"Converting to Electronic Filing: It's Easier Than Ever".

• Author: Michael, R. Gregory

Wacker, Nien-Ling

Illinois Municipal Review, September 1999, pp. 13-14.

This article describes the steps involved in selecting and setting up a document imaging system, which scans paper records, stores the records electronically, and electronically accesses the records. A modest-sized document imaging system is estimated to save a minimum of 100 hours per month in file retrieval costs in a typical government office. The author argues that improvements in computer hardware and software have made it possible for almost any organization to acquire this technology. The article describes three steps for obtaining a document imaging system. The first step is to budget for the system. Document imaging systems range from $4,000 to $10,000. The main determinant of cost is the volume of paper to be stored electronically and the number of people who must access the electronic documents. The second step is to select and install the system. The author emphasizes that a document imaging system should have...