Document Management in a Recession

Posted by Mark Brousseau

In order to stay competitive during the economic downturn, 51 percent of executives involved in document management say their company plans to reduce operating expenses while 20 percent say their organization will try to improve cash flow. Executives agree that effectively managing document processes can help meet these objectives, particularly with respect to reducing expenses.

These are a few of the findings highlighted in a survey from Oce Business Services

When it comes to outsourcing, a high number of respondents (74%) indicate that their company is taking this approach with at least one of the five document activities. The top three document activities that companies are outsourcing include mail and shipping, print/copy center, and document imaging. The top overall business benefits that the respondents report gaining from these outsourced document activities include lowering costs, improving operational performance and enabling a greater focus on core business.

Outsourcing activity may increase somewhat in the next 12 to 24 months as a number of companies (33%) are planning to outsource additional document processing functions, particularly document imaging. The top business goals driving their outsourcing plans are cost reduction, the desire to concentrate more on their core business, and the desire to improve operational performance.

In another key finding, a majority of survey participants (55%) indicate that their companies are measuring document process performance. These companies are measuring such performance elements as user activity and document processing timeliness and accuracy. A significant number of respondents (67%) specify that their organization's metrics for document performance are aligned with business objectives (such as increasing customer satisfaction).

"Whether managing document activities on an internal or outsourced basis, one thing is clear," said Joseph R. Marciano, president and CEO, Oce Business Services. "Enterprises are realizing the potential for document management best practices to yield benefits such as lower operating expenses, which can help them survive and thrive in the days ahead."

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