Survey: Companies Gaining Business Benefits But Also Missing Opportunities With Document Imaging

New York, NY /PRNewswire/ - A solid majority of records managers report that their company is gaining critical business benefits from document imaging (converting paper to digital) that include improving operational efficiency (77%) and enhancing customer service (72%). However, other potential gains are largely untapped: Only 50 percent of executives indicate that their organization uses document imaging to enhance regulatory compliance, while even fewer (21%) say their company leverages document imaging to increase competitive advantage.

These are a few of the important findings highlighted in a comprehensive survey report issued today by Oce Business Services , a leader in document process management and electronic discovery. "A Winning Formula: Achieving Top Performance in Records Management," spotlights the extent to which organizations across a variety of industries are leveraging some of the essential components of effective records management to meet today's business challenges and win in their markets.

The survey highlights industry issues such as growing compliance risks and how companies are using their current records programs to obtain important business benefits. The report also spotlights records management components, such as document imaging, that are underutilized by a significant number of respondents and thus represent untapped opportunities to gain a competitive edge.

One example: more than 90 percent of the executives surveyed report that their company utilizes a paper records repository, but only 70 percent report that their organization has deployed an electronic records repository. The latter offers opportunities in the form of benefits such as reducing paper, printer and toner costs as well as improving disaster recovery, document retrieval time and staff productivity.

In another key finding related to document imaging, only a small number of companies surveyed (9%) report that they have deployed a document imaging process in the mailroom. This represents a significant opportunity as more organizations become aware of and investigate the benefits of a digital mail solution.

"During the past four years our document management surveys have communicated a critical message," said Joe Marciano, president and CEO of Oce Business Services. "While organizations are gaining solid business benefits from records management, electronic content management, digital workflow and other document management processes, there are unrealized opportunities and new approaches that have yet to be tapped by many enterprises."

"A Winning Formula" is comprised of over 370 online surveys completed by records managers and other executives responsible for document management processes. A cross section of industries is represented including business services, financial services, insurance, technology, government and pharmaceutical. Among respondents, 37 percent work at organizations with annual revenue under $100 million, 33 percent have revenue between $100 million and $1 billion, and 30 percent have revenue of over $1 billion. Survey results reflect responses from records managers at organizations that have revenue over $100 million and a records management program in place. Respondents were guaranteed absolute confidentiality.

The full survey report is available by visiting www.obs-innovation.com .

About Oce
Oce is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Oce offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Oce is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Oce customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in The Netherlands Oce is active in over 100 countries and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in 2009 amounted to euro 2.6 billion. Oce is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. For more information visit www.oce.com

About Oce Business Services
Oce Business Services provides high quality managed services and technology to manage, monitor and optimize document intensive processes so companies can improve operating efficiency and performance. Oce Business Services solutions span the document lifecycle and include records management, imaging, managed print services, mail and eDiscovery. Proprietary methodologies apply Six Sigma®. North American headquarters are in New York City and employment is about 5,000. Learn more at www.obs-innovation.com or follow us on Twitter .

Oce and Canon: Stronger together
In 2010 Oce joined the Canon Group of companies with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing lineup of copying machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse range of customer needs. Canon employs approximately 170,000 people worldwide. Global revenues in 2009 were $35 billion. For more information, visit www.canon.com .

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009+, with global revenues of US $35 billion and is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2010 list. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of kyosei – "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei . To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss .

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+Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SOURCE Oce Business Services, Inc.