2007 AIIM ECM survey reveals majority of UK companies lack confidence in email archives

AIIM Europe, the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) association, has announced the results of its annual user survey. AIIM's research indicates that 56% of UK respondents have little or no confidence that emails related to commitments and obligations made by them and their staff are recorded, complete and recoverable. Responsibility for the process of email archiving is left to individuals in nearly 40% of organisations. In the remainder, 37% rely on the IT department rather than the records or legal departments to perform this vital function.

According to AIIM, organisations remain very confused about the issue of handling emails as records, despite recent high profile investigations involving email evidence. The research also reflects a general lack of understanding of all non-paper record-keeping, with 44% not confident that their electronic information is accurate, accessible and trustworthy.  Despite wider adoption of document management systems, the situation has worsened since the last AIIM survey in 2005. In the public sector the situation is even more worrying, with 62% lacking confidence.

AIIM will address these issues at this year's AIIM Roadshow, which visits five UK cities from April 30th to May 4th 2007. With this year's educational theme "Tame Your Information Beast" in mind, industry experts will deliver information and advice throughout the week. Over 35 suppliers will demonstrate content, email and records management software along with document scanning and forms recognition systems.