The Digital Domain

Bundling – it is everywhere these days.  Phone companies, cable/satellite companies, even video game manufacturers talk about bundling.  Basically, they are all trying to get us to buy as many of their offerings as possible, under the impression we are receiving a deal.  In the records, content and document management arena, bundling is also evident – but for a much different reason.  And often times it is truly a good deal!

Let me take you back to the beginning, the early 1980’s, when document management was first emerging as a business application.  Just about every supplier in the market offered everything organizations could possibly need.  Most of it was rebranded, but a significant amount was proprietary.  I remember being able to purchase a scanner, capture software, optical platter jukebox, and an electronic content management system all from one vendor – with the vendor’s name attached to all of the solutions.  As newer “open” systems and targeted original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) began to hit the market, the practice of bundling pretty much vanished.

Today, when we talk about bundling in the records, business process and digital imaging management arenas, we are talking about two different perspectives.  The first is really a modular approach to offering software solutions.  A majority of OEMs long ago determined that there are certain companies that not only specialize in specific applications, but are downright great in what they produce. Though consolidation continues to play a major role in the records and content management market, vendors are not requiring organizations to buy the whole lake, rather they can purchase by the drink.  It is important to note that a good content/document management OEM will also offer a records management component.  If you do not ‘bundle’ anything else, definitely be sure to include a records management module in your system.  We strongly encourage all of our clients to have a current, comprehensive, and robust records management tool as part of their content and document management platform.  Remember – regardless of media, a business document is also a business record that must be managed appropriately.

The second description often used in our industry for bundling has to do with how and where services provided, such as a “hybrid processing solution” that combines onshore and offshore document processing capabilities.  A solid, global, progressive and forward-thinking business process management (BPM) provider will have the capacity to provide content and document management services in a way that best fits the client’s needs.   At Océ Business Services, we can offer our clients a best-shoring approach in providing document capture and management services.  By bundling options such as onsite and offsite capture services, we are able to provide clients with a cost-effective solution for handling their document processing needs.  As an example, one client company, which utilizes our onsite document capture services, routinely acquires other companies.  Instead of trying to integrate these new, one-time document capture requirements into the existing operation, we perform the services the client needs at one of our regional imaging centers.  Coupling this with our ability to also offer offshore scanning and indexing services enables us to offer a true best-shoring, or bundled services offering.

A strong BPM offering from a proven records, document process and content management outsourcer can improve an organization’s operating efficiency as well as to help significantly reduce costs.  If you are interested in learning more about records information management systems, our website (www.ocesolutions.com) offers insight in to the management of the full document lifecycle.