Document Imaging and Microsoft SharePoint Improve Business Workflows

NASHUA, NH, Sep 08, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 today manages documents and supports collaboration at many Microsoft-focused organizations. End users can upload, download and share documents, calendars, blogs and messages, and information can be quickly disseminated to those who need it.

NASHUA, NH, Sep 08, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 today manages documents and supports collaboration at many Microsoft-focused organizations. End users can upload, download and share documents, calendars, blogs and messages, and information can be quickly disseminated to those who need it.

The Windows Workflow Foundation developed by Microsoft offers powerful tools that enable SharePoint site administrators to create workflows to speed-up business processes. As new documents arrive at the SharePoint server, workflow processes initiate automatically to notify appropriate workflow participants by e-mail or their personal task lists.

"SharePoint's workflow is built on the Windows Workflow Foundation platform which enables developers to model extremely complex custom workflows," said Errin O'Connor, president and senior SharePoint architect at EPC Group.net. "Organizations can develop workflows in either SharePoint Designer 2007 or Visual Studio depending on the workflow's complexity and functional requirements."

But even with SharePoint-driven electronic processes, many times there are still paper documents involved in the workflow. This creates a "paper problem" -- a slow manual process working in parallel with a SharePoint workflow moving at Internet speed.

"To address this challenge, users need to look for document imaging software that is easy to use and administer, otherwise training costs and time expended on IT management will outweigh any potential workflow efficiencies. For example, the eCopy Connector for SharePoint utilizes the multifunction peripherals and document scanners that have already populated the enterprise and are connected into your Microsoft environment," said O'Connor.

To read an in-depth interview with O'Connor on what IT managers should look for in document imaging software as well as steps to take to ensure a smooth SharePoint implementation process, please click here.

According to O'Connor, "From an IT management perspective, a document imaging application needs to have out of the box capabilities and leverage your SharePoint investment. You should not have to modify Microsoft SharePoint to add document scanning. And the document imaging software should have zero footprint on the SharePoint Server."

About eCopy, Inc.

eCopy(TM), Inc. is an innovative provider of open and flexible solutions that transform paperwork into paper that works. With more than 75,000 units sold, eCopy is the market leader in MFP document imaging software. eCopy customers include GE, Time Warner Inc., Yahoo!, Nissan, Verizon Wireless, BP, Sprint, General Motors, Siemens, Cisco Systems, SAAB, and Sony Corporation. eCopy, Inc. is a global company headquartered in the United States, with subsidiaries in Japan and the UK, offices in Germany, France, Scandinavia, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.ecopy.com or join the conversation at eCopy's Document Imaging Blog at http://documentimaging.typepad.com.

eCopy is a trademark of eCopy, Inc. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.