Digital records make life easier, no doubt about it. But nearly all businesses still deal with records that aren’t digital, and contrary to popular belief, scanning paper documents can cost much more than simply storing them, both short and long-term. It is estimated that 90% of the world’s data bank still exists on 1/2 open reel tapes. Converting all of that data to digital would be a monumental task, even if one were so inclined.
Digital conversion can be costly, and in the case of older records or documents that only need to be accessed occasionally, it isn’t very beneficial. Technologies and media change, but the need to store them remains the same. When weighing the cost of conversion to newer media, it makes sense to evaluate the alternatives.
When same day retrieval just isn’t fast enough, a scanning and imaging system that converts records to a digital format make sense. For many other records that require infrequent access, secure, maintained and accessible storage may be the most cost-effective option.
If you need help figuring out the best solution for your situation, don’t hesitate to call. With experience in both conversion and storage, we can point you in the right direction.
