Scanning and capture technologies provide strong ROI as ECM evolves

Investments in document scanning and information capture technologies are providing strong efficiency benefits to users, according to ECM industry association AIIM.

In a recent AIIM survey over 40% of end users characterised their ROI from these solutions as better or much better than other IT investments. These successes are also driving healthy growth for solutions providers.  Revenues from scanning systems and recognition software have been experiencing robust double-digit growth over the last 3 years.

 As organisations develop their ECM (Enterprise Content Management) strategy to gain control of document processes, they find that significant amounts of paper are still swimming around, says John Mancini, President of AIIM. Capturing these documents and forms to digital, and re-engineering the subsequent processes, is producing significant productivity improvements - with the added bonus of on-going management for records and compliance.

The term Enterprise Input Management has been coined to describe the mechanism of capturing paper documents prior to content management and workflow processes. Recent consolidation amongst ECM suppliers has been driven by the need to incorporate these technologies within the total solution. According to AIIM, dramatic improvements in scanning technology and a move to decentralised scanning at the departmental level is creating an explosion in growth of scanners and multi-function units as prices decline. 

The annual AIIM Roadshow provides a unique opportunity to learn how capture solutions can achieve productivity improvements in their own right, and also form the basis of enterprisewide content management. The 2006 AIIM Roadshow, Managing Information and Documents, will visit: Edinburgh: May 8th; Manchester: 9th; Coventry: 10th; Bristol: 11th; London: 12th. Visitors are encouraged to bring along their own documents and forms for a hands-on demonstration of capture capabilities.

AIIM is the international association for Enterprise Content Management. It represents the information management community and supports the interests of users and suppliers of technologies and solutions used to capture, manage, store, preserve and deliver information.