Features

Image Executive can be used to scan, capture and store scanned documents in industry standard images. It also can store other files in their native formats, for instance Microsoft office documents, graphics and drawings, web pages, email, instant messages, or video. You may may create and customize your own indexing schemes in order to find and retrieve documents easily. You may also index all the words in a document for full-text searches.

Image Executive helps organizations manage every aspect of their record keeping, which improves business performance outcomes while providing document security. Our software also provides an effective, efficient and compliant solution to meet the challenges in your organization. You can create and manage a system that addresses these critical information management questions:

What kinds of documents will be put into the system?
Most organizations process and file a wide variety of documents. When putting documents into a filing system, it is often best to consider how these documents will be used (i.e. how they will be named and pulled from the system). Two examples are described below:

1. An Accounts Payable department might file invoice records, purchase orders, packing slips, and contact information. Each of these kinds of documents relate to payees. These records might be pulled when paying bills or reviewing accounting information.

2. An academic unit at a university might file course packets (for classes taught), grant information, performance reviews, and terms information. Each of these kinds of documents relate to professors. These records might be pulled when scheduling classes.

The filing system enables users to group together a wide variety of documents relating to one topic, while allowing documents of similar types to be pulled from various topics. As with a traditional filing system, Image Executive CEO uses folders to group documents relating to a particular client, product, or vendor. This may be considered a “topic oriented” filing system. Image Executive CEO facilitates the use of a “function oriented” filing system as well by allowing users to classify types of documents with the application of indices. System users constantly impress our trainers and software developers by devising creative and efficient uses of this multidimensional filing system. When new ideas are presented, CEO attempts to integrate them in future revisions. Feel free to share your ideas for improvements.

Who needs access to these documents?
Organizations often have a variety of document access needs. One of these usually involves security. In the hard copy world, an employee might be able to access a centrally located filing cabinet, raising security issues that are often resolved by splitting the filing system into public locations and secure locations. Image Executive CEO provides a robust security system. Access to documents can be limited both by department and by a security level assigned to each document. In addition, access to Image Executive CEO functions may be limited by user permissions.

Another need usually involves flexibility. Two users, for example, might need to access the same document, but they might begin their searches with completely different search criteria. Image Executive CEO provides a flexible interface for accessing Documents. Users with access to more than one department can use the same search criteria to retrieve documents across several departments. Multiple users (possibly from multiple locations!) can access the same document simultaneously. The Internet browser/viewer allows one user to send a link to another user on the system to view a particular document. The receiving user must have privileges to that department/folder/document.

How are documents currently filed?
Take this opportunity to examine your current filing system. Most likely, your existing system can be easily adapted to the Imaging System. Electronic records, such as a payroll database or an electronic address book, might even be useful for importing data into the new system. Data from this import can be used to create and name folders, allowing users to begin filing almost immediately.

Consider this an opportunity to improve your filing system. Bear in mind that the Image Executive CEO is not subject to the physical limitations of file folders, filing cabinets, and paper documents. Image Executive CEO, for example, allows the same document to be filed in more than one folder at once. The term “Folder” is really just a metaphor. Folders do not manage the locations where documents are stored. More appropriately, folders organize and manage one of the many ways documents can be accessed.

Documents are assigned to Folders; and Indices (such as document description, document date, etc) are assigned to Documents. It is important to note that documents are not explicitly named. They are given document descriptions and document dates when filed, both of which are searchable fields. The most common searches are those done by folder name, which gets its data from the Folder Description field. Innovative users have employed document indices in a wide variety of ways to hold data that is part of the Document.

How are documents currently retrieved?
A particular department, sometimes even a particular user, often begins a search with the same kind of key information. A last name, a social security number, or a transaction number are typical starting points. Does this data lead directly to the document in question? Or are several criteria needed to zero in on one particular document? Answers to these questions might vary from department to department.

The Image Executive CEO flexible search and retrieval system makes wading through previously disparate and unwieldy files a snap. Virtually unlimited fields are provided to classify folders by criteria particular to your organization. The topic oriented classification scheme facilitated by folders and the function oriented classification scheme facilitated by indices allow users to focus on their search targets from many angles.

How is consistency of the filing system maintained?
In the hard copy world, filing protocol can vary from office to office. Once an organizational protocol is determined, a system administrator can be assigned to oversee passwords and privileges. Administrators, for example, can select the users who have permission to create new Folders or Attributes, thereby preserving the integrity of the indexing system. Utilizing templates provides users with predetermined folder, document, and index options. CEO provides flexibility between consistency and individual needs.

Your information is stored in a secure Microsoft SQL database; files are housed on a server either in house or the cloud. An audit log containing the date, time, and user ID is automatically recorded with each document filed and revised. Security components are systematically created based on the employees’ credentials.

Just like filing in a metal cabinet with drawers, dividers and folders, it is important to understand the classification tools for how digital filing works.

The Company Name is the name of the company, organization, or educational facility. This is where all the internal departments, folders, and documents are housed.

Departments can be set up several ways. As in any organization, departments generally encompass a specific area, such as Finance or Human Resource. In the digital environment, departments are often set up into mini departments, such as HR Benefits, HR Confidential, HR General. This allows the organization to set permissions and functions for each mini department, and assign them to individual users based on what areas the user requires access to. For example, the HR Confidential department may house documents that would have limited user access. HR General would have a wider range of users available for working with documents housed here.

Folders- Just like folders in a filing cabinet, folders in the system represent an individual, company, or topic. Using the Human Resource example, each employee would have a folder. The searchable information would be those areas designated as indices. The employee name would be one index for searching for the folder; others could be date of birth, employee number, social security, etc.

Documents- Documents are the ‘papers’ that are filed and housed within a folder. The document will have a description such as Employment Application, and date of the document. Digital imaging does not have the same constraints as the physical environment so a single document may be shared by several departments at once. For example Human Resource and Payroll may both have access to the copy of the employee W-4.

The system allows you to back up all records to archival disks or other media to ensure compliance and business continuity in the face of a disaster.

Once data has been backed up, it may be written to external storage media, such as write once read many (WORM) media for regulatory compliance.

One of the greatest benefits of the Image Executive system is its search and retrieval capabilities. With appropriate indexing and taxonomy, locating information stored in the system is easy. Filed documents can be sorted and retrieved using customized document identifiers. Once the retrieved documents are displayed you may print, copy, email or fax them. We provide a flexible platform that evolves with your ever-changing content management needs.

Many types of records no longer require archiving after a specific time period. For instance you may destroy accounts payable documents seven years after audit. Image Executive allows you to apply retention codes to documents so they may be flagged for deletion after their storage is no longer required by law.

Document Retention Code is an optional setting that helps keep filing systems up-to-date, in compliance, and unburdened with outdated documents.

Users should refer to company, state, or federal requirements to provide guidelines for setting retention codes on individual documents.

Once an organization has identified the retention codes and dates they will be utilizing, these may be created in Maintain Folders and Indices.

Documents with retention codes may be previewed and purged. NOTE: documents which are required to be completely purged should be purged from backup locations as well. Check the legal requirements for complete purging of documents. Legal requirements should drive the protocol for backup retention and replacement as well. This function is often assigned to the system administrator to coordinate purging and backups.