Businesses have always tried to find efficient and effective ways to store information. Initially, ledgers were handwritten and kept in hand-bound books. The invention of printing offered a giant leap forward, but perhaps the most groundbreaking innovation was the advent of computers. However, even as workplace adoption of computers increased, specialized data preservation techniques like microfilm were still widely used.
Today, in the digital era, files and archives can be converted into digital formats, which can mean big things for your business.
Why Converting to Digital Is Important
Any document or image that you have in hard copy can be digitized. Some processes are more involved than others, but all of your physical archives can be digitized and stored in computer systems. When you invest in completing this task, you open up powerful advantages for your business.
One of the principal reasons to digitize documents is so you can access them anywhere in the world. You can see any of your records with cloud or server tools as long as you have an internet connection, and you can share this access with any person or party you choose.
You also get tools that make finding information fast and easy. The data itself becomes more valuable in digital format because it is so much more accessible.
Another key focus of digitization is analytics. Digital tools can analyze digital information. This is the concept of big data, and it can help you better understand your business.
Digitization can also improve business communication. You have more to offer your business partners when you have on-demand access, powerful analytics, and empowered employees who can use these tools. You can use these resources to share crucial information with them, leveling up your communication capacity across the board.
Convert Microfiche to Digital
Did you know that you can convert microfiche to digital files? Before we can start with microfiche conversion, it would probably help to explain what it is. Some people have used microfiche extensively and will remember, but many others might need a refresher. Microfiche is a technology that takes pictures and documents and stores them on very small film strips. It’s a lot like microfilm, but with some key differences.
Microfiche is stored on small sheets with fewer images than a microfilm strip. A microfiche sheet will usually cap at around 60 images. Also, these sheets store caption-like information that can help to identify and distinguish the images.
If you have microfiche data files, you can digitize them. When you do, you get to catalog them in your digital library. This makes them accessible in all the ways highlighted above. They can be tagged, filed, and searched via computer engines, digitally enhanced for clarity, run through analytics, and supported with automated processing tools. They can also be shared across the world with instantaneous access.
With all of those advantages, you can still keep your originals as a hard copy backup.
So, how does it work? How do you digitize microfiche? The process is the trick. You can’t just run microfiche sheets through a standard scanner and get good results. The images are very small, so if you want good quality in your digital scans, you need help. There are professional services and specialized equipment that aid with digitizing microfiche. You can invest in either.
Convert Microfilm to Digital
Anyone excited about digitizing microfiche will be happy to know that you can also apply the process to microfilm. Your microfilm file stores can all be uploaded in digital formats, making them easier to work with and part of the digital age.
Microfilm was a common way to store images and documents before the digital era. For anyone unfamiliar, microfilm reduces the scale of printed or graphic matter, shrinking them down onto small strips. Those strips can be run through a specialized viewer that blows up the images and allows you to look through the information at will. The advantage of microfilm is its size. You can store an entire library of newspaper archives in a single filing cabinet, whereas keeping the original newspapers themselves might fill multiple rooms full of filing cabinets. Microfilm can be thought of as a precursor to digitization.
But, today, if you have microfilm archives, it might be a good idea to digitize them. It’s much the same story as digitizing microfiche. You get easy access, automated assistance features and better information sharing. You also get preservation. It’s great to keep your microfilm originals, but they do degrade over time. Eventually, they won’t be reliable. When you preserve them digitally, you get copies that don’t deteriorate.
Microfilm digitization is specialized, much like microfiche. You need specialized tools, which require investment in equipment or professional services to get it done. When you shop around, you’ll find a way to digitize your archives, and when you do, you gain all of these advantages.
If you would like to take a deeper look at digitization for your Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware business, IMR Digital, a KDI company, can help. We offer a full range of services and can show you how each works and what you can expect. We can help you digitally backup all of your files so that they are safe, accessible, and reliable. Contact us today to get started.