Abstracts: September 1st, 2008

This white paper from Cave Tab Ltd describes how organisations can achieve cost savings of more than 30 per cent and improve service levels by outsourcing the scanning of documents within an electronic document management system.

The benefits from electronic document management include speedier access to information, improved customer service, reduced filing costs and enhanced security. But in many cases organisations overlook the ongoing costs associated with the scanning of documents into electronic format, because this is a non-core administrative function, with new or re-trained staff, as well as the procurement and maintenance of scanners, computers and associated software.

The white paper provides an overview of workflow-driven systems. Electronic documents are automatically fed into designated in-trays and periodically indexed to the particular subject to which they refer. Hand-written documents are ‘digitised’ with Optical Character Recognition systems which extract information and then upload it into a computerised system.

The white paper also compares the set-up and operating costs of an outsourced scanning service versus an in-house service in a local government benefit claims department, a local government planning and building control department and an organisation which has a large number of staff required to complete hand-written time sheets to carry out cost analysis workings.

The white paper is available from info@cavetab.co.uk.