Towards The Paperless Office?

Xerox has introduced a software, hardware and services package for converting hard copy documents into into electronic files that can be searched by name, category and type. The DocuShare Virtual Filing System was launched last week in Philadelphia and comprises assessment services to build a conversion strategy, scanning technology, software and user training.

The DocuShare 6.5 software is an upgrade of Xerox‘s content management system which can store more than 50 million and supports intake of up to a million imaged documents per day. One beneficiary of the current system is Manteca Unified School District in California which, according to Xerox, eliminated 200 filling cabinets to save an about US $300,000 in storage costs.

The DocuShare Virtual Filing System is to be offered in North America in June with worldwide roll-out shortly after.

Xerox appears to be serious about moving customers to the Paperless office (or at least an office with less Paper). The company is also vocal about adopting multifunction machines to save on energy, space and hardware.

While proponents of the Paperless office can have very noble motives, is this goal realistic, or even desirable? A good articulation of skepticism is expressed by Malcolm Gladwell in his New Yorker article, “The Social Life of Paper”. Although written in 2002, his arguments are still pertinent.

 

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Scanners
Media storage
Filing and archiving
Filing cabinets
Multifunction machines