0 Profit through Efficient Information Management

Effective implementation of information management systems has become a key business metric, often making the difference between success and failure.  In a world dominated by increasing competition and economic difficulties it is more important than ever to ensure that internal operations are overseen in the most effective way possible.


For this reason it is not only advisable, but rather mandatory to review your information management policy periodically and should any changes need to be made, to implement them as soon as possible.

The big issues when performing such a review are:

Managing Increasingly Complex Systems
Concrete operational solutions need to be developed by project teams and such an undertaking can prove difficult should the correct approach not be taken. Organisations need to recognize that there no longer exists one solution to most problems. Many companies fail in this area because they tend to fall back on one set of software/ applications (most vendors will push for you to do this) which does not have the flexibility to address a complex system.  Your information management systems should be underpinned by strong, centralized leadership with a smaller and more focused approach to cross-platform challenges.  Simply stated, there is no longer a one-shot “silver bullet” for information management; instead a company should seek an approach that is both flexible and easy to implement.

Employees must be Proactively Trained
As mentioned earlier, information management has become increasingly complex from a top-down perspective.  Successful installation of software by a few trained professionals is no longer the final step in managing a new system.  Instead, your employees need to be directly involved in the loop.  This will include on-going training regimes designed to update participants on a regular basis and install an innate familiarity with the client data management side. And pivotal to the success of any project, the system needs to be both user-friendly, easy to implement and cost effective.

Is Your Current System Delivering Visible Benefits?
One pitfall of many companies is that they have grown accustomed to using ineffective or outdated software platforms due to familiarity alone.  An effective management team needs to ascertain as to whether their current system is still delivering the viable benefits it once was. Many older systems focused primarily on increasing the internal productivity of information managers alone while little visible benefits could be seen externally.

Instead, the needs of the business as a whole must be addressed and this approach made visible to both staff and clientele alike. By improving access to information to all relevant staff members and delivering tangible results, the benefits of an operating will resonate within the company and employees will more likely actively engage in overall business operations.

Is Your Information Management System Prioritised Correctly?
One of the hallmarks of a successful information management system is one which has been built on a clear business plan from the beginning.  Some management models rely on a technology-driven approach; they will prioritise certain projects based on the technological ease of implementation.  Instead, the core drive should focus on the fundamental business needs.

These high-level needs should be identified by management assessing which business areas can be made more efficient today. And which are likely to become a problem tomorrow.  Summarily, should an important issue arise within information management, it can be identified as a key strategic concern and one can then begin to ascertain as to what changes need to be made in a current management policy to promote such changes.