Many industries, including law firms, still struggle to incorporate the basics of records management systems. Though some look on such systems as an archaic form of organization, digitization and technology have made it today’s answer to findability. Of course this only applies when it is done properly.

Most records management software shares a variety of common features. It most commonly tracks all corporate information regardless of content format; includes workflows to route files through processes automatically; saves documents as the definitive file for version control in a searchable repository; and applies retention schedules so that records can be archived and destroyed according to industry regulations. More advanced systems often work in concert with other productivity applications such as email. Search Content Management brought this news to our attention in their article, “Records management strategy still in infancy in many enterprises.”

Future recordkeeping and in turn, good governance, relies on solid indexing against a strong taxonomy to ensure that the data is safe and available. This helps protect the rights and entitlements of individuals. It also supports accountability and transparency in government, as well as sound evidence-based decision making.

Melody K. Smith

Sponsored by Access Innovations, the world leader in taxonomies, metadata, and semantic enrichment to make your content findable.