Document Management from Invu

FOI and Housing Associations

2012-01-27T09:37:00.000Z

TheFreedom of Information Act (FOI) came into force in 2005 and demands thatindividuals have the right to information, the right to confidentiality and theright to effective administration.

Assuch the act means that members of the public can demand information at anygiven time and it must be readily accessible. Considering today’s government isplanning to consult on extending the FOI still further, this should give those HousingAssociations with limited grip on their documents serious cause for concern.

Ahousing association typically holds vast amounts of information about eachresident – past and present – and each property, making management of the sheernumber of documents a trial in itself. It is therefore critical that a system anda set of robust processes are in place to manage such information, allowingadministrators easy access to relevant material as requests are made.

Manyhousing associations are not however sufficiently equipped to easily produceinformation as requested, and are falling short when it is being demanded. Notbeing able to produce such information sends out the clear message that HousingAssociations are not forward looking, not up to date and are simply inefficientwhen it comes to the management of documents. Above this, the simple time costof manually trawling through documents in order to satisfy an FOI request canbe enormous.

HousingAssociations must realise that it isn’t difficult, costly or disruptive tomanage information in such a way that enables ready compliance with the Act –even if the legislation is extended. Culturally it doesn’t have to be difficulteither – in a society when information is readily available (the GoogleCorporation is after all now a verb), it will be nothing short of an anachronismthat any organisation cannot access the right information immediately.

HousingAssociations must therefore evaluate their processes ahead of more stringentrequirements coming into force. The question is not just whether or not the FOIis appropriate to Housing Associations. In a way this doesn’t matter – from anoperational and forward-looking perspective, the ability to comply should be a given.

The Invu solution for Housing Associations - Adactus

2012-01-18T14:28:00.001Z

The latest edition of Housing Technology has picked up onAdactus Housing and its use of Invu. (Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/Adactus-in-HT.) This Housing Association has over 12,000 housing stock in the NorthWest and recognised a compelling need to improve value for money, improvedservice and control amongst other issues. Remedying these issues revolvedaround document processing and with Invu’s growing reputation and adoption inthe HA sector Invu was selected. Adactus pinpointed the Finance department asthe first port of call for a multi-staged project across the group. It’s muchmore than a simple secure repository – automated workflows, intelligent contentextraction and integration with the finance system make this a pro-activesolution. The Invu deployment has been a close engagement and a genuinecollaboration to ensure deliver of a solution which fits the Adactus ambitions.

The finance process has been streamlined to the point whereauthorisation is quicker and matching against the finance system (QLf) isstraightforward. There’s no measures yet on how much more speedy authorisationis but the level of control on exposure levels is much firmer now and this is amajor step forward. There’s more details in the Adactuscase study and we’re delighted that the Adactus solution is attracting theinterest of other HAs in similar circumstances. It’s a project which hascreated a pattern which other HAs have now taken up and these are now beingrolled out. Others have been keen to follow and we hope to see many more.

If you’re interested in finding out how theAdactus solution might work for you then please get in touch: http://www.invu.net/about-us.aspx

The Mortgage Market Review & You

2012-01-18T09:39:00.000Z

Asthe governance, risk and compliance bandwagon rolls on, and the ongoing need toevidence suitable ‘Know Your Customer’-oriented processes, so the MortgageMarket Review (MMR) consultation paper arrived in late December.

Butfor the typical IFA, what does it mean to day-to-day processes and workflows?Following the MMR, the ability to build and assess a full and complete profile ofa potential borrower in order to ascertain the risk to the lender becomes anecessity. And rightly so.

Afterall, squeezing interest rates and deposit thresholds in order to mitigateagainst the damage caused by unexpected losses will only get the lender so farin the current economic climate.

KnowYour Customer is increasingly being about understanding the risk of potentialcustomer’s appetites. However, lenders should be aware that when MMRlegislation is blended with Anti-Money Laundering legislation will surely meanthat it is only a matter of time before there is a high profile case where thelender is seen to be misleading borrowers. As a result, the manner in whichdocuments are created, edited, stored and presented is absolutely crucial – infact, business critical.

Brokers,wealth managers and other investment houses are increasingly putting systems inplace to ensure that relevant checks are not only being made with regard torecords, content and document management, but that also provide financialorganisations with security against auditors and any potential customercomplaints.

Aswith much of corporate best practice, it is considered a nice-to-have untillegislation insists upon it. Well, in the case of IFAs and best practicedocument processing, that time has surely arrived.

Document & Content Management for Housing Associations: A White Paper

2012-01-10T15:01:00.000Z

Most of the white papers we’veproduced to date have been generic in kind – that’s not to say that they’ve nothad focus, but they’ve been as applicable to a manufacturer as to a constructoror a charity. We’re taking a slightly different tack with the latest off theproduction line. This is sector specific , notably Housing Associations andother Social Housing providers. That’s not to say that some of the points wemake aren’t valid elsewhere of course, but the focus is on a group oforganisations which is of increasing importance to Invu. The number of HAs thatwe deal with continues to rise and rise.

The Social Housing sector facesall manner of pressures, from keeping costs down to service levels to financialcontrol. Document and content management can play their part in alleviatingthese pressures by acting as so much more than simple passive repositories.This is mature technology which can be optimised to deliver even more value andthis paper sets out to explore the options. It’s borne out of our experience todate and, in particular, where we’ve been back to existing customers to explorehow they can benefit from work we’ve done for other HAs with the latestversions and technologies at our disposal. For example, the Adactus invoiceprocessing, workflow and QLF integration project has delivered a solution whichis of genuine interest to many other HAs. Great news and those customers takingthe solution on board will see real benefits, from ROI, service levelimprovements and that critical financial control.

Why not download the whitepaper http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx and see if your organisation can reap the benefits too?

PracticeWEB and more...

2011-12-22T15:47:00.001Z

We’ve just announced some work we’re doing with PracticeWEB(PW). Based in Bristol and part of the SIFT Group, PW is the UK’s largestprovider of web and content solutions to the UK’s accountancy and independentfinancial adviser (IFA) professions. Invu has been strong in both communitiesfor some time so it’s a natural fit. Customers’ document management systemswill link with PW’s Secure Document Exchange and Landscape client portal toenable the secure and seamless passing of client data to and from practice andclient.

We’ve taken a resolutely “works with” approach and thismeans that Invu Document Management will be able to integrate with otherportals, intranets etc .

Invu is mainly sold as an on-premise solution and with itsintegrations and business process tie-ins with ERP and finance systems whichare more grounded than not, this doesn’t go away. However, our sights areincreasingly on mobile and cloud technologies. The next product releaseincludes a replacement to our view application (i600w) and this enables mobile,web and tablet access. In fact we’ve even had interest and early productdemonstrations on the iPad with customers and prospects even though this new workhas yet to be released. (Early Adopter customers should be able to gain apreview at the end of January.) All being well, this strong technologybase will lead to a strong foundation for new products and directions.

To find out how Invu can help your organisation please go to www.invu.net or send us an e-mail, info@invu.net.

On behalf of us all here at Invu we wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Compliance Driving Change

2011-12-09T12:59:00.001Z

We continue to build up a head of steam with the numbers of customer cases studies. Increasingly we’re finding that it’s not just a simple, but always encouraging, tale of ROI behind each story and this is a case in point. Sheffield based Cogne UK is a global leader in the supply of stainless steel and tool steel. At least 500 transactions are processed each day. As a structural raw material the steel is subject to rigorous quality control and regular audit. This extends to Cogne’s processes and its ISO9001 certification. Access to test certifi¬cates is critical – they must be produced on request and failure to produce them could have dire reputational consequences. The detrimental impact of this necessary process could be felt throughout the business and the requirement to work smarter, more cost effectively and yet remain compliant drove the move to digitise its documentation. It’s been a positive move: “In a heavily audited environment Invu diminishes our potentially damaging exposure to risk and also gives us solid effi¬ciency savings”, says IT network administrator Andrew Scrimshaw. Find out more at http://www.invu.net/PDF/Cogne%20Case%20Study.pdf

With so many organisations facing tough times, gaining quick ROI is a critical factor in any new IT decisions. But this is a business case factor, not necessarily the initiation point for a new project – in this case the operational impact of compliance was the driver. As so many other business types and professions come under increasing compliance and regulatory pressure, this can itself be the catalyst for document and content management adoption.

On the road with Housing Associations and some new, but experienced faces

2011-11-16T10:41:00.001Z

It’s been over 12 months since Seren Group took on its Invu solution. This Housing Group has gradually spread its use of the software and it was good to catch up with some of the team at the recent Hitex event in Cardiff. With pleasing synchronicity the latest Housing Technology magazine is just hitting the streets and the Invu Seren case study features prominently.

Also included in this edition of HT is an announcement about 2 of our HA dedicated team which have joined in recent months. Building on the success we’ve enjoyed with HAs to date we’re delighted that Steven Rhodes and Kevin Hardy have joined the team. Both have many years of experience of working with the social housing sector and they fortify Invu’s experience in a market where we’re enjoying increasing success. Both Steven and Kevin are attending exhibitions at the moment - the Scottish Federation of HAs Finance Conference, the current round of Hitex exhibitions and the IT in Housing conference are filling up their diaries and they’re busy renewing many contacts in the sector. For HA specialists attending, please swing by and say hello.

For further info on the events we're attending over the coming weeks please go to http://www.invu.net/news/events.aspx - Thanks.

Teamwork paying off at Wembley

2011-10-14T16:11:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was an incongruous mix – Wembley stadium dressed up for an NFL game between the Tampa Bay Bucaneers and Chicago Bears and “the home of football” home to hoards of accountants. This was the keynote IRISWorld event where Phill Robinson and his team got to say, “Hello Wembley” to massed rows of accountants worrying more about the numbers and the future of their practices than the 3 lions. The stadium is very impressive of course (and so it should be) and with a target attendance of c.800 IRIS pulled out all the stops to do justice to the choice of venue. OK – typical exhibition drop-out rates meant that the actual number was somewhat under but what this single community saw was an example of a well-focused team talking directly and knowledgably to its customers about what they wanted to hear. And it’s this aspect that struck home as being most impressive. The financial community has a very important concept: KYC – Know Your Customer. Wembley and the other IRIS roadshows was a fine example of how to know your audience en masse.

The headline plenary sessions were good and strong and stuffed with subject matter experts from the ICAEW and Microsoft. More importantly the mood-music and buzz around the break-out rooms and the exhibition stands was confident; an acknowledgement that this was no waste-of-chargeable-time, but an important tool in knowing how to guide each individual practice. And it wasn’t all futures and jam-tomorrow. One of the sessions was a very simple hints-and-tips talk and it was just as packed as the bright-new-future presentations.

IRIS’s branded version of Invu (IRIS OpenDocs) was well in evidence and it confirmed our view that Invu’s integration with IRIS and it’s strong positioning with accountants was natural and now, almost taken for granted. On the IRIS OpenDocs stand, a steady stream of attendees sought more info (“how does it work?”, “what’s the cost”), but the number one question? Email, email, email. How do I handle the sea of emails I get? Almost from day one in our relationship with IRIS, the need for a flexible email solution was a top agenda item and directly led to Invu Email Manager coming to market. Yesterday continued the evidence that this was well judged.

The last couple of years have seen a lot of change at Invu, including the IRIS partnership. Standing back and reflecting, this was and continues to be an extremely positive partnership and Wembley showed the benefit of dealing with the experts in an area. Invu deals with a number of domains as well as solving some more generic issues in other sectors and it’s important not to lose that focus. Where we get close to the issues faced by individual customers or sectors we have a solution set which can be a veritable chameleon. But you have to understand what’s needed and what works best for each business. As Invu delivers more individual mid-market type solutions our focus on what’s needed for a successful solution teaches us a valuable lesson in listening closely to what our customers want. This varies by business sector and by customer and we’ve had to change the way we work. In fact this has been a major and hugely positive transformation. Wembley showed that with a strong, capable and domain expert partner we can deliver on both fronts with trust and confidence. IRIS and other partners keep us on the ball so we cannot ever afford complacency. Without getting smug, Wembley reinforced the partnership. For some of us with many years spent delivering software for accountants it wasn’t quite like coming home, but it was pretty close.

IRIS & Invu team up for IRIS World 2011 Roadshows

2011-10-03T13:35:00.000+01:00

There will be plenty of eyes on Invu in its guise as IRIS OpenDocs in the next few weeks. We’ll be supporting IRIS as our premier accountancy partner as the IRIS World 2011 roadshows begin. These are taking place across the UK, starting with Bristol and ending with a 10th and final event towards the end of the month. These are excellent opportunities to find out about Invu’s unique fit in the accountancy space, to discover why the largest provider of accountancy solutions has chosen to work so closely with Invu and to meet the teams to find out more about the difference IRIS and Invu can make.

The regional events are condensed to ½ day sessions so you can join the IRIS and Invu team for breakfast and be back in your office in time for lunch.

The largest event is at Wembley Stadium; this is a full day conference with guest speakers and focused afternoon breakout sessions. One of these is Practice Efficiency – Save an hour a day with IRIS and this is where accountants can find out how much time can be saved using IRIS Practice Software and IRIS OpenApps.

Join us at the largest FREE customer event for accountants. We’d be delighted to meet you and to hear about your practice’s needs – to register click this link http://bit.ly/p5Xcc9

Software for the real world….

2011-09-30T10:57:00.000+01:00

Like software businesses the world over we find ourselves testing new releases in something of a vacuum – attempting to replicate the actions and environments of the real world can be a thankless and impossible task. Where the software can be used across a number of business scenarios and the twists and turns of a wider user community can vary enormously the scope of error is compounded. It’s an issue which the software community has wrestled with for many years now. Other than long, in-depth and often automated testing, the most common belt and braces proving route is by customer validation. Beta site testing is used the world over whether it be the big names like Microsoft, Oracle, Sage and others or the niche software provider.

Invu’s Early Adopter programme is typical. But we know that alongside those who are genuinely keen to see what’s round the corner, for most businesses the attraction can appear limited. We’ve been giving this a lot of thought. You see, high quality, real-world pre-release feedback is nothing short of gold dust. It can be the difference between success and embarrassment in some cases. But there must be something in it for the customer.

That’s why we’re formalising the Early Adopter programme with some sweeteners to add to the standards. (The standards being: a bit of first-mover advantage so you can be up and running before your competitors, enabling you to plan out your implementation and getting closer to the vendor and therefore being more influential in future product direction. There’s also the issue of ensuring the software quality for yourself – don’t trust anyone else, gain your own confidence etc. This is what large organisations with major roll-outs will do anyway so some of you may already be used to a period of User Acceptance Testing before new software is available to the business in a live environment.)

We’re looking for a good spread of customers across a range of organisational types. If you join us we’d like to make it a worthwhile exercise for all parties. Our most recent Newsletter leads with this request and asks that if you’re interested that you contact Mark Palmer or Sandeep Kang. Of course, we’ll be asking some customers and partners directly. But it would be great if you put your hand up first before we even send the invitations out….

A tale of two cities?

2011-09-08T16:34:00.000+01:00

In our news section, we’re talking about a tale of two cities. Not exactly original, but it comes to mind with two new case studies – Seren Group in Newport and, a quick hop down the M4 in Cardiff, Hendre. They are both engaged in social housing and both have been delighted with their Invu experience. Housing Associations (HA’s) are waking up to Invu with its wider portfolio of products and integration opportunities with housing systems. Forty plus HAs have adopted Invu and, increasingly, the demand is for document management at the heart of the business.

HAs face a bombardment of documentation, from invoices, to maintenance orders, to tenant correspondence and much more. Service levels can massively improve if the documentation is immediately to hand and a 360˚ view of a tenant’s affairs or suppliers transactions are to hand. HAs come under tight regulation and service levels are an important benchmark, so being able to respond quickly with all queries answered first time is a significant measure of success. It’s also a measure of efficiency and cost saving. Right now there are still many HAs find themselves reliant on paper filing and queries may take hours or days to get answered and then only in part – add in the “whilst I’ve got you”, almost mandatory supplementary question and you could be back to square one. You can see why a good eDM solution is needed.
HAs face particular issues with accounts payable – often working with a host of suppliers. Many of these are likely to be local and small in keeping with an ethos of trading in the community where possible. Quick payment is often critical to these suppliers. However, manual processing of paper invoices can be a slow process. Invu’s invoice processing solutions cut through this – we’re getting increasing and encouraging demand here. Invoices are scanned, the relevant data is extracted from the invoice and then looked up against the finance system for supplier details, POs etc. This then initiates an automatic workflow for authorisation – what might currently be 1-2 week’s worth of round trip can be simplified to minutes, all without the fear of loss and all whilst still having sight of the information for queries. Extending Invu Document Management out beyond a passive repository can make a huge difference to the way businesses work and this is a great example of a sector where the fit is especially good. Invu’s engagement with HAs continues to get closer and stronger – we hope to see our South Walian friends at Seren and Hendre joined by many more HA peers using Invu.many more HA peers using Invu.

Inside Housing highlights Invu

2011-09-06T14:57:00.006+01:00

The most recent Inside Housing magazine is a welcome reminder that Invu has an important part to play in making Housing Associations more efficient. Invu represents eDM in the recent technology focus of the magazine: http://tinyurl.com/3h2k3rb.

From simply enabling better and quicker decision making and improving tenant and supplier service through to wholesale changes in the way that finance departments work, there’s a large number of HAs using Invu solutions nowadays. The trend is one of increasing adoption – encouraging news and also a reminder that this is a sector which faces its own pressures. Less money coming in, increasing demand for their services and greater regulation and service demands.

Invu has been shown to make a genuine difference to these organisations – check out the recent case studies on the Invu web site for the Seren Group based in Newport and their near neighbours in Cardiff, Hendre (www.invu.net/testimonials.aspx).

These join other HAs with similar experience and words of encouragement for Invu, notably Derwent Living in Derby and Sheffield HA Arches Housing. Housing Associations and Invu – a very good fit indeed.

Calling all customers – keep up to date

2011-08-10T14:54:00.003+01:00

The latest copy of InsideVu is available to download here.

We’re talking about our Health Check reviews, pointing you towards our recent invoice processing white paper, covering the new version of Invu Capture, the latest service pack and hearing about how Stoddards Manufacturing has transformed the way its finance department works using Invu solutions. And there’s also the normal hints and tips of course.

In case you missed it you can also find edition #9 online (it’s the same address as above). It majors on the invasive operational issues, costs and risks that email brings to so many organisations. Also included are a couple of great case studies – Northern Feather manufactures Snuggledown bedware and Invu’s purchase order, sales order and delivery note solution has been described by Financial Controller Brian Wilcox as “transformational”. Also in the North West, Tony Collier, managing partner at Milner Boardman accountants, tells us about the effect of going paperless and the print savings the practice has seen.

InsideVu is a quarterly roundup of news, adding to our website, twitter and blog. You can sign up to receive future issues here.

Get Match Fit!

2011-08-09T12:25:00.000+01:00

It’s so easy for us to lose contact with each other! Businesses may nurture their relationship with suppliers and service providers and many of us start off aiming to do so, but often good intentions lapse. With software this is normally countered with updates and communications. However, this doesn’t always give you that objective when your investing in a solution rather than a commodity. Many of Invu’s partners bridge this divide but we’re aware that this doesn’t always happen so we’re stepping in.

If you’re an Invu customer it may have been a little while since you began using Invu. As time moves on we all change - your business may have changed and Invu solutions certainly have. Increasingly, we’re seeing more and more customers who want to see how they can work even more effectively. We’re therefore offering a free half-day Health Check with one of our consultants*.

We can dig a little deeper into the pain points in your business and get an idea of your business processes. Often, documents are a manifestation of your processes but can also represent a contribution towards hidden costs and degradations in productivity. Hearing about your business and the way you work, understanding how you currently use Invu and raising awareness of the wider functionality of Invu, we’ve been able to realise even greater rewards for existing customers. We’ve seen:

• More savings in time, resources and costs.

• Better customer & supplier service

• Compliance peace of mind

So - can you improve the way you work? Take our challenge - call us to book a free Health Check 01604 859893 or sign up here.01604 859893 or sign up here.

Wealth management, brokers and Invu’s compliance role

2011-07-22T09:32:00.000+01:00

We’re seeing some genuine demand amongst the broking, wealth management and investment communities right now. The latest editions of CIO & Computerworld magazines illustrate this with some PR around stockbrokers Redmayne Bentley’s adoption of Invu. The firm joins others such as Charles Stanley, Vestra Wealth and others in the broking sector. The driver here is not just enhanced efficiencies and cost savings but a strong compliance driver. Keeping pace with FSA obligations is a costly and potentially fraught experience with accurate and complete records an absolute requirement. This includes all client communication, transactions and proof of full diligence. For Redmayne Bentley the introduction of Invu has given peace of mind whilst also reducing costs through integration with existing stockbroking systems. Better access to client and transaction information has also improved service to clients. With 30+ offices to keep onside Redmayne Bentley recognises the benefits of keeping its documentation secure and immediately accessible. It’s 30+ offices face stringent FSA compliance obligations and the wealth management firm has identified its reliance on paper documentation as an obstacle to efficiency and record keeping. We see this as a growth area, building on Invu’s already strong position in the insurance, IFA and accountancy sectors.

Computers and the internet are changing the nature of our memory, research in the journal Science suggests

2011-07-18T09:22:00.000+01:00

There’s an interesting article on the BBC website about the way we think and remember information: http://tinyurl.com/6xyya3k . It seems that we’re changing and knowing how to find information is now more important to some of us than actually remembering facts. As levels of information multiply and technology makes it easier to find then maybe it’s logical that our behaviours should adapt. What is astonishing is how quickly this seems to be manifesting itself. It may well be a generational thing. If so, then reliance on technological methods of finding information will become more prevalent.

Nearer to home, this feels sensible. More and more we find that if we don’t know something we can hop onto a pc, tablet or mobile device and within seconds that elusive fact is there at our fingertips thanks to Google. It’s astonishingly liberating. Does this make one an expert? Of course not, but it certainly enables the curious mind. Taking the same principles, as data and documents expand at a seemingly exponential rate then document and content management tools become ever more important to the way we work. If we can lay our hands on information almost at a whim outside the work environment then surely we should expect the same capability for our business needs and behaviours. In fact, maybe even more so as deadlines and time pressures grow increasingly acute. Add in a bit of competitive pressure then access to all your information whenever you need it begins to seem like a necessity not an optional extra. Information trapped in paper documents, files, folders, emails, Word docs and pdfs shouldn’t be a barrier to future success, especially if we’re increasingly wired to work by reference rather than memory.

Housing Associations under pressure

2011-07-13T09:33:00.002+01:00

Housing Technology magazine publishes provides IT, Technology and Telecommunications news to 8,000+ business and technology strategy decision makers in the UK social housing sector and local government. Document Management continues to be a pragmatic solution in the HA space – in fact we’ve been delighted to work with around 40 HAs in increasing depth, making Invu an important presence.

The July edition of the magazine includes a focus on the importance of getting the eDM decision right and deploying successfully. HAs are facing increasing demands with changes to funding, auditing and governance all eating into resources against a background of cost pressures and a focus on service levels. eDM is not a silver bullet but we’ve seen some genuinely impressive results even with tight budgets. Find out more by reading the Do’s & Don’t White Paper at:

http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx

Printing can seriously harm your business’ health

2011-07-12T14:21:00.000+01:00

We’re on our soap box today. With a sense of indignation we look at something so many organisations take for granted – the need to print. As more output is electronic and email the business communication medium du jour it seems odd that our addiction to print isn’t challenged more often and robustly. Part of this may be due to the fact that the addiction is fed by a print and copy industry which tells us we can do the same and more for less. But is this a self-serving message?

Invu publishes a new opinion paper which looks at document and content management in the context of printing. According to Gartner research, “the typical print costs for mid-market companies are around 1-3% of revenue (Gartner 'Managed services in Europe')”. Gartner’s Predict 2011 anticipates 20-30% industry growth in managed print services until 2014 – it’s clearly a profitable sector. But at who’s cost and benefit? Our printing polemic takes an alternative view and examine why you should begin slashing your print costs.

Download Printing can seriously harm your business’ health at:

http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx

Invu Coverage

2011-05-16T16:42:00.003+01:00

Over the past month Invu has been featured in a number of articles discussing the benefits of our eDM solution. See the articles below...

Stamp of Approval (The Manufacturer) - http://tinyurl.com/5rgoknv

Academy cuts admin time by 19 weeks (Education Executive) - http://tinyurl.com/6dnun25

Six weeks per annum saved using document management software (Hospital Europe) - http://tinyurl.com/6gswxlj

Hill Hire (Computer Weekly) - http://tinyurl.com/65bl2ev

Are you in control of your email?

2011-03-07T09:41:00.000Z

Drowning in email is a serious problem and it's getting worse. Moreover, the explosion in email volumes has potentially serious operational and legal implications which could impact your organisation.

Invu's new whitepaper investigates the practical impact of email overload, retention, ownership and discovery. It explores options to reduce business risk and improve operational efficiency and highlights how email management can potentially provide an efficient and workable solution.

Think about the way you work and the potential risks that unmanaged email brings to your organisation.

Download Invu's new whitepaper "The Problem With Email" to find out more http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx

How can your business overcome paper in an efficient electronic world?

2011-03-02T09:29:00.002Z

Like most organisations you have an accounting or ERP system and you may believe that you have a computerised business. However, have you automated the whole finance process? You’re probably not alone in having the “core” ledgers and books without addressing pockets of manual process, especially in relation to your suppliers.

“Purchase to pay” is one key area which is more often than not left incomplete and largely manual; consequently the interaction with a business’ suppliers may not be in great shape. Failure to manage this properly results in cash flow problems and at worst money spent that cannot be recovered.

Automating the purchase to payment flow may reap disproportionate rewards. More often than not this hinges around minimising the volumes of paper documents and streamlining how they are handled during the flow. Pragmatic solutions may mean the difference between success and failure. Invu's new whitepaper "Purchase to Payment Automation – Overcoming paper in an efficient electronic world" provides guidance on negating the impact of paper and utilising the content in an otherwise electronic world.

Download your copy http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx

Invu Document Management transforms KMI Water’s payment processes

2011-02-03T14:36:00.004Z

Invu Document Management has enabled KMI Water to transform 80,000 paper invoices received annually to digital format. All in-bound paper has been eliminated from operational processes and together with integration with COINS financial software this has paved the way for greatly streamlined payment processes. 95% of all transactions are now processed within agreed payment terms. The company also has the information transparency required to support partnerships with both its key clients and the rest of its supply chain including sub-contractors.
As a result of its investment, KMI has transformed its payment processes and finance staff are freed up to concentrate on higher value jobs, providing a return on investment within 18 months.

Stuart Murray, Finance Director explained. “Anyone from procurement to finance can see the information in Invu and this ensures speedy resolution of standard issues such as wrong delivery charge or product rate.”

Now instead of handling repeated calls from suppliers about payments, finance staff can concentrate on invoice checking and validation. Furthermore, the company has been able to increase its turnover – and invoice volumes – without adding staff.

Read the full success story http://www.invu.net/case-studies.aspx

KMI Water implemented its Invu software with Invu reseller The Content Group. Contact Invu for more details.

Issue 8 of Invu's customer magazine InsideVu now available

2011-01-31T10:15:00.001Z

As always InsideVu contains key information to help you use Invu more effectively in your business.

In this edition you can find out more about our new modules for V6.4 as well as further information on Invu Content Automation. Our Technical Support Team are also on hand with their round up of hints and tips

Download your copy here
http://www.invu.net/already-a-customer/customer-magazine-insidevu.aspx

and you can sign up to receive the next issue on the same page.

BPM - Will it deliver benefits for your business or deny you a peaceful sleep?

2011-01-28T09:30:00.002Z

According to Gartner, “By 2014, Business Process Management will clearly deliver benefits to those who have the competencies, and deny a peaceful sleep to those who do not". This may be a little apocalyptic but it may have implications for smaller organisations than the typical enterprise level targets of these big beast systems. Full scale major BPM is often a significant investment which can transform working practices & MI. However, the price barriers can be daunting and many businesses may look at a BPM solution as being for the corporates only.

Where Invu comes in is a pragmatic solution using automation and integration rather than a monolithic software implementation. Invu doesn’t pretend to be a BPM solution – we don’t deliver full MI for example. However, some of the same issues solved by a true BPM implementation are increasingly covered off by Invu’s solutions for mid-sized organisations

For the business faced with a partial solution (typically an ERP solution) there are often untouched processes which require management and automation. Paper invoices is a good example, proofs of delivery another. A wholesale major investment using a full BPM proposition may be the answer but this may be an expensive, disruptive play and it’s certainly not to be undertaken lightly. In many cases this may involve implementation of an EDI solution (electronic data interchange) so it’s worth asking the question – would your suppliers be affected too? If so, does this mean implementation of co-operating systems there too and will they be willing to play ball to optimise the offering between both parties?

Sometimes a low impact solution may be best – deal with the hand you’ve got and optimise it. Scanning, intelligent data extraction, workflows and integration with existing ERP systems may fundamentally streamline the way you work. It’s a classic case of the Pareto principle (i.e. the 80:20 rule). Sure, you won’t have the shiniest option available but it breaks down many of the significant practical day-to-day problems at a fraction of the cost and short term operational upheaval. Gartner is right – transforming the way you work to optimise efficiency is an essential route to growth, if not survival in some cases. We’d just say that for the non-corporate you can knock over some of the key problems more simply.

Could saving costs also save lives...?

2011-01-26T09:08:00.005Z

It’s not just large corporates that need document management - companies from all industry sectors and indeed all sizes and complexities have implemented Invu, to reduce costs, improve business efficiencies or simply to reduce the paper churn within the organisation. Even regional not-for-profit organisations can feel the benefit.

Reducing costs can enable charities to continue the good work within the community. Charities have to work hard for every penny donated to them and need to ensure that every penny is accounted for but also uneroded by hidden costs. Compliance obligations mean additional documentation, deadlines and strict retention criteria to be observed - more administration when funding is inevitably tight.

In Humberside, St John Ambulance uses Invu Document Management to control its paperwork. They can now search, filter and find documents within seconds – document retrieval savings that add up to over six weeks saved every year.

Other benefits include improved business processes, enhanced customer service and reductions in paper consumption. All of this enables focus on the core needs of the charity – spending money on saving lives and not dealing with unnecessary administration.

Next time you see that familiar uniform at a local event consider how a seemingly unlikely candidate for enhanced efficiency changed the way it works in the background. See how St John Ambulance, Humberside changed the way it works and download its case study. Alternatively, give us a call to see how Invu could help your charity.

New Invu Document Management v6.4 now available

2011-01-18T09:18:00.004Z

We're delighted to announce the release of Invu Document Management v6.4. This follows input from both our customers and partners.

As well as more functionality in the base product this release also introduces 3 new companion modules:

• Invu Email Manager

• Invu Web Approval

• Invu Interactive Zonal OCR/Barcode Capture

Read the full news story:

http://www.invu.net/investor-relations/documentation--announcements/rns-releases.aspx

For further information please contact your Invu Partner or call Invu on 01604 859893.

Invu’s link to Microsoft Dynamics AX creates huge time savings for RMD Kwikform

2011-01-06T16:21:00.003Z

RMD Kwikform is the Equipment services division of Interserve, the £1.7bn services, maintenance and building group. As part of its business continuity plan, electronic filing formed a logical next stage, and based on feedback from Interserve who was already using Invu, an Invu implementation was confirmed.

Invu links directly to RMD Kwikform’s finance system, Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta). A user can search for a purchase order reference number in the finance system and link directly to the correlating invoice. This creates huge time savings as users no longer have to search manually for paperwork or search through two disparate systems.

Mark Pickard, Senior Accountant, RMD Kwikform comments, “We implemented Invu in August 2007. Prior to this we had a manual filing system. Invu Document Management ties into our business continuity plan – we have procedures in place in case there is any kind of critical incident. Invu supports this plan because all documents are stored electronically and backed up. We are currently using Invu as a document scanning tool allowing us to gain huge amounts of office space through the elimination of paper files.”

Other benefits include increased office space and elimination of paper files. Currently using Invu in the finance, HR and sales departments the company is now considering the potential use of Invu in their export department for storage of foreign export documentation.

Read the full success story http://www.invu.net/case-studies.aspx

RMD Kwikform implemented its Invu software with Invu reseller The Content Group. Contact Invu for more details.

Invu’s project checklist in the news

2010-12-07T15:24:00.004Z

Channelweb magazine picked up on Invu’s project whitepaper and checklist this week. Product and marketing director, Mark Palmer, is interviewed and gives an overview of the whitepaper and the thinking behind it. Entitled “Planning for success - the do’s and don’ts of planning your eDM project” the whitepaper is an agnostic look at how prospective content management and document management purchasers can avoid undue issues with expectations, unforeseen costs and end user acceptance. It’s based on experience, PRINCE2 project management principles and common sense.

Unlike many other whitepapers it doesn’t push a biased view of the marketplace – not surprisingly it’s getting a lot of hits, becoming Invu’s most downloaded whitepaper to date. The associated checklist is also gaining attention, hopefully as a precursor to adoption of a document management solution. Of course it doesn’t hurt if Invu sees a little more attention and sales interest.

The article is available at http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f55b93b8#/f55b93b8/10

The whitepaper and checklist are available at http://www.invu.net/info/whitepapers.aspx

Invu power assists invoice processing for Willerby Holiday Homes

2010-11-25T16:53:00.008Z

Manufacturer Willerby Holiday Homes uses Invu document management integrated with BP Logicx software to power assist invoice processing. Invoices are scanned and goods receipts processed whilst it records the back office ordering processes.

The software provides significant improvements in the internal communication, recording and documenting process, allowing Willerby Holiday Homes greater visibility and tighter controls of the just-in-time ordering process.

Howard Dawson, Integrated Systems Manager states “Our business is very much design orientated, with our homes being geared around the latest consumer trends. New bespoke models have to be designed and manufactured at a fast rate. Fast turnarounds generate a lot of paper-based transactions flowing through the business, such as drawings, design process documentation, and specifications. All of this needs to be captured for our customer service department which manages the post-installation phase of our homes.”

This success story can be read in full on our testimonials page on our website (latest on the right hand side) http://www.invu.net/testimonials.aspx

Willerby Holiday Homes implemented their Invu software with Invu reseller The Content Group

FA of Wales kicks the paper filing habit with Invu

2010-11-09T11:46:00.003Z

Document management is relevant for all manner of organisations, including the Football Association of Wales. They implemented Invu Document Management in November 2009 to improve efficiencies and gain control of rising levels of documents. In particular,the competitions department creates high volumes of paperwork, dealing with all domestic football administration as well as annual audits for all registered clubs.

With the system bedded in, Andrew Howard, head of competitions, reflects: “We used to physically store documents for 18 clubs over the last seven years, which was an awful lot of paperwork. We no longer need the storage as all the documents are securely stored in Invu and are instantly accessible. This space can be used for other departments more effectively.”

The new software has enabled the governing body to scan all incoming documents into Invu such as club licensing documents, club information, correspondence and team sheets. The FA of Wales is required to keep control of and maintain a full audit trail of documents entering the organisation. The body is assessed annually by SGS, the global leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Once documents are safely within Invu’s secure vault they can be routed between users, processed, classified and audited. In addition to streamlining day to day operations this also accelerates the annual inspection process.

“The search and retrieve capabilities of Invu are fantastic,” said Andrew. “It eradicates the issue of misfiling and it makes our jobs much easier. Simple search training provides instant access to the files within seconds and enabled us to regain the hour a week we used to waste searching for documents.” Andrew concluded: “Invu is really easy to use – it provided a return on investment in five months, and will potentially provide more benefits in the future. Our intention is to expand the use of Invu throughout the organisation, allowing us to shred all our documents and utilise the storage space much more effectively. This would be a great step forwards with our green credentials too.”

Colin Gallick, CEO of Invu, commented: “Invu augments the way in which our customers work. We have a number of customers in the sports sector, including Premiership and Championship clubs who see ongoing operational improvements and increased efficiencies.”

The full case study can be downloaded from the Invu website at http://www.invu.net/case-studies.aspx

Thanks to YourDMS for their help with this case study.

How's business for you? Complete our business efficiency survey

2010-10-27T10:30:00.003+01:00

We want to gain a snapshot of how organisations are working across the UK. It’s amazing how useful a little insight into the issues you face can be. It helps us to deliver solutions which work the way you want to.

Please complete our latest Business Efficiency Survey, it should take you only 5 minutes. Click here to start

To say thank you, if you complete the survey we’ll enter you into a prize draw. The first three randomly selected respondents will receive £50 worth of Ticketmaster vouchers.

Thank you for participating – good luck in the draw.

Terms and conditions can be found at www.invu.net/terms.aspx

Environmental benefits of Document Management

2010-10-21T09:46:00.007+01:00

Green IT has published an Invu white paper on the environmental benefits of document management. In addition to the overriding business benefits, eDM also plays to the corporate environmental conscience. This white paper examines these twin benefits. It’s has been available on our website for several weeks now and it’s getting good attention with many downloads already.

Have a look on the Green IT website – more information is available on the Research pages at:

http://www.greenitmagazine.com/

ISO Auditors impressed with Invu Document Management

2010-08-11T09:49:00.007+01:00

With an increasing paper mountain and a desire to reduce its carbon footprint and go green, Dixons Contractors chose Invu because of the direct and simple integration to Easybuild. Client service was dramatically improved as was the audit process for ISO 9000.

Julie O'Hagan Office Manager at Dixons Contractors commented, "The ISO auditors were impressed with the Invu Document Management system, knowing that all our documents were stored securely. Each one had an audit trail and they were all legally admissible. Everything was in order; they could find any document quickly and easily - because of this we passed with flying colours."

Download the full Dixons Contractors success story

Going green - does eDM work for the environmentally conscious?

2010-08-09T09:42:00.003+01:00

UK business face an increasing volume of “good to be green” messages, many with related incentives or penalties. The UK Government has signalled its intentions by consolidating seven major programmes into a central Waste & Resources Action Programme. With effect from April 2010 WRAP will focus on four major priorities, one of these being Business Resource Efficiency.

Backing up the collective environmental conscience is a raft of alarming statistics and many of these are pertinent to the electronic document management (eDM) and Enterprise Content Management (ECM) space. Irrespective of the more high tech end of the ECM/ knowledge management arena, it is in the reduction of paper from operations where the fundamental environmental benefits are created. Paper remains the primary information source for a major proportion of businesses.

Organisations implementing green IT strategies must achieve effective ROIs. This document sets out to highlight how eDM/ECM applications sit in this context and whether eDM works for the environmentally conscious.

Download your copy of Going green - does eDM work for the environmentally conscious?

Document Management – is it safe to destroy originals?

2010-07-29T09:54:00.003+01:00

There are undoubted advantages in adopting eDM but also perceived barriers to change. Paper documents and files are extremely vulnerable to loss and destruction but they are tangible and, if untampered, give absolute proof. This understandable comfort blanket effect will stop many businesses from grasping the eDM nettle or at least doing so whole-heartedly. “Destroying the physical evidence” feels unnatural so it’s important to know that the eDM you choose is not only a good software choice, but that the ensuing improvements to operational process will not put your organisation at risk.

If you’re considering a document management solution but are concerned what documents you should retain and what you can dispose of once stored securely in your repository, Invu’s new whitepaper titled Electronic Document Admissibility and Retention is worth a read.

Providing guidance on which key documents will need to be retained and best practice the whitepaper also contains updates on The Civil Evidence Act 1995 and BS 10008:2008 best practice.

Download your copy of Invu's Electronic Document Retention and Admissibility Whitepaper

Derwent Living recaptures a quarter of a year previously lost looking for invoices.

2010-07-23T13:34:00.004+01:00

Derby-based Derwent Living Housing Association provides affordable living for a variety of lifestyles. The combination of 11,000 properties, increasing tenant numbers and a wide range of suppliers meant that existing manual processes were under strain. Derwent Living also faced a number of other practical issues like dwindling off-site storage and higher staff workloads. This was set against the inevitable background of a cost-control requirement.

Conservatively, Derwent’s finance department spent at least 30 minutes a day locating invoices for approval – an annual time loss of 12 ½ weeks looking for invoices, a cost of £26,000.

After a review of its key business systems, Derwent Living identified document management as a priority. The systems review pinpointed the need for instant access, secure storage documents and automation of an increasing number of manual processes.

Derwent Living selected Invu Document Management with Invu Workflow. Its scope and simple integration, notably with with QLX were seen as winning features. Following implementation, all documents are stored within Invu Document Management including invoices, training guides, release notes and employee timesheets. The benefits have been outstanding.

The Finance department has capitalised by implementing an automated invoice approval process. Richard Cookson, Head of Accounting and ICT explains, “Our finance department knows exactly where an invoice is in the chain and it’s now impossible for anyone to pass invoices above their authority. This saves time and we can be sure that during the audit process finance regulations will be adhered to.”

Richard has identified key operational, service level, compliance and security improvements, “We are no longer apprehensive of loss of organisational intelligence. Even in the event of a disaster we know our documents are protected.”

Plans for the future include increasing the licence numbers to ensure all staff have access to the software. The additional workflows is also under consideration for expense forms, overtime forms, new starter forms and house completion paperwork e.g. energy efficiency rating documents, gas certificates etc. Richard summarised “By incorporating these workflows, all documents will be available instantly via Invu.

No more searching through thousands of documents. This has certainly been a huge step forward for use – it’s hard to imagine how we dealt with a paper system.”

To download the full success story visit our testimonial page

Invu document management - a natural choice for IRIS users

2010-07-19T11:36:00.007+01:00

Accountancy firms need to comply with the increasing amounts of document and record retention legislation. Mayes Business Partnership is no different. Having to retain client files for six years has created a paper overload and exhausted the available storage space for paper documents.

Storing all documents on site also created vulnerability in the event of a major disaster when all critical information would have been lost. A document management system was needed to mitigate this risk.

MBP researched the document management market to find a solution to suit its needs, Invu’s flexibility and user friendliness caught the eye. Managing Director, Anne Parkinson explained “Flexibility was a driver for our selection. We already used IRIS so it made sense to use Invu with the IRIS integration, rather than spend more time developing another DMS to it."

Benefits to the business include

Reduced expenditure
Improved client service
Efficiency gains
A step closer to environmental aspirations.

Read how Mayes achieved all this with Invu

Candis magazine 10 years on from implementing Invu: a quarter of a million pounds saved and an additional £100,000 pa revenue

2010-07-13T15:23:00.005+01:00

Hoylake based publisher Newhall Publications Ltd has donated over £53million to charity through it's Candis Magazine and Club.

Since 2000 the business has used Invu to increase efficiencies, accelerate tasks and reduce costs within the organisation.

Invu has enabled Newhall Publications to save a quarter of a million pounds and generated an additional £100,000 pa revenue by reuilitising the unused storage space to house a new call centre operation.

To read the full story visit Newhall Publications case study

Thinking of EDM? Download our new checklist to aid your planning

2010-06-23T11:40:00.005+01:00

Part of the planning for success whitepaper set, this document acts as a simple impartial checklist to aid preparation at any phase of your intended Document Management (eDM) or Content Management (ECM) project.

There are three main stages:

Stage 1 – Before. This covers the pre-sales stage i.e. up until the software purchase decision is made.
Stage 2 – During. This concentrates on the period between the purchase decision and your solution becoming operational.
Stage 3 – After. This stage covers post deployment activity.

Further reading can be found in the planning for success whitepapers.

Download all of Invu's documents on our website

If you'd like more information, we'd love to hear from you. You can call us on 01604 859893 or email marketing@invu.net.

Document management becomes more of an intranet or knowledge base for smaller practices

2010-06-09T11:11:00.003+01:00

Accountancy practice Bulcock and Co, based in Northwich, Cheshire, installed Invu to make the working life as easy as possible for all.

Rather than storing reference materials in a folder on the server, they store it in Invu for easy access. Mike Bulcock, Principal commented “We store technical information including Institute documents, articles, tips and tricks that can be shared, distributed by group Intrays or searched for by keyword and brought back instantly. Invu Document Management becomes more of an intranet or knowledge base for smaller practices.”

The processes of the practice have also been improved by Invu which is core to the way the practice works. It provides the practice with a complete client view and is much more accessible than searching in Outlook.

The time savings are also considerable. Tasks are much quicker and dual screen processing makes reviews so much easier than working with a pile of files. Mike continued “I can’t imagine how much time I’ve saved and the same is true of all my staff. Our day to day office life is so much easier with Invu. Administrative tasks are massively reduced so I don’t need an administration employee, saving me £15,000 a year. My employees have become more chargeable giving me a swift return on investment.”

Invu also has a positive environmental impact. Mike explained “All historical files are gradually being scanned, the paper shredded and re-cycled. We believe that this is contributing significantly to being environmentally friendly.”

To read the full case study click here

Stage 3 of "Planning for Success" Whitepaper now available!

2010-05-27T10:39:00.004+01:00

If you've read stages 1 and 2 of our Planning for Success whitepaper you might be interested to know Stage 3, covering the easily neglected area of post-deployment activity, is now available.

With your solution operational, this is where the planning and investment of stages 1 & 2 should begin to reap rewards. This is the lengthiest of the stages and covers a series of distinct phases from the launch, through the bedding-in period to the genuine business adoption when it becomes embedded into everyday operations.

If you already have a document management system, download this guide to see if you're still on track to reap the rewards, or perhaps missing something that could increase your efficiencies even further.

Download the Planning for success Whitepaper Stage 3

Vote for Invu in the software satisfaction awards!

2010-05-24T10:13:00.002+01:00

Voting has now opened for the Software Satisfaction Awards.

With nearly 20% of the votes, Invu Document Management was shortlisted in the 2009 Software Satisfaction Awards paperless office category. Invu has entered the 2010 awards – let’s see if we can do better.

We continue to listen to our customers to improve the products and we need your help to ensure that Invu gets the recognition it deserves.

If you are an Invu customer you can vote online. It only takes a minute of your time, here's the link.

http://tinyurl.com/2wenelu

Voting opens on the 24th May and closes at 5.00pm on Tuesday 14th July 2010.

If you would like further information about the awards visit the website.

36% of organisations have no ownership of document and records management at senior level

2010-05-17T10:07:00.004+01:00

The latest AIIM state of the ECM Industry 2010 report suggests that 36% of organisations do not have a board-level executive specifically tasked with document and records management, including 10% who have no one at all tasked with this.

Read Invu's document management success stories here of those organisations who consider document and records management essential.

You can email us or call us now for a quote on 01604 859893.

Download the full report here

New Invu for SharePoint Product Launched

2010-05-13T09:10:00.003+01:00

Invu PLC, announces the availability of Invu for SharePoint. Invu for SharePoint is a new addition to the Invu product set and is targeted at businesses utilising SharePoint. It builds on the existing Invu Document Management product and integrates with both Microsoft SharePoint 2007 and the new SharePoint 2010 editions.

Invu Document Management provides a secure and auditable document management capability. It addresses the management issues many businesses face when dealing with high volumes of content, especially if trapped within paper documentation. Gaining a 360° view of, say, a project, a client's affairs or supplier's history becomes possible with Invu Document Management when documents are no longer silo-ed and held in physical files.

SharePoint delivers as the de facto collaboration platform of choice for increasingly large numbers of businesses.

Invu for SharePoint brings Invu's capture, management and discovery capabilities together with SharePoint collaboration for wider business visibility and corporate awareness.

Invu for SharePoint forms an important step in Invu's SharePoint product strategy and will be developed in line with market appetite.

Colin Gallick, Invu CEO, commented "As we have engaged increasingly with mid market prospects and customers we've listened to what they have told us and created Invu for SharePoint. With SharePoint adoption growing strongly, the addition of this product to our portfolio presents an exciting opportunity for Invu. We look forward to delivering more with SharePoint as we develop products to fit the needs of mid market businesses."

Download the Invu for SharePoint product sheet here

Invu and IRIS join forces for accountancy market

2010-05-04T08:55:00.001+01:00

Invu PLC announces a new white-label agreement with IRIS, the UK’s largest private software house. Under the agreement IRIS will sell Invu’s document management product to the UK accountants market as an integrated offering under the IRIS brand.

With 30 years experience, IRIS business critical software and services power the UK accountancy sector - over 14,000 UK accountancy firms rely on IRIS everyday to run their practice. IRIS offers customers the greatest choice of specialist accountancy software and services managed under three leading brands - IRIS, PTP and Drummohr. With greater than 95% customer retention and 40% of the top 50, IRIS strives to not only deliver great solutions but also provide an exceptional customer service experience.

Colin Gallick, Invu’s CEO commented “The selection of Invu as the IRIS Accountancy Division’s document management partner of choice is a welcome endorsement of the Invu business and products. This partnership is a great fit for Invu. Over 500 accountancy practices have already enjoyed the benefits of using Invu Document Management. Invu has an excellent pedigree with accountants, working closely with IRIS will strengthen this. We look forward to continued and successful growth in this key market.”

“I am delighted to offer our customers the leading document management solution for UK Accountancy firms, integrated with their IRIS Practice Suite, under the IRIS brand. We believe that the combination of IRIS with Invu for Accountants will deliver significant incremental business benefit for each of them. This is a further example of the innovation our customers have come to expect from IRIS in recent times.” Phill Robinson, MD, IRIS Accountancy Practice Solutions.

Invu 6.2c now available

2010-04-30T17:18:00.001+01:00

We are pleased to announce the release of 6.2c for both Partners and end users.

This version contains:
· Document Tracking
· Improvements to searching
· Administration – Improvements to usability
· Grouping for Audit log results
· New Barcode separator sheet

For more information please contact your reseller

Logicx increase their customer response times with Invu document management

2010-04-29T17:07:00.006+01:00

Logicx, established in 2003, are the largest provider of replacement car rentals, breakdown and accident recovery and towing capability in Holland. They provide logistical services to garages, vehicle rental companies, insurance companies, lease holders and car importers -seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Logicx have a large variety of documents they produce and use on a daily basis, such as purchase documents, rental agreements, sales invoices, claim forms and copies of identification documents. Annually this amounts to many thousands. Logicx are often providing a service to customers in an emergency situation so it is critical that their business processes are working to their optimum. Logicx needed to find a solution both for the storage and retrieval of documents and a system that would provide workflow management.

After a thorough investigation of both the standard functionality and cost, Logicx chose Invu as the solution to their document management issues. Logicx bought 80 licences of Invu, so that all offices could use the software. Invu runs on the ‘thin-client’ in Citrix and the database is held on a central server. The workflows were very simple to install and complete implementation took only 12 days.

All incoming paper documents, approximately 300,000 each year, are now scanned in with a Panasonic colour scanner. Project Manager, Robert Feenstra commented “The most important reason for our choice is the fact that Invu offers a solution for both our paper archive and our automated workflow all from the same standard package.”

“Although we save valuable time with Invu, invoice authorisation has been reduced from one week to literally seconds, we have also found it increases our response rate to our customers giving them a much better service.”

Read the full document management story

Stage 2 of "Planning for Success" whitepaper now available!

2010-04-27T09:57:00.006+01:00

If you've read Stage 1 of our whitepaper "Planning for Success- The do's and don'ts of implementing a document management project", focusing on the pre-sales stage, you'll be pleased to know Stage 2 is now available to download from our website.

Once you've made your choice, there will be key preparation work necessary. If choosing the right solution is important, this is just as critical since it will be putting the flesh on the bones of your new system and configuring it to suit the way that you work, or the way that you want to work.

To read the whitepaper download your copy here.

Stage 3 covering the easily neglected area of post-deployment activity will be available shortly.

Vestra Wealth LLP expands its use of Invu

2010-04-26T14:28:00.001+01:00

Vestra Wealth, an Invu customer expands its use of Invu, to ensure it remains one step ahead of compliance requests.

Established in 2007, Vestra Wealth offers financial planning, stockbroking and private banking in an environment that allows investment managers to work collaboratively, without paper.

Technology is key to Vestra's success. Invu was chosen due to its advanced character recognition, user friendliness and flexible indexing and re-indexing capabilities. Invu is integrated with Figaro allowing fund managers to know everything about a client on one screen.

During the past two years Vestra has increased and broadened its take up of Invu products and modules and now have a total of 108 users in the company. Invu captures client paperwork, incoming and outgoing email communications, and is now successfully being used in both the HR and Accountants departments integrating with Sage.

Peter Brooker, Head of Planning and Development explained "The regulators aregetting more demanding but with Invu's capabilities we know that we will always be one step ahead on retaining information. We have the information at our fingertips, allowing us to respond immediately to any compliance issues."

Colin Gallick, Invu's CEO commented "Vestra Wealth is a prime example of how Invu can maximise efficiencies in day to day working practices, even in an industry where compliance is exceptionally rigorous."

Download the Vestra Wealth Sucess story

Invu welcomes new Partner Pillar Solutions

2010-04-20T09:23:00.000+01:00

Invu welcomes new Partner Pillar Solutions, one of the leading European distributors of advanced Windows based software tools.

With over 16 years experience, Pillar solutions provide best-of-breed solutions to more than 500 customers, including many Fortune 500 companies and various Government agencies.

Colin Gallick, Invu’s CEO commented “We are pleased to be working with a company with a good solid customer base, backed by proactive marketing. It’s a very encouraging sign for both parties.”

“We look forward to working closely with Invu to further extend their success in the European market.” Victor Dennis MD Pillar Solutions

New Whitepaper - Planning For Success

2010-04-20T09:17:00.003+01:00

Now available to download from the website Invu's new whitepaper, "Planning for Success- Stage 1."

This paper is the first in a series of three covering the implementation of a new Document Management (eDM) or Content Management (ECM) system. Its purpose is to set out a series of checks and actions.

Stage 1 relates to the pre-sales stage i.e. up until the software purchase decision is made. It highlights the key elements you should be aware of in your search for the solution which is right for your organisation

Download your copy here

Latest issue of InsideVu now available

2010-04-09T16:14:00.003+01:00

As always InsideVu contains key information to help you use Invu more effectively in your business.

Following last year’s product forums, customers highlighted a need for a simple document tracking function within the product - and with this available soon we include an overview in this edition.

We’ve also included a new best practice feature to show how other customers are using Invu to best effect, as well as a snapshot of the new v6.2c update, and our popular hints and tips feature.

You can view the newsletter here

Invu establishes alliance with Objectif Lune to launch new content automation technology

2010-03-29T09:30:00.002+01:00

Invu now offers Invu Content Automation, after establishing alliance with Objectif Lune. PlanetPress Suite will be added to Invu’s product portfolio, providing customers with direct access to trans-promotional and transactional applications.

Trans-promotional activity is proven to enhance customer growth, retention and service levels, and every document sent to a customer is an opportunity for new business. The new offering, Invu Content Automation, will provides an easy way for businesses to create or enrich variable content documents of any type from Invu’s document management repository. Invu Content Automation also accelerates distribution, speeds up payment processes and even reduces postal costs.

Invu Content Automation will allow customers to import existing business documents created with any Windows application and to interpret their content intelligently for repurposing and enrichment. Data can be mapped onto a template document, and efficiencies are increased with workflow by routing documents for printing, emailing or indexing and archiving into Invu.

Invu's new capture technology now available

2010-03-18T10:13:00.003Z

Invu has joined forces with ABBYY, a data and document capture specialist, to expand the functionality of its Invu for Business product offering.

The new function called Invu Capture is based on FlexiCapture 9.0 ABBYY's newest data and document capture solution. It allows businesses to scan and capture information from paper as it enters the premises, accurately reading any type of document in handwritten forms, bank statements, invoices and contracts in any language or currency.

Invu Capture streamlines many business-critical processes by automatically populating back office systems and electronic document repositories. Incorporating FlexiCapture's capabilities, it works independently in the background to ensure that other tasks are unaffected, and can be used anywhere from a single desktop to distributed multi-site enterprise environments.

More information about Invu Capture can be found here.

Using Document Management to save money

2010-03-09T16:45:00.001Z

The right IT can help small businesses go green and save money, writes Colin Gallick, CEO of Invu

The paperless office is a phrase which is bandied about as businesses increasingly focus on sustainability and carbon footprint. But reducing reliance on paperwork can seem like a daunting task at the outset.

It is, however, well worth the small amount of effort it takes to cut down on paper filing, and not only because of the environmental impact - the cost is actually much higher than one might think. According to a YouGov survey, UK SMEs collectively waste £42 million each day trying to locate information, and an SME will spend an average of £11,000 each year dealing with the effects of traditional filing.

Read the full article here

How do you reduce costs by 80%?

2010-03-09T09:16:00.004Z

Established in 1989, Floyd Automatic Tooling Ltd is a family run business, supplying the turned parts manufacturing industry with consumable tooling.

The heavy burden of having to keep documentation on file for seven years was taking its toll on the amount of office space available. A mezzanine was dedicated to filing and information retrieved was increasingly slow. This costly exercise could only escalate as the volume of paper documents rose.

In addition, the prospect of HMRC audit loomed large. Floyd Automatic is required to retain input materials paperwork for its European suppliers and it must also be in a position to make these readily available to HMRC. With resources critical, this situation was simply not tenable.

Speed and ease of information retrieval were driving factors behind the decision to choose Invu as their document management solution.

Terry Smith, IT Manager explained
"An 80% saving in printer toner, paper and postage is a tremendous cost
saving for a company of our size."

To find out how they saved 80% download the full case study here.

How do SMEs manage the paper trail?

2010-03-04T16:19:00.004Z

In this months edition of Staffordshire In Business magazine, Colin Gallick CEO of Invu explains how SMEs often don't have a strategy for document management. "In the early stages this is fine, but it can create problems as businesses grow and the volume of information increases."

Read the whole article to find out how one small business in Staffordshire reduced their administrative overheads by 20% with Invu document management.

View the article http://www.staffsmedia.com/business/

Business Efficiency Survey Prize Draw Winner

2010-02-25T15:11:00.002Z

Thanks to all of you who took part in our Business Efficiency Survey.

Its purpose was to gain an insight into general themes affecting business efficiency and what steps organisations are taking to improve matters. With SharePoint 2010 due for release this summer, the research also took a snapshop of what this means to businesses.

The winner of the prize draw was James Garrington, Senior IT Project Manager at West Mercia Housing Group. Congratulations! £100 of TicketMaster vouchers on its way James!

The results of the survey will be published shortly.

If you'd like to take keep track of whats happening at Invu, the document management industry or take part in any future research why not follow us on Twitter @InvuECM

Invoice approval is a simple click of the mouse

2010-02-12T10:24:00.004Z

Cullum Detuners Ltd chose Invu for Business to accelerate their invoice approval process using Invu workflow across the world.

CDL designs, develops, manufactures and installs jet engine test cell facilities and gas turbine acoustic enclosures for aircraft carriers, oil rigs and submarines throughout the world.

The majority of manufacture takes place at their plant in Derbyshire with some elements sub-contracted to companies in China, America and the Czech Republic. Clients include Rolls Royce, Amec and Alstom Power Inc.

Most of the work is project based, involving the management of many complex, technical installations. Input is required from all parts of the company, generating huge amounts of documentation. Tender documents, project plans and design specications undergo change control and are often revised during the course of a project.

They also integrate to their ERP system, Syteline, raising purchase orders in Syteline to be automatically indexed into Invu. This means that the procurement department raise purchase
orders in Syteline which are then automatically indexed into Invu.

Tony Dow, IT Manager at Cullum Detuners Ltd explains "It has been a big success. Invoice approval is now just a simple click of the mouse, much quicker and easier than signing!"

Read the full case study here.

Fancy catching a show?

2010-02-09T16:46:00.000Z

We’d like you to help us understand more about the business issues you face so that we can deliver the right solutions to market. For 5-10 minutes of your time you could win £100 of TicketMaster vouchers.

We’d like to hear about the day-to-day issues you face and which impact on your efficiency. Gaining insight into what affects you helps us to invest in solutions which work for you.

Simply go to http://tinyurl.com/yeqvhq6 to enter. Thanks for your help and good luck!

New whitepaper for accountants - The potential impact of document management on your practice

2010-02-01T15:30:00.001Z

Practices face a veritable avalanche of documents and information: correspondence, emails, reports, spreadsheets and official forms often in conjunction with weighty individual client files.

Compounding the administrative burden is the importance of this information, reinforced by heavy regulatory obligations and scrutiny.

Against this background, the case for document and content management is an obvious fit.
But what issues will it solve or new opportunities be opened up by adoption of this technology?

This whitepaper explores these whilst also taking a look at how to avoid any pitfalls which might negatively impact your chargeability if you decide that document management is right for your practice.

New Invu Product Sheets

2010-01-29T10:15:00.001Z

Expanding out from our core eDM proposition we now service both SMEs and mid market firms.

Invu is focused on maximising efficiencies in day to day working practices. It does so by automating business practices, from content capture, to simple task routing, to full process management through to content transformation. Invu is proven to be effective in many markets with clear ROIs based on saving time, costs and space.

Importantly, there are also less tangible benefits to be considered such as enhanced communications, retaining knowledge in the business, standardising processes and ensuring SLAs are met.

This month we have issued new product sheets to reflect a series of brand changes and updates to the product set.

Download the product sheets.

Considering document management (eDM)?

2010-01-27T11:45:00.002Z

If you're considering document management or eDM as its known download our new whitepaper "Food for thought - document management software considerations for SMEs."

The document aims to give you an overview of the key selection criteria you’ll need to consider when you decide to bring a document management or content management system into your organisation.

http://tinyurl.com/yaww7y3

Changes to Invu branding

2010-01-18T16:15:00.002Z

You may have noticed small changes to the Invu branding in recent weeks. Since Invu was founded in 1997, Invu and its Partners have focused on the delivery of electronic document management (eDM) to UK businesses. Expanding out from its core eDM proposition Invu has grown from servicing SMEs into more mid market firms with workflow and office automation additions to the product set. The core eDM product is now available in a number of flavours for separate markets. Invu to Go, Invu for Business, Invu for Accountants and Invu for SharePoint.

Full information on these products can now be downloaded from our website. You can also download product sheets for individual modules and add ins including Invu Workflow, Invu Link, Invu Email Capture, and Invu Print Capture.

If you’d like to keep up to date with Invu you can now follow us on twitter (InvuECM)

We now regularly release whitepapers on topical subjects which can also be downloaded from our website.

Over the course of the next few weeks there may be some brand disjoints, notably on the website – we will endeavour to keep these to a minimum. If you have any queries please give us a call on 01604 859893.

Invu publish new white paper: “Confused about SharePoint”

2009-11-24T16:17:00.005Z

Invu have identified that there is much confusion around the whole SharePoint issue, especially with the much anticipated launch of SharePoint 2010 now just six months away. There seems to be general awareness of its capabilities but lack of clarity around the unique benefits it will offer.
Is it an enterprise content management tool? Is it a tool for automation? Is it a document management system? Is it a vehicle for a company intranet? Is it an application to solve content problems generally within businesses?

The white paper demystifies SharePoint. Written by Stuart Evans, Chief Technical Officer at Invu, it examines the different elements within SharePoint and quantifies its capability to provide an enterprise content management solution. Not all businesses will need every aspect of the office automation described in the paper, but the content will help focus on true business needs - to inform independent judgement, choose the right components and deploy a solution that not only gives a healthy ROI, but also provides meaningful tools for the workforce.

To download a free copy click here

Invu sponsor The CharterGroup Accountancy Alliance Annual Conference

2009-11-11T09:13:00.005Z

Invu and one of their premier Solution Partners, Lindenhouse, co-sponsored The CharterGroup Accountancy Alliance Annual Conference in Bristol on 5th and 6th November.

The event was well attended by 53 Senior Partners from 35 of the highest fee income practices in the country and allowed Invu the opportunity to meet both existing customers and to educate and inform of the merits of Invu for Accountants to new contacts.

Louise Prophet, Manager of Invu’s Accountancy Sector and Alison Jackson, Director, from Lindenhouse attended the event. Louise reported “It was a very friendly event where we were able to talk to our existing customers and also speak with other practices who have been mulling over the prospect of a Document Management Software solution for sometime. It was also good to meet up with several of our mutual Charter Group Business Partners including Practice Web and Caseware. It really was the ideal forum for us”

Invu for Accountants, created specifically for accountancy practices, is an intuitive, powerful and very compatible document management system available with integrations to all Practice Management packages including official links with both IRIS and Sage. Invu’s document management for accountants is backed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) who have accredited Invu.
For more information on Invu for Accountants click here
To find out more about The CharterGroup Accountancy Alliance click here

Invu saves Manleys 20% in administrative overheads

2009-11-06T16:09:00.001Z

Manleys, a growing Chartered Accountancy Practice in the Midlands have installed Invu document management as part of a wider project to update the practice IT infrastructure.

Manleys are seeing major benefits already. Invu integrates with MYOB, the business and accountancy software, an application that Partners are already very familiar with. Tax Returns, payroll returns and client bookkeeping are generated using MYOB and saved into Invu automatically creating a comprehensive secure archive.

Invu has made working life quicker and easier for both Partners and the administrative team. The practice workload for around 600 clients is processed by just two members of staff, who have access to all client documents. This team generates first line response to client requests making a significant contribution to the efficiency of the practice.

“Invu is one of the key elements of our IT infrastructure and will help ensure we can develop into amodern and responsive accountancy practice”
Chris Windsor, Director

To find out more click here

Invu address record management issues for the education sector

2009-11-03T09:14:00.003Z

We’ve had a positive response from the education sector recently with 25 colleges, academies or universities in the last 3 months expressing an interest in the Invu document management software. The education sector have specific needs, all of which Invu can address.

The education sector need to address compliance for records retention from both national and European legislation
Colleges and Universities often have disparate back office business systems that require a central accessible records repository
Educational establishments traditionally have a huge variety of documents that need storing including student records, examination certificates, landlord certificates, lettings contracts and personal identification documentation.
HR and Finance departments are also strategic areas of activity with many managing in the region of 1000 members of staff and operating multi million pound budgets. These areas too need to standardize document retention

Over 60 educational establishments are already seeing the benefits of Invu, one of which is Headlands School in Bridlington. Lorraine Baker, Business Manager commented “We have linked Invu to our internal CMIS Database and the results have been brilliant”

Find further information about document management for the education sector click here.

Invu for Accountants in demand by ICAEW and IRIS World visitors

2009-10-16T11:39:00.002+01:00

Invu attended two major events in the accounting calendar last week. The annual ICAEW Practice Conference on 6th October took place in London. 100 delegates attended for a full programme of key speakers focusing on advice and new initiatives to ensure accountancy practices are fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities that they face in 2010. Invu and Scanworx delivered a strong presentation to 60 participants to show practices how document management can help reduce overheads and service clients more effectively.
The IRIS World 2009 events are an important forum for Invu this year. Invu are Gold Sponsor’s and are delivering a presentation at each event to showcase the capability of Invu for Accountants as a fundamental document management tool for all practices. The first event last week was a sell out with approximately 250 visitors coming along.

At both events Tea for Two at the Ritz was up for grabs as a prize. We are pleased to announce that Matthew Roberts from Kirby & Haslam (pictured above)m was our winner at the ICAEW conference and Sarah Gibson from Gary Sergeant & Co at the London IRIS event. Congratulations to both.

If you are interested in attending any of the remaining IRIS World events click here www.iris.co.uk/irisworld

Invu nominated in Document Manager Magazine Awards 2009

2009-10-12T17:24:00.001+01:00

Invu has now been shortlisted for another award – the Document Manager Magazine Awards 2009. We have been nominated in several categories.

Categories are:
ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) Product of the year
Green Product of the year
Website of the year for www.invu.net
Channel Company of the year
Records management

These awards are voted for by Document Manager Magazine readers so winning shows real evidence of how well the product is working for customers.
Voting closes at 5.00pm on Friday 16th October 2009.

For more information or to vote visit http://www.dmawards.com

Invu Online Backup

2009-10-02T15:30:00.000+01:00

InvuCare is Invu’s software assurance package. Now as part of Invucare customers can benefit from our leading edge online backup service at a preferential rate. For a typical business this could save £800 p.a.*

Invu Online Backup – powered by TouchPoint – is easier, more robust and more cost-effective than manual backup to tape or disc. It doesn’t just automate the backup process and eliminate the risk of human or media error: as an advanced restore and recovery service, Invu Online Backup cuts downtime in the event of a failure by up to 80%. It’s an indispensable service for any business that relies on the continued safety of their data, and InvuCare customers can take advantage of it for a very competitive price: just £3.50 per GB of data per month (market value £4.95).

guarantees the security of all your valuable company files
automates the backup process to eliminate the risk of error
restores your data and systems up to 80% faster should a failure occur
reduces the cost of your backup media management

If you are interested in finding our more about how an online backup service could help your business call your Invu Partner or call Invu on 01604 859893

Test drive Invu for Accountants at IRIS World

2009-09-22T09:01:00.003+01:00

If you are intending on visiting one of the IRIS World events this year why not come along to the Invu stand and test drive Invu for Accountants.

Invu and IRIS have joined forces to demonstrate how the integration between IRIS Practice Management Software and Invu for Accountants document management can assist practices with their financial reporting and move a step closer to a paperless office.

The London event is already full, places are still available for Birmingham 13th October, Manchester 20th October and Glasgow 22nd October.

To book your place visit the IRIS Website.

We look forward to meeting you!

Invu at the ICAEW conference 6th October

2009-09-21T12:16:00.005+01:00

Invu are joining forces with the ICAEW at the practice conference to ensure accountancy practices are fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities that they face in 2010.Invu Document Management for Accountants can help your practice to

• Embrace new technology to grow your business and service your clients more effectively
• Reduce overheads
• Evolve your business in line with the changing role of the practice accountant

Invu already have 500 accountants seeing the benefits of document management

“Before using Invu we were spending valuable money on storage space to store older client files. Now it’s simply a matter of finding the document in seconds in Invu. Since installing Invu we have scanned the contents and re-let the warehouse. Overall our costs are considerably less.” Iain Clayton, Managing Director, Lees Accountants

To find out more about Invu for Accountants click here http://www.invu.net/products/invu-for-accountants.aspx

To come along to the conference and see for yourself book your place here

http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm/route/166550/icaew_ga/en/Members/Practice/Member_support/ICAEW_Practice_Conference_2009

At the conference Invu will be giving delegates the chance to win Tea for two at the Ritz*
*terms and conditions apply

Shortlisted for Four Business Awards!

2009-09-14T14:59:00.001+01:00

We've just received news that we've been shortlisted for another 3 awards, thats 4 in total.

Three of these awards are voted for by customers so it’s a real testament to the success of the Invu software and how well the product is working for our end users.

The awards include:-

www.AccountancyAgeAwards.com - Small Software provider
www.NationalBusinessAwards.com - Better Regulation Awards
www.softwaresatisfaction.co.uk - Paperless office Software
www.DMAwards.com - 5 categories. You can still vote for Invu until 16th October by clicking on the link.

We'll keep you posted on the results, first up will be the Software Satisfaction Awards on the 8th October.

Welcome to the Invu Document Management Blog

2009-08-20T10:42:00.000+01:00

Hello!
Here at Invu we’re excited to launch our first official blog. Whether you are an Invu customer, reseller or are still considering a document management system you’ll find some valuable information here so read on.

Our intention is to provide you with a deeper insight into the Invu document management world. Future blogs will include Invu news , hints and tips for users, topical snippets of information, new products and services and anything else we think will be of interest to our readers.

If you have any suggestions for content please do email the marketing team here at marketing@invu.net.

Thanks for visiting our blog. We hope you enjoy it.

The Invu Marketing Team