soldiers' medical records

Being able to provide medical records over the Internet in battlefield situations has helped the Army National Guard take care of its troops. The system helps soldiers better manage their own care when they return. by Phil White

Nov 01, 2009 ECM in healthcare, it fills the voids in EMRs

Even hospitals with an electronic medical record system have paper and electronic data they need to get a handle on. Health information management professionals are taking note. by Jared Blankenship

Nov 01, 2009 Giving students what they want when they want it

For students accustomed to instant messaging and on-demand television, a school's response time to questions about their transcripts and financial aid can influence their choice of schools. by Phil White

Nov 01, 2009 Court ruling on metadata a wake-up call to some organizations

When a national wireless company got sued for age discrimination, it wasn't e-mail that lawyers wanted, it was metadata and a judge made them produce it. by Eric Palmer

Nov 01, 2009 Con job: You can protect your company or regret that you didn't

Marketing business owner Bob Cutler discovered that a once trusted employee embezzled nearly $1 million from his company. He now counsels business owners to put in protections to prevent and detect fraud before it happens. by Eric Palmer

Nov 01, 2009 What does it take to sidestep a system failure?

"High availability" of your computer systems requires an investment of time, attention and dollars but it may pale in comparison to the loss of time, revenue and reputation from a major outage. by Tom Seibold

Nov 01, 2009 Integration simplification

Companies can spend money on employees tracking down misfiled documents or they can invest in an integrated enterprise content management system that can search through applications and systems to find what they know is there. by Darren Knipp

Nov 01, 2009 Don't get caught in .NET game

The beauty of the .NET Framework in enterprise content management is that it works in any language a user wants, across a spectrum of software and devices. Don't be led down a primrose path by anyone saying a 100% .NET approach is the only true ECM way. by Brett Chalmers

Nov 01, 2009 Early adopters use technology to keep track of foreign students

Institutions are looking for ways to comply with new immigration rules while maintaining student privacy and trust. Those that can handle the documents electronically are finding the process less onerous. by Phil White