Workflow Document Management Software Solutions

Document management systems store and organize documents.

Workflow document management software solutions allow you to control the life cycle of documents. The document life cycle includes how documents are created, reviewed, published, shared and ultimately disposed of, or retained.

Workflow Management

Workflows are the automated movement of documents through a sequence of tasks. When an author creates a document, the software initializes a workflow that, for example, creates review tasks, assigns the tasks to others, then sends e-mail alerts with instructions and a link to the document.

Review and Change

Documents are stored in a document library. When you check out a document to work on it, other users cannot make changes to it. When you finish, you check the document in so other users can then work on it.

Version Control

The software retains previous versions of documents, each uniquely numbered, so you review them. The system retains the document data and usage history required for many types of regulatory compliance, such as those required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

References

• Microsoft: Document Management Planning
• Microsoft Office: Introduction to Workflows
• Microsoft Office: Integrated Document Management and Sharing