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Solutions
Information Audits & Strategy
Document Capture is the process of converting documents and data into reusable electronic information. It is the first step in the information lifecycle; consistently capturing various types of data, in the highest quality possible, and indexing it all so as to ease future retrieval.
Information Management is a risky business. Poor management of your information (both paper and electronic) can lead to:
- Decreased levels of compliance with legislation, regulation and internal policies
- Greater chances of disputes and an increased chance of defeat in those disputes
- Greater risk from unforeseen events leading to more complex business continuity planning
- Inefficient operating procedures not complying with best practice
- Higher operating costs
At Oyster IMS we believe that good information management is easy if you understand the lifecycle of the information assets in your firm and the processes that support that lifecycle.
By lifecycle we mean the creation / capture, storage, management, preservation and delivery of information within your organisation. Your information assets will come from a variety of sources - internally generated, customers, suppliers and other third parties. These assets are likely to reside in structured databases such as Finance, HR and Line-of-Business systems, which are typically well managed Microsoft or Oracle based databases. But, it is estimated that most organisations also have up to 80% of their information in unstructured format and this is usually much well less managed. It is the processes by which this unstructured information progresses through the lifecycle phases which are essential to achieving good information management.
Oyster IMS’s consultancy services can identify information management problems and propose specific solutions to decrease the overall level of risk to which your organisation is exposed, to improve the efficiency of your working practices and to reduce costs.
We do this by carrying out an Information Audit. The Audit is a minimum impact exercise which utilises online questionnaires to ascertain what information assets you have within your business, the current status of your information management procedures and the risk to which you are currently exposed. All information management resources (people, process and technology) are covered in the Audit. We review all information management policies and procedures and propose new ones where necessary. Areas covered by our consultancy service are:
- Electronic documents
- Emails
- Central and local paper files
- Off-site archiving
It is more important than ever to fully understand the information upon which your organisation relies in the course of everyday operations. Achieving good information management is the key to meeting this challenge.
Strategic Consulting
Our strategic Information Management advisory service (which will often begin with an Oyster IMS Information Audit) is designed to help organisations improve the way their information is managed. Oyster IMS consultants review your people, process and technology requirements and design appropriate solutions such as new staff structures, system refreshes or new operating procedures. We then stay involved to implement these solutions, either alongside your staff or as total solution providers.
Benefits of engaging Oyster IMS to develop your Information Management strategy include: Improved efficiency and competitive edge through access to the right information for excellent client service, informed decision making and agile business development.
Reduced cost, by classifying content based on business value, usage and legal requirements in order to reclaim storage space and improve the return on current technology and infrastructure investments.
Minimised reputational risk through enterprise-wide compliance with regulations, legislation and corporate best practices.