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February 8, 2010
There are many different features available with document management software. When reviewing all of the different brands and options, it is important to see which company offers the features you need and want for your business. There are many features to choose from and it is best to know about them in advance to know whether or not you will need them before choosing a plan. It will save you both time and money to be aware of you specific needs in advance. Similar to most software purchases, it is important to consider how easy it is to use prior to buying it. If you are unable to easily understand the software and use it as you intended for your business, you will be wasting a lot of money. In order to decide if it is easy for you to use for you and your company, think about how you will be using the software. Will you need to open more than one document at once? Fill in incomplete forms at a later date? Look up files by many different types of information? Consider all of these and more when deciding which software is best for you. The best software choice will be easy to use and have a simple, organized layout. If you have to click through 20 screens to access each different thing you need, it may not be the best software choice for you. Document security is extremely important and there are many different aspects to consider when choosing how much security you need. At the most basic level, you will want to make sure only certain people can see your documents. You may also want to make sure only certain people within that group can see specific files and documents. You will need a security system that does these things. Other security options you may want to consider include the ability to track activity within the electronic document management systems. Also, you may want to format your security in such a way that only select individuals have the ability to edit or update the files within the system. You will want to choose a software system that already has serious security measures built in. It will be a hassle to upgrade your system later and you do not want to leave any files unprotected. Find a software system that allows you to create different levels of security for different groups or individuals that can be based on name, title, etc. Also, check to be sure that the security levels are appropriate for the industry you are in. Each industry has to comply with certain standards that you want to be sure you meet. There are many other features to consider including reporting, searching (make sure it is quick and comprehensive), remote access (so all employees, even those off-site, can access the system, workflow (which allows you to send files to other people in the system to sign off on), and the ability to customize documents in the system. As long as you keep in mind the features you will need when choosing the best software system for you, you are bound to make the best decision for your company. Davis Business Machines offers an integrated suite of imaging, document management, and workflow management software. Follow news, photos and video coming from Davis Business Machines by subscribing to our news feed by visiting http://www.dbm.net/articles?rss or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dbmnet. To learn more about our products and services, visit us at http://www.dbm.net or call us at 1-800-287-9326. | 
