What is Enterprise Information Management (EIM) and what is its purpose?

Enterprise Information Management (EIM) refers to the optimisation, storage and processing of data created and used by an enterprise. Enterprise information management seeks to ensure that data, as a business asset, is managed securely through its lifecycle and that such data is accessible to the appropriate business processes.

EIM functions ensure high-quality data is available, controlled and leveraged effectively to meet the information needs of all enterprise stakeholders, in support of their goals and  execution of plans, policies, standards, projects and procedures that maximise the value of information assets.

EIM provides a semantic layer implemented across the enterprise and not just for a single application or IT project. Effective EIM will result in lower operational costs, higher staff productivity, supply chain efficiency, customer service and loyalty and better decision making. It will provide valuable business insights and business intelligence for informed decision making for initiatives such as digital transformation.

Making sense of data

The volume and speeds at which data today is generated, processed and stored is unprecedented and as a result, today’s businesses have access to an incredible amount of data. The volume of data is fundamentally impacting every business sector across the globe.

According to a report by the OECD, “The combination of low-cost and widespread sensing (much of it involving personal devices), the steep drop in data storage costs and the availability of new data processing algorithms, improves our ability to capture and analyse more detailed representations of reality.”

With all this data at their disposal, the big issue facing businesses is what to do with it.

Many of the systems used by businesses and government agencies are decades old. Many businesses still rely on Excel for data analysis. Simple systems like this cannot cope with the volume of data nor process the data to provide meaningful insights.

What is needed is an information management strategy. That’s where EIM comes in. According to Daniel McFarland, PhD of the College of Business Administration faculty at Rowan University, “EIM is bridging the gap between computers and businesses. To be effective, companies must understand that data and information have an impact on people, on how people do their jobs, how the users interface with others and the impact of information usage on businesses and society.”

Data management is becoming an essential part of strategic planning for a business looking to create competitive advantage, to eliminate inefficiencies and to drive change.

Benefits of EIM

Frost and Sullivan have estimated that enterprise-level data grows at the rate of 30 to 40 per cent per year. The ability to harness the value within this information is critical to business success. That requires an effective EIM platform.

Large organisations often have separate applications to tackle each process — data analytics, content management and business processes — but EIM software can combine them all in an integrated platform, removing information and process silos. EIM software includes tools and capabilities to capture, integrate and manage data effectively, enabling organisations to optimise business processes and analytical insights to make better and faster critical business decisions.

At NEC New Zealand, we offer an Enterprise Information Management solution through KMD – an NEC company. KMD WorkZone provides an increased overview of case handling and compliance which leads to a better stakeholder, customer and citizen experience. Key features and benefits include:

Functionality

Customers can choose how they want the functionality presented. There is a web-based client, offering the client the entire feature set, including a dashboard that can be easily customised to suit and support the customers’ workflows.

Another entrance to the functionality is KMD WorkZone for Office: an interface that is seamlessly integrated and embedded into the Microsoft Office Suite.

WorkZone Mobile is a mobile solution for both online and offline use. It is a phone and tablet application that allows you to read, comment, approve or reject tasks assigned to you.

Streamline processes

KMD WorkZone comes with built-in processes for submissions and hearings.

There is a standard package with extended processes for the public sector, including the processing of requests for access to information.

A fully configurable workflow system from Microsoft is built into KMD WorkZone, which can be used by customers to digitise their specific processes.

Usability

KMD WorkZone is operated from where you already work, in Outlook, in Word, in Windows Explorer, on your mobile device or from a dedicated web client.

Improve efficiencies

KMD WorkZone provides the necessary tools for monitoring case processing times to comply with processing deadlines.

The EIM solution can save on IT operations by consolidating into a single case management system with centralised operation allowing for one point of entry to documents, cases, and shared knowledge.

KMD WorkZone allows for improved efficiency and better quality in case processing through digital process support and workflow.

NEC and Enterprise Information Management

Our EIM solution here in New Zealand, KMD WorkZone, is targeted at government and public sector agencies. It would benefit those agencies who recognise:

• A need for consolidation of bespoke IT systems with a standard case management system.
• A wish to drive faster case processing through the use of common standard processes.
• A need for optimising the flow of information to/from citizens.
• A lack of usability in existing solutions and processes.

If this sound like you, don’t hesitate to get in touch today and discover how our EIM solution can improve your efficiency and workflow procedures.