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Staying Afl oat during an Economic Downturn:
Why ECM is a “Must-Have”
By James Thumma, VP of Sales and Marketing, Optical Image
Technology
(This article originally appeared in a November 2008 publication of
ECM Connection)
As diffi cult as it may be to admit it, the signs of economic decline
are all around us. Financial markets are spiraling, credit is diffi cult
to obtain, customer spending is down, and businesses and consumers
alike are altering buying habits. You have to fi nd ways to cut costs.
Ideally, this involves fi nding ways to increase sales while decreasing
overhead expenditures. Unfortunately, for many organizations, cost-
cutting often takes the form of layoffs and other drastic measures.
To remain profi table and competitive during diffi cult economic times,
it is wise to reevaluate your processing abilities. Are your operations
running at peak effi ciency? It may seem counterintuitive to consider
implementing enterprise content management (ECM) software at a time when logic dictates
that you rein in your spending. However, by investing in high-performance ECM software now,
you can position yourself with the tools that you need to thrive during uncertain fi nancial times.
Initiatives that you take during lean times will leave you poised to surpass your competition
when the economic picture turns.
Process your work more effi ciently
The obvious step in increasing effi ciency throughout your enterprise is a transition from paper
processes to electronic. Paper is scanned, indexed for easy retrieval, and stored in an electronic
repository along with JPEGs, audio fi les, electronic forms, and other electronic media.
Undoubtedly, a simple conversion from paper to electronic processes will result in improved
effi ciency. However, to get the most bang for your buck, look beyond your immediate gains
and take your business processes to the next level.
Prior to your conversion, analyze your business processes. You may be enticed by the initial
improvements t