Spending for document management services is expected to increase or remain level during the next 12 months, according to a survey conducted by Oce Business Services, headquartered in Venlo, The Netherlands.
A majority of executives reported their organizations’ top business goal for this year is to reduce costs, closely followed by increase revenue and improve operational performance. According to survey respondents, because it positively affects their organizations’ ability to meet these goals, document process management is a priority.
The survey report, "The Goal Standard: How Companies Leverage Document Management to Help Meet their Top Business Goals," examines how organizations are leveraging document management processes, including mail, records and print/copy center management, managed print services (MPS) and document imaging to help meet their key objectives in 2011 through 2012.
More than one-third of the organizations surveyed outsource some or all of the document management activities included in the report. The respondents identified the strongest areas for outsourcing as mail/shipping management (45 percent), followed by MPS (40 percent), document imaging (37 percent), records management (35 percent) and print/copy center management (35 percent).
The key drivers behind why organizations outsource vary by document management category, according to the survey. For print/copy center management, companies outsource to concentrate more time and resources on their core businesses. Other reasons include optimizing the use of document output equipment, consolidating mail/shipping activities to increase efficiency and reduce costs and deploying a more fully implemented records management program. According to the survey, the top two reasons organizations outsource document imaging are to streamline access to data and to improve customer service efficiency.
In addition to investigating budgeting plans, the survey also asked executives to spotlight key program implementation details for MPS and document imaging. The survey findings clarified untapped opportunities for both processes, according to Oce. MPS opportunities include implementing asset management, electronically monitoring equipment and establishing user support, such as a call center. In the document imaging arena, a significant number of companies have implemented imaging on a departmental level (such as accounts payable). However, implementing imaging throughout the organization or on a division level represents an opportunity for many companies, Oce says.
"According to industry estimates, during the past few years organizations have been spending about one to three percent of their revenue on activities related to printing, copying, scanning and faxing," says Joe Marciano, president and CEO, Oce Business Services. "Our current and previous surveys indicate that while this spending level has not significantly changed, one thing has: companies are more aware of how better managing these document processes can help them reach their top business goals."
According to Oce, "The Goal Standard: How Companies Leverage Document Management to Help Meet their Top Business Goals" is comprised of responses to 105 online surveys completed by executives responsible for document management processes. These include C-level officers as well as directors and managers of facilities, procurement, administrative services and operations. A cross section of industries is represented including business services, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, legal, technology and others. Among respondents, 45 percent work at organizations with annual revenue of less than $100 million, 40 percent have revenue between $100 million and $5 billion and 15 percent have revenue greater than $5 billion.
The full survey report is available at www.obs-innovation.com.
Oce is a leading provider of document management and printing for professionals. The company provides managed services and technology designed to manage, monitor and optimize document intensive processes so companies can improve operating efficiency and performance.
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