Scanning in general provides immediate gains. Be it for improving workflow, creating permanent or redundant archives, or moving those old files into the twenty-first century, allowing easy access and reference, scanning increases efficiency. Furthermore:

◉  Scanning saves storage space and reduces warehousing costs. Once stored as digital images the paper can be destroyed and the storage space freed.

◉  Heightened awareness about business continuity planning and disaster recovery call for not only backups of all data but also paper – scanning solves this by providing redundant electronic offsite stored archives, simplifying disaster recovery planning.

◉  Publishing of scanned archives to CD-Rom DVD-ROM or tape. Archives accessible from office networks or remotely via the internet or intranet connections.

◉  Scanned documents can be password protected and access restricted, keeping sensitive data protected.

◉  Scanning reduces paper distribution costs.

◉  Scanning reduces the labor of manual indexing, archiving and filing.

◉  Improves collaboration. Unlike paper, electronic archives are easily emailed and shared. Many employees will distribute electronic document which they would not copy and fax if they were in paper form.

◉  Eliminates work intensive physical searches.

◉  The instant benefits to adding searching capabilities greatly increase workers productivity rather than having to page through paper document after. Even with basic image archiving without OCR and indexing the documents, image searches are far faster and most efficient.

◉  Scanned documents avoid the pitfalls associated working with paper masters such as mis-filings, losing or damaging originals.