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The survey, which sampled the views
of 200 financial decision makers, found
that despite the fact that 88% of
respondents consider removing paper to
be important, almost half of all sales and
purchase invoices are still paper-based
and just one third of documents within
the finance department are scanned.
The vast majority of respondents recognise
the benefits an Electronic Document
Management System (EDMS) could deliver,
from cost savings to efficiency gains and
reducing storage. Yet despite this, 51% of
respondents have no plans to invest in EDMS.
Over a third of respondents (34%) cite
fear of data loss as a barrier to adoption; yet
as long as correct back-up procedures are in
place, Eclipse Group believes the process of
scanning and storing documents is actually
far more secure than traditional paper-based
processes.
A third (33%) of respondents believe
that auditors require paper documents. Yet
according to Eclipse Group, on the basis that
HMRC has approved the use of scanning
solutions there should be no major issue
with auditors. There are instances where
organisations or auditors may prefer to retain
the original documents but these can be
scanned and the originals stored securely off-
site. Not only can scanned images be printed
at any time if required, but the real-time search
facility transforms the audit process, reducing
time and costs for the business.
Gary Waylett, CEO of the Eclipse Group,
says: “The majority of organisations are already
scanning some documents as they arrive in
the building, so why not extend the model and
take a strategic approach?
“It is time to stop this half-hearted,
somewhat haphazard approach to document
scanning. From a possible 90% reduction
in invoice processing time to meeting new
payment regulation, effective management of
electronic documentation is the key to realising
the goal of finance automation.”
www.eclgrp.com
Scanners:
Awash with paper
Independent market research by industry analyst Redshift Research
on behalf of Eclipse Group shows that there is still growth potential
in the scanner market.
scanners
NAPPS UPDATE
Treating customers ethically –
a case study for
success
By Aaron Warham,
Director,
NAPPS
NAPPS’ mission has
always been to create a group of document
solution suppliers that the UK consumer can
trust. A group of likeminded suppliers who
share our values of outstanding customer
support and ethical business practice.
In this column I want to share a case study of how
a group of members of the NAPPS community has
stuck to these principles and won.
The start of the story is fairly typical. A charitable
organisation found themselves in a situation with a
supplier which was neither expected nor ‘mentioned’
in any of the signed paperwork. As a result they have
become embroiled in a lengthy and very costly legal
dispute, with seemingly no positive outcome for the
charity – or so they thought.
Due to the Association’s growing presence in
the UK market we were contacted by the legal team
representing the charity, who were looking for advice
on the best way to deal with their predicament. From
the conversation between the Association’s legal
advisors and those of the charity, it became clear
that we could offer no additional advice to what they
had already tried and achieved. However, the charity
needed to move forward which is where our members
stepped in.
First, the charity’s legal team searched and
found the nearest approved suppliers via the NAPPS
website. Next, they undertook a detailed evaluation
of what each individual NAPPS Member could do to
help the charity. Finally, after much deliberation, a
new NAPPS approved supplier was chosen and the
charity began their new relationship with a far more
positive and secure outlook.
The charity’s new perspective had been created by
the approach and execution of the winning member,
but also the behaviour of the other NAPPS approved
suppliers involved in the tender process. As a result
all parties involved - including the Association – are
being referred as trustworthy organisations.
Business is often won and lost on the bottom line.
However, that doesn’t mean that business practices,
customer support or treating customers with respect
has to suffer. All NAPPS Members undergo a strict
accreditation process which demonstrates their ability
to fulfil these basic values, but it is their continued
commitment to conducting business ethically, which
helps themselves and NAPPS to grow.
On the back of the Eclipse Group
research,
PrintIT Reseller
asked two
industry experts to comment on
the market and outline where the
opportunity lies for dealers.
According to Klaus Schulz, Manager
Product Marketing EMEA, PFU Imaging
Solutions, scanners can open doors for a dealer
if they ask the right questions such as: What
do you do with the documents once they
are digitised? In what part of your company
do you use these documents? What are the
requirements?
“Because scanners are the interface
between the physical and the virtual worlds,
there is plenty of room to talk about document
management systems and Enterprise Content
Management further down the document value
chain,” he said.
Schulz says that the beauty of using
document scanners as a door opener is that it
represents the only physical touch point of the
digital ECM. “It presents an opportunity for the
user to literally comprehend the DM system. We
assume that today only 10% of all companies
Scanners can open doors
“The process of scanning and storing documents is actually far
more secure than traditional paper-based processes”
Continued...
Klaus Schultz, Manager Product
Marketing EMEA, PFU Imaging Solutions