Infrastructure optimisation specialist Supported Software, part of JSE-listed Datacentrix, has formed a consulting unit to support its document and data management division. According to Jacques Loots, head of the unit, document and data archiving strategies have been key for many years for companies implementing ERP systems, but that this need has now become critical in the e-business domain. "Electronic commerce has led to an explosion in attachments and digitised documents," he says. "None of the popular applications that run from the desktop, such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes, have any effective solution for document and data management, and the environment is threatening to become chaotic. "In addition, these desktop systems interface with numerous applications which create further documentation. A logical, workable document and data management solution is standing in the way of businesses running to maximum efficiency."
The consulting division bases its business on the premise that document and data management is a key element in the enterprise software implementation cycle, and that companies setting up new networks of users must factor in a document and data management plan at the outset. For those companies that have mature systems running multiple applications, the unit will conduct an enterprise audit, draw up a plan and will implement the plan supported by appropriate software solutions.
Loots adds that structured planning for document and data management has a direct impact on business processes, and that often companies that implement solutions into mature systems find that their workflow and business processes could be re-engineered for better efficiency. "A company`s documentation and data is at the heart of its business, and therefore the manner in which those entities flow around the company and support business processes determines how they are stored and managed. In many cases, however, management is inefficient because the business processes are inefficient. The result can be that companies that implement an efficient document and data management structure find themselves re-examining their business processes as well."
The unit will draw on its experience gained particularly in the SAP and Microsoft Exchange arenas, and is focused on providing services to large corporates.
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