Ask people what the word “document management” means, and the answers you get will vary broadly. For some, it’s a catch-all phrase used to encompass everything from document scanning, to version control, to document retrieval, to document creation, to electronic and paper archiving, to document retention, and more. However, going deep into document storage, there are some key aspects at the heart of the process that make management of information effective. These are Metadata and Indexing.

Going as far back as records were kept, hand written documents were stored in folders and boxes based upon an agreed upon configuration designed for easy document retrieval. Shelving, filing cabinets, boxes and folders were used to implement a logical sub-structure system for bulk storing documents. An early example of the method was one used by governments for maintaining birth certificates. Read more »