How can a cross-functional EDM ensure the continuity of your services?
Changes in working methods in recent years, and the health crisis of recent months, have accelerated the digitalisation of businesses, with the introduction of new-generation solutions such as cross-functional EDM and artificial intelligence.
What do we really know about these new technologies?
New working methods driving a digital revolution
For some years now, working methods and ways of operating within companies have been changing. And this evolution has taken on new impetus with the arrival of the health crisis in March 2020. Remote working, telecommuting and the customer experience have gained a prominent place in the workplace.
These changes are causing upheavals in the way employees work. And despite all this, we still need to :
- ensure that everyone has access to data , even when working from home ;
- strengthen collaboration between remote teams;
- while continuing to respond to customer requests.
To ensure business continuity, we need to reinvent ourselves and, above all, we need to digitise. Today, companies have no choice but to turn to digital technology and equip themselves with software solutions to help them manage their processes. According to a survey of 50 major French companies conducted by IDC, 92% of decision-makers believe that the current health crisis is accelerating digital transformation. The objectives are to
- better satisfy customer expectations (for 83% of respondents) ;
- to adapt to new working methods (64%);
- and lastly to gain in productivity (60%).
💡 To achieve this, collaboration, dematerialisation and EDM solutions exist. And to go even further, we can even talk about cross-functional EDM and artificial intelligence.
How does cross-functional EDM meet the challenges facing businesses in 2021?
EDM (Electronic Document Management) needs no introduction! This type of solution has been in the spotlight for several years now:
- reducing document management costs
- improved data traceability
- The challenges and benefits for businesses are numerous.
But with changes in working methods and the way companies are organised, a standard EDM is no longer enough. A cross-functional EDM is more appropriate in 2021, and will be just as much so in the years to come.
Let's take a look at why.
Standardised processes for all
By cross-departmental EDM, we mean across all departments in the company. In other words, a single tool is needed for document management across all departments: administration, accounting, human resources, invoicing, etc. Information is centralised, so processes are more standardised. This centralisation also makes it much easier for all employees to find documents.
A better vision for greater collaboration
Connected to all the company's departments and systems (business ERP, CRM, etc.), the cross-functional EDM is also a real collaborative tool. By choosing to share a single solution between all the company's departments, you strengthen collaboration between the different teams. With information centralised at a single point, it circulates more efficiently and employees have a cross-functional view of the information available.
⚠ ️ Of course, you also have to take security into account. The management of rights and authorisations is an essential aspect to take into account when implementing this type of solution.
Secondly, working as a team helps to reduce the number of errors, as exchanges are encouraged. Teams save time in their day-to-day work, and the company improves its productivity and efficiency.
During the health crisis, companies already equipped with a cross-functional EDM solution were able to continue with their day-to-day activities, such as :
- validating their invoices electronically and paying their suppliers on time ;
- or accessing their customers' files and maintaining a close relationship with them.
Setting up a cross-functional EDM is therefore inevitable, but it is not an end in itself. Opting for a cross-functional EDM also means taking a step towards greater digitalisation and embracing the digital developments that are taking hold in the B2B sector, such as artificial intelligence.
A cross-functional EDM and then what?
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a technological advance that has been around for almost 50 years. In 2021, this technology has been completely democratised and is affecting many sectors, both BtoC and BtoB. Artificial intelligence technologies are now considered to have a real impact on a company's objectives and productivity.
Take the case of dematerialisation and EDM solutions.
Integrating AI into this type of software is a real step forward for companies. Here are two examples:
- Integrated into the search engine of an EDM solution, AI enables so-called predictive searching. This means that the user is guided step by step through the search by the AI, to refine the search and make it more efficient.
- AI is also useful for classifying document content and, above all, for analysing the data in your EDM. This combination of EDM and AI makes the solution more powerful, intelligent and, above all, perfectly adapted to the expectations of today's and tomorrow's users.
By 2021, 22% of companies will be using AI to automate all or part of their document processes. Just 2 years ago, only 5% of companies were using this technology.
Étude MARKESS
In the years to come, digitalisation is no longer a question to be asked; it is a priority for companies wishing to remain efficient.
Equipping themselves with appropriate tools, such as a cross-functional EDM, must become a reflex for managers if they want to ensure the continuity of their services, whatever the situation. To achieve this, enlisting the support of industry experts like Axess and their NEXIA solution (a new-generation cross-functional EDM available in SaaS mode) is the best way to ensure the success of your digital projects.
Promotional article. The expert contributors are authors independent of the Appvizer editorial team. Their comments and positions are their own.
Article translated from French