For any organization stepping into the universe of digital transformation, there are secondary factors we don’t always have time to take a deep dive into, one of which is scalability. Now, I’m not arguing that we are never asked about scalability; it's usually a checkbox on an RFP, but I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss it further.
Here’s a good definition of scalability in software and why it is crucial:
Software scalability is the ability of software to increase or decrease performance and cost in response to changes in processing demands. It's a critical feature for supporting growth, pivoting during times of uncertainty, and scaling back operations as needed.
When implementing an Enterprise Content Management system, the expectation is that the solution will continue to perform for years and at the desired level, so scalability is an important feature. With a system designed with growing organizations in mind, you should quickly add storage to your ECM system, processing power, and additional functionality to your capture system. Suppose you want to add further integrations, for example. These features should be selected to make them feel like additions rather than an entirely new system. Laserfiche, for instance, through the partnership with Velosimo, offers several integrations with Accela, CitiWorks, and PayPal that share captured information and eliminate the need to input data manually. Laserfiche also offers Forms, templates, and other system additions that are fast, easy, and inexpensive to upgrade. Laserfiche’s platform is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) that can scale with a business. Laserfiche's distributed architecture leads lead to increased scalability and performance. This ease and readiness are vital when choosing a solution that meets your business needs. Some other reasons to focus on the advantages that scalability brings include:
Reduce maintenance costs
Improve user experience
Increase agility
Provide a foundation for innovation
Help businesses avoid bottlenecks and downtime
Support more users, customers, and transactions
Reduce operational and maintenance costs
Enterprise Content Management is crucial to any successful digital transformation, and with growing demand, implementing an ECM strategy is quickly becoming a must for many organizations. Forbes Magazine states that 70% of businesses have or are creating a digital transformation strategy, and 55% of companies who have yet to transform digitally believe they have a year before they start to lose market share. Approaches such as scalability help your research and implementation phase get off to the right start and ensure you have an impactful solution for years.
