An electronic document management system (EDMS) manages the creation, use, and storage of documents in most, if not all formats. While electronic document management systems share similarities with enterprise content management (ECM) systems, it can be important to differentiate them, especially when shopping for solutions. Most ECM systems can be considered EDMS platforms, but not the other way around. EDMS platforms lack some of the functionality of ECM systems, including intelligent content capture, business process automation and records management features.

LaserficheHowever, even on its own, an electronic document management system offers a comprehensive solution to help knowledge workers efficiently organize and distribute documents across their organizations.

EDMS platforms contain tools for:

  • Scalable and centralized document storage
  • Versioning, markup and collaborative editing
  • Access control and tagging
  • Metadata management and full-text search
  • Federated searches across multiple resources and platforms
  • Managing document and record lifecycles
  • Internal and external file sharing
  • Tracking document history and system activity

By centralizing information use and access, electronic document management serves as a hub from which broader information management strategies like ECM, records management and business process automation can be connected and deployed.

Common Features of an EDMS

An electronic document management system offers a robust feature set aimed to promote information governance, transparency and collaboration across the enterprise.

Federated Search

Enable authorized employees to locate files across document folders and repositories, with the ability to search based on file name, metadata, document contents and more.

Document Markup

Add annotations, highlights, stamps, text boxes and more to your documents. Advanced EDMS systems also offer the ability to redact particularly sensitive information.

Security & Audit Trails

Use robust security controls and document tags to ensure information is only available to authorized employees, roles or departments. Audit trails automatically track who is accessing information and when to support regulatory compliance.

Records Management

Securely store records, connect them to retention schedules and apply legal holds as needed, simplifying how you comply with recordkeeping regulations and manage records throughout their lifecycle.

Document Metadata & Full-Text Search

Customizable metadata fields — which can include information such as creation dates, statuses and more — provide context for documents and makes them easier to search for. An electronic document management system also enables users to search a document’s full text for a search term when metadata isn’t enough.

LaserficheVersion Control

Automatically track modifications to documents and metadata, creating a history of document use to maintain compliance with governance standards. Check-in and check-out features help ensure information integrity and streamline collaboration.

Cloud Resiliency & Scalability

Minimize system downtime and be better prepare for increases in scale with a cloud-based EDMS that adapts to your needs with little-to-no IT infrastructure cost or maintenance.

 

Digital Vault Services

Organizations in highly regulated industries, such as wealth management, can retain records in an unalterable, write once, ready many (WORM) format.

Mobile Application Access

Leverage easy-to-use mobile apps to securely retrieve and receive information from your repository, fostering collaboration between those in the office and out in the field.

External File Sharing

Secure hosting for individual files and public portals help ensure information can be shared with external parties safely and conveniently.