DOCUMENT SCANNING OVERVIEW
Despite the introduction of electronic systems into the modern office, there are still a lot of paper documents in use. Paper takes up space and space can be valuable, particularly in a ‘city’ based office where rents are high.
Paper has never been fully replaced as the most convenient way of recording information. Yet paper is extremely vulnerable … it can be lost, ‘mis-filed’, torn, burnt and damaged by water.
Electronic filing is fast, convenient and lends itself to powerful searching and sorting … whilst there is electricity … and whilst the computer system is working etc. Electronic records are ‘invisible’ and prior to them offices used Microfilm, in various forms Reel, Jackets, Fiche and Aperture Cards (for Plans) or paper of course.
Microfilm records were ‘visible’ and even in a power cut they could be viewed with a magnifying glass! However they were slow to access and could not be integrated with other business information.
A modern office may well have information on all forms of media i.e. paper, film and electronic and the ability to access all information at once can be appealing.
There are companies (Scanning Bureaux) that specialise in converting film and paper documents to electronic form and they will supply you with the resulting digital output in whatever format you require.
Alternatively, you can purchase a suitable scanner yourself but be aware you will need to consider other factors:
• Volumes
• Sizes
• Timescales
• Software
• Formats
• Personnel etc.
And it would be advisable to seek consultancy before starting such a project.
A good Scanning Bureaux will also be able to provide other useful services
e.g. Microfilm Conversion, Document Storage, Document Destruction etc.
Please feel free to make your enquiry below.