UK councils are missing out on the opportunity to cut costs and improve productivity through the automation of document workflows, warns Y Soft Corporation.
A Freedom of Information request initiated by the print and workflow management specialist found that while 71% of councils use workflow tools to digitise scanned documents, deployments tend to be limited to specific departments and applications, such as filing council tax paperwork or dealing with benefit requests.
Y Soft argues that councils could boost productivity by extending workflow automation right across their operations. Yet, out of the 74 councils contacted, just 15% have plans to invest in workflow solutions. Only 36% plan to increase IT budgets this year.
Y Soft regional sales manager Nick Parkes said: “Automated document workflows are an effective solution to combat lacklustre office productivity. Office-based admin is a notorious drain on time and resources, and digitising workflows across councils in the UK would streamline time-intensive tasks involving scanning, uploading and emailing large amounts of files.”
