Okay, so the subject of document management isn’t sexy. It’s not even in the ball park of being a fun topic of conversation. But it’s a necessary evil for small business owners. Especially in this day and age of advanced technology. So what’s a small business owner to do? First off, it might help to listen to what senior executives involved in document management agree about: that managing documents throughout their lifecycle (creation through disposal) helps improve business performance. That is just one of the key findings highlighted in a comprehensive survey report issued by Oce Business Services. "A Premier Standard: How Organizations can Elevate Business Performance through Advanced Document Process Management" links six advanced document management processes - including document imaging, records management, enterprise-wide print/copy, mail and shipping, automated print/mail workflows and legal discovery - with high-value business benefits according to senior executives experienced in document management. The executives surveyed agree that of the six document management processes, document imaging (paper to digital conversion) has a high impact across the greatest range of top business goals that include reducing costs, increasing competitive advantage, enhancing regulatory compliance, and improving customer service (along with automated print/mail workflow and records management). Automated print/mail workflow (creating, printing and mailing personalized communications) was seen to have the highest impact on driving faster time to market. Records management was designated as having the highest impact on improving operational efficiency. In another key finding, a majority of survey participants indicated that their organizations are measuring document process performance, with the highest number of organizations measuring service level performance followed by user satisfaction, user activity, and return on investment. Survey respondents also specified that the key benefits of measurement include enhanced efficiency and reduced cost of document process activities. "Executives surveyed indicate that their most urgent business goal is to improve operational efficiency closely followed by reducing costs," notes Joseph R. Marciano, President and CEO, Oce Business Services. "The executives see document management processes as having a high impact in meeting these and other goals. This is particularly the case with processes such as digital imaging, as well as methodologies such as document lifecycle management and document performance management." Marciano adds that in the case of document lifecycle management, most executives realize the potential business benefits but rate their organizations as only moderately or slightly effective in managing documents throughout their lifecycle. The bottom line? Document management is important, and should be a priority, but few executives are able to commit the time they need to do it properly. For more information, visit http://www.obs-innovation.com. | 
