Trends like cloud, social, and mobile have changed the requirements of enterprise content management (ECM) software, and the user’s expectations as well. Storage isn’t the only issue; it is about connecting and relating to the information. Because of this, records management, in its traditional form, is failing us.

The whole “file cabinet” analogy no longer applies in the world of digital, as there are multiple copies of the same file in multiple locations. This approach is redundant and cumbersome. In the end, we are not reducing risk for the organization, we are not ensuring compliance — we are not doing anything if the information still resides in the organization. This interesting topic was inspired by the article, “Records management must evolve into retention management, expert says” found at Search Content Management.

Any records management system requires a system of indexing to create findability, even if it is to ensure that a particular document no longer resides in your organization’s files. We know that indexing against a strong, standards-based taxonomy can ensure comprehensive search results. Access Innovations is one of a very small number of companies able to help its clients generate ISO/ANSI/NISO compliant taxonomies to produce comprehensive results.

Melody K. Smith

Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.