A hot topic of SAAS continues

A hot topic of SAAS (software-as-a-service) continues. This delivery model popularity is expected to grow fast in the coming years.

Gartner predicts that by 2011, 25% of new software will be delivered as software as a service and by 2009, more than 50% of new business software vendors will claim a SAAS delivery model. It is acceptable for companies of all sizes, although the requirements for SAAS implementations could vary from security and regulatory compliance to integration to administrative control.

More than 60% SMBs see on-demand service as a way to cut cost and increase productivity. A small size company can get an immediate benefit of the offered software without investing in hardware and involving their IT stuff. More broad range of software can be used with lower cost of entry and less risky investment. Pay-as-you-go strategy is applied meaning most companies can subscribe for software as a service instead of making a huge capital investment.

From a document management perspective SAAS opens doors to many companies for a paperless environment, easy access via an Internet browser, faster work processes, security, reporting, administration, and many other improvements.

December 22, 2006 | Comments (0)
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What's next for SaaS?

What's next for SaaS? by ZDNet's Phil Wainewright -- Aggregation, integration, mashup platforms and ecosystems are going to be hot topics in software-as-a-service circles next year...

read more at http://blogs.zdnet.com/SAAS/?p=247

November 28, 2006 | Comments (0)
Posted by DocuVantage

DocuVantage helps University of S. Florida Ensure Security of Grant Checks

The University of South Florida Research Foundation knew the answer to its document management problems was a move to digital document storage, retrieval and workflow. After reviewing potential solutions, the organization selected Document Advantage Corporation to deploy an electronic document management (EDM) system for routing images of the checks and supporting documents while keeping the checks in lock boxes until deposited.

The Foundation selected the DocuVantage solution for a number of reasons, including:
1. An easy-to-use interface
2. Flexible features to accommodate the Foundations unique business requirements
3. Security controls to ensure the safety and privacy of the documents
4. Rapid deployment

DocuVantage EDM is a client/server solution that provides the foundation with Web-based access to the check images and supporting documentation. The solution is also highly scaleable and will readily accommodate the Foundations growth. The system can also be expanded into other areas of the University at any time.

Now, the organization's document storage needs have been reduced to the size of a pizza box. Employees no longer manually route documents. Instead, they access records via an intuitive Web-based interface. Staff can search records in a variety of formats, including those in word processing, scanned image and text-based file types. By doing specific queries for a document type, name, or date, personnel can quickly locate and view images of the original records. They also know the status of the checks in process at any point in time.

The next phase of business process streamlining is to integrate the solution with other applications to remove duplication of data entry.

Benefits
1. Efficient service. Whereas staff once had to delay check processing to physically retrieve and review records, employees can now provide instant answers via DocuVantage's Web-based interface.
2. Security. The checks are now secured immediately after scanning and are locked until ready for deposit. The system even helps create the deposit documentation.
3. Rapid installation and adoption. DocuVantage installed the solution quickly and employees found the Web-based interface easy to use. The Foundation was able to get the system in place - and in use - with minimal time and effort.
4. Expandable and Secure. The software can be expanded into any area of the University that needs to access and process information on campus or remotely.

What can DocuVantage do for you?

Want to learn how DocuVantage can meet your unique electronic document storage and retrieval needs?
Contact us today at (866) 367-3467 or email info@docuvantage.com

Customer Profile

The University of South Florida, with the approval of the Board of Regents, established the USF Research Foundation, Inc., in June 1989 to promote, encourage and provide assistance to the research activities of University faculty, staff and students. Incorporated by the State of Florida in 1989, this not-for-profit organization provides a means by which discoveries, inventions, processes and work products of the USF faculty, staff and student can be transferred from the University laboratory to benefit the public. Funds generated by such discoveries are used to enhance research at the University.

The Foundation was formed as a direct-support organization for the University in order to provide broad and flexible financial mechanisms in support of research operations, contracts and grants, and to facilitate the commercialization of university inventions. The Research Foundation is responsible for receiving and administering all royalties related to intellectual property, and acts as a fiduciary entity on behalf of the licensee and university programs. The Research Foundation also acts as the fiduciary entity for private contracts and grants.

August 23, 2006 | Comments (0)
Posted by DocuVantage

What the Morgan Stanley Judgment Means

Many industries have had notable tipping points. The point at which everybody woke up and said, 'we have to pay attention to this'. Some within the records retention and document management sector say the recent $1.45 billion judgment against Morgan Stanley is that tipping point. A big number like that will get the attention of CEOs, COOs and general counsels.

Have we received more calls or questions from clients? Not really from our existing base but we do believe decisions to purchase are being made much faster because the ROI regarding legality is obvious.

Records retention issues related to Sarbanes-Oxley and previous regulatory rules has thrust EDM and ECM to the forefront for a while, but we've always been here. EDM and ECM shouldn't be viewed as a way to 'comply' with regulations, it should be a way to operate more efficiently. Managing your information from the beginning means compliance isn't such a scary thing after all.

The clients we do get because they are looking for compliance only are amazed at what we can offer them. They think compliance means putting all the documents in a repository. Anybody can store documents (or maybe not in Morgan Stanley's case), it's the intelligent retrieval that's the trick. It''s not the technology, it's the correct application of technology that creates the efficiency.

When we meet with a compliance-seeking client we start by asking how the documents might be searched for or the paths that they may take to multiple people. Often they don't want to go down this road, they think we're trying to 'pad' our proposal. After discussing the matter a bit more they realize that there is value in the solution and the 'proposal padding' is going to save them time and money.

What does the MS judgment mean? For the less-than-ethical sales people it's a great F.U.D. headline. For us it is an opportunity to switch the conversation from compliance to efficiency

On a related note, PR blogger Neville Hobson talks about some other issues related to Sarbanes-Oxley.

June 13, 2005 | Comments (0)
Posted by DocuVantage