With so much being said lately about all the more flashy benefits of document control, it’s worth remembering one of the more mundane aspects of our digital bandwagon: electronic filing offers some great business values.

About one half of us business people spend about 2 hours of our day just trying to locate the information we need to do our job. (The other half spend 2 hours per day playing golf). Electronic filing systems make the job easier, and make business people more productive. Just imagine playing a 2-hour golf game in 5 minutes. This would leave an extra 115 minutes per day to get more work done!

Document retrieval is just one example where electronic filing systems lend a boost. How? Because files placed in document storage are immediately indexed and profiled with metadata. Information can be instantly retrieved with a simple search on the keyboard. Gone are the days of getting up to search for records in a filing cabinet or requesting files from an off-site storage warehouse. What took hours (or days, even, in the case of off-site storage), suddenly becomes minutes.

As any year draws to a close, it’s a time honored habit among many to look back and reflect on the accomplishments of the past dozen months. Today, ColumbiaSoft did just that when in released its year-in-review roundup of news. Topping the headline is word that ColumbiaSoft will end 2008 with more customers than it had in the previous year… no small feat in face of the broader worldwide economic challenges that appeared in the second half of the year. But, some of the growth can be attributed to the fact that more and more businesses are looking to improve their operating margins by increasing efficiency and lowering risk, areas where our document management solutions serve well. Catch-up on a complete year-in-review in today’s news release: ColumbiaSoft Posts Double-Digit Growth In Customers In 2008 As Economy Spurs More Businesses To Increase Efficiency, Reduce Risk.�

For everyone who missed us at the Autodesk University conference last week, I will be hosting a 20-minute demonstration next week online of our latest CAD integration with Document Locator.

You can register for the WebEx here:

https://columbiasoft.webex.com/columbiasoft/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=573524547

I will be covering Document Locator’s unique ability in the area of project file management.  This is the combined management of CAD files along with all the project documents, emails, and virtually any other type of electronic files organized within a single document management system. The benefits include a unified way to approach the organization of related project information that increases re-use, reduces the amount of information lost or duplicated, and improves efficiency.

I hope you can join me next Thursday, December 18 at 10:30 AM PST > REGISTER <

Sustainable engineering and design headlined Autodesk University for 2008.  The theme was featured via a series of classes and exhibits throughout the conference.  And more than just a theme… Autodesk showcased its own renewable design by manufacturing this year’s conference bags using recycled vinyl banners from prior Autodesk University conferences.  In addition, Autodesk’s Director of Sustainability, Lynelle Cameron, led a Sustainable Design Leadership panel in presenting a number of top architects and engineers that regularly employ sustainable design practices.

Autodesk University 2008 also emphasized the importance of “going green” within your own organization.  This includes reducing your reliance upon printed materials, reducing your office space requirements, and lowering your overall carbon footprint.  Implementing a document management system can help your business move to the forefront of the green office movement.  Here are some of the ways a document management system has helped companies work towards a paperless office and go green.

• Electronic Approvals: Document management systems include solutions for electronically routing documents for review and approval, applying digital signatures, and creating electronic markups.  Reviewing documents electronically reduces the demand for paper and ink products within the organization.
• Digital Archiving: Document management scanning technology provides solutions for electronically archiving paper documents in PDF or Tiff formats.  Digitally archiving your documents reduces the need for paper storage facilities, limits exposure to fire/flood damage, and promotes recycling efforts.
• Collaboration: Document management systems allow for sharing documents online with co-workers, vendors, and suppliers.  By providing electronic access to documents, companies reduce delays, cut costs, and lower the environmental impacts of shipping paper documents.

ColumbiaSoft is exhibiting at Autodesk University this week in Las Vegas at The Venetian resort.  Autodesk University is one of my favorite shows to attend each year.  This will be my third consecutive year at the AU conference, and I am continually amazed by the number of attendees from all over the world.  Autodesk University brings together the best and brightest from countless industries and career paths to showcase the latest technology derived from CAD (computer aided design).

In addition to Autodesk showing off their wonderful products, there are countless other vendors displaying their latest inventions.  I remember my first year at Autodesk University I saw a 3 dimensional (3D) printer build physical models of working ball bearings including the outer rings and internal balls that reduce friction.  The 3D printer technology enables CAD designers to create components electronically and then real-time print life sized prototypes for review – dramatically reducing the cost of CAD/CAM (computer aided manufacturing).

Similar to how 3D printing technology changed the paradigm of CAD/CAM, ColumbiaSoft’s Document Locator with unified storage reinvents how organizations store, manage, and collaborate with their documents across the entire organization.  This year at Autodesk University, I look forward to sharing our successes over the last year with customers that ColumbiaSoft has helped improve productivity while reducing costs and risks.

Each year at this conference we have the opportunity to speak with and listen to CAD users from around the world.  Many of their comments and suggestions find their way directly into Document Locator to further enhance the product.  Please stop by our booth (#375) in the AEC section of the main exhibit hall to share with us your stories of document management, and you can even register to win a new iPod Touch.