By HK Bain
FORCED TO SCRAMBLE
Managing data safely and efficiently during a pandemic
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s the national economy gradually re-opens, many employers have vowed to continue offering remote working opportunities to staff that do not need to be in the office to complete their tasks. After scrambling to create workable solutions for at-home work during the first days of the crisis, businesses recognize that many employees not only enjoy working from home, but that some are also more productive. However, this was not always the case. The initial concerns over managing financial, client, contractual and other types of data took on new urgency as the pandemic took hold in the United States. But the truth is that a high percentage of organizations across all industries were left unprepared to effectively manage data utilizing a remote workforce. Too many still rely on
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paper-based documents, records and contracts, which can cause a wide range of headaches. Those that did have an effective process of “online” records management in place likely had much fewer issues making the transition to remote work. The bottom line is that what was true in March 2020 when COVID-19 began to shut down the U.S. economy remains true now. Most companies require digital records to be productive and efficient. Organizations that rely on paper-based systems will find it increasingly difficult to compete. Although data management technology was increasingly becoming common for businesses, the pandemic accelerated this trend in three key areas: Cloudbased document management, digital forms and automated accounts payable.
Cloud-Based Document Management Companies with cloud-based document management in place didn’t suffer the same problems when shifting employees to remote working environments. These organizations were simply able to access their data through the cloud from the comforts of home, provided they had a reliable internet connection. Employees remained efficient, and document creation and collaboration continued unabated. For example, Cooperative Education Services is an educational procurement agency in New Mexico that manages mountains of paperwork to procure services for its members. They completed a shift to a cloud-based document management before the pandemic, allowing them to conduct business remotely, even