As most of us will continue to struggle with putting the proper year on our documents, how we manage those documents is continuing to change. Eh, maybe “change” is the wrong the word for what is happening. Document and file management is simply continuing to evolve to meet the needs of users — both team members as well as clients. Let’s look at some of the key ways that file management is continuing to evolve as we head into 2019.
1. Mobile Accessibility is Growing
According to information released in June 2018 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23% of workers report doing some or all of their work remotely. Telecommuting is increasing with remote roles growing every day. With more companies opting to be able to utilize remote workers in order to expand their recruitment pools as well as cut office costs, document management from anywhere on any device is becoming a must-have for file management systems. File management software that is limited to certain office locations or computer operating systems is becoming obsolete.
2. Built-In Real-Time Collaboration
While you probably feel that you work best alone (and many would agree), most projects benefit significantly with the collaboration of others. As the number of remote workers grows and a majority of projects requiring a footprint in the digital space, tools that allow teams to collaborate on projects in real-time are growing. Whereas in the past when simple collaboration was conducted via email or telephone, these methods have grown cumbersome and antiquated. More and more file management software systems are being built with ease of collaboration in mind and with that, many built-in collaboration tools.
3. The Growing Affordability of File Management Systems
There was a time when just a handful of software development companies dominated the file management system landscape. This domination allowed companies to charge extremely inflated subscription fees for users. In recent years, hundreds of smaller file management software companies have popped up, giving the top dogs some fierce competition. As the number of file management options has increased, many of these companies have been forced to become highly competitive with their pricing structures and contractual agreements.
4. Cybersecurity Is Becoming Standard
Intellectual property has become a leading product and/or service of thousands upon thousands of companies around the world. As the need for the flexible accessibility of data grows, so too does do threats to the security of utilized data. In order to remain competitive, more and more file management systems are offering some form of cybersecurity protection on even their lowest tiered programs. Higher levels or cybersecurity in the form of data encryption, threat assessment, monitoring, and vulnerability tests by the use of hired hackers are growing and are likely to become a normal cost of doing business.
