scanning legal documents

Is your business ready to meet the new GDPR regulations?

/0 Comments/in , /by

Document management systems to help you comply with GDPR

We’re now only six months away from the implementation of the new GDPR data protection regulations and if you’ve been putting off thinking ahead, now is the time to start getting your business ready.

Whilst the GDPR changes aren’t rocket science, it’s important to allow plenty to time to get your systems in order, ready to the new requirements. Remember that failure to meet and stick to the regulations covering data protection, could leave you at risk of having to pay a hefty fine.

What is GDPR?

The GDPR regulations are set to have a significant impact upon the way your company manages, processes and stores sensitive and personal information. GDPR will cover any information which could be used to identify an individual, such as their name, address or cultural orientation, in a similar way to the Data Protection Act.

However the difference between the current Data Protection Act and GDPR is that the new regulations also cover data collected from contemporary sources such as the usernames or pseudonyms used on social media platforms and IP addresses.

Practical steps to take to ensure you comply:

  1. Regardless of whether you store data in filing cabinets or electronically, you need to make sure you can access all the required information. However you store data, GDPR gives each individual the right to be erased from your CRM database or any other documentation you might have which relates to their details.

Being unable to locate the required information could cost you time and money so this is where a secure document scanning service could prove invaluable. Here at PDM we provide a range of secure document scanning services, including specially designed services for legal firms, schools and colleges. Scanning documents is the ideal way to transfer them into an easy to search, digital format, ready to be accessed as and when you need them.

  1. One of the most important aspects of the new GDPR regulations is the ability to keep personal data safe and secure. Paper documents can be easily mislaid, misfiled or lost; resulting in information falling in to the wrong hands, leading to a potential breach of data.

Each time a document is moved around it is at risk of loss, regardless of whether the document is in paper or electronic form. Cases of government officials leaving sensitive documents on trains are classic examples and a reminder of how important it is to ensure that data is protected. The solution to secure document storage is electronic document management and at PDM we work with companies to find an effective solution, designed to meet their individual requirements, helping to meet data protection legislation.

  1. To further safeguard important documents, periods of retention are put into place. The amount of time documents must be stored for varies from industry to industry. In addition, some documents such as personal data might be required to be destroyed after a set date as a way of ensuring they can’t be accessed again. Failure to destroy documents after a customer has asked you to do so is a breach of data protection and could result in a significant penalty. With this in mind it’s important to remember storing multiple copies of documents, or failure to accurately record retention periods, is likely to result in a major loss of time and money.

Document storage and archive management systems provide a highly effective solution to the issue of retention periods. Not only will a document storage system help you to free up valuable office space, it will also guarantee security whilst saving your employees significant amounts of time spent manually searching through paperwork.

Contact PDM for document management and storage advice

Here at PDM we have many years of experience in helping companies and organisations of all shapes and sizes find effective document storage solutions. We’ll use our expertise to find the ideal solution for you, helping you meet the new GDPR regulations whilst also saving money and improving efficiency.

If you would like to find out more please get in touch with us today by calling 01274 883459.

 

 

document management services

Our tips for achieving streamlined document storage

/0 Comments/in , /by

Document management and storage solutions designed to help you save time and money

Imagine an efficient, productive office, free from piles of paperwork and unfiled documents. If this is something you dream about, moving to an off-site document management system could be hugely beneficial for your business. Not only does off-site document management create much needed office space, it is also likely to encourage an increase in productivity.

Outsourcing your documentation means that your paperwork is completely secure, whilst searching for individual files will no longer be as time consuming as it is at the moment, with the days of hunting through filing cabinets well and truly consigned to the past!

Document management systems to meet your individual requirements

If you’d like to turn the dream of a streamlined, efficient office into a reality, choosing to work with a specialist document management company such as Pro-Doc should be the first step you take. We have a proven track record of providing secure document storage and archive systems for companies of all shapes and sizes and by using our services, you’ll be able to relax in the knowledge that your documents will be available for access as and when you need them.

We offer a range of document storage and management services, designed to take the hassle out of managing paperwork, records and archives. From document scanning and data capture, through to specialist services for legal firms, schools and colleges, we can help you safely and securely tackle that paperwork mountain.

It’s well worth bearing in mind that all types of documents in all sizes can be successfully captured and stored; from historical documents and architectural plans, to legal paperwork and financial documents. We work closely with all our clients to find the best and most efficient solution for them, offering a wide range of options including cloud-based document storage and cost-effective high speed scanning.

Contact PDM to find out more about

If you would like to find out more about the many benefits of switching to a document management system, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk through your requirements.

document scanning services from Pro-Doc

Reduce costs and streamline your systems with our scanning services

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Professional scanning services provided by Pro-Doc

If you need to be able to regularly access large volumes of paper documents or records, our scanning services offer an efficient solution and a great way to reduce the amount of physical storage space you need.

As you’re probably already aware, storing physical documents can prove to be extremely costly, whether you keep them on-site or use an archive service. Our scanning services offer a cost-effective alternative to physical archives, equivalent to just four years of physical archiving costs. We understand that there is now a legal obligation for businesses and organisations to retain documents for at least seven years for tax purposes and as such we believe that our scanning services offers an unbeatable alternative, helping you save time and free-up space.

How our scanning services work

We use state-of-the-art high-speed duplex colour scanners which have capability to scan more than 100,000 images each week. Once scanned, the digital images can be saved in a wide range of formats depending on your individual requirements, including PDF, TIFF and JPG.

We have the expertise to scan documents of all shapes and sizes; from postage stamp size, through to larger than A0 size, including architectural plans, archives, documents and books.

Contact PDM for details of our scanning services

If you would like to find out more about how our scanning services can help you save time and money whilst freeing up storage space, why not get in touch? We work with business and organisations throughout the North of England so please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

document management system

Specialist document storage solutions for schools and colleges

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Document management systems from Pro-Doc

Schools and colleges have to cope with huge amounts of paperwork; from records of individual students through to invoices, staff details and financial documents. However, unlike many organisations, the secure and accurate capture of paperwork is of paramount importance for educational establishments.

According to safeguarding guidance published by the Department of Education in 2016, schools and colleges have a particular duty in terms of record keeping: “all concerns, discussions and decisions made and the reasons for those decisions should be recorded in writing.”

With this in mind, increasing numbers of schools and colleges now use a specialist software application designed to help monitor child protection, safeguarding and a wide range of pastoral and welfare issues which are stored centrally. This central storage ensures that the relevant people are alerted immediately to any possible issues, with reports on vulnerable pupils and groups of pupils produced at the touch of a button. Whilst this system works well, to close the loop existing paper records must be integrated into the system and this is where we can help.

Here at Pro-Doc we provide a complete data capture and document scanning service, designed to facilitate the transfer of paper documents into a simple to use, secure document archive and management system.

Contact Pro-Doc to find out more

We have more than 15 years of working with organisations of all shapes and sizes, offering secure and reliable scanning and digitisation services. Our systems have been thoroughly tested and audited to enable us to ensure the highest standards of security and confidentiality. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you transform your paper records into a digital record, ready to be incorporated into your safeguarding software, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

document management services

Is electronic document management right for your business?

/0 Comments/in /by

If you’re interested in storing information in one central place, saving time and money, then the answer will be yes, electronic document management is right for your business! There is sometimes a misconception that electronic document management is the preserve of big corporations, however over recent years it something which is increasingly being used by SMEs and new businesses.

What is electronic document management?

An electronic document management system is a central digital repository, designed to hold all of your documents, information, files and records. Documents of all types and sizes can be stored; from legal documents and architectural plans, through to data, accounts and personnel records. Depending on your requirements, digital documents can be stored in either a cloud storage system or in a system hosted by your business.

The process begins with the ‘capture’ of paper documents and files; this is done using a document scanning system and the scanning systems we use here at Pro-Doc have the capability to scan hundreds of documents at a time. Once documents have been scanned, they are converted into digital files, ready to be accessed as and when you need them.

One of the main benefits of moving to an electronic document management system is the improvement in workflows. Documents can, for example, be automatically forwarded to a particular member of staff or department, whilst information can be found quickly and efficiently using keyword search.

Security is, of course, a concern for all businesses but today’s electronic document management systems are designed to provide unparalleled levels of protection through secure user access, so you can relax in the knowledge that your business critical information is safe and protected.

Contact Pro-Doc to find out more

If you would like to find out more about how you could save money and transform workflows with electronic document management, why not contact Pro-Doc for further information? We are an established company based in Bradford, offering a wide range of secure document management and storage services including document scanning, cloud storage and specialist services for legal companies.

document management solutions from Pro-Doc

The latest trends in electronic document management

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Using electronic document storage can help save you time and money

Investing in document management systems whilst reducing reliance upon paper has long been seen as goal for UK businesses and organisations. Although the benefits of electronic document management systems are widely recognised, a surprising number of businesses are still failing to recognise and embrace the advantages of a paperless office.

A number of trends have recently emerged in document management and although many have been around for some time, only now are they becoming recognised as the norm. Here are a few examples of some existing and emerging trends in document management:

  1. Collaboration

Collaboration between colleagues is, of course, widely recognised as a way to enhance project outcomes. Sharing recourses, knowledge and experience can only be a good thing and by using cloud document storage, you’ll be taking a significant step in improving collaboration and efficiency. Cloud storage allows for documents to be updated and shared, whilst notes, ideas and details of discussions can be added and viewed by all involved.

 

  1. Improving workflow

Whilst project management systems offer a useful way to collaborate with colleagues, they usually work as stand-alone systems which require individual users to sign in to different software platforms. A cloud document storage system provides workflow which can be tailored to meet the individual requirements of different businesses; offering the capability to automatically direct documents to the relevant member of staff.

 

  1. Cloud document storage

Put simply, the cloud is where it’s at. Offering a highly effective, reliable way to digitally manage documents, cloud document storage can help you dramatically reduce the costs incurred by manually searing through and storing paper files. Cloud storage keeps documents safe and ready to be accessed whenever and wherever you need to. Information can be found using simple keyword search and thanks to the enhanced security provided by the latest systems, cloud document storage is widely viewed as the gold standard for managing electronic files.

 

Document management systems from Pro-Doc

 

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of electronic document management, or to discuss your requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are a specialist document management company based in Bradford, with many years of experience in providing safe, secure document management solutions, designed to help our clients save time, money and improve workflows.

 

 

 

 

document management for schools

Legal document copying and archive services designed to help you save time and money

/0 Comments/in , /by

Specialist document management services for legal firms

Many law firms spend significant amounts of time and money copying legal documents – costs which they are often unable to recoup when charging fees for a case.  Here at Pro-Doc we provide a range of specialist services designed for legal firms, designed to offer an efficient way to save valuable staff time, whilst reducing the costs spent on expensive print consumables.

By using our specialist legal service, legal firms also have a way to accurately record the costs that come with copying legal documentation; making it much easier to fully cover costs from clients whilst freeing up valuable staff time.

How to avoid time-consuming in-house photocopying

Legal firms will be all too aware that time is money so with this in mind, it’s important to have access to a safe, secure and reliable legal copying service. Here at Pro-Doc we aim to offer an exceptionally fast turnaround on all legal copying, from court bundles through to conveyancing documents.

E-disclosure services from Pro-Doc

Electronic disclosure or E-disclosure is simply the process which is used to capture, collate, restore and manipulate the large quantities of the legal documentation that is required during the process of disclosure in civil litigation.  Designed to identify the required documents from large volumes of unsorted documents efficiently, and when E-disclosure is combined with the digitisation of paper documents, results in a comprehensive library of documents, designed to enable a full disclosure.

Contact Pro-Doc for advice on copying and storing legal documents

The specialist legal services we offer are designed to provide a reliable, effective way to capture, store and manage legal data. If your business is struggling to cope with large volumes of paperwork, why not make use of the services provided by Pro-Doc? Not only will our specialist legal services help free up valuable time, they also offer a far more efficient way to accurately pass on the costs of document copying directly to your clients.

 

data capture services from Pro-Doc

Data capture services to help you increase storage and improve efficiency

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

The advantages of making the move to digital document storage

Traditional form of document storage can pose real problems for businesses and organisations. Keeping large volumes of paperwork not only involves finding space to store it all, searching for individual documents or key pieces of information can prove problematic too. However, despite the difficulties of holding on to large volumes of paper documentation, when it comes to making the switch to a digital or virtual form of document storage, many businesses are concerned about the security of such a move. Here at Pro-Doc we know that the benefits of transferring data into a digital format far outweighs the minimal risks and with this in mind, we thought we’d explain what data capture is and how it could help you transform your business processes.

What is data capture?

Not only are paper documents difficult to store; they can also be very difficult to search – even those that are well organised! Data capture resolves these issues and the process starts with document scanning, followed by the digitisation of the documents. It is then possible to use a number of different approaches to capture the data from theses digital files, ensuring the information you need is easily accessible as and when you need it.

Data can be captured in varying levels of detail; you might, for example, simply need capturing, or it might be necessary to capture a number of different fields within documents. Capturing data in this way allows for efficient forward processing through a wide variety of business applications, including accounts processing for example.

There are occasions where the automatic recognition of the content of documents is difficult impossible and in situations such as these, our data keying bureau has the expertise to manually extract data to exceptionally high levels of accuracy. Manually keying in data, although it is a more time-consuming process, still means that you’ll be able to access the captured data in seconds.

Optical character recognition (OCR)

Our data capture service includes full document optical character recognition which offers the facility to convert physical documents into a highly searchable format, providing you with accurate digital information you can rely upon. In addition, OCR also allows for previously paper documents to be turned into editable formats, converting your paperwork and archives into responsive, active documents.

Contact Pro-Doc on 01274 883459

We work with a wide range of businesses and organisations throughout Yorkshire, helping them transform the way they work through our data capture and document storage services. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you or to talk through your requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

scanning legal documents

What’s the best way to manage legal documents?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Document management advice from Pro-Doc

Whilst electronic document management offers significant benefits for legal firms, making the move from paper to digital still presents a huge leap of faith for many companies.

In the not so distant past, the management of legal documentation of meant managing paper, back in the time when ‘cloud’ meant something white and fluffy that floats in the sky! Thanks to advances in technology, the way in which documents are managed has changed beyond all recognition and increasing numbers of firms are choosing to manage legal contracts, documents, correspondence etc. electronically.

A good document management system offers the capability for law firms to improve customer and increase efficiency whilst maintaining high standards of security and confidentiality. Provided a document management system is simple yet efficient to use, lawyers and legal professionals will be free to concentrate on what they do best.

As is the case with all businesses, law firms come in all shapes and sizes and what works for one, might not be suitable for another. To find out what type of document management system is best for your business, it helps to take a long, hard look at what you do and how you do it. For example, a large law firm covering a broad geographical area and wide range of different types of clients is likely to have a large, mobile team of lawyers working on all sorts of devices. In this case they’d be likely to need a completely secure system, which is designed to be flexible, adaptable and very user-friendly.

Cost effective document management and storage solutions

Cost is also likely to be a significant factor for many law firms, especially sole practitioners operating on the high street. With this in mind, investing in a document management system doesn’t mean forking out for a massive system as there are a number of different approaches which can be taken, with options to suit most budgets.

Contact Pro-Doc to find out more

If you would like to find out more about our document management services, or to talk through your individual requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact Pro-Doc today.

 

pro-doc document management services

Is shredding the best way to destroy out-of-date data?

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Electronic document management systems from Pro-Doc

The answer to this question is no, not necessarily! Thanks to advances in the technology behind scanning and document management technology, there’s been a significant shift from our reliance on paper to regular use of electronic document storage. However, despite the fact that paper documentation can be lost or damaged, they can also be used if absolute proof is required. With this in mind, many businesses – especially those in the legal sector – find having an archive store of paper documentation extremely comforting and it’s this reliance upon paper which deters them from taking advantage of the wide range of document storage solutions available.

Granted the prospect of an entirely paperless office is still some way off, the move towards paperless document storage systems seems unstoppable. However, even in this new age of cloud storage and electronic filing, destroying paper documentation can feel very drastic, making many companies reluctant to move towards an entirely digital system.

Most paper documents are shred because they are no longer needed and with the intention of freeing up what is usually much needed storage space. However, there are documents to which the normal rules don’t apply and title deeds, tax documents, leases, wills etc. must be kept. On the other hand, there is a general misconception that this type of important documentation has to be stored in its original paper format but this is not the case. If digital documents are captured, stored and managed correctly, they are just as valid as their paper counterparts.

Solve storage problems and streamline processes

Moving to an electronic document management system is a sensible decision for several reasons. Not only does efficient document management mean so much than scanning and storing documents digitally, it also offers the capability to capture data to drive fully automated electronic processes. There’s no doubt that electronic document management is an excellent way to help solve problems of physical storage, it can also prove revolutionary when used as to track payments, for example, or to automatically approve a range of legal documents.

Contact Pro-Doc for further information

Whether you decide to move your business onto a cloud based storage solution, or to make use of a bulk scanning service, electronic document management is transforming from a state-of-the-art luxury to a business essential. To find out more about the benefits of electronic document management, or to talk through the best solutions for your business, why not get in touch with Pro-Doc today?