Finding Stability in the Journey to Digitization
Everything’s digital these days, isn’t it?
From the way we watch movies to the way we buy those corner-store items, the apples and milk, we forgot to pick up after work, we can get it all digitally.
But while the neo-sci-fi world we’re living in is a wonder all on its own, it offers little assurance to the department heads and operational managers who spent their careers crafting reliable and efficient manual processes driven by paper documents.
So no matter how efficient the world claims digitization can be, why would you jeopardize the foundation of your operations to fall in with the status quo?
The answer is that you may not have a choice. Because no matter how well those processes work, they’re still the product of an era that’s slowly fading away.
Relying on the solution of a bygone era
Computers were supposed to help us cut down on paper usage by moving information and office workflows to a digital ecosystem that would allow us to save time and forests.
And yet, over the past 40 years, paper usage has increased by 40%.
Right now, there are over 4 trillion paper documents in the US and that number is growing at a staggering rate of 22% per year. A major part of that increase lies in government departments, where employees print up to 30 pages daily.
That’s a lot of paper for a time when paper usage should have been close to zero thanks to the advantages of digital solutions.
And even if the environmental impact wasn’t a concern, nor the dent that paper purchases make on office budgets each year, the glacial movement of paper-based processes isn't something you can get away from.
Why waste the one resource you can’t get back?
It could be that your staff members need to run from cubicle to corridor to office and back just to get a single signature or place a document on an “IN” pile in the hopes that it will stay on top.
Or maybe it’s constituents who have to wait patiently while their information is unearthed from a cabinet drawer or storage room just to update a single detail.
No matter which scenario your department finds itself in, the time-consuming nature of paper processes damages service delivery and morale all in one fell swoop.
Digitization can increase operational efficiency by 40%, but its impact doesn’t end with improved service delivery.
Improved workflows and simplified content management allows staff to get back to making an impact through actual operational work and innovative problem-solving. That ability to work without unnecessary administrative interference helps employees to engage far more effectively with their work and their environment.
At the same time, improved service times improve constituent experiences. But digitization also means that automated digital processes, such as digital forms, can be accessed by constituents without the need for manual support.
The slow and steady transition wins
The reassurance that established processes and workflows offer is difficult to let go of. But you don’t have to see them out the door all at once. The wonder of digital processes is that they can be built on over time. You don’t have to jump head first into a complete overhaul of your processes or head into unknown territory blindly.
When working with a digitization partner that’s been in the game as long as Image API, you get to build a strategy that allows you to digitize your information and workflows on your time.
Instead of going all-in and sitting with a team that’s overwhelmed by new environments and constituents who can’t access the benefits of an updated system, we ensure that your digitization journey has the intended impact right from the start.
Image API achieves the most impactful systematic digitization by approaching it in three holistic phases:
Phase 1: Intelligent Digitization
The first step is to help you capture paper documents digitally with state-of-the-art imaging technology that allows us to scan your documents securely at one of our imaging facilities.
Phase 2: Content Management
In the second stage we help you create digital workflows that mirror your established processes so you can acclimate to digitization without operational disruption.
Phase 3: Digital Process Automation
The final step allows us to garner you into a period of utmost efficiency as you automate the manual tasks that rob your team of valuable time and enable your constituents to access vital information remotely without the need for manual employee assistance.
Overcoming the Hurdles of Digital Transitioning
If you’re still unsure as to whether or not you’re ready to enter the digital age, download our latest ePaper, How to Overcome the Fears of Digital Transitioning, and find out how Image API can help you overcome the concerns that are keeping you back from digitization.
