PacSol UK Blog

Blog • Chasing Perfect Might Not Optimal • PacSol UK

Written by Toby Gilbertson | Sep 25, 2024 3:38:17 PM

We all love a shiny, top-of-the-line product, don’t we? Whether it’s the latest smartphone, the most advanced coffee machine, or the top of the range, 8K smart television. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing you've bought the very best. But here is the question: is it really worth it?

Take household items, for instance. You could spend a small fortune on a high-tech blender that crushes ice into snow in five seconds flat. Impressive, sure. But how often are you really making frozen margaritas with such time constraints? Meanwhile, you still need a good toaster. Oh, and that fancy kettle that boils water in precisely 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Before you know it, you’ve spent hundreds on the ‘best’ kitchen gadgets, each excelling at one specific thing - none of which you truly needed to be perfect. What they needed to be was capable and able to complete the function for which they were designed, so why pay a premium? I have spoken about the idea of perfection in an earlier blog - worth a read if you have 5 minutes. 

The same can be said for bigger purchases like cars or electronics. Is that luxury sedan, capable of navigating the motorways at speeds you’ll never legally reach, really necessary for the daily school run? Or is it just an expensive exercise in over-preparedness?

The "best" of anything often shines in one specific area but leaves you having to fill gaps elsewhere. (Again, read my previous thoughts on perfection) And this isn’t just a trap for household items; it extends into the realm of business as well...

The Case for Optimal over Perfect: Why One System is Better than Many

Imagine an organisation looking to streamline its operations. The temptation to seek out the best-in-class solution for every function is strong. You might be drawn to a specialist invoicing platform, then you might look for a separate HR system that is the gold standard for compliance and employee record management. Oh, and don’t forget the top-tier collaboration tool for seamless team communication. Before long, you’ve amassed a collection of highly specialised software, each excellent in isolation but potentially disastrous when it comes to integration and of course, all obtained at a premium

This is where a document management system (DMS) becomes a smarter, more cost-effective option - the optimal choice. The solution might not excel at every single function, but it offers the flexibility to handle multiple tasks in one cohesive environment—without the headache (and expense) of juggling five different platforms. A modern DMS can manage everything from process automation and invoice processing, to document archiving, employee collaboration, and even HR compliance. What a good DMS will give any business is the tools actually required, without the bells, whistles or top line features 99.9% of businesses will never use.

Rather than focusing on perfection in one area, a DMS delivers an optimised and flexible solution across the organisation - allowing your business to handle its core functions without needing to piece together several pricey, disparate systems. The comparative overall cost savings can be significant:

  • improved efficiency
  • reduced licencing costs
  • reduced IT overheads
    • security maintenance
    • systems maintenance
    • training
  • reduced resource usage
Having everything housed in a single system improves efficiency. Employees aren’t wasting time jumping between platforms or troubleshooting integration between systems they have attempted to join. Instead, they have one central place for all their tasks, from archiving documents to managing payroll to collaborating on projects.

While a DMS might not be ‘the best’ for each individual task or department, it is almost always optimal (function, efficiency and cost) for what your business needs - especially smaller businesses. It is versatile, scalable, and much easier to manage than an array of disconnected specialist packages. Plus, you won’t be stuck with potentially eye watering upgrade / reintegration / training costs when an alternative (better?) solution comes along for one of those specialist packages, since your DMS can adapt and evolve to meet changing needs—something that’s often overlooked when chasing ‘perfection’ in every category.

If you would like to know how document management with process automation could increase efficiency by up to 80%, protect your organisation from unexpected costs and support successful, sustainable growth, book a free consultation with us at PacSol or simply start by reading our free e-book.

Toby Gilbertson, Director. September 2024

 

 

 

#PacSolUK #DocumentManagementSystem #ProcessAutomation #Efficiency